Chef Transforms City School's Diet (Memphis)

[Celebration]

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/chef-transforms-city-school's-diet-rpt-20120502

With some of the richest soil in the nation and a temperate climate, the Mid-South used to be centered around farming. But, for decades our school children have been eating frozen food.

In Memphis City Schools that has changed, because of the vision of a chef from New Orleans. Seasonal menus are now featuring local products, farm fresh veggies, organic produce, and slow roasted meats.

"You can taste the difference on your plate," says Chef Anthony Geraci.

His kitchen is the Central Nutrition Center for Memphis City Schools. Geraci brings fresh, organic, homemade food to cafeterias all over Memphis.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Rec post

[dballance]

2. Wow that is great. He is doing something good for students and the district

Hope the GOP doesn't catch on because that doesn't fit in with their desire to destroy all public education.

[AC_Mem]

8. Boy did you hit the nail on the head!

Let's keep this a wonderful secret before the GOP poops all over it....

Annette
proud "Mimi" to 2 Memphis City School grandchildren

[LASlibinSC]

3. Thank you!

Great article! Just think how great it would be if more school districts did this. I help a local elementery school with a small garden. Last year we had so much come in that we sent some home with the kids. Once they see the connection field to table they REALLY get excited. The economic impact mentioned will go a long way in shutting down naysayers that use cost as an excuse to maintain the status quo. Thanks for the thread!

[LynneSin]

4. Morgan Spurlock featured a school like that in his documentary 'Supersize Me'

The school was actually a public school that specifically handled difficult children - those tossed out of regular schools because of their behavior. They switched the cafeteria food to all homemade, organic, homecooked food and found that most of the behavioral problems subsided.

[glowing]

5. A well-balanced diet without all the chemical

preservatives, dyes and other industry crap goes a long way for young people's bodies. That ole' saying "you are what you eat" does seem to apply.

Think of it as a car, keep up regular maintenance checks (oil etc), put in good fuel, and the car will last longer... Same with people, put high quality fuel in (i.e. Good nutritious foods), and the body will preform much better.

Good for Memphis in trying this out and showing the results in amazing ways. In fact, the more stories we wharf schools switching to organic, real home-cooked foods, the more we hear about the phenomenal results of the children becoming better academic students.

[Stardust]

6. k&R - what a great story! nt

[EmeraldCityGrl]

7. This is a win/win for everyone! Great job Chef!

[southerncrone]

9. Yeah! Common sense, anyone?

Trouble has been that there aren't many kickbacks using local suppliers. One of the main reasons only the BIG companies are awarded the contracts. It's been that way in virtually all the school districts for way too long.

My husband actually attended a one-room school house from 1st -3rd grade where the parents cooked the lunches for the kids. Most of the food was from their gardens--much healthier. They also had an outhouse! This was in the early '60's.

Glad to see a return to what is best for the kids & not some company's income statement.