From Jane on Mon, July 05, 2010

It’s the typical American solution to a problem—toss money at it.  While it would be wonderful to have more funds for school foods, it isn’t really necessary if the current funds are spent more wisely.
Contrary to what most people believe, the terrible factory food served in so many schools is no bargain; it’s greatly overpriced!  So little of the money actually goes for the food itself; most of it goes to the many middle men.
Two remarkable women in Vermont are providing amazing, healthy delicious food for children in their rural schools(and for the many adults who eat there as well). 
They use a combination of natural processed foods, local produce, lots of government commodity foods and prepare some things from scratch.  What they end up with are meals that sound like they come from the menu of an upscale bistro (spinach salad with feta cheese, candied walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette, for example).  They also serve natural versions of the kid favorites, pizza, ravioli, hot dogs, etc.  You can learn about it at http://www.School-Lunch.org.

From David on Tue, July 06, 2010

Why do we need celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio (Top Chef), Jamie Oliver or even high level politicians getting involved in these issues?

These are by no means new ideas, although people like Alice Waters, et al. want us to believe it so.  Yet, these celebrities continue to promote themselves and their own selfish causes over programs that are long standing and which have years of success.  Agriculture programs in their curriculum of schools in California were once much more prevalent, although they now seem rather remote.  Today, perhaps they are less common in many of the larger metropolitan areas where values have changed.  Here in Santa Clara county, for example, this region was once very agricultural, but has now become Silicon Valley.  Although values have shifted, if you are really serious about these endeavors, then there are still clubs and organizations where children and high schoolers can participate.  This last week, for instance we bought local honey from a 4-H group here at a farmer’s market in San Jose.  Do these children today realize that back in the late 1970’s and 1980’s, especially when Reagan became president, there were severe cut-backs and statewide propositions that ended all these programs at grade level and high schools?  Even assistance to University of California became severely limited.  It’s even worse today. 

Nonetheless, there are still several county fairs and even youth organizations that carry out agricultural education, such as 4-H and National FFA Organization (FFA) and Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE).  These programs need to be supported and made more visible.  They are there and ready for your participation and support.  Even if you don’t have a child, sponsor these youth, buy their products and show your enthusiasm.

Not only that, we shouldn’t be relying on silly, self-promoting celebrities to further our cause.  It’s just idiotic and contributes to low self-esteem.  You can do it yourself!  Parents need to get involved in their child’s education, support the schools and fight for and balanced and complete curriculum, as well as extracurricular programs.  This is not just something we can do ourselves, as much as it is a grass-roots initiative that we must undertake.  Change only comes from getting directly involved and working it out.  It takes a child, a parent, a grandparent, a friend, a teacher and mentor and, yes indeed, the entire community.  But, it starts with you.

From Stacy on Tue, July 06, 2010

WOW! I am so surprised by the negative responses. First of all, as silly as it is, it takes the voice of a celebrity to get a message out. For the most part, no Joe Smoe has a voice that can be heard anymore. And second of all, no one is claiming to have come up with the idea. These celebrity chefs are trying to make things better for future generations. I give them credit for standing up for what they believe in.

While I understand not everyone agrees or understands the state of food and eating in our society, can anyone really argue that Americans are overweight and unhealthy?

I have a young child. I have spent many hours searching out and preparing freshly made meals for my family. And I am a working mom. It is my duty to make sure she grows up with the ability to make the right choices, and that includes choices with food. I was not raised that way. I never ate a fresh piece of fruit or vegetables until I was in high school. That is disgraceful!!!

I am proud to say my daughter has no clue what a chicken nugget or fish stick is. She choices apples and strawberries instead of crackers and processed food.

From David on Tue, July 06, 2010

I believe that absolute prohibitions only contribute to the further fetish orientation that many Americans have about food. 

I was raised on very good food, since my family has traditionally been in the food business for generations; but, my parents never made absolutes.  Every now and then, I would indeed get to eat a McDonald’s hamburger and all the fixings.  Later, because I was raised in a traditional Italian family, I would even get a taste of wine, which is often diluted with a bit of water.  When you say absolutely no, children only want it more and it becomes a vice.  When it’s just a normal part of life, there isn’t as much fixation.  Of course, there must be some boundaries and good judgement, but going to either extreme is where the danger seems to rest.

Frankly, I don’t know about you, but here in my own city and county, anyone can speak out at a city hall or at the county building.  It’s the same at the schools.  People do it all the time.  And frankly, EVERYONE gets the same time to speak, regardless of their title. 

I also think Americans have become way too obsessed with Celebrity chefs and the fancying of foods.  Celebrity certainly raises awareness, but often skews it towards pretentious ends and fetish like behaviors.  We don’t need another hero.. the hero lies in you. 

I certainly support Slow Foods as a global initiative, but Americans are making it something else.  Slow Food in Italy was initially much more home grown, not the cause of big-whigs, corporations and celebrities.  In this country, Farm-Aid works towards that same end.  A celebrity chef may advocate for organic and local produced foods; but, realistically, can they really help you in that regard?  Do they necessarily live in your locale?  Of course not, they are usually too busy traveling the circuit, being on TV and promoting books and other media.  Indeed, many of them aren’t even in the kitchen anymore, as they rely on other people to do the work for them, as they take credit, perks and sponsorship.  Every time you invite that celebrity chef to show you how to do things, you are inviting that world into your classroom, into your home.  It’s that sense of entitlement that you place in their so-called “expertness” and of which you want to be a part. 

Most people think they are part of something so sophisticated or that they are part of a powerful movement when they see a celebrity endorse a cause;  however, the power rests at home.  That’s where good food and traditions find their place of origin.  A professor at the University of Bologna, Di Nallo founded “Home Food” four years ago after being struck by how expedient and global Italian food had become both in restaurants and on the home front.  Home Food is purely Italian. And it focuses on eating locally and heartily in defense of nothing more than good ol’ Italian tradition.

“Home Food is purely Italian. And it focuses on eating locally and heartily in defense of nothing more than good ol’ Italian tradition.

Home Food’s emissaries are as tradition-bent as it gets—Italian mamas and grandmas along with a handful of men.”

See article:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-20/entertainment/0808180396_1_slow-food-italian-tradition-typical-food

As Americans, we could only hope to have such strong traditions at home.  Italians and most Europeans are sensible enough to know that the food in its finest of restaurants are not the same traditions or quality which is found at home.  As a chef myself, even I know that all the culinary techniques, training and expertise is not going to give me the same love and tradition that I find at home.  Indeed, I know that’s from where it all derived in the first place, even as an Italian-American.  If we destroy our home, we destroy our future.  The agenda starts at home, not the other way around!  It’s not on your TV, your computer/ internet or some fancy restaurant.  It’s at your household table with your own family and neighbors.

From Nany on Tue, July 13, 2010

in many parts of our state governments are choosing to discontinue funding of the 4_H program, which is one of the venues that teach our youth about many parts of living, including good nutrition and food production.  So lets not cite 4H as a resource to educate children, it’s being taken away by bad, short sighted economics.

From david on Wed, July 14, 2010

4-H! 4-H! 4-H! 4-H!.... There, I said it four times.  I will say it again, so that we don’t forget.  I think that your reasoning is born yesterday, if you think we should just give things up, because they don’t seem to get the economic support that they deserve.  Myself, I live in Silicon Valley, which was once a vital agricultural area, before it was turned into the technology center of the world.  There doesn’t seem to be as much “economic” or even political and social support for programs like these, especially in this “new” and technologically driven world in which we live today.  But, nonetheless, I can find our 4-H selling local made honey right here in our farmer’s market.  So, I wouldn’t abandon programs like these, but support them and encourage more development and participation.  4-H is an organization with lot’s of history and generational tradition and that’s what makes a difference.  Indeed, if we thought like that, Slow Food would never have taken off as a successful organization.  Indeed, slow food exists because of its mission to protect and salvage traditions in our food-ways.  4-H represents that idea now as much as it has in the past.  That’s what we are salvaging and defending.  What is more, it doesn’t take a lot of money in order for a program to be effective.  Certainly, we should hope not.  The minute that it takes lot’s of money to teach children and young adults about home gardens, farms, livestock and so on, then that’s when we should be worried.  There should be nothing more pure and simple as planting a seed and watching it grow, both literally and figuratively.