The Nutrition Center
Local Schools go on a Food Adventure
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Students at Monument Valley Middle School, Mount Everett Middle School, Muddy Brook Elementary School, Undermountain Elementary School and New Marlborough Central School are discovering that food can be adventurous. Throughout the school year The Nutrition Center conducts an in-school nutrition education program called Food Adventures in collaboration with the Berkshire Co-op Market in Great Barrington for our local schools. Food Adventures is staffed by Robert Hoechster, registered dietician and nutrition educator at The Nutrition Center and Jenny Schwartz, education & outreach coordinator at the Berkshire Co-op Market.
The program educates students about nutrition, healthy food choices and meal preparation in a fun, hands-on classroom environment. Robert and Jenny have worked with over 600 students so far.
During the Food Adventures classes students work in teams to prepare a healthy mini-meal or snack while learning food and kitchen safety, nutrition and science, the value of local farms and food producers in our community, and how to make healthy food choices. The classes are standards-based and interdisciplinary in nature, incorporating health, math, reading, chemistry, art, geography and sensory awareness. “Cooking with children builds the students’ confidence as they feel empowered to create healthy meals for themselves,” Jenny said. Robert added, “We also want to intervene early to help the kids strengthen the connection between the food they eat and their life-long health.”
Just this week Robert and Jenny received an email from grateful parent Corey Sprague: “My son came home the other day with all of the wonderful goodies and information you passed along. As I was dropping off a (healthy) snack for MCAS today, I saw you back in the school again, with your cook-plates and various supplies. It can’t be easy, but this is a wonderful thing to be giving the kids. Thank you all so much!”
