Healthy Food for Our Children In School

“We started with food and agreed that the contemporary mechanistic agricultural model would, in
the long run, fail to feed the planet. Without healthy soils, human economics cannot be sustained for long.”
-- John Todd

"No nation is any healthier than its children-- the well nourished school child is a better student. He is healthier and more alert. He is developing good food habits that will benefit him for the rest of his life. In short, he is a better asset for his country in every way." -- Harry Truman 

Our Mission

This website has been created by a coalition of parents, students, and community members in Muskegon County, Michigan under the name the Healthy Food for Our Children in School Task Force.

The Task Force seeks to improve student performance and foster lifelong health through providing healthy, locally grown food to all Muskegon County school children whenever they are in school.

To that end, the Task Force will produce a Business Plan for presentation to Muskegon County residents in early 2010 that details how to offer county children school meals, year-round that…

  • Serve 100% locally grown food raised to National Organic Program standards or the equivalent year-round,
  • Increase the offering of locally grown fruits and vegetables, nutritionally dense, minimally processed and unrefined food,
  • Reduce the offering of foods with trans and saturated fats and added sweeteners,
  • Eliminate foods produced with hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotic use, additives, and pesticides.

BEVERAGE & SNACK CAMPAIGN

On June 23, 2010 we began a campaign to change the nature and quality of the drinks and snacks served in Muskegon County public and private schools. The changes we propose include the following.

Muskegon County School vending machines shall ONLY offer the following drinks and snacks.

 

  • Water
  • Reduced or nonfat milk (including soy or cow's milk). NO Flavored milks.
  • One hundred (100%) percent fruit and vegetable juices in single serving containers.
  • Fruit based drinks containing one hundred (100%) percent fruit juice with no caloric or non-caloric sweeteners added.
  • All drinks containing non-caloric sweeteners (diet drinks) are prohibited.
  • All drinks containing caffeine are prohibited.

 

Snacks sold in Muskegon County school vending machines shall meeting the following criteria.

 

  • Not more than thirty-five (35%) percent of total weight shall be from sugar and caloric sweeteners with the exception of fruits and vegetables that have not been processed with added sweeteners or fats.
  • Lot more than thirty-five (35%) percent of total weight shall be from fat with the exception of seeds and nuts; snack mixes and other foods of which nuts are part must meet the thirty-five (35%) requirement.
  • Not more than ten (10%) percent of calories shall be from saturated fat.
  • Shall not contain transfats that are added during processing.
  • At least one (1) item meets the snack criteria in each vending machine shall meet the FDA definition of "low sodium" (less than 140 mg per serving).

Process

Membership on the task force is open to all Muskegon County residents.

Beginning September 29, 2009 meetings will be held at Orchard View Community Education in their office at #1074 Shonat Road, just off of Apple. Shonat Road is with 1/2 block of Apple's intersection with Route 31 -- on the South Side of Apple. The office is on Ada Avenue, 50 yards east of its intersection with Shonat.  If you get lost or have problems call Chris Bedford's cell at 231-670-4817.

 

 

Schedules, agendas, and detailed notes of every meeting will be posted on this website along with relevant scientific articles, studies, and media coverage. Our goal is operate the Task Force with total transparency to allow all concerned citizens an opportunity to participate to the extent they are able. If you have questions please contact Chris Bedford by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or call him at 231-893-3937 (office) or 231-670-4817 (mobile).

 

 

Check out MEETING NOTES for a Report of the Farm2School Campaign's recent tour of Kyle Fiebig's FFA Program in Montague. Pictures and description are included.

This website was developed through a grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and contributions from parents, teachers and school employees, farmers, and other individuals concerned about our children's diet in school.