HSC’s Chef in the Classroom Day

Photo Source: Healthy Schools Campaign

We at The Organic School project love the idea of bringing food—real, healthy food—into the hands and mouths of today’s school children. And that’s exactly what Healthy Schools Campaign’s Chef in the Classroom Day is doing!

October 4, 2010 was HSC’s official Chef in the Classroom Day, bringing over 60 chefs into the classrooms of elementary schools all over Chicago. HSC gave a breakdown of what the day consisted of:

• 67 chefs
• 67 schools
• 4000+ students
• 300+ pounds of fresh vegetables (my rough estimate)
• 1 coordinated nutrition education curriculum
• Dozens of supportive partners

The day was put on in partnership with the Go for the Gold campaign, a campaign dedicated to supporting Chicago schools in their efforts to bring healthy food, physical and nutrition education to students. This effort goes hand in hand with the Healthier US School Challenge set by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Check out HSC’s more comprehensive report on the day, including a video, photos, and a map of the participating Chicago schools. What a cool event!

Response to “Senate’s Important Lunch Date”

By: Greg Christian

After reading an article by Richard Lugar in the NYtimes “The Senate’s Important Lunch Date”, I had to comment.

Lugar talks about reauthorizing the federal child nutrition programs—and how important this is.

I have witnessed a similar consensus in Chicago, and I am in agreement, it is important!

However, what they are proposing is essentially a 6 cent increase in the amount spent on children’s lunch, and this is not sufficient funding.

The program would also be expanded to include more people in need,

but nowhere in the article does he take responsibility for the quality of food being served in the future.

He ensures, “This bill… is as close to a moment of consensus as can be achieved.”

But the lack of political will here is obvious—‘settling’ on our future generation’s food is something I struggle with supporting.

‘Baby steps’ is the common phrase in ‘moving a system’, but the process of improving school food needs much more than baby steps to make a difference in the health of our kids.

Read the New York Times article at

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/04/opinion/04lugar.html

More kids using a personal trainer

A recent Chicago Tribune Article from July 31, 2010, highlights a new trend… more parents signing their kids up for personal trainers. According to the article, parents are feeling desperate to get their kids active because of the high risk of childhood obesity. These sessions do not come cheap though. A gym mentioned in the article works with members from the ages 6 and up and charges $75 dollars an hour during a training session. Other gyms have clients as young as three.

Parents are right to be concerned about the current and future health of their kids and starting young is advantageous. It is great that they are introducing their kids to alternatives such as yoga, Zumba and CrossFit classes, especially if their kids dislike sports. These are all fantastic activities that can be introduced into a school gym class or recess instead of parents paying extra for them.

The rise in hired personal trainers only further shows how important it is to create balanced lives through school programs. There is an increased interest in child exercise but not everyone can afford to hire trainers for their kids. Schools have the potential to give the children the right tools through proper nutrition education, healthy meals and exercise.

The Organic School Project’s GROW TEACH FEED programs are examples of pre-emptive approaches that can accomplish a balanced lifestyle. Connecting children to proper nutrition and exercise through holistic wellness programming at an early age can help parents avoid spending money on a gym trainer out of desperation.

Hiring a personal trainer requires an appalling amount of money. For kids that young, the same activity can be done at school or through regular playtime activity. The money that would be spent on a personal trainer could then be put towards feeding their children better food. Parents choose what their young children eat and can control levels of obesity through that medium.

read the Chicago Tribune article at
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0728-kids-gym-20100728,0,94141.story