An utritional curriculum has already broadened the kids’interest in healthy

Tag : Vegetable Garden Gardening Organic Vegetables
Thanks to lunch line reformer and local chef GregChristian’s Organic School Project (OSP), the school willserve organic food made from scratch — on site — withfresh and locally produced ingredients on biodegradable lunchtrays.

Christian started the OSP in response to his own daughter’shealth problems, hoping to bring awareness to childhood obesity,early on-set type II diabetes and behavioral problems. He believesthat if children reconnect with their food source they’ll bemore willing to try healthier foods.

The program for the ’08-’09 year at Alcott school willbe the first to also study the impact of the program’sholistic approach to obesity prevention to rate its success.

“The real dream of the OSP is to teach kids to choose morepositive food,” says Christian. “If we can teach kidsto eat a salad over pizza down the road, we think we’ve donesomething.”

The children at Alcott school will also participate in creating andsustaining a fruit and vegetable garden on the school’sproperty. In addition to gardening, the program includesnutritional education and yoga workshops, as well as teachingchildren about the benefits of composting and recycling.

Alcott Principal Dave Domovic is excited about bringing the OSPinto their kitchen this school year and says the presence of anutritional curriculum has already broadened the kids’interest in healthy food.

“I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see kidsgetting fruits and vegetables in the lunch line instead of junkfood and candy,” Domovic said. “We appreciate that thelessons the students learn monthly about healthy bodies and healthyminds are all things students will take with them for alifetime.” According to Domovic, the new curriculum hasgarnered great support from the school children’s families,inspiring many to become involved with the upkeep of the gardenthis summer.

Also this year, Chicago Cub’s pitcher Kerry Wood and his wifeSarah, have chosen the OSP as the recipient of the proceeds fromthe Kerry Wood’s Strike Zone fifth annual celebrity bowlingtournament fundraiser. The event takes place on August 6, at 10 PinBowling Lounge, 310 N. State Street, Chicago. The event featurescelebrity bowling, a silent auction of one-of-a-kind memorabiliaand live music. Visit organicschoolproject.org or Kerrywoodstrikezone.com .

— Madeleine Hill
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