Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Molly de Aguiar, Program Associate

For every parent of school-aged children, this time of year introduces new and strange words to your vocabulary, like “golden potato rounds,”  “popcorn chicken bites,” and “pizza sticks.” If these school lunch concoctions strike fear in your heart, you’re not alone.

As rates of childhood obesity and diabetes continue to rise at an alarming pace, Slow Food USA is leading the fight against junk food and overly processed food in our school cafeteria lunches. On Monday, September 7 (Labor Day), they are sponsoring a nationwide “Eat-In” day of action, demanding that Congress set higher standards for school lunches when they reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act this fall. The Child Nutrition Act governs the National School Lunch Program, which serves more than 30 million children every school day.

If you live in central or northern New Jersey, you can join the Slow Food of Northern New Jersey‘s Eat-Ins in Newark, Montclair, and Morristown. The Eat-Ins are an opportunity to show your support for better school lunches as well as a chance to come together with your community and share good food.

There are nearly 300 eat-in events scheduled nationwide. To find one near you, or to get involved, visit the Slow Food USA Time for Lunch website, where you can also read their platform and call to Congress to invest more in children’s health through better school lunches.

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In the spirit of the new year, when we often find ourselves thinking about our health and our eating habits, it seems only appropriate to spread the word that Slow Foods of Northern New Jersey, who was very helpful in identifying local foods vendors for the 12th Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, and the Morris County Historical Society are hosting “Local Harvest: Farms, Food and Family” on Saturday, January 17th at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown.

Meet local farmers, buy fresh meat, poultry, eggs, bread and prepared foods from local food artisans. Learn about community supported agriculture and how you can buy a share in a local farm for an affordable price. There will be activities for kids such as butter making and learning how to plant a vegetable garden, as well as cooking demonstrations by area chefs for the whole family.

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