Healthy School Lunch Models

SGA conducts forums on healthy school lunch models for school districts that provide detailed information about local and national model programs. Healthy school lunch forums educate school and community leaders about the prevailing health risks associated with poor diet, and the link between diet and student achievement and learning capacity. Healthy school lunch models range from a variety of currently functioning examples, including those with the following features:

  • schools growing their own organic produce for use in school lunches
  • districts purchasing local, organic, and sustainably raised food for use in organic salad bars and other menu offerings
  • food service directors buying produce directly from community farmers’ markets
  • procurement models that link distributors to farmer co-ops and school food services
  • districts that buy locally grown produce through the Department of Defense Fresh Program
  • "satellite" models in which the local high school food service provides healthy meals for elementary schools

See below for an example of a Healthy Lunch Forum. For more information, contact SGA.

 

School Lunches Can Be Different:
What Is Possible In Our Community
March 2, 2006
11:30am-1:30pm
Oak Park River Forest High School

On March 2, 2006, Seven Generations Ahead conducted a forum on healthy school lunches entitled, School Lunches Can Be Different: What is Possible for Our Community. The forum focused on workable solutions and current examples of communities that are changing their school lunch programs to improve student health and achieve wellness goals.

The forum featured national and local experts in nutrition, health, food service and local food systems, and provided information about successful healthy lunch programs to help guide future dialogue, policy formation and decision-making about lunch programs in area schools. Administrators, principals, parents, and food service vendors from both private and public school districts in Oak Park, Chicago, Evanston, and River Forest attended.

For packet information and other related inquiries, contact SGA.

 

AGENDA

11:30am-11:50am

Lunch provided by Micheline Piekarski, District 200 Food Service Director

11:50am-12:00noon

Welcome and Introduction
Gary Cuneen, Executive Director, Seven Generations Ahead

12:00noon-1:00pm

Panelist Presentations
Moderator: Warren King, WellSpring, Mgt.
Dr. Philippa Norman
Anupama Joshi, National Farm to School Program Director, Occidental College
Meghan Gibbons, Assistant Food Service Director,
Evanston Township High School

1:00pm-1:25pm

Q & A Moderated by Ellen Pimentel, Beye PTO and Warren King

1:25pm-1:30pm

Closing