Last night I watched the new documentary Fed Up. It was very well done and really brings up everything we don't want to hear about what we are eating, especially about what our children are eating. Now, for us South Waltonites, we are very lucky because fast food isn't an option. We really don't even think about it. And it shows in the absence of obese people in our area. However, after watching this movie, I really thought about what our children are eating and the fact that school is a huge part of daily intake. What are South Walton schools serving? Bay, Butler, ECMS, and SWHS? Do they have sodas available? Do they have fast food partnerships? Do they have prepackaged processed meats and foods that they just warm? I don't know. I'm asking. (I don't have children yet). I would like to visit all of them soon and see what a normal kid has to choose from every day.
It is actually cheaper to cook whole foods, than buy this garbage. And with all of the great local farms around, imagine the possibilities. If the farms knew what they needed to supply and had a contract, they could offer a better price. Can you imagine the difference it would make in the children of South Walton if they were getting wholes foods without chemicals or sugar added? This already active community could become a super powered role model for the nation! I know when we do have children, I would like to feel confident that my children are getting the proper nutrition. Anyone interested in started a revolution with me? First watch the film, Fed Up. It's on Netflix. Then, post here or email me at jilletanner@gmail.com. Thanks!
Fed Up Website here.
"If you rant and rave everyday, but do nothing, nothing will happen. If you actually stand up do something, you can change the world." - JET
Replies
40
Beach Fanatic
Thank you, Bentley! Maybe I'll call on you when I get started![/QUOTE]
Good luck with this. There are so many issues when it comes to schools, state and County wise. Vendors have to be approved by the state most of the time. There is a ridiculously low budget for school lunches, so it becomes commodity items. The idea of teaching kids through activities like urban gardening, health related contests etc..is the way to go. I know because we supply lunches to private schools with Wok Box in some markets. Rice boxes with fresh vegetables and lean proteins, kids love them. They are not a profit center for us, but we are supported by the school and parents..win-win.
Good luck with this. There are so many issues when it comes to schools, state and County wise. Vendors have to be approved by the state most of the time. There is a ridiculously low budget for school lunches, so it becomes commodity items. The idea of teaching kids through activities like urban gardening, health related contests etc..is the way to go. I know because we supply lunches to private schools with Wok Box in some markets. Rice boxes with fresh vegetables and lean proteins, kids love them. They are not a profit center for us, but we are supported by the school and parents..win-win.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Good luck with this. There are so many issues when it comes to schools, state and County wise. Vendors have to be approved by the state most of the time. There is a ridiculously low budget for school lunches, so it becomes commodity items. The idea of teaching kids through activities like urban gardening, health related contests etc..is the way to go. I know because we supply lunches to private schools with Wok Box in some markets. Rice boxes with fresh vegetables and lean proteins, kids love them. They are not a profit center for us, but we are supported by the school and parents..win-win.
Great. Thank you, Carson. I hope to get the schools to add some education and gardening as well. That's the goal.
Edited
Beach Comber
I'm not trying to be argumentative, and I am not sure what gave you that impression. You misconstrued how I said something, and I was trying to clarify what I meant. I am also not being negative...I am pointing out the obvious hurdles you will have to cross to make this a reality. I am sorry if my lack of an email to you offended you. I do not have kids, nor do I ever intend to have kids. I also work full time, and have other things on my plate. I was throwing out some brainstorming ideas for you. Maybe if I had kids, or if I were retired and had lots of free time, I'd do more, but alas, I don't.
I think your heart is in the right place, and I think you could do some good in the community if you started small and gradually tried to turn this into something bigger. I think a community garden hosted on school grounds could be a good jumping off point.
I have never made the argument that what they are doing right now is better for the children in our county. In fact, I haven't even made any sort of argument that shoots you down or disagrees with you. All of my posts were about the logistics of doing something like this, and considering the various angles people are going to try to counter you with.
I'm sorry if you've some how gotten the wrong idea. You should try to be a bit more diplomatic and not bristle when someone points out logistical hurdles. It's not like you are going to be able to walk into the school cafeteria and tell them "This is how it's going to be!" and have everybody fall in line. There is going to be pushback. There are going to be budgetary concerns, and the people you bring this idea to who actually wield the power to make it a reality are going to want hard numbers and facts. There are also likely food companies with current contracts with the school district who will not be happy to be pushed out and lose those contracts. They will fight to continue to have that source of income. If you try to get a plan rolling to push them out, they will almost certainly come back with counter points to try to maintain how things currently operate.
In conclusion, dial back the martyrdom back a little. I wish you luck, and I do hope you get something accomplished. It's a nice idea that will take a TON of work to turn into a reality, but it definitely can be done.
I think your heart is in the right place, and I think you could do some good in the community if you started small and gradually tried to turn this into something bigger. I think a community garden hosted on school grounds could be a good jumping off point.
I have never made the argument that what they are doing right now is better for the children in our county. In fact, I haven't even made any sort of argument that shoots you down or disagrees with you. All of my posts were about the logistics of doing something like this, and considering the various angles people are going to try to counter you with.
I'm sorry if you've some how gotten the wrong idea. You should try to be a bit more diplomatic and not bristle when someone points out logistical hurdles. It's not like you are going to be able to walk into the school cafeteria and tell them "This is how it's going to be!" and have everybody fall in line. There is going to be pushback. There are going to be budgetary concerns, and the people you bring this idea to who actually wield the power to make it a reality are going to want hard numbers and facts. There are also likely food companies with current contracts with the school district who will not be happy to be pushed out and lose those contracts. They will fight to continue to have that source of income. If you try to get a plan rolling to push them out, they will almost certainly come back with counter points to try to maintain how things currently operate.
In conclusion, dial back the martyrdom back a little. I wish you luck, and I do hope you get something accomplished. It's a nice idea that will take a TON of work to turn into a reality, but it definitely can be done.
Edited
Beach Comber
http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/food-services-department Here is contact info for the food services department for our county.
With Florida's very broad public records laws, I think you should be able to shoot that person an email or a phone call and very easily be able to obtain the name of what company supplies the food to the schools. They might even be willing to discuss prices with you. There is no reason that information should be confidential. If it were me, my first course of action would be to find out what the school district is currently paying for these supplies. Then, as you had said earlier, you had already spoken with some local food suppliers. You should take the price information to them, and see if it's anything they can match. You will also want data in regards to volume. Pricing will vary depending on how large an order is, in most cases, so pricing will probably get more flexible the larger the order is. Then you could relay the pricing information you acquire back to the food services manager, or maybe bring it up at a school board meeting. I think hard data on prices and order volume will have the greatest impact on inspiring the people in charge to consider changing where school lunches come from.
Another factor you might not have considered is expiration dates. Fresh food without preservatives spoils faster than the sort of items they are currently offering. How the food will be stored and how long it will keep is going to impact costs. Spoilage can end up costing a lot. Hopefully though, if the goal is to deal with local providers, food can just be delivered in smaller batches with more frequent deliveries to try to escape this potential problem.
I'm glad that you want to do something good for the kids of Walton county, and I don't at all doubt your dedication. I think it is important that you consider points that your potential opposition could bring up, though. If you consider these issues now, you can come up with a solution for them before someone who might oppose you even brings it up. I don't want you to construe the points I am making as an attempt to dissuade you from pursuing your idea. I want you to see them for what they are....valid logistical concerns that require solutions to make successful changes in the school lunch program. Honestly, I wish you luck, and I genuinely mean that.
With Florida's very broad public records laws, I think you should be able to shoot that person an email or a phone call and very easily be able to obtain the name of what company supplies the food to the schools. They might even be willing to discuss prices with you. There is no reason that information should be confidential. If it were me, my first course of action would be to find out what the school district is currently paying for these supplies. Then, as you had said earlier, you had already spoken with some local food suppliers. You should take the price information to them, and see if it's anything they can match. You will also want data in regards to volume. Pricing will vary depending on how large an order is, in most cases, so pricing will probably get more flexible the larger the order is. Then you could relay the pricing information you acquire back to the food services manager, or maybe bring it up at a school board meeting. I think hard data on prices and order volume will have the greatest impact on inspiring the people in charge to consider changing where school lunches come from.
Another factor you might not have considered is expiration dates. Fresh food without preservatives spoils faster than the sort of items they are currently offering. How the food will be stored and how long it will keep is going to impact costs. Spoilage can end up costing a lot. Hopefully though, if the goal is to deal with local providers, food can just be delivered in smaller batches with more frequent deliveries to try to escape this potential problem.
I'm glad that you want to do something good for the kids of Walton county, and I don't at all doubt your dedication. I think it is important that you consider points that your potential opposition could bring up, though. If you consider these issues now, you can come up with a solution for them before someone who might oppose you even brings it up. I don't want you to construe the points I am making as an attempt to dissuade you from pursuing your idea. I want you to see them for what they are....valid logistical concerns that require solutions to make successful changes in the school lunch program. Honestly, I wish you luck, and I genuinely mean that.
Beach Fanatic
Beach Fanatic
Seaside Neighborhood School has a garden that students tend, learn, and eat from - every school should do this.
Beach Fanatic
Hi Jill,
Alice Waters has done a lot in the Berkeley area in this regard. Here is a link to the Edible Schoolyard. There was also a great article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine, probably in September 2005 about her mission. I dined recently at The Kitchen in Denver. They have a mission of supporting community and school gardens which is one reason I chose to dine there as opposed to many of the other great spots in Denver.
I used to be pretty active in the local school system until I made everybody mad. Having a school garden at Emerald Coast Middle School was always a goal of mine.
Just some ideas and places to look for resources, etc.
Alice Waters has done a lot in the Berkeley area in this regard. Here is a link to the Edible Schoolyard. There was also a great article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine, probably in September 2005 about her mission. I dined recently at The Kitchen in Denver. They have a mission of supporting community and school gardens which is one reason I chose to dine there as opposed to many of the other great spots in Denver.
I used to be pretty active in the local school system until I made everybody mad. Having a school garden at Emerald Coast Middle School was always a goal of mine.
Just some ideas and places to look for resources, etc.
Beach Fanatic
Saw this on fb this morning and found it interesting:
Its about the Farm to School Act of 2015
http://www.farmtoschool.org/news-and-articles/we-re-headed-to-washington-d-c
Its about the Farm to School Act of 2015
http://www.farmtoschool.org/news-and-articles/we-re-headed-to-washington-d-c
Banned
Beach Lover
I see this as a bigger problem.
http://hungerinourschools.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc
I agree 100%. Wasn't there a thread on here where a lady got flamed for trying to do backpacks with food in them for local kids that didn't get food at home? My memory is a little hazy on this so I could be wrong.
Beach Fanatic
jackalope, I believe you are referring to Food For Thought. I hope no one flamed them.
http://sowal.com/group/food-for-thought-outreach
http://sowal.com/group/food-for-thought-outreach
Beach Lover
jackalope, I believe you are referring to Food For Thought. I hope no one flamed them.
http://sowal.com/group/food-for-thought-outreach
Yep that's the one I was thinking about. I think someone was drilling them about whether or not they were a nonprofit or something along those lines. The interrogator was pissing me off but I kept my comments to myself. My wife had talked to the lady that runs it, I believe. From my undersanding, it is so bad for some kids, that they had to hide their backpacks because other family members would take the food. I think that's why they request easy open and ready to eat products. That truly is some food for thought.
Banned
I have proposed a new rule to allow school districts to install deep fat fryers and sell beverages like diet soda. I believe each school district - not the state or federal government - should decide what foods are offered to students. It's about giving back local control and allowing each school district to make the best decision for their community.Sid Miller-Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Beach Fanatic
Sid Miller-Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Poppy it is all about balance, deep fried oreos and a diet coke...everyone knows that. In Texas the Hispanics are raising hell because their obesity rate has gone crazy through the roof because of school food. Fat and carbs are cheap, ask any prisoner.
Banned
https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Harmony-Baptist-Church-Preschool/827447973988854
Our two year old class enjoyed some fresh out of the garden veggies and fruits ... They felt each one and some even tasted them. [FONT=helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif]... They looked, felt, and tasted greens peas, cantaloupe, strawberries, potatoes, cucumbers and green bell pepper.[/FONT]
Our two year old class enjoyed some fresh out of the garden veggies and fruits ... They felt each one and some even tasted them. [FONT=helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif]... They looked, felt, and tasted greens peas, cantaloupe, strawberries, potatoes, cucumbers and green bell pepper.[/FONT]
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