School lunch is a big deal. Each year some 5.5 billion meals are served in the U.S. National School Lunch Program. That represents 31.5 million children receiving lunch each day, while another 11 million receive breakfast. For many children, school meals are their only chance at a nutritious meal all day.
Could many things be more important than figuring out how to make those meals healthy, filling and well-received?
On the occasion of National School Lunch week, the Center for Ecoliteracy has released the Rethinking School Lunch guide. Designed to help parents, teachers, school administrators and food activists make the case for change and discover innovative solutions to the challenges of reinventing school food, the guide is the result of the Center's more than ten years of work with school food systems.
The links between declining health, rising obesity and health care costs, the environmental impacts of our food system, and the affects of poor nutrition on academic success are compelling—and the opportunities to address all of those issues through the education system cannot be ignored.
But, as the Center acknowledges in the school lunch guide, "recognizing the importance of improving school food and its potential role in enriching education is one thing. Changing complex food systems is quite another."
To address those complexities, they have provided a planning framework divided into ten aspects of food operations each of which can serve as a start point for anyone wanting to change school food. Included are Food and Health, Wellness Policy, Teaching and Learning, the Dining Experience, Procurement, Facilities, Finances, Waste Management, Professional Development, Marketing and Communications
The idea is that planning and taking action in one area ultimately ties in to all the other functions. No one person or group needs to take on the whole system, but can simply start with a point of interest and influence and by making change in one area eventually work towards contributing to other aspects as well.
A lot of attention has been focused on school lunches lately. Translating the increased awareness into even more effective and comprehensive action for improved nutrition and a sustainable food system is the challenge. Everyone working for change now has another tool in their kit. You can download the new guide here: Rethinking School Lunch guide (72-page PDF).
The Center for Ecoliteracy, is a nonprofit dedicated to education for sustainable living. Located in Berkeley, CA, it is known for its pioneering work with school lunches, gardens, and integrating sustainability into K-12 curricula, the center has worked with schools and organizations in more than 400 communities. More guides and resources for incorporating sustainability into school curricula can be found on their web site at www.ecoliteracy.org.
Rethinking School Lunch guide
Student Nutrition Services: San Francisco Unified School District
Center for Ecoliteracy
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