Weekend Reading

Reading

The White House published a fact sheet on the changes in the school nutrition program we'll see from the re-authorization of the Child Nutrition Act which governs the national school lunch program. We've talked about a number of provisions here before, but this list also references minimum requirements for our school's wellness policy and making it easier for parents to get nutritional information on our school's lunch.

The Times Well blog covered the stress of the holidays on our kids.  They also covered the claim that honey really is good for a cough.

Grist has a great Mythbusting post.  Guess what? Cheap food doesn't improve our quality of life.

Listening

Bhavani Jaroff of our healthy-cooking demonstration of last year interviewed Amie Hamlin, the director of The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food.  Here's her description:

The New York Coalition is a statewide nonprofit that works to improve the health and well-being of New York's students by advocating for healthy plant-based foods, including local and organic where possible. They are responsible for starting the farm to school program in Harlem and advocate for the elimination of unhealthy competitive foods in all areas of the school (not just the cafeteria). They support a comprehensive nutrition policy and educate to create food- and health-literate students. I am very excited to talk with Amie to hear her suggestions on more ways we can introduce healthy food programs into the public schools.

Just go to the PRN website, http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/eating-green/ and choose which show you want to listen to. Then press “download”. The show will come on, or you can download it to your iPod and listen in the car or whenever!

Fun

You could head out to the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary in Oyster Bay:

Saturday December 18 from 1pm-4pm: Sanctuary Traditions
Join us for this open-house style event, featuring storytelling; a caroling choir; crafting of ornaments and gifts; activities to help wildlife; and home-made baked goods, lovingly made by Sanctuary staff and volunteers! Suggested donation of $5 for individuals or $20 per family. Please call 516-922-3200 or email for more information and to register. The first 30 families to register will receive a free gift!

Or, the Nassau County Museum of Art has Family Sundays this month with docent-lead tours and activities at 1pm.

Coming January 2011 Winter Farmers’ Market 
 
A new LI winter market is starting in our area. It will be open every Saturday morning January to April 9 am–1 pm alternating between 2 locations: Huntington and Northport. There will be something for everyone. Vendors include but are not limited to Mostly Mrytles, Horman’s Best Pickles, Divine Brine Food Inc., Little Lexi’s Barkery, Lorna’s Naturals and more. There will be live entertainment, such as local author Selene Castrorilla and singer/songwriter  Alex Bodnar. There will be crafts for kids, too. This market is supporting your local growers and fresh, locally grown whole foods, produce and products.
Northport Farmer’s Market
Jan-April, Saturdays 9am-1pm
St. Paul’s Methodist Church
270 Main St, Northport, NY 11768

Huntington Farmer’s Market
Jan-April, Saturdays 9am-1pm
Sweet Hollow Hall, West Hills County Park, Melville, NY
(Off of Old Country Rd)
For more information or to become a vendor, contact Lona at liwintermarket@optonline.net.