NYCHSF RESOURCES
These resources have been created by New York Coalition for Healthy School Food to help schools educate children about good nutrition.
Wellness Wakeup Call is our signature nutrition education program which is free and easy to use. It helps schools to fulfill the nutrition Education Goals of the federally mandated local wellness policies. The program is available in K-5 and 6-12 versions, and places no additionazl burden on teachers since it is read over the loudspeaker each day and takes 30 seconds or less. The program is free for schools in New York State and we ask that schools out of state pay $50 per year to use it.
We have designed 3 posters which an anonymous donor is paying to have printed. We will print at least 6000 posters and they will be made available free to schools.
 One poster features Super Size Me director and star, Morgan Spurlock and his wife Alex Jamieson. They have also attended our fall benefit and love the work we are doing, and donated half a day to do the photo shoot for us, with their photographer donating his work as well. The poster features green vegetables and the importance of greens.
Another poster, for younger children, features the work of Saxton Freymann, the fruit and vegetable carver who then photographs his work. He has several popular books out. It features fruits and vegetables that look like people and animals playing in a park, and features rhyming verses to teach children about the importance of plant-foods. He and his wife attended our last fall benefit and are very excited about our work.
The final poster features a peace sign made out of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains, with each section featuring a different color group on a plate, and says “Peace on Your Plate”, indicating that your plate should be full of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. The photography was donated. Much of the food in the picture was locally grown and donated by Ithaca Farmer’s Market vendors.
We commissioned musician Jay Mankita to write songs for us about healthy eating and then had him perform them in 5 NYC schools one week as a pilot project. This led to the NYC Department of SchoolFood hiring Jay for an additional 3 weeks to come and perform at 15 additional schools. The songs are geared toward elementary schools, and the CD’s are now available. About Jay Mankita, Pete Seeger said “I think he’s one of the half-dozen best song-writers today.”
This one page handout is an easy way to promote healthy school food. Just copy and place in the school office mailbox of all teachers in the school. If you have extra energy, deliver copies to all schools in your district for distribution to teachers. The school may let you make copies- just ask!
This one page handout is an easy way to promote healthy school food. Just give a copy to your school nurse!
Food Cards and Hands On Learning Activities
(Coming Soon)
We created cards which feature favorite processed foods to show how much sugar, fat and sodium, are in them, as well as the ingredient list. We show these cards with bags of sugar and fat to illustrate the amount in each food item. In addition we have created a number of activities that involve hands on learning.
Articles for School Newsletters
(Coming Soon)
Free articles available for you to use in your district, PTA or other newsletters.
OTHER RESOURCES
BOOKS
Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back
by Michele Simon
Chew on This
by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson
A young person’s (9 – 14) version of Fast Food Nation with activities for youth to take action.
The China Study
by T. Colin Campbell, PhD
Disease-Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right
by Joel Fuhrman, MD
Fast Food Nation
by Eric Schlosser
Food Politics
by Marion Nestle, PhD
Lunch Lessons
by Ann Cooper and Lisa Holmes
Toxic Sludge is Good For You: Lies, Dam Lies, and the Public Relations Industry
by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
CURRICULUM
Food is Elementary©
An award-winning curriculum created by Dr. Antonia Demas that teaches children about food and nutrition through dynamic multi-cultural lessons that engage all the senses.
Linking Food and the Environment Curriculum Series (LiFE)
In this inquiry-based curriculum, you and your students embark on an exciting adventure — learning science through the study of our fascinating food production system. Students learn about cycles in nature, flow of energy, and food systems while engaging in hands-on investigations of photosynthesis, food webs, agriculture, and more. Two modules now available: Growing Food and Farm to Table.
MOVIES
Super Size Me (educationally enhanced version)
Directed by Morgan Spurlock
Includes the movie, plus games, activities, curriculum, and handout materials. It comes with a 24 page teacher’s guide, and has a PG rating.
The Future of Food
Directed by Deborah Coons Garcia
Full length film about genetically engineered foods
The True Cost of Food
By the Sierra Club
An animated film about sustainable food that is both educational and entertaining.
15 minutes
ON-LINE VIDEOS
Mouth Revolution
A hilarious look at fake foods, with a “Declaration of Indigestion” and a “Mouthafesto”
5 minutes
Grocery Store Wars
Promotes organics in a Produce Aisle “Star Wars” that explores the clash between pesticides, genetically modified, and irradiated foods, and organics.
5:50 minutes
Krafted
A look at genetically engineered food.
1:15 minutes
The Meatrix
Award winning animated series that uncovers the dark side of factory farming, the dairy industry, and meat processing facilities.
Three movies less than 5 minutes each.
TEACHING TOOLS
Using maps of the US from 1985 – 2007, shows state by state how obesity has grown over the years. This presentation is jaw dropping, never failing to amaze viewers. (Grades 6-12)
Ever wonder how much “nature” your lifestyle requires? You’re about to find out. The Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates the amount of land and ocean area required to sustain your consumption patterns and absorbs your wastes on an annual basis. After answering 27 easy questions, you’ll be able to compare your ecological footprint to others’ and learn how to reduce your impact on the earth. (Grades 9 – 12)
WEBSITES
Center for EcoLiteracy
Center for Environmental Education
Founded by our Advisory Board member Jayni Chase. Jayni and her husband Chevy testified before a congressional hearing to support the School Lunch Protection Act (link to take action now page) and have been great supporters of the cause of healthy school food, and NYCHSF. This site provides curriculum resources for schools.
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Eating Green
Problems with Food Dyes and Children’s Behavior
Policy Options
The Edible Schoolyard
The Edible Schoolyard, in collaboration with Martin Luther King Junior Middle School in Berkeley, California, provides urban public school students with a one-acre organic garden and a kitchen classroom. Using food systems as a unifying concept, students learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare nutritious seasonal produce.
The Food Trust
Resources for expelling soda and junk food from school.
Dr. Fuhrman
Joel Fuhrman, MD, is on our Advisory Board. Check out his website for all kinds of information on how to “Eat to Live” and to “Disease Proof Your Child”, the titles of two of his books.
Lunch Lessons
Ann Cooper, the Renegade Lunch Lady, is on our Advisory Board. Check out her website for inspiration.
New York City Office of SchoolFood
New York City is working on many pilot projects, including offering plant-based entrees for lunch (in partnership with NYCHSF), offering water at lunch, school gardens, and more. SchoolFood prohibits the use of trans fats, artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, palm oil, BHA, BHT, and MSG. Each change takes much effort in such a large school district. While there are many improvements still to be made, their standards far surpass most other schools.
Local Wellness Policy
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
PCRM is doctors and laypersons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion.
School Lunch Initiative
Learn about the changes going on at Berkeley Unified School District under a unique collaboration of the Berkeley Unified School District, the Center for Ecoliteracy, and the Chez Panisse Foundation.
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