Here in Delavan, I'm involved as a member of the Downtown Business Association in researching a Farmer's Market. Farmer's Markets have been instrumental in re-acquainting the consumer with real, whole food. To that end, our little committee has come up with a couple preliminary ideas of what we do want:
1) A market that is produce oriented
2) Representative of local farmers and their efforts
3) Available to local chefs and consumers alike
4) Fun - suggestions for some type of artist in residence and musician in residence have been made
5) Begin an education program with our school district where children come to meet the farmers and experience really great fresh food
Our store's mission is to bring the best artisan produced cheeses to our friends and neighbors and our community. The artisan cheese community is another that has been trying to re-acquaint Americans with great tasting all-natural food. I have to believe that once Americans get accustomed to tasting real food, and understanding that the flavor impact of combined whole ingredients can benefit them, they will start a switch away from all the highly processed boxes that fill our current grocery store shelves.
Books are everywhere recounting the importance of moving away from processed foods. We are being encouraged by doctors and health professionals to eat our fruit and vegetables each day. As Michael Pollan tells us: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Neighborhood boys know that if they come in to the store after school or on a weekend, they'll get a snack of the best cheese in the county.
While recently watching Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution", I realize he is saying the same thing. "Eat Food!" While the government has been busy making synthetic 'food' more affordable, the health care system in the country has been reaping the costly benefits of the resulting obesity and sugar-overdosed population. Oliver's goal is to turn our nation's schools (with the help of parents) back to an education platform for children and provide them with food habits that will enable long and productive lives. He wants teachers & parents to take a role in what has basically been the parents responsibility in the past.
From ancient times until about 60 years ago, parents were involved in where their children sought jobs, as well as teaching homemaking skills which not only enabled them to cook what they brought home, but also how to act in social situations. Now, with so many parents working two jobs to keep their families afloat, sitting down to any meals together as a family have become a thing of the past. Those teaching moments of how to correctly manage fork, knife, and spoon have disappeared. A comical moment in the second episode came when Jamie tried to institute having the complete set of tableware available. He was completely flabbergasted when the kitchen staff resisted allowing anything but forks. His comment: " We allow scissors in the classroom, but no knives at the tables?!"
I applaud Mr. Oliver's efforts, and have noted the same issues existing in my own community school district. Before I opened my business, I was blessed to be a substitute teacher in our school district. One memorable Thanksgiving week meal featured two lovely slices of turkey breast, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beens, fruit cup, and a roll. However, there were no spoons with which to eat our mashed potatoes, and no knives with which to cut our meat. The students at my table were stabbing and picking up the whole slice with their fork, and literally "chomping" it off with their teeth. I used my spoon as a lever, and pulled the turkey apart in pieces manageable enough to eat! Good Grief, Charlie Brown! (Please watch Jamie in this video -http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jamie_oliver.html. )
My husband and I have three children, so have been involved in the school district for many years. Fellow parents and teachers and myself have had conversations about various incarnations in the school lunch program. "Yellow Days" were particularly notable - everything on the plate was yellow or a varying shade thereof. Example: A breaded chicken pattie, potatoes, bun, canned pears, and cooked carrots. Not a raw piece of fruit or vegetable was to be seen. No green, no red - no other colors!
The public mandate must be to get involved in our schools to ensure that education programs include 'real food' - and that we are helping by volunteering ourselves to increase the dialogue about how to make that come about for the nation's children. Additionally, cook at home - show your children how to shop for great ingredients - and then cook with them! Put them in charge of one meal - but make sure you are present as 'sous-chef' if need be! Teach your kids to eat whole, real food - and eat it yourself. It will give you and your children energy and keep you healthy and active for many of your children's years!
