Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Over the last 20 years, the number of overweight children in the U.S. has increased more than 50 percent. These children are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other serious health problems.

There are several reasons for America’s expanding waistline, but one of the most important factors for children and young adults is the low quality and non-nutritious food being served in many schools and colleges.

More and more schools are contracting with major soft drink and fast food companies. In exchange for sorely needed funds, these corporations can sell, advertise and promote their products to children in the school.

In an effort to stop this unhealthy trend, a growing number of parents, students and school administrators are working to bring farm fresh, local food back to the cafeteria or dining hall.

In addition, teachers and school officials are realizing that most children have lost their connection with food and the land, so various efforts are underway to expose children to nutritious food, including gardening programs where children grow and then prepare the food they harvest. Teachers are also incorporating sustainable food into their school curriculums.

In this section, we offer you a glimpse into what’s being done around the country. Why not try these ideas at your local school?

Teacher Resources
Food is a familiar topic to any student and can serve as a fun and interesting subject for learning math, language, science and more. Visit this section for lesson plans, ideas and resources to bring food and agriculture education to any classroom.

Cafeterias and Dining Halls
From elementary school through the university level, more and more schools are taking an active interest in providing sustainable food to students. There are national campaigns to improve school lunches, efforts to have local, sustainable food served in cafeterias, and efforts to connect schools with local farmers. Find out what you can do at your child’s or your own school to help support sustainable agriculture.

School Gardens and Food Projects
To help children learn about food, some schools have started their own school gardens, where children plant, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables. Some programs even provide kitchens so the children can learn how to cook the food that they raise.

Educational Programs and Centers
Find educational centers and sustainable agriculture programs for teachers, students and families.