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(Green School Lunches - Part 1)

by Liesl Bradner

Green cafeteria food - in the past this usually meant mystery meat surprise was on the menu. But no jokes about it - school cafeterias need to be greener in the organic, healthy and preservative-free way.

Despite the push of recent school-nutrition legislation such as “The Farm Ranch Equity Stewardship and Health Fresh Act of 2007,” which aims to make healthy, local foods available for children, nine out of 10 U.S. schools “a la carte programs” do not meet the U.S. government’s nutritional recommendations, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Busy parents are left high and dry and forced to have their children choose between low-grade, processed or sugar-laden junk food at school. Typical menu items offered to students consist of high-fat foods like pizza, fries, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, and chicken nuggets. Not only are they not very appetizing but are made with highly processed, unpronounceable ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and artificial sweeteners. (more…)

by Michelle Bexelius

Going to school is the most exciting thing to do as the new kid on the block. There are so many new things to discover and learn, but I’ve noticed that so many things can be improved to strengthen their experience.

The first thing I noticed as a parent of a kindergartener touring schools is the lack of fresh air and circulation in the classrooms. There are enough germs going on between buddies. Wouldn’t it be nice to open the windows or better yet, use an air filter to also rid the place from bacteria and dust. Who wants to bring that home anyway? This is especially important in the presence of art materials such as glues and paints as the little guys create their masterpieces.

Each year school supplies get replenished after hours of use, spilling, knocking over, etc, but one thing I would like to see is that schools start using more non toxic ingredients for the little hands that touch them. (more…)