Please Call to Advocate for Change

The Childhood Nutrition Reauthorization Act is up.

The most powerful thing you can do is call:

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224-4451

New York Office: (212) 688-6262

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224-6542

New York Office: (212) 486-4430

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY 11th District)

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-6231

Brooklyn Office: (718) 287-1142

Sen. Blanche Lincoln

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224-4843

Little Rock Office: (501) 375-2993

I'm Borrowing this from a longer feature in the March-April issue of Mothering Magazine by Laura Andre.

Kids Prefer Healthy Food

Many adults assume that kid's prefer junk food to healthy food.  However a recent Harvard School of Public Health study compared students served standard school lunches with students whose nutritious lunches were prepared as part of the Chefs in Schools Initiative, and found that the second grade group ate more of their lunches.

The Chefs in Schools Initiative, launched by the nonprofit Project Bread, seeks to serve healthy, cost effective meals rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, and free of excess fats, sodium, and sugars.  Project Bread is a leading anti-hunger organization in Massachusetts. 

In their"Healthy Lunch Study" of more than 3,000 Boston middle-school lunch trays collected from schools participating in the initiative as well as schools serving standard lunch fare, the Harvard researchers revealed that kids preffered the Chefs in the Schools meals by a significant margin.  For example, over three times as many students atte the vegetables in the Chefs in the Schools compared to the control group, and, among students who ate vegetables, students at the Chefs in the Schools ate 30 percent more of them.  

For more information about this program see, www.projectbread.org

Don't forget to bring the family to the the screening of Two Angry Mom's at Sea Cliff School Wednesday evening at 7pm.

You can read the results of the nutrition survey here:-http://www.northshore.k12.ny.us/Foodserviceinfo/2010Results/DOC.PDF

 

Districtwide Nutrition Meeting minutes are available here:-http://www.northshore.k12.ny.us/Foodserviceinfo/2010minutes/Minutes_of_2-24-10%5B1%5D.pdf

 

Our members have been very busy spreading good ideas about food throughout the Sea Cliff community. Many parents have been contributing their time to attending district wide nutrition committee meetings, speaking up at our informative grade specific round table discussions with the superintendent and giving voice to the importance of food at the recent DOE meeting.  We are very sincere in our desire to provide all children in our community with nourishing and sustainable nutrition.  

Food matters to all of us.  It's impossible to find a person who is not preoccupied with the pleasures and significance of food.  There are many divergent ideas about what constitutes a healthy diet, food is an intimate and personal part of everyday life and discussing food can be quite emotional.  While we may fill our plates with different sorts of food, we all share a common interest in our children's well being.  We want to raise children who are thriving intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.  Food effects our experience of the world, it can energize or deplete, inspire or challenge.

School is a place of tremendous importance to the young child and our cafeteria tells an important story about our values and priorities as a school community.  If you have something to say about the experience your child is having in the cafeteria, join us at our next nutrition committee meeting. 

People all over this country are joining together to make schools healthier for their kids. Whether you want to help create an edible schoolyard, accommodate your child's food sensitivities, encourage your kids to eat more fruits and veggies, there is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard.

Visit our Healthy Bake Sale at Science Night – March 12, 6pm !

District Nutrition Committee Meeting -- Central Office Bldng:

Friday, March 19th - 1PM-3PM

Friday, April 23rd - 1PM - 3PM

Friday, May 21st - 10AM - 12PM

Tuesday, June 15th - 10AM - 12PM

Hear our presentation and see the movie Two Angry Moms at the next PCA Meeting

March 24th, 7pm , Sea Cliff School Cafeteria

Learn more about the Angry Moms at http://www.angrymoms.org/

Recipe Contest! Help us pick a new chili recipe to be served at lunch!

Details coming soon – bring your best (beefless) chili and your recipe to our cook off. The winning recipe will be served at lunch and named after your child.

Come vote -- 6:30 pm , April 14th!

Family Movie and Healthy Cooking Demonstration – May 21st, 6pm .

Bring the kids to see the documentary What’s On Your Plate about two 12 year old girls exploring where school food comes from. Followed by a hands-on demonstration where we’ll make healthy snacks together. Don’t miss it!