In the United States, hunger and food insecurity continue to be a persistent problem – 41.2 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2016, 6.5 million of which were children. Defined as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate …
From Pho to Burritos: Highlighting Doug Davis, Director of Food Services for Burlington Public Schools
With a background in the hotel and restaurant industry, and more than twenty years of work in child nutrition under his belt, it’s no surprise that Food Service Director Doug Davis has transformed the K-12 cafeteria scene in Burlington, Vermont. …
The Culture of Cambridge: Successfully Incorporating Culturally Appropriate School Meals
As racial and ethnic diversity continues to increase in the US, school food programs incorporating culturally appropriate meals are meeting students’ nutritional needs while encouraging appreciation and respect for the diverse foodways of students and their families. Melissa Honeywood, the …
Massachusetts Service Organizations Drive Initiatives to Provide Healthy, Culturally Diverse School Food
Having grown up walking through the farmers’ markets of the San Francisco Bay Area, Alex Freeman immersed himself in the local and organic food culture that was rapidly expanding. He remembers his family purchasing fresh produce from the markets every …
From Farm to School: Increasing Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Intake through School Food Co-ops
Despite many public health efforts, fruit and vegetable intake among US children is still below recommendations, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities and children of low-income families. Schools are positioned to impact student diet via national school meal programs, though there are …
Enriching School Lunches with Greater Nutritional and Cultural Values
It is exciting to watch school food service staff generate creative recipes to meet the dietary requirements of school lunches. To better enforce these nutritious choices, more school districts are accommodating dietary preferences reflective of students’ cultures. Extensive feedback regarding …
Youth Advocacy and Youth-Adult Partnerships for Combatting Childhood Obesity
Youth advocacy is a tool increasingly used to engage youth in promoting positive community changes. In a literature review on the topic, Shawna Hite and Kayla Oberstadt highlight youth-adult partnerships, which go above and beyond to include youth as active …
Monthly Harvest Toolkits Provide Support for Farm to School
Research shows that the most effective way to get kids excited about eating more fruits and vegetables is to engage them in the growing, cooking, and tasting of delicious, fresh, produce. This is where farm to school programs can play …
Top 10 Reasons to Involve the PTA/PTOs in School Food Service
Parent, Teacher Associations/Organizations are a tremendous force for good. In the communities where they serve, they support the students in numerous ways, helping maintain a solid foundation of parental support student activities. Because of their strong influence, there are many …
The Blue Zones® Project: Bringing Positive Change to School Wellness
Blue Zones® is a health and wellness initiative founded by Dan Buettner. He travelled all over the world researching communities. The areas that he found to be the healthiest with the greatest longevity he named the ‘Blue Zones.’
The Blue …