Situation Analysis

The Problem 

Children in school systems are eating unhealthy processed foods everyday, and not getting the nutrients  required to be healthy . Americas children are increasingly afflicted with adult diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension as a direct result of their diet and lifestyle. Schools face economic challenges in providing healthful and nutritious foods to students.

The Opportunity

The opportunity is to join with local farmers producing organic foods directly in the local community. The local farmers providing food for school lunches will allow the students to get the healthy nutrients that they need in their daily routines. Getting these required nutrients will help the students improve behavior and jump start a healthy lifestyle. Food offered in schools today is provided by large food factories that are cheap, but very low quality. It meets USDA guidelines but offers very little in way of nutrients and taste. 

This will also support the local economy instead of the schools buying institutional food they will be putting the money to the local farmers boosting the local revenue. Keeping the money local will help the schools become more self sufficient and less dependent on imports from large food institutions. The New Economics Foundation, an independent economic think tank based in London, compared what happens when people buy produce at a supermarket vs. a local farmer's market or community supported agriculture (CSA) program and found that twice the money stayed in the community when folks bought locally. "That means those purchases are twice as efficient in terms of keeping the local economy alive," says author and researcher David Boyle. 

Perceptions of our children school lunches need to be addressed within the adult public, and the school systems. Because ingredients are so cheap, distributors can offer schools rebates that can amount to as much as 50%. This is a powerful incentive to turn a blind eye to what actually is being served. This is not acceptable when we look at some the effects of synthetic food additives and preservatives have on the youth such as learning deficits, aggression, attention deficits, cancer, cell damage, headaches, DNA damage, tumors, and much more. 

The Competition 

Are schools and local communities already trying to solve the problem and are there solutions successful? No known communities are partnering with local farmers to create this multi-solutional idea. Other places are trying though witch shows the importance of the problem and the need for a sustainable solution. 

Physicians Committee 

www.pcrm.org

The Healthy School Meals Act (H.R. 4870) will improve children’s eating patterns by encouraging the inclusion of healthful plant-based options in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. This important legislation will introduce plant-based foods to schools, increase the availability and affordability of these foods, and provide incentives for schools to provide daily plant-based options. The Act will also remove restrictions on providing nondairy milk alternatives with school lunches, improving the nutrition of millions children who currently lose out on vital nutrients because they are lactose intolerant, have allergies, or choose not to drink milk for other reasons.

Schoolhouse Fare 

www.schoolhousefare.com

Schoolhouse Fare is a dynamic company that presents your school with an innovative solution to provide healthy popular lunch choices for your students. At no cost to your school, we offer our school lunch program as a viable alternative to full service cafeterias and school managed lunch programs. To facilitate our solution, the lunch program features a convenient and user friendly online lunch order and payment program. The automation broadens the variety of nutritious choices on the menu so that families can create an economical lunch that their students will enjoy. To provide these quality lunches, popular family restaurants have been carefully selected to prepare and deliver the fresh lunches raising the bar over menus of processed foods. Currently Schoolhouse Fare is serving schools in Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina.

Appleton,Wisconsin Central Alternative School 

www.feingold.org/PF/wisconsin1

Appleton, Wisconsin initiated a five year program to healthy food in area schools. The goal was to show that fresh, nutritious food can make a real difference in a students behavior. 

Chefs move to schools 
www.chefsmovetoschools.org
its goal of solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. This website creates a platform for chefs and schools to create partnerships in their communities with the mission of collaboratively educating kids about food and healthy eating.

Let's Move 
www.letsmove.gov
The Partnership for a Healthier America fills a unique niche among childhood obesity initiatives across the United States. In collaboration with Let’s Move!, the Partnership will work alongside the Federal government to build target industry-specific solutions to fight obesity that can be measured and tracked. Rather than award grants, engage in policy discussions, or develop programmatic activities, the Partnership concentrates on mobilizing leadership from across sectors and at every level to take action that can have a significant impact on organizational goals.