Why should we care what our kids – anyone’s kids – are eating in school?
A healthy school food program is national security, preventative health care, and sustainable economic development rolled into one. I can’t imagine a more forward-looking and sound national investment than improving the quality of the foods we provide our kids at school.
Stonyfield is a proud sponsor of the Green Schools National Conference, the largest-ever gathering of K-12 school administrators, teachers, students and parents. This landmark conference (set for late February in Denver) is evidence that the green school effort has become a growing national movement that believes the health of our planet and our students are too important to ignore.
I’m privileged to be among the conference speakers, along with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and I look forward to meeting principals, teachers, and students who are creating the green schools of the future.
The term “green schools” has come to mean more than energy-efficient buildings and school gardens. “Green” means much more, including integrating environmental education into traditional curriculum, instituting school-wide recycling programs, and, of course, providing healthier options on the lunch line.
The average price of a school meal may be cheap, but the costs are huge. Cheap, nutritionally deficient or unhealthy food impairs body and brain development, depresses immune systems and sentences our children and our nation to a lifetime of costly health challenges.
The good news is, a growing number of schools understand the perils of unhealthy choices, and I look forward to reporting back on my experiences at the conference, as we work toward a healthier future for our planet and our children!
Gary
PS – I strongly encourage anyone involved in education – principals, school board members, teachers, and others – to consider attending this wonderful conference, set for Feb 27-29 in Denver. For more info, visit www.greenschoolsnationalconference.org
