Why Obesity is a Complex Problem (and How to Solve it)

Via TED

Jamie Oliver wishes to end obesity through a number of changes to the food industry, school lunch programs, and family dinner.  At Central, some SFU volunteers are teaching classes about nutrition and the importance of fruits and vegetables.  Ms. Reese has tasting classes to get kids to try new (and healthy) foods.  Even with these programs in place, more needs to be done to make sure our kids (and adults) stay healthy into the future.  Watch the inspiring video above.

17 Ideas for Healthy Eating

 Via OpenIDEO

IDEO, an Internet design company, worked with chef Jamie Oliver and all their users to answer the question: "How can we raise kids' awareness of the benefits of fresh food so they can make better choices?"  192 suggestions were made.  The top 17 ideas were made into a free downloadable PDF document available here.  The ideas run from creating healthy recipe cards to conducting a veggie circus.  One of the suggestions is "Tasting Classes", which happen regularly in Ms. Reese's Grade 3 Class here at Central!

Lunch is a Health Issue

Via TED

Although we do not have a lunch program in schools in Canada, we have much to learn from this video.  Ann Cooper talks about how we should think of food as a health issue.  She argues that we should spend more money and direct more attention to the health of our children in schools.

12 Ways to Make Healthy Lunch Choices Easier

Via The New York Times

This week in The New York Times, university professors re-designed the school lunch line.  The goal of the project was to improve students' healthy decision-making. The professors made nutritious options more attractive than unhealthy options.  Many of the same rules can be applied at home to help kids learn to make healthy decisions.  Click here for the full article and infographic.

Gourmet School Lunches in France

Via CBS News

Due to budget cuts and issues with food preparation, many schools in British Columbia find it difficult to provide lunches to students.  Centennial Secondary School in Coquitlam runs a centralized food program and delivers meals to students in the district.

In France, students in public schools are offered a gourmet school lunch program costing between $2.50 and $6.00 (USD) per meal.  Families in need pay what they can and the rest is paid for by the government.  The program, run out of centralized kitchens, employs some very successful chefs as seen in the clip above.