A hungry child walks up to the new salad bar at school and gasps when she sees a bin of ripe cherry tomatoes. She fills her plate with as many tomatoes as it can hold until the lunch lady assures her that the tomatoes will be here tomorrow. And the next day. What are the ingredients for a healthy child? Tomatoes may make the list, but the Chef Ann Foundation is thinking bigger. Help us make sure that every school food program in the country has all the ingredients they need for healthy kids.
Childhood obesity is one of our country's greatest health challenges. School-aged children are experiencing obesity rates between 18% and 21%. Additionally, close to 16 million children live in food insecure households, where parents struggle to feed their children healthy meals. Healthy school food can have a significant positive impact on children's access to nutritious food...as long as we ensure that school food is a healthy choice that nourishes their bodies, minds and futures.
The Chef Ann Foundation helps schools gather the ingredients they need for healthy school kids. It starts with fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains loaded with fiber, and lean, healthy proteins for strong muscles. But food is only part of it. The recipe also calls for scratch-cook school kitchens, salad bars in every cafeteria, healthy breakfast for all children, lunchroom education, and, most importantly, committed supporters of school food change...in other words, YOU!
Well-nourished students have more energy, are able to focus for longer periods of time, and are better able to learn than those who are slowed down by empty calories and sugar crashes. The eating habits that children develop early in life will affect their diets - and their health - as adults. By changing the way children eat - and think about - food, we are helping to create a future generation of informed consumers and parents whose food choices will support sustainable, healthy food systems.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
