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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ800878 |
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Table of Contents:
- Let Them Eat Kale: Schools Get Serious about Nutrition Whelan, Debra Lau Food Service Obesity Pilot Projects Lunch Programs Breakfast Programs Nutrition Eating Habits Health Promotion Low Income Groups Dietetics Prevention Food Child Health The kids at Louisa May Alcott School were more into Flamin' Hot Cheetos and nachos than frisee and couscous. That is, until Greg Christian got to them. Exactly three years ago, the chef known as Chicago's conscious caterer decided to share his gastronomic talents with the city's low-income children. So he took his pilot program straight to the source: the cafeterias of the Chicago Public Schools. Christian offered them something most parents only dream about--home-cooked breakfast and lunch made mainly from locally farmed ingredients. When he tried to sell his Organic School Project to 35 school principals, all of them said no. Just as he was about to give up, Alcott's principal, David Domovic, called to deliver a resounding yes. For the next few months, the chef and a couple of his staffers whipped up delicious meals, including baked penne with Italian chicken sausage, ratatouille, and rosemary-roasted potatoes. Domovic's hunch that Christian was onto something big proved correct. He and others around the country are part of a growing movement to revamp the nation's school lunch program. Their goal? To combat childhood obesity by making sure kids make informed choices about what ends up on their plates. Furthermore, many people now recognize the benefits of what Christian and others like him are doing. Since 2004, the federal government has required that every school district participating in the national school lunch and breakfast program develop a wellness plan to help children eat healthier foods. Schools are trying to satisfy growing demands to squeeze more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains onto lunch trays. Many schools have already banned junk food in vending machines, and even the formerly sacrosanct classroom birthday party--complete with cupcakes slathered in buttercream frosting--is under attack.