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Schools and Food bans

© Bob Ewing

This past week the weather turned warm, then cold and then warm again. Melting and freezing has rendered the roads and sidewalks slippery. I have had one fall so far and know others who have either had minor fender benders or have slipped themselves.

Today, Spring is in the air. I know, it is weeks away but well, my first seeds arrived this morning and I've agreed to get going.

I am revamping my indoor garden this yar. The cherry tomatoes are back. I purchased an organic variety from Terra Edibles. This is one of my favourite seed sources. They sell heritage and organic seeds. The tomatoes will go in the living room window with the beans and basil.

Richters is another excellent supplier. I now have borage, basil, cilantro, chives, hyssop, black hollyhock and parsely. I am planning a larger planting this Spring and will have access to a greenhouse for the very first time.

I'd like to turn our attention to the issue of food bans and public schools. The following comments and their sources shed some light on this complex issue:

"Sales of Sodas and Junk Food Banned on School Campuses.

The Seattle School Board has unanimously approved a comprehensive and far-reaching set of nutrition-related policies designed to provide students with healthy food and beverage choices during the school day.

Specifically, the policies will ban sales of all foods containing high levels of sugar and fat, improve the quality and appeal of school meal programs, and prohibit contracts with beverage vendors for "exclusive pouring rights."

These policies are amongst the strongest in the country, and confirm the Board's commitment to eliminating barriers to learning by creating a healthy nutrition environment in all 100 schools."

http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/seattleban090604.cfm

"SODA BANS, FARM-TO-SCHOOL, AND FAST FOOD IN HOSPITALS: AN AGENDA FOR ACTION

In the last year, the focus on fast food and the obesity crisis has generated a series of government and industry responses that underline the impact of the research by Marion Nestle, Eric Schlosser, and others about the role of the food industry in contributing to negative health outcomes.

This research has also been complemented by action - organizing at the community, school district, regional and state-wide level to change policies, introduce innovative programs, and ultimately challenge a fast food culture that has been aggressively shaped and promoted by food industry interests."

http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/cfj/resources/APHA_Talk.htm"

Questions and Answers About Food Allergy

School bans nuts, beans, fruits with pits

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