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[sirdentofdoom]

Hey

Comments

[mollya]

I live in Berkeley, California and there are gardens in all of the public elementary and middle schools here. There is also Edible Schoolyard program (you can Google it) which is based at my son's middle school. BUSD also has had a huge program to make the school lunches locally sourced and healthy. I think the garden is an incredible learning experience for all of the students. It's the thing both of my kids talk about the most when they come home from school

[sirdentofdoom]

Thanks for the response!! I've looked at Edible Schoolyards before, they are so inspirational. I agree, there is always a but....for us it is money as well. I'm trying to get the food from the garden into the cafeteria, and thus maybe get some of the food budget put into the garden, but that idea doesn't seem to please the powers that be.

I'll look more into the resources on the website tho, thank you! :)

[little_e_]

I really and truly know nothing, but I suspect that the easiest and fastest way to improve school lunches is to decrease the sugar content.

Please note that I have not eaten a school lunch in close to two decades and have no idea what's in them these days. But in my day, it was not great fare--mostly pizza, nuggets, etc. I suspect that as long as such items are available, the salad bar will see few visitors, no matter how much we try to emphasize the wonders of spinach.

On the other hand, I could see a program which showcases regional/local cuisines and foods going over well (no idea about the price, though.) For example, prickly pear pads and fruit are edible and (I assume) locally available, and the students would probably think that was pretty cool.

Sorry I'm not more useful. Good luck.

[sirdentofdoom]

I completely agree. I was horrified when I first came in to this school and people were like 'the food here is great!' I'm sorry, but a cheeseburger and fries with an apple is still a cheeseburger and fries. Even our milk is sweetened (the plain milk). Its a really slow process trying to get rid of that stuff, because it is all ordered from the District, its not an individual school choice. *sigh*

Thanks for the response tho! We're looking into having a local group come and show us how to prepare adn eat the local foods like prickly pear pads (which, ironically are heinously expensive from the store, even tho they grow like weeds...go figure! :P)

[little_e_]

My philosophy is that if it has sugar in it, it's candy. Ketchup? Candy. Eat it for desert. Chocolate milk? Candy. Regular milk with sugar in it? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I'd throw a fit. oh man.

[little_e_]

Also, just wanted to add, but I've read that in other experiments where they improved the school food, the schools saw significant savings in areas like discipline and special ed--apparently kids are better behaved and can concentrate more easily when they're not hyped up on sugar all the time.

Might be reasonable angle for selling the idea.

[stacyinthecity]

I used to live in Tucson! May I ask what school?

[sirdentofdoom]

Menlo Park Elementary. :) Its on the southwest side of town!

[sirdentofdoom]

That is a great idea! I'll look into that more, thank you! I know there is a Cooperative extension at the UofA. :)

[mszaphiri]

I don't know if this will help at all, but last summer HULU ran a short series hosted by Jaime Oliver (The Naked Chef) and his efforts to move a school in KY or TN. It was a good series and it showcased some of the difficulties he faced in trying to convert this town to healthier eating.
Also, I live in a city in the Midwest. We have some urban farm patches that I believe in part are funded by the govt. Not sure if it is state or federal.

Good luck with your project.

[sirdentofdoom]

I'm huge fan of Jamie Oliver!! I actually visited his community kitchen in West Virginia and had some really good chats with the people who work there. It was a good series - one of the few things on television that I think people should see. :)