Week 4The History of School Gardens &

The National School Lunch Program

“A Community of Gardens” – role of community gardens in US during war, economic depression, and recession

Example – Victory GardensFirst school garden – 1891; BostonNationwide movement – 75,000 school gardens by

1906Way to get children outside,

physical activity, teamwork…Gardening classes –

agricultural trainingVarious subject taught

in garden

History of School Gardens

1914 – Federal gov. established Bureau of Education’s Office of School & Home Gardening – How To’s

The School Garden Army – WWI“A garden for every child, every child in a garden”

Important contributors to war gardens – $1,000’s in produce

Promoted schools that sold locally grown fresh fruits and veggies

History of School Gardens

Post-war housing boom 1950s-60s – increased interest

USDA – Urban Garden Program in 1976 to grow food in major cities

Concern for disconnect between children and nature – unaware of where there food comes from

1970s – Community Garden movementRising food pricesIncreased environmental awarenessDesire to revitalize neighborhoods plagued by

crimeTurned vacant lots into productive green spaces

History of School Gardens

1946 National School Lunch Act1966 Child Nutrition Act (Breakfast, summer)1980 Dietary Guidelines for Americans1983 Foods Minimal Nutritional Value 2002 Farm Act Fruit/Veggie Pilot 2004 Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization

Act

National School Lunch Program

Mission: “promote the health and well-being of the Nation’s children”

More than 100,000 Schools 28 million lunches a day / 5 BILLION lunches a year94% of ALL schools (avg. 60% participation in NSLP) Food based vs. nutrient basedStudies suggest link – NSLP and overweight childrenLow income children participating

in NSLP:2/3 of participantsMore affected by obesity

National School Lunch Program

Students receive “SURPLUS” of AgriculturePolicies originally addressed malnutrition due to

povertySame policies have contributed to obesity rates

by encouraging excessive eating at schoolOften consume more calories than neededChildren can decline

certain parts of the meal (i.e. fruits and vegetables)

National School Lunch Program

Children’s Health – ObesityHeart DiseaseDiabetesLife Expectancy

National School Lunch Program

Percentage of Overweight & Obese Children by State

Both USDA and DGA advisory committees have numerous ties to industry

DGA 2005: Kraft, Mars, American Egg Board, American Cocoa Research Institute, Sugar Association, NCBA Kellogg, National Dairy Board

USDA 2004: National Cattelman’s Beef Assiociation and ConAgra Foods (packaged foods industry)

NS Lunch Program and Industry

Children’s health vs. Agribusiness“Cutting costs through privatization” – ¼ of

school’s nutrition programOutsourced to food giants – Aramark

(Philadelphia), Sodexo (France), Chartwells (Britain)

Work hand-in-hand with food manufacturers like Tyson and Pilgrim’s – PROFIT DRIVEN

NS Lunch Program and Industry

Schools that hire private food-service management firms - spend less on labor/food; more on fees/supplies = NO SUBSTATIVE ECONOMIC SAVINGS*

Food processors give rebates to management companies in exchange for school contracts – schools charged full price (rebate abuse – NY $20 million settlement)

NS Lunch Program and Industry

1). USDA pays $1 billion a year for commodities like fresh apples, sweet potatoes, chickens, and turkeys2). Schools get free food3). Schools pay processors to turn healthy ingredients into fried chicken nuggets, fruit pastries, and pizza…~$445 million in commodities are sent for processing each year!

Ex: Michigan – free raw chicken worth $11.40/case; sends it for processing into nuggets at $33.45/caseCalifornia - $14.75 to make French fries out of $5.95 worth of “free” potatoes

NSLP & Industry: How it Works

Other Issues with National School Lunch

Program??

Gives USDA authority to set nutritional standards for all foods sold in schoolsMaximum calories for school mealsRequire more fruits, vegs, whole grains; limit

trans fatsAdditional funding to schools that meet new

nutritional standardsEstablish local farm to school

networksImprove nutritional quality of

commodity foodsSets basic standards for school

wellness policies

Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act

“Smaller lunches at higher prices” – price increase of 10 – 15 cents per meal

“Hungry and unhappy students” - Reduced portions of bread and protein; 1% flavored milk replaced by fat-free milk…

“Children aren’t’ obese from school lunches – it’s lack of exercise”

Increased food waste – “kids won’t eat broccoli”Food management companies lobbied against it –

“children may not want to eat healthier food”Blocked limit on starchy vegetables; continued to

allow pizza sauce and French fries to count as vegetables

Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act

The Living Classroom

Frisco Elementary – 16 pounds of produce

Over 300 students/youth groups visit in summer

School season not summer growing season

How to get this into the curriculum at school?

Ex: DVE School garden and dome

Getting healthy, locally, sustainably produced foods into Colorado schools

Helping children understand how food is produced

Transition from processed and precooked ingredients to whole foods – more control over nutrition

Example Programs:Special meal once a month (Colorado Proud)Scratch Cooking – local foods with minimal

processingSource single item as a pilot program Salad bar or baked potato barLocal, frozen ground beef

Colorado Farm To School

“School gardens and related educational activities may be just as important as serving local food in cafeteria”

Potential educational component:Farm toursSchool gardensNutrition education in the classroomCooking classes and demos (Chef in the

classroom)Local food or farmer posters in cafeteriasSpecial meals (Colorado Proud)Farmer visits to the classroomYouth farmer’s marketsIncorporating garden production into culinary,

science, math, and other academic curriculum

Colorado Farm To School

Example school

Programs