An Evening of Stomach Pains

It was no surprise that Food, Inc. was a moving documentary full of shocking and interesting content. Much of it was no revelation, as my work with Noble Noggin has revealed much of the details to me already. However, nothing prepared me for how I would feel as I watched in horror.

Are you annoyed, saddened or outraged by any of the following?
- Kids dying because of politics and/or profits
- Grown ups dying because of politics and/or profits
- Farmers being victims of injustice, losing their livelihood and friends
- Economic factors dictating a person's likelihood of becoming obese and suffering from related diseases.
- Animals suffering profusely from genetic alteration.
- Animals suffering profusely for profit.
- Severe abuse of animals.
- People being treated as commodities, property, and from it suffering severely.

If so, you can rent Food, Inc. on demand through Amazon.com for only $2.99. Tell me what you think.

Whole Foods Resources

THE LUNCH BOX - this is a very cool tool with daily menus, grocery list ideas, etc.

A Case Study: Lunch Matters The story of the Berkeley School Lunch Initiative (a .pdf Adobe Acrobat File)

This paper describes the history and context in which the School Lunch Initiative was conceived, the changes made in the lunchroom, and the challenges faced in implementing these changes. More specifically, it covers the details of: the cost of a reinvented school lunch; issues related to procuring organic, local, and seasonal foods; and human resources and training issues involved in transitioning to a scratch-cooking model. Cost, procurement, and human resources are interrelated, but for ease of reading, are divided them into separate chapters. At the end of each chapter, there is a summary of what has been learned, and some “food for thought” for educators, administrators, and community members looking to implement similar changes in their schools.

Mapping School Food: A Policy Guide by the Public Health Advocacy Institute (.pdf)

This policy guide examines situations faced by key decision-makers who draft and/or enforce school food policy. The legal context of school food is an interplay of federal and state laws combined with local rules or policies. These laws must be examined in a realworld context that considers the effects of the social environment, politics, economics, and practical constraints. Further, they affect a diverse class of decision-makers, each with different roles and goals such as school administrators, food services, teachers, health care practitioners, students, parents, the food industry, and vendors.

School Lunch Revolution Whole Foods take on the situation

Resources several resources through the School Lunch Revolution program from Whole Foods

It's a big job, and will be nice when there's a way to streamline change like this. There is no question that with better nutrition, young people who will soon be running things will be healthier, happier and smarter.

In fact, the sooner we all start eating better, we'll reap amazing results.

My Most Important and Favorite Job

"Mama, can I please have another soda?"
"No - I'm sorry. I love you."
"But why?"
"Because. What is my most important and favorite job? Raising you to become a great grown-up."

This conversation has been replayed so many times at our house that my kids who are now 12, 15 and 17, help me complete that final sentence.

Lamenting about the ailments of our society and the toxins of today's culture is as common to my conversations as they seem to be to just about anyone. I've also praised the undeserving and been sucked into the distractions of living in 2009. Blogging right now instead of working or cleaning my bathroom is a great example of my succumbing to time stealers.

In addition to caring for my family and worshipping God, my head often spins when considering the people in need all over. From the pain around the globe to the brokenness down the street: we are all personally affected by the great needs of human suffering. We should be. Some of us have been there.

So, at times like this when my desire to help becomes almost overwhelming, somewhat like a whirlpool spinning, sucking me in, then some nugget draws to the center and rises to a calm surface. The "whirlpool" theme tends, for me, to be caring for children - from birth to adulthood.

Our family is very blessed with great friends and a fantastic support system. We have our own battles to wage, but we have a team willing to scramble at any moment to hit it head on. My pressing concern is for the families that need more teammates and equipment.