It's that time of the year again! As we go back to school this year, we enter a second year of improved school meals under the federal school meal program. Even with the new regulations, it's still possible to serve very processed foods. The meals are better,
but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Education is key. Without education for school food staff, teachers, administrators, parents, and students, change will be more difficult.
In Williamsville, NY, we conducted a culinary camp this summer teaching all 16 cooks to make five plant-based entrees. In New York City this fall, we'll be training SchoolFood supervisors and managers. We'll also be conducting trainings for teachers and holding
Family Dinner Nights to reach the parents. In Ithaca, we'll be continuing our Cool School Food program and working on refining recipes and marketing.
We'll be teaching our Food UnEarthed Curriculum to more than 500 students every week this year in New York City, including a snack component to expose students to healthy and delicious food. Our vegetarian school, PS244, continues to do very well. We'll be
in approximately 28 schools this year in New York City implementing an Alternate menu. See our New York City story below.
Please get involved! Ask us how.
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Is this what we should provide because students don't want to eat healthy?
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SCHOOLS DROPPING MEAL PROGRAMS?
The media is full of reports of schools dropping out of the meal program because students are refusing to eat the healthy meals, and that a lot of food is going
in the garbage. Regulations enacted one year ago are being blamed. The reality is that only 1% of schools have dropped out (based on a survey of 521 schools) and most schools are meeting the guidelines and within budget, or close to it. Schools do not normally
receive funds from the school budget - they must operate as self sufficient "businesses", and this should change.
Read
more.
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The largest school food service in the country
This year we'll be implementing the New York City Alternate Menu in at least 28 schools. Each school will feature a menu which is less processed, and includes plant-based options such as falafels, beans and tofu. Each school will use our Wellness Wakeup Call
Program.
We will be expanding our Food UnEarthed: Uncovering the Truth About Food curriculum and will be teaching over 500 students every week in 6 different schools.
At PS244, our vegetarian school, we were excited to learn that, despite our feelings about standardized tests, the school ranked #11 in the state. This alone is impressive, but what makes it really amazing is that the other 10 schools all have rigorous admission
standards and gifted programs - PS244 does not - students are selected by lottery and therefore are representative of children in the neighborhood. Also, schools with a high percentage of English language learners don't do as well on the tests, yet PS244
has a high percentage of English language learners. All of this is a testament to the amazing teachers and administrators, and school food service staff - who are serving a healthy, nutrient-dense menu every day!
If you are in NYC, and want to change your school's food, please contact us.
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Amie Hamlin, Executive Director
607-272-1154
Kelley Wind, Program Director
917-232-8323
NYCHSF introduces plant-based foods and nutrition education in schools to educate the whole school community. NYCHSF - Changing how schools
feed kids.
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