Class Trip to a Farm

Yesterday, I went with my son on a class trip to a farm with his first grade class. He rode the bus with his classmates and I drove over in my car. It was a beautiful drive into the foothills!

Soon after we arrived, the kids got to play on a big "bounce pillow". OK, I could have gotten on the thing too (and a few adults did!), but I didn't want to take any kids out on my way down. Earlier this week the kids prepped their white t-shirts for tie-dying and they all wore their unique shirts to the farm.

After the bouncing, we made our way through two cornfield mazes. Can you tell how windy it was? Dirt and dust everywhere, but we still had fun!

Next, we were off to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins to take home.  (I'm cheating with this picture - I forgot to take one yesterday, so this is a picture from our family visit to the same farm just before Halloween!) We took a hayride to reach the pumpkin patch and our tour guide pointed out the various fruits that were growing as we passed - blackberries, nectarines, peaches, pomegranates, apples, avocados & strawberries. She also mentioned a fruit I'd never heard of before - pomelos. I bought one at the farm store later and we tried it this morning during breakfast. It tasted like a less bitter grapefruit. My boys weren't huge fans, but at least they tried something new!

Also seen at the farm store - Buddha's Hand! Can you can tell which one is the Buddha's Hand? 

After pumpkin picking, we had lunch and then the kids packed up and headed back home. My little guy was pretty tired! Those kids got some great exercise! Honestly, this farm is great and I'm so glad that the first graders had a chance to visit... but... it would've been so cool if the kids had a chance to taste all that wonderful fruit! This farm is certainly an attraction in our area and I LOVE shopping at their farm store and picking up fresh produce and seeing new things.  In fact, at the farm store, they do have a little sample bar so that you can taste the produce.  How much more enriching and interesting for the kids to have the opportunity to try something new and be able to discuss that with their parents and their teachers? It's my only complaint - a little more education about what the farm has to offer - how the plants are grown, what the fruits taste like - that would've sold me 100%.

Changes Running Parallel

I haven't been writing, but I have been doing. I have a lot of great (terrible) excuses for not writing. The main thing is this internal debate about the pros and cons of writing about myself. Yes, I know that is the point of most blogs, but I've found it odd and difficult for a long while. I'm getting over it. I have things to say!

Backing up to Halloween. My son's school has an annual Fall Carnival that coincides with Halloween. The kids dress up and there are games - candy is the usual prize. This year, the carnival was on October 30th. Another (fabulous) mom, who has a daughter in my kid's class, approached me about doing a Minecraft themed booth. Our kids are way into the video game, books, and toys and although I don't play, it's a thing and the kids love it. A few other (awesome) moms and I got together to get crafty. We wanted the kids to have real prizes at our booth, figuring they'd get more candy than we were comfortable with anyway. I'm not crafty, so I was nervous about how I could help, but I really wanted to do this!  With the guidance of the other moms, I didn't screw up too much! Here are the torches I made (under instruction and with the help of my husband!). They have glow sticks inside and my kid thought they were pretty great!

On Halloween day, I helped with my son's class party. His teacher is great and although she didn't outlaw sweet treats, she did limit it to one. I was happy when she asked me to help her think of healthier alternatives for the party! The kids had the option of one cookie, pretzels, string cheese (dressed as mummies from the fabulous mom mentioned above!) and jack-o-lantern mandarins made by my husband and myself. Check them out! This was the first time that I've had the opportunity to help out with my son's class and it was so much fun! I helped at the food station and all but two of the kids took and ate a mandarin. It was great to see them pick out which one they wanted and compare with their classmates.

Since Halloween, I've been attending all kinds of meetings. I ran for one of the positions as a parent representative on the School Site Council and we had our first meeting. Again, I was just so nervous. As a newbie, I didn't know what to expect. I had to meet new people, which always makes me anxious. It turns out, I had nothing to worry about. All the members, from the principal and teachers to the other parents, were so friendly! We even had a brief conversation after the meeting about genealogy, another of my obsessions.

I attended the Tulare County Food Desert Forum with a few other members from the Kern Food Policy Council. That was a great morning. It's so interesting to see how other regions are starting to tackle the issue of food insecurity. We learned more about UC Davis's Mapping Regional Change and the Regional Opportunity Index (ROI).  The ROI uses many economic, environmental and social indicators to create a map showing location that are in need of services. There were many more great speakers on grants/funding, non-profits bringing local produce to schools, public health and human services, and even a representative from the California Grocers Association. It was inspiring and enlightening.

Most recently, I attended this year's first District Health Council meeting. It's my first ever, since I missed last year's. I was nervous like I was going to a job interview or on a first date.  Would I remember to say the things I wanted to say? Would I make a good impression? Could I meet a dozen or so new people without feeling like I was going to pass out? When I got there, I was so pleased to see the turn-out. There were other parents (most of them parents of junior high kids), administration and PE teachers. What struck me most of all was the way that the staff treated each other and how they treated us moms and dads. They were respectful and kind and open to everything we had to say. We reviewed the Wellness Policy, the latest physical fitness test results (way better than the CA average), how the district handles bad air days (last week, the Central Valley's air quality was worse than Beijing), the procedure in place for incidences of flu, and we reviewed the excellent resources they have pulled together for the fairly new health and wellness webpage on the district's site.  I was so impressed! 

Moreover, they let me talk too much and meander and fumble and even politely ignored my red face when the assistant superintendent opened the meeting by saying that I was the one that pointed out that this particular policy required regular meetings to review and amend the policy. Ha! Yes, I am the one that is taking up more of your time! There's a first impression for you! Ugh. I asked if the language of some of the policy could be stronger (i.e.: don't just "encourage" staff to use non-food items as rewards, but simply ban the practice of giving candy as rewards), but at the end of the night the Council wouldn't be recommending any changes to the policy. However, there were so many great exchanges. Many staff members had concerns that were similar to my own. We discussed fundraisers (the junior high's main fundraiser is candy bar sales) and the possibility of a parent education session about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. I left the meeting feeling really good about the communication that had taken place! Of course, it only took me about 10 minutes before I started analyzing everything and second guessing my every move. I should've said this, I should've worded that differently, and so on and so on...

*Sigh*

Lately, I've done more new things and met more new people than I have in a long time. This isn't something that's easy for me. If I'm being honest, it's difficult for me to change. On the one hand, I'm flexible and can quickly adapt within my realm of comfort. On the other hand, I'm a creature of habit and don't often stretch myself into uncomfortable circumstances.

And yet, change is what I want most. I want the world to change. I want the food system, the health culture in my community, the microcosm of my child's school, to change. I've found the thing that I am most passionate about - working toward making positive changes in both small and large ways. I can't stop caring. I can't not try. As I struggle to advocate for these changes, I also struggle with the changes that I personally must make. I have to take personal risks - speaking in front of people, meeting new people, facing rejection and on and on.

But, with every new experience, I learn something and I do change. And with every step, I see the changes being made around me. I see more people talking about food insecurity, hunger, obesity, diabetes, and the importance of the amount and the quality of food available to children and the rest of us. So, I can't give up just because I'm uncomfortable. Instead, I have to give in and try to enjoy the ride.

Next up: a field trip with my son's class to a local farm!

A New Stay at Home Mama

It's been a long time since last posted. Without getting in to too much detail, I've had A LOT going on. I've been stressed and worried and frustrated and angry and sad and...

Tomorrow begins a new chapter for our family. Tomorrow, I start my new job as a stay at home mama.  I have a lot of feelings about this. I'm so excited and so happy that I get to spend so much more time with our kids. I look forward to every minute that I get to share with them. But, I'm worried too. Will I be any good at this? Will we be able to stretch those dollars? Will I lose my mind? Will my boys break each other?

But honestly, I'm more optimistic than I've been in months.

I want to keep my 1 and 6 years-olds busy - learning, having fun, staying active and eating yummy healthy food. I will be scouring the internets for some money-saving ideas and for the advice of those that have been there, done that.

Whee! Wish me luck. I'll write again soon!

-Morgan

Did We Survive Our First Valentine's Day Class Party?

The short answer is... sort of...

Last Friday, E's teacher sent home the class list and a half sheet of paper saying that they would be having a Valentine's Day Party and requested that E bring cups by Wednesday. On Wednesday, E dutifully took his party contribution and I set off for work in ignorant bliss.

On Wednesday evening, we heard about all the things that the other kids brought for the party. Look, I'm new to this. E is my oldest and although by now I shouldn't be surprised at the junky foods, I still found myself in a state of shock when I heard about the party offerings. After the shock, I was mad and after the mad came the distinct feeling of loneliness. Yes, I titled my blog and my cause "one mom", but am I the only one that cares about this stuff??

The first thing my son told me on Wednesday evening was that there was nothing healthy for the party. No fruit? No vegetables? Nope and nope. Candies, cookies, cupcakes, chips and... soda.

Soda??? Soda for a party at school?? And I supplied the cups??!?!

I'm not so naive to think that there wouldn't be treats. I don't want my kids to have a lot of sugar or other processed junk. I also don't want for the occasional treat to be out of the question. I'm still trying to find that balance. However - soda is absolutely out of the question. I know plenty of adults, including myself, that have struggled to give the stuff up - I know quite a few that are still in the midst of that battle. Soda has no redeeming value. It's just bad. We all know this right?

Wrong! Because if we all knew this, then nobody would be serving it to kindergartners (or any children of any age) at school. It wouldn't even be considered an option.

I forget that not everyone thinks the way I do. I live in Bakersfield, Kern County, California, USA where obesity rates are high and food insecurity is high and we test 7th graders for Type II diabetes and soda finds its way into the class of kindergartners.

I emailed the Principal. I cited the Wellness Policy and the recent memo sent by the Assistant Superintendent (less than a month ago) about the District's desire to create a healthier environment. I volunteered to bring water to replace the soda. I expressed my outrage. Soda is irrefutably bad for everyone and it has no place in the classroom.

Low and behold, I got a return email within a few hours. Yes, some teachers intended on serving soda. (But really, did some parents get a note home asking for soda for the party? Did the note just ask for a drink and parents supplied soda instead of something healthier?) An email was sent to every teacher reminding them that there should be a healthier alternative. E reported last night that the soda was sent home with the kids that donated it and that it would not be served at the party.  I thanked the Principal profusely and expressed my gratitude over taking the health of these students seriously.

Tonight, E brought home more than a dozen candies. There was no real food offered at the party - not even fruit! And yes, there was water. And fruit punch. But! No soda!

Not having the soda was an absolute win for those kindergartners. I know that. I'm genuinely happy about that. I'm so glad that I didn't hit a brick wall and that the Principal was proactive and helped to fix the problem.

But that lonely feeling still persists...

Meeting with the Assistant Superintendent

This week, I finally had the opportunity to have a meeting with my son's school district assistant superintendent. I was so upset when I missed the first Wellness Council meeting, but the the assistant sup. was kind enough to email me an update on what was discussed and the major points that were made. Since I had about a million questions on that information, I set up a meeting instead of responding by email.

The meeting was about an hour long and I left it feeling positive... but impatient. I'm the kind of person who wants everything done rightnowimmediatly. What I learned over the course of the meeting is that I'm going to need to learn patience. It's not my strongest asset.

The good news is that things are moving along: 

• The district now has a Wellness website that includes information on the Wellness Policy and the Wellness Council. The lunch and breakfast menus are found there. There are also links to various websites, including the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

• At the next School Board Meeting, the Board will receive the Wellness Council's recommendations. The recommendations are fairly neutral and mostly reinforce the Policy. I'm really happy about one recommendation in particular about the use of non-nutritious food rewards. I can share more about those recommendations with you once the Board has received and commented on them.

• The assistant superintendent will try to acquire the actual ingredient list for the school breakfast and lunch menus. I talked about the trans fats and loads of sugars that hide in the frozen veggie and fruit cups. 

• I was able to talk about the pop tarts, Frito boats and other decidedly unhealthy foods that are served as a "snack" during after school day care. Notes were taken and there will be follow up on this.

• The after school day care will be proactive about playing inside during what our neck of the woods refers to as "bad air days". (Yet another obstacle this valley faces that effects resident's ability to be active outside.)

These are all really good things! I am truly excited and happy about the progress we are making!  I'm trying to figure out my next steps. Should I get a group of like-minded parents together? Should I focus more on E's school and talk more with the principal? Maybe there are other local groups that I need to look at to see if there are other ways to volunteer my time?

I don't want to over-extend, but I can't sit on my hands either!  Do I have any readers that could tell me about what you've done or other ideas to make an impact on the community? For now, I'm going to go do more research!

USDA Permanently Changes School Lunch Rules to Allow More Sugar

My title isn't the headline I've been seeing on the news and it isn't what's been played up in press releases.

Thursday, the USDA permanently changed the meal requirements for the school lunch program. The USDA's news release states that they have, worked closely with schools and parents during the transition to healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Based on public feedback, USDA has made a number of updates to school meal standards, including additional flexibility in meeting the daily and weekly ranges for grain and meat/meat alternates, which has been available to schools on a temporary basis since 2012.

The School Nutrition Associations (SNA) also posted a press release on their webpage which includes: School Nutrition Association (SNA) members applaud the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new rule to permanently eliminate overly restrictive weekly limits on the grains and proteins served with school meals. Securing this reprieve became a primary focus of SNA’s 2013 advocacy efforts following negative impacts of weekly limits on meal planning and student participation.

     Updated nutrition standards for school meals, implemented in July 2012, included weekly grain and protein maximums, which inadvertently took a variety of healthy foods off the menu in school cafeterias.

     Many schools could not offer daily sandwich choices because serving two slices of whole-grain bread each day exceeded weekly grain limits, and salads topped with grilled chicken and low fat cheese surpassed weekly protein limits.

Does this sound good to you? Something seemed a little off to me... so I read the much longer, Final Rule on the Federal Register website.

I'll be honest, I should've paid more attention in those AP History and Government classes in high school, not too mention the gen ed classes I was unsuccessful at avoiding in college. Here is a snippet (SFA, by the way, is short for school food authority):

     When conducting administrative reviews, State agencies should consider any SFA compliant with the weekly ranges for grains and meats if the weekly minimums are met. SFAs continue to be required to meet the weekly minimum and maximum range requirements for calories and the other dietary specifications.

So, you can go ahead and give kids more of these kinds of foods (grains, protein), but you still can't go over the maximum calorie range and and you can't go below the minimum requirements for fruits and vegetables. Interesting.

But something else is listed here, too. This is another something that was made flexible and is now permanent. This section discusses the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requirement that if frozen fruit is served, it contains no added sugar. Wonder why nobody is discussing this aspect?

     Since 2009, USDA has reduced the amount of added sugars in frozen fruits offered to States; however most frozen strawberries, peaches and apricots offered by USDA currently contain added sugar. USDA has reached out to industry concerning reformulating these frozen fruits products to eliminate sugar completely, and industry has been working on this issue since publication of the meal pattern rule. Reformulating some products has been challenging because sugar acts as an important ingredient in maintaining fruit flavor, appearance, texture and storability of certain frozen fruits. In addition, research on substitute sweeteners has not been successful in maintaining the color, flavor or texture of the fruit being tested.

     In response to these concerns, FNS issued SP 20-2012 on February 24, 2012 and a revised version on September 11, 2012 (http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/Policy-Memos/2012/SP20-2012osr.pdf), providing SFAs the flexibility to continue to use frozen fruit products containing added sugar through SY 2013-14. This was later expanded in SP 49-2013 issued on June 25, 2013, to include both lunch and breakfast through SY 2014-15 (http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SP49-2013os.pdf). In an effort to ease burden on program operators, this flexibility was applicable to all frozen fruit products.

     Feedback on the memoranda has been positive with numerous requests to extend the flexibility for frozen fruit with added sugar. Thus far, research performed by several different processors for development of an acceptable no-sugar frozen fruit has resulted in an unacceptable product. Processors do not believe a short term solution is feasible as their research requires long term studies because many of the problems with frozen fruit do not develop until the products have been in storage for a reasonable time.

     In addition to the challenges associated with processing frozen fruit without sugar, allowing SFAs to use frozen fruit with added sugar will make it less complicated for SFAs to meet meal pattern requirements, and also expand the types of frozen fruit allowable in school meals. It is also consistent with canned fruits since some added sugar is allowed in canned products. Additionally, the calorie limits for meals help preserve the integrity of the updated nutrition standards, as schools have to plan menus and select products carefully, including frozen fruit with added sugar, in order to be in compliance with the standards.

     For those reasons, FNS is making this flexibility permanent by including it in this final rule at 7 CFR 210.7(d)(1)(iii)(B). Because ongoing compliance with the meal patterns is assessed during administrative reviews, FNS is further extending this flexibility by including it in the final rule at 7 CFR 210.18(g)(2)(vi). When conducting administrative reviews, State agencies should consider any SFA compliant with the meal pattern requirements even if the SFA serves frozen fruit containing added sugar. This flexibility is also applicable to fruit offered in the School Breakfast Program.

I've heard this argument before when it comes to chocolate milk. Adding sugar makes it more appealing and therefore more kids will drink their milk. But is the trade off worth it? Using sugar to make something that was once fairly healthy into an appealing, not-so-healthy thing is the slippery slope that leads to bad health and obesity.

All of this has given me a headache. To start, my guess is that kids may not like the new healthier food (and therefore not eat it and call it too little food) because it is new to them and there is little nutrition education to support and encourage dietary changes in schools. No, not all kids require the same amount of calories – active kids need more, more sedentary children need less, but I don't think that this is the problem. 

And let's go back to the part where no one is reporting on the added sugar business. Could it be that those parents that are concerned about their kids getting enough food at lunch wouldn't sing praises for more sugar? Yes. Who would be happy about that? The above referenced food processors.

There are two senators patting themselves on the back over this. Senator Mark Pryor (D) of Arkansas and Senator John Hoeven (R) of North Dakota. These two gentleman worked on the Sensible School Lunch Act, a bipartisan bill that provides school districts with greater flexibility in implementing rules for the NSLP and School Breakfast Program.

North Dakota? Arkansas? Call me a pessimist if you must. North Dakota's biggest industry is agriculture, followed closely by food processing. They are the second largest producer of sugar beets and the state produces much of the country's grains along with corn and beans. Arkansas has agriculture as a leading industry as well. They are the largest producer of turkeys, chicken broilers and rice in the United States.

Everyone has something to gain. Maybe they tell themselves its a win/win? The states can make money selling their agriculture commodities as well as processing the food and making sure sugar remains an ever-present ingredient. Oh, and they can also make sure the kiddos are getting enough “healthy food” to eat and aren't going hungry? I'm left feeling like its a step backwards in encouraging kids to eat more fruits and vegetables.

We can do better than this!

The First Day of 2014

New Year's Resolutions?

When it comes to this blog and my Facebook page, my desire is to inform and also change how we think about our food choices. I also want you to consider the choices that are made for others, mainly children, but also the unemployed and under employed, the disabled, and the elderly. In fact, in the coming year, you will find that my advocacy focus will be children. This doesn't mean that you can't apply the information to your adult self. We should all do that, too.

I hope to find a way to better communicate my thoughts.  I have all of these facts and opinions and ideas swirling around in my head, but I haven't quite mastered how to refine that information and put it on the page.

One Mom's 2014 goals:

• Write more and better. I want this to interest you. I want you to see what I see and decide to take action in your own home, neighborhood, school district, work place, etc.
• Convince you that it is very wise to be informed and knowledgeable about what you eat and drink. You can't really making a choice if you don't have all the information.
• Fight childhood obesity.
• Continue to work with E's school district to create a healthier environment at school as well as before and after school.
• Support other programs that are working to help kids stay healthy.
• Fight childhood hunger.
• Touch base with the local food policy council and see how I can continue to contribute.
• Volunteer my time with local charities.
• Feed my family good food and get more exercise.
• Grow food on my patio.
• Play outside with the kids.
• Make connections with other people that are fighting the food fight. One Mom can get awfully lonely sometimes.

Beyond that I want to: take more pictures, read more books, become a better cook, take a trip to the beach with my family, be sweeter to my friends, take up yoga, take up running, be okay with imperfection, be more patient, buy a bicycle, sing more, dance more, love, love, and love.

I hope this year brings us all good health and happiness.  Let's see what happens next!

-Morgan

Sugar Beets and My Grandmothers

Remember the beets I failed to make tasty in that vibrant pink dip? I should probably try to mend my relationship with the root, as it is probably the reason I exist.

A series of events got me thinking about the place where my parents histories converged. One was a comment on my Facebook page. A friend, Sandy, noted that beets are the number one crop in her part if Colorado. Then a few nights ago, my second cousin posted a beautiful and stark article about Nebraska that was published in the New York Times. This led me to think about my grandmothers. These two women, Betty and Margaret, have had a profound impact on who I am today.

Besides my obsession with food, I am a genealogy buff. Betty was, too. It was her initial research that gave me a head start and ignited my desire to know more about my people. Who were they? Where did they come from? What did they face? 

On Betty's side, I learned about the Volga Germans.  To sum it up, these folks were ethnic Germans living along the Volga River in Russia.  In the 1760's, Catherine the Great actively recruited immigrants and promised them land. Her manifesto promised the immigrants that they could maintain their culture and traditions. Betty's ancestors, the Kleins and Ellenbergers lived in this area and maintained their language, food and religion. For many generations, these families lived and farmed the land. In the late 19th century, the Russian army needed more participants and the Volga German's right of exemption from military practice was revoked. This and other events led the Volga Germans to pick up and move again. They were agriculturally focused and many moved to the Dakotas, Colorado and Nebraska. The Ellenbergers and Kleins settled in Nebraska and farmed.

The crop that Nebraska was boasting to entice folks to move there? Sugar beets.

Earlier this year, when the 1940s census was released, I was so excited to see where my grandparents were living. I found Margaret, living with her parents and three sisters, on the outskirts of a small town in Nebraska. The Gallegos family lived in the camps set up on the edges of sugar beet crops. Margaret's parents, both Mexican immigrants, worked in these fields. Life was ridiculously difficult and the family lived in poverty.

It is in that small town that my parents met. Their families, made of immigrants from different parts of the world, were drawn to Nebraska and the work that sugar beets promised. My mother's grandmother lived a few steps away from my father's parents. There, in Nebraska, many generations of my family were born - including my sister and I.

I think about my grandmothers when I try to figure out what it is that makes me such a fighter. Why can't I just mind my own business instead of fighting against the issues that I find so unjust? The Volga Germans and the Mexicans, that's why. The Volga Germans had to have had a sense of adventure, right? They picked up and made new homes in new lands more than once. They were willing to strike out for a better opportunity for their families. My family still makes the food of these ancestors (cabbage burgers, anyone?). Betty was always ready to learn something new and to seek out new experiences. I could never win a debate with her because she was so well read and so thoughtful. She taught me the value of knowledge, of learning. She taught me to question instead of accept. Betty and Margaret both lived through hardships and came out stronger because of them. Margaret and her Mexican family faced racism and from what I hear in hushed voices, they were looked down upon. Again, my Mexican ancestors struck out for a better life in America. Margaret taught me to do what I thought was right, despite what other people may think. Her experiences showed me that I should judge people less and be compassionate more. She taught me the value of empathy and reminded me to put myself in other's shoes. She taught me the value of never giving up. We still cook her food, too. Nobody I know makes enchiladas the way my family does.

It is only upon recent reflection (this happens as you get older doesn't it?), that I realize that their lessons were with me all along. Taking a stand and fighting the good fight are in the genes. Facing down those that think you won't make it and using your own wits and intellect to prove them wrong? It's written in the stars.

So, yeah. I may have to give beets another chance.

Life Doesn't Always Go As Planned

This morning, while trying to balance too many things, I dropped a small container of salsa. It spilled on the ground. I stared at the spilled salsa for a few too many seconds. I told myself that this wasn't a sign. Just because I dropped the salsa, it didn't mean that today was going to go poorly. I told myself this. I tried really hard to believe it.

The District Health Council was to meet at 3:15 today.

At 2:58, I received a call that E was laying on the couch at day care, complaining of a stomach ache. I had to pick him up. My husband was at work. I called and left a message with the assistant superintendent to let everyone know that I would be late.

But E was feeling pretty warm and he had a rash on his stomach. That with stomach pains? He needed to see a doctor. My husband could leave early to take him, but how long would waiting at urgent care take? If it took too long, who would pick Baby O up from day care? How long would my meeting last? Surely not longer than 5pm?

I tried to make decisions quickly, but it just wasn't going to happen.  I called the district again at 3:45 - I wasn't going to make it to the meeting.

My son, by the way, is OK. His fever spiked in the waiting room. 103 degrees. The doctor called it a virus. Medicine for fever, medicine for rash. He came home hungry, which I took as a good sign. Right now he is content in the living room, watching a favorite television show. He tells me his stomach doesn't hurt anymore. I am so relieved that he will be OK and that the rash didn't turn out to be anything serious.  It makes me sad when my kids are sick and feel miserable. I always wish I could fix them up with a magic wand.

But...

I didn't make it to the meeting. I wasn't there.

What did they talk about? Are they convinced that this is necessary? Are they excited about The Alliance program? Did they take an honest look at the environment of their schools? Are we meeting again soon? Is there an action plan?

I wasn't there. I couldn't talk about food rewards, no recess punishments, pop tarts at daycare, school gardens, nutrition education, ice cream socials, or trans fats in frozen school lunches from Chicago. What did they talk about??? Did they touch on any of that? Did I lose my one opportunity?

I am disappointed. I need to go hug my son and remind myself that taking care of my kids is priority one and that it is alright to miss one thing to take care of something more immediate.  Tomorrow is another day, right?

Tomorrow is the Big Day

In late October, I wrote to the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of my oldest son's school district.  As I mentioned earlier, I found the district's wellness policy and read through it. I felt compelled to take this as far down the road as possible. 

The following is, in part, what I wrote in the email.

I am reaching out to both of you for a few reasons. First, I want you to know that I am dedicated to the good health of my children. We aren't perfect, but we do avoid fast food and many processed foods. We have treats from time to time, but E knows he isn't going to get candy every day. I find myself frustrated that E attending kindergarten has begun to undermine my carefully considered health lessons at home. To that end, I've done a lot of research and that has led me to see our community in a new light. Through my research, I have become passionate about the issues of childhood obesity and food insecurity. I found that in Kern County, 43.8% of 5^th, 7^th and 9^th graders were considered overweight or obese. I looked at the district's physical fitness testing outcomes and have seen that they are not much better than Kern County's average numbers. In addition, I've found studies that show kids pay more attention and do better in class when the extra sugar and other junk foods are eliminated from their diets. Moreover, kids in a healthy environment are more likely to come to class and less likely to be truant. I also read that 46.7% of students at (E's school) in 2011-2012 school year were enrolled in the free/reduced price lunch program. The food, in totality, that is served, offered and depended upon by your students, every day, matters. It might be the most important topic for you to consider because, in my mind, it might be a part of the solution to truancy, participation in the Breakfast and Lunch programs at school, student behavior, and your academic outcomes.

I share this with you because I am determined to make a difference. I'd like you to make a difference, too. Here is what I offered the district.

I would like to help you lead a Health Council or Committee. Perhaps this Council would start at the district level and then begin to involve groups specific to each school? Either way, I would very much like to lead the charge. I'd be happy to meet with one or both of you or your designee about how to go about the Council's creation. I should also add that I have been bold. There is absolutely no obligation, but I have signed up (E's school) with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. You have the ability to sign up the entire district as well. This non-profit was ranked 3^rd with www.myphilanthropedia.org in the area of National Childhood Nutrition/Health. The Alliance has several programs, including one for healthy schools. You can find their information at https://schools.healthiergeneration.org. I encourage you to look around their website, have a look at their programs and successes, and see if this would be a good fit for the District.  Thank you so much for your time and consideration. And thank you both for all you do for my son and the other children attending schools in the District.

There were a few brief emails back and forth that acknowledged my email and my concerns. I waited impatiently for a few weeks to hear a decision regarding my offer.  Then in the second week in November, the Assistant Superintendent emailed me to let me know that  they were in touch with key staff members to set a time for a council meeting. They had, in fact, signed up all the other schools in the district with The Alliance program!

I wanted to shout it from the rooftops! I wanted everyone to know that it was possible for one person to make changes! I told my family and my friends. I blathered on to my co-workers. I did it!! I was so excited that it took me several days to return the email. I couldn't find the words to describe how much this meant to me and how much gratitude I had that my words were heard and that we were going to give this a chance.

Well, tomorrow is that meeting.  I have the agenda. I know who is attending. I am nervous and excited. It feels like the first day at a new job. I'm ready to learn and discuss and absorb and I am ready to get to work. I don't know how this meeting will go. I'm worried that these district employees, with so much already on their plates (common core, anyone?), will look at me as more of a pain in their sides than someone that is trying to help them out. I hope they understand that I want them to be rockstars. I want them to succeed. I want them to be a great example of what can happen in this county.

I'm sharing this with you, because I need you to know that it is possible. You can use your voice and you can make a change for the better.  You should do this. Have I said this already? Food matters. What we put in our bodies and what we feed our children has so many ramifications for health, society, the earth. I want my kids to be healthy, but I've gone further. I want your kids to be healthy, too. I'll ask you again - are you with me?

Kale Chips

I've made kale chips before, but this time I wanted to try it with purple kale. I like the recipe at Smitten Kitchen. It is pretty simple and straight forward. The ingredients are few: kale, olive oil and sea salt. You could add other seasoning or maybe even Parmesan (note to self - try that next time!). I'm always on the lookout for new ways to eat veggies, especially greens, so that the family eats more servings.  E is really good about eating salads and and he loves collards and other cooked greens, but why not try chips? Don't most kids like chips??

Purple kale is more delicate than dinosaur or curly kale, so I only needed to bake these for 15 minutes at 300°F. The above recipe says 20 minutes, but I'd start checking on the chips at about 15 minutes since size and type of kale will make a difference in cooking time.

*Added bonus? After tossing the kale in the olive oil, my hands are softer!

Maybe this would be a good side dish for a school lunch menu? The prep takes the time, but I bet someone that is quicker with a knife than I am could chop up the kale quickly, then its just a matter of tossing it in oil and a little salt, then into the oven to bake! Of course, the school would need a kitchen with an oven...

Unfortunately, that beautiful purple color didn't stay. Live and learn right? While the chips aren't outright ugly, they aren't what I hoped for.  None the less, they are still delicious!  E, my husband and I all packed some in our lunches today.  Last week, I gave E some purple kale in a salad for lunch. When he got home, he told me that he didn't like it.  Fair enough, kale can be really bitter when it is raw. Even though I find the purple kale more palatable than other varieties, it is probably still an acquired taste when eating it raw. This morning, E tried these chips and loved them! Mom wins!

The Lexicon of Sustainability

In my travels across the internet, I found a website that has really left an impression on me. There are a lot of really excellent groups doing amazing work to spread the word on the need for nutrition education in schools, the dynamic between obesity and hunger, and sustainable food practices.

The Lexicon of Sustainability, is a project that's premise is that people can’t be expected to live more sustainable lives if they don’t know the basic principles that define sustainability. They explain these terms in beautiful and dynamic ways. It is perhaps the lost photographer in me that is so drawn to the work that filmmaker/photographer Douglas Gayeton and producer Laura Howard-Gayeton are doing. Right now, this group is in the process of creating 20 films that will explain these terms and show you the people that are affected by them.

Here's why I think this is important and beautiful and something worth supporting:
I was once, and still do find myself, confused by what I see in the grocery store. A cage free egg sounds good right? Free! That should mean that the chicken isn't stuck up in a cage somewhere, unable to move. Right? I've seen the videos of the living conditions of factory farm animals (have you? google it if you are ready to feel sick to your stomach). Cage free chickens get sunshine and physical movement. Right? Well, no, as it turns out. Just because the chicken isn't in a cage, doesn't mean it gets to see daylight and stretch its legs. Well, certainly we should go with a free range egg, then? The words free and range certainly sound to me like the chicken is in the idyllic farm setting. Oops, no again. The USDA regulations only indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside. There are no specifications for the size of said range or the duration that Miss Chicken is out on that range. The Lexicon of Sustainability has taught me that I should look for pasture raised eggs if the health of the chicken is important to me. Oh, and if you weren't sure about that either, you should very much be concerned about the health of those chickens.

Those are only a few examples of the many terms that are explained by this project. What is a CSA? GMO? How do you define food security or fair trade? Does your beef come from a grass fed, antibiotic free cow? Should it? Why? Moreover, what does sustainability really mean anyway?

Education, education, education. The beautiful simplicity of knowing the right words and their definitions. Look, I'm working on my words and using my voice. That's why I started this whole thing.  On this one though, please see for yourself.  As I mentioned above, this group is in the process of making 20 shorts. They don't have enough funds.  At the moment, I don't have enough either, so my contribution is spreading the word. You can look at the campaign here. For now, watch this video:

School Wellness Policy

After talking to E's teacher about food rewards in the classroom, I began to wonder how it was alright, in general, to give kids unhealthy food at school. I started looking at the school lunch menu (which I'll get in to in a later post) and wondered what the regulations were for food provided by schools.

In my research, I found that schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program (or any other USDA run nutrition program - most do), are required to have a wellness policy. According to the USDA Team Nutrition website, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 "requires each local educational agency participating in the National School Lunch Program or other federal Child Nutrition programs to establish a local school wellness policy for all schools under its jurisdiction. Each local education agency must designate one or more local education agency officials or school officials to ensure that each school complies with the local wellness policy."

At the very least, a school wellness policy is supposed to have goals for promoting good nutrition, nutrition education and physical activity. The nutrition guidelines should promote student health and wellness and work towards reducing childhood obesity. The policy should also have provisions for teachers, the school board, school administrators, students, parents and the general public to participate in developing and updating the policy.  Moreover, the public is to be informed and updated on the policy contents.

So why didn't I know anything about it? I want to participate! Back to the internet. I looked at a lot of the school district websites in my area. Many of them included their school breakfast and lunch menus along with their wellness policy and other nutrition and physical activity information. My son's school district did not have this information readily available.  More emails! Two questions - where can I find the district wellness policy and how can I join the council that reviews it? I emailed E's teacher, she passed along my inquiry to the principal. The principal suggested I contact the district nurse. The district nurse confirmed that the policy and council existed, but didn't tell me how to find the policy or join the council. So I emailed the food services supervisor. She was very helpful in many regards, but didn't tell me how to get a copy of the policy or how to join the review council. I emailed the after school care director. (Another future post about the after school "snacks" served). We even spoke on the phone. She, too, was incredibly helpful in many ways and even volunteered to get more information and get back to me about the wellness policy and council. Most of the people I contacted were incredibly helpful and very receptive to my concerns. But... I still didn't have the information I was looking for.

*Sigh*

A few days later, I found the district wellness policy after searching through the school board policies online. If your child's school doesn't include the wellness policy online along with the school menus, then you will likely locate it with the rest of the school board policies. I encourage you to read your child's school wellness policy (well, read all the policies, actually). I've read a few local district policies and there is some variation. Some policies are very basic and only reiterate the USDA guidelines. Some are more expansive and address food in the classroom, food rewards, and recess requirements. I found that our district's wellness policy was pretty basic and there is room for improvement. If you want to make changes towards a healthier school, start with this policy. Parental involvement is included in the provisions!  

I've talked to a lot of parents and read a lot of articles, blog entries, Facebook rants, etc. It is ok for us to complain to each other about these things, it is much better to be informed and speak up if we don't like what we see.  We have to be involved and knowledgeable and vocal about what happens at school.  Our kids deserve it!

A Beautiful Disaster

This was not the post I thought I was going to write.

I was looking forward to telling you all about this awesome dip I found on Weelicious and how excited E and Baby O were about eating something bright pink. I was excited about eating pink food, too! The recipe seemed easy enough and the ingredients were just right. Beets! Beets are beautiful and pack a nutrient rich punch. And did I mention the dip is bright pink? Gorgeous food to entice my children (and my husband and I) to eat more veggies? How could any of that be bad? Eat a rainbow and all that, right?

But, I must admit failure.

It's not the fault of the recipe. I told you I'm a beginner in the kitchen, right? How big is a medium beet anyway? I roasted the beet with a clove a garlic, per the recipe. The thing was tender when I pulled it out an hour-ish later. I even resisted the urge to spread the roasted garlic clove on a bit of crusty bread and eat it immediately! Everything was going well! Toss beet, garlic, beans, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in the food processor. Good, simple ingredients. Simple! As the foods mingled, the dip took shape and it was flat out beautiful. Exciting!!!

But, then I tasted it. I.don't.like.beets. Iron-rich indeed! Maybe it was just my taste buds? I made my husband try it. He didn't gag, but said it was missing something. What am I? Top chef? I don't know what its missing!  So I tasted it again. Maybe more garlic? So I added some (not roasted - it was late!) minced garlic. Blend. Taste again.

No. Just no. Before I tossed the fuchsia loveliness in the trash, I asked my husband if he'd like me to save some for his lunches this week.  Well, no. He did not.

So there you go. Never take yourself too seriously and never judge a book by its cover. Errr, never judge a beet by its color. No, that's not working either.

Experimenting in the kitchen is fun!

Food as a reward in class?

Call me naive. When E started kindergarten this year, it never crossed my mind that I'd have to worry about what he would be eating. My husband and I have always been conscientious about what our kids eat.

As the first few weeks of school progressed, E would report on how he was doing on the class behavior chart. If he moved up, he was rewarded with gummy bears. He would also get gummy bears for doing well at a class game and he would get gummy bears if his teacher noticed him doing a good deed.  I complained to my sister and she mentioned that my niece was also getting a food reward for similar reasons (skittles, in her case).  We were both pretty irritated because our kids don't get treats like that on a daily basis and we don't use food to reward behavior.

After a few weeks of complaining, I grew the courage to email E's teacher.  Among other things, I wrote, "My hope is that you, and all the teachers at (my son's school), can find ways to reward the students with non-food rewards.  My husband and I would like to be able to support you in these efforts.  We very much live by a budget and can fully understand the financial strains that you, (the school) and the (the district) may face. To that end, I’ve attached a list of student reward ideas that are free. There are a lot of resources online that advocate for healthier alternatives for children. The list I’ve attached is from www.100daysofrealfood.com."

The list I attached can be found here. After some back and forth emails, E's teacher responded favorably. I didn't want E to feel left if he was the only kid that was opting out on the gummy bears and explained that. We eventually agreed on a compromise, wherein E's teacher would offer the kids a choice between the gummy and a non-food reward.  It wasn't my ideal result, as I would like for food rewards to disappear altogether. However, at the very least, E would have a choice that would hopefully be influenced by our parenting. As an unexpected bonus, E's teacher let me know that she had printed out the list of non-food reward ideas and placed them in each of the teacher's mailboxes. Woohoo! Maybe the other teacher's would use some of these ideas, too! I really was pleased to this teacher's openness and I was impressed with her quick responses.  Communicating with your kid's teachers can be rewarding and so important to making sure you are comfortable with leaving your kids in the care of someone else.

It's been two months since the emails. Lately, E has told me that he isn't being offered a choice anymore.  I suppose I'll have to contact his teacher again to verify and reiterate the point.  In all honesty, I don't like being a nag but E's health is too important to me.  I'll press on.

What do you think? Am I making this teacher's job harder than it needs to be? Do you mind when your kids report getting candy or other treats as a reward for their good behavior? Maybe this is a non-issue in your kids classroom?  I'd love to hear how its going for other parents.

Stress at Work, Worry at Home

I don't intend to write a lot about what I do 40 hours a week. Its not the focus of this blog. However, work has been crazy and stressful this week and it hasn't left much of my brain space open for writing in this blog.

Add to that, my husband has been sick and finally went to the doctor yesterday to find out he has pneumonia. Taking care of him and our two kids has taken up much of my time.  My poor husband. He has antibiotics now and it seems to be helping him. This morning, he is already feeling better.

I have been on Twitter though. I have new followers! Woohoo! It still amazes me that it is now so easy to connect to people and organizations so easily. If anyone is reading this, head over to Twitter and follow me -@onemomforchange.

Thanksgiving Lunch at Daycare

Baby O's daycare provided a Thanksgiving meal yesterday for the kiddos and their parents.

The daycare center is actually a private preschool that also provides infant care. At their back to school night, the director emphasized how important it is to her to feed the kids fresh, nutritious food. I was so happy to hear this!  They have an onsite cook that makes meals fresh every day from mostly organic ingredients. They also make a point to never use food as a reward or punishment and they recognize that a child might need to be exposed to new foods many times before they will try it and enjoy it.  I love their food philosophy!

Knowing this, I was excited to see what they'd serve for this Thanksgiving meal. They had turkey, of course, with not-too-sweet cranberry sauce. They also had roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts. For the little ones, they had mashed sweet potatoes and mashed cauliflower.  Baby O loved the veggies! I am not a fan of turkey, so I stuck to the veggie sides. And I'll be honest, this was the first time I've tried Brussels sprout. I figured I needed to try new foods if I'm constantly asking my kids to do the same. I liked them! They offered desserts as well, but we didn't have any.

It was so nice to spend time with my little guy during the work day and it was made even better by sharing a good meal!

Just One Mom

Food.

I have two sons - a kindergartner and a very-soon-to-be one year old.  I have always paid attention to the food that I offer them. I am not perfect.  In fact, my own dietary habits fall just short of the standards I have for my children. There is a bit of parental hypocrisy there, and I'm working on that.  As my son started kindergarten this year, I was determined to send him with a healthy lunch from home.  Without looking at the hot lunch menu, I'd assumed that it would be bad.  When I did read the menu, I was disappointed with the offerings.  When I looked even closer to the items and found their ingredient listings, I was appalled. Very little fresh food, nothing local, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils - the list of offenses got to be too long.

This really bothers me.

Food.

The newest health data at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps shows that the county I live in, Kern County, ranks 54 out of 57 ranked counties in California for health outcomes.  We rank poorly in adult obesity, physical inactivity, and 58% of our restaurants are fast food restaurants.  Kern County also has an alarmingly high rate of food insecurity. Kern County is a very agriculturally productive area.  How is it possible that so many people suffer from hunger? Why are so many residents overweight or obese? How do both of these issues exist together in one place?

This really bothers me, too.

I started thinking about these things and started connecting dots. I wondered if this was bothering anyone else.   I talked to other parents. My child wasn't the only one receiving a food reward (ranging from gummy bears to candy) for doing well in class. My son wasn't the only getting questionable snacks during after school care.  What were those parents doing? Strategies ranged from talking kids about healthy food to outright forbidding kids to accept the junk food to giving in and letting kids have what seemed to be well accepted and established food rules in the elementary school environment. I found it all very frustrating and I was very uncomfortable with the changes in my kid's diet.  As I thought more and researched more and learned more and talked more, I started to believe that I needed to do something about it.  But what could I do?

Food.

And now for a bit of a disclosure.  I am part of that percentage of overweight adults.  I contribute to that statistic.  I was a chubby kid growing up and I've always self-identified with being overweight. I've lost a little and gained a little more and lost a little.  Since my first son was born, my weight has remained fairly stable.  I haven't gained more, but I have lost much either. Oh, and I'm not very handy in the kitchen. My husband does most of the cooking, but I'm learning.  I've been picking up skills, but it doesn't come naturally to me.

I am not perfect. This also bothers me.

I want to be a good example to my children.  I want my family to be healthy. I want more for my community.  Issues related to food are so complex and they can be so emotionally and politically charged.  Its a touchy subject. That isn't going to stop me anymore though.  These things matter.  Food matters.

I'm just one mom, but I'm going to make a change. It's going to start with me and end some time in a better future. Are you with me?