School district promotes healthy eating habits in the classroom
USDA calls Novato a model of nutrition education
Novato’s nutrition education program received praise Thursday from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, who called the district’s efforts to put local produce in its schools’ cafeterias a model for the nation.
“You are one of three school districts in California that are considered models for how we are trying to improve the school lunch program,” said Allen Ng, western regional administrator for the USDA’s food and nutrition service. He also praised Southern California’s Riverside and Ventura school districts during a presentation at Novato High School. In particular, USDA officials singled out the Novato schools’ gleaning program in which students, parents and other volunteers gather vegetables and other crops left over after a harvest at a local farm.
“Simply because of aesthetic requirements, 20 percent of our food gets left in the field,” said Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic, which sponsors the program. “Harvesting that food allows schools to get some of its food for free and purchase local, organic food from our growers at below-market prices.”
Marin grass roots TEEN group advocates healthy food at school
Teens Turning Green is spearheading an unprecedented initiative called Project Lunch at the start of the new school year. The goal of Project Lunch is to inspire students, in partnership with Food Service Directors, teachers and community stakeholders, to green school lunch programs providing healthy food at all schools for all students. We want to help create healthy, nutritious, locally-sourced, and organic food offerings, with zero waste and a small footprint along each aspect of the meal at schools and in student lunchboxes. In the process we will partner with existing healthy lunch programs, highlight best practices and facilitate change.
Get Involved: We are looking for students to participate in Food Clubs and adult community mentors to volunteers. Please let us know if you want to get involved!
