Meeting: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at Orchard View High School

Present: Doris Rucks, Diane Miller, Isabel Blake-Evans, Erik Neering, Tony Gale-Butto, Kellie Gale-Butto, Doug Wood, Dawn Auch, Spencer Norman, Floyd Cook, Jr., Chris Bedford.

We viewed a 3 minute FIRST DRAFT version of our September 21, 2009 presentation for Healthy Food in School Day. This presentation, prepared by Chris Bedford, needed decisions from the group before it could be finished. The presentation is targeted at middle school children. Our initial outreach campaign is based on educating children about local healthy food under the general theme of "Eat for Success".

Dawn Auch, a middle school teacher in the Orchard View district, was particularly helpful.  Her input helped us stay on target for middle schoolers. Isabel Blake-Evans, Doug Wood and Erik Neering talked about existing student advisory groups to school food service directors and how our campaign might help and focus this activity. Here is a summary of our decisions.

1. The DVD will focus on the questions students should ask about their food. 

2. We will NOT frame the questions in our terms. We will suggest middle schoolers ask, "Who grew this food?" "Where was it grown?" "Who has touched this food?" "What is in this food for me?" "How was it grown?" "What happens if you DON'T eat right?"

3. Floyd Cook summarized and focused our discussion with the thought that "we are proposing to use food decisions as a way of teaching critical thinking." This insight from Floyd continues our progress towards a campaign that focuses on education and kids, not the nutrition related diseases that are pandemic in schools today. Food is a way to teach critical thinking, to learn about and to refine personal values and community values, and help kids make positive personal decisions.

4. Dawn Auch noted that in Orchard View middle schools, there is a 30 minute period, right after lunch that would be perfect for presentation of the DVD and to begin its accompanying discussion.

5. Isabel Blake-Evans suggested we prepare materials on food and critical thinking for September 21st to send home to parents for the day including what to feed kids before important days like MEAP testing.

6. Erik Neering noted that Chartwell is moving away from canned foods to frozen and fresh in an effort to improve nutrition.

7. Kellie and Tony Gale-Butto noted that middle schoolers are very concerned about appearance. "Zits and frizzy hair". Tony suggested "Eating to look your best" should be included.

8. Kellie Gale-Butto mentioned that her children were constantly offered candy as rewards in school. We discussed making this a separate focus in our campaign.

9. We decided not to specifically mention "humane treatment" in our material. Dawn Auchs suggested middle schoolers will bring it up themselves. It is a hot issue in this age group. 

Other items. "Supersize Me!" has been shown in school (edited version). And Dawn has shown the Appleton Wisconsin video to teachers in her middle school.  

We adjourned at 8:45pm. Next meeting, Tuesday, August 25th at Orchard View High School at 7pm.