Teach the Children (to Eat) Well

It seems ironic–New York City, especially for people who are not from here, is known for being huge and crowded and possibly unsanitary. It doesn’t exactly evoke images of healthy living. But in the last few years, New York has set the standard for cities across the US in terms of public health initiatives. New York was one of the first to ban smoking in public places a few years ago, and last year, NYC was the first city to ban trans fats.

Most recently, Governor Spitzer’s Healthy Schools Act was passed by the NY State Assembly. The act will limit on-campus beverages to water, milk, and unsweetened juice, encourage increased collaboration between the Department of Health officials and nutrition and physical education teachers, instate school breakfast programs in middle and high schools, and “require the annual development of local school wellness policies to address health and nutrition in schools and to consider expanding breakfast, lunch and recess to ensure that sufficient time is provided to eat nutritious meals and participate in physical activity.”

Sounds pretty good! Now, if only all that nutritious food was to be sustainably-produced and locally sourced. Maybe the lunch lady needs to take a peak at the Eat Well Guide.