Food

Imagine a school cafeteria where students had a variety of tasty choices that were not only nutritious, but were freshly-made, came from local sources supporting your local economy, and were better for the environment.

Research is growing that connects food to childhood obesity, ADD, and academic achievement.  Schools have already realized the importance of adding healthy, fresh food to school lunch menus.  However, according to researcher Ron Haskins from the Food Museum,, “more than 80% of elementary schools and 90% of high schools offered food choices that would meet guidelines for fat and saturated fat intake if students selected the right foods to eat.  But while you can lead students to good food, you can’t make them eat it.”  Adults who love pizza and French fries can understand why students have a hard time making the right choices when just as many bad choices are offered to them.  What if all the food served in the school cafeteria was a wholesome choice? 

The reality in most schools is that pre-made processed food is the cheapest way to go. Where government funding for healthier school food fails, fast-food chains, junk-food vendors, and soda companies rush in to fill the void, offering partnerships with schools that allow them to market their products in schools. No wonder kids are motivated to make unhealthy food choices.

The Center for Environmental Education is working on ways to help you offer creative healthier choices, buy from local sources, and foster an environment where eating is a rich experience that motivates students to value nutrition!

As we research food, you can start by bringing the issue to your school through a School Lunch Lottery.  This is a community event created by Organic Valley in which participants taste, explore, and discuss current realities and future possibilities of school lunch.  This participatory game is designed to create awareness and build cooperation at the community level to develop healthier school lunch options for our children.  Use this activity to gather the decision-makers and experience the lunches children are eating, discuss alternatives, and start the discussion of making change.

Also check out the School Foods Tool Kit: A Guide to Improving School Foods & Beverages for help with overall improvement and School Gardens for guidance in growing some healthy choices right on school grounds with the help of students!

For ways to make food a part of the curriculum, check out the School Lunch Initiative.