Real Food For Kids - December 2015 Newsletter

December 2015
Help Us to Meet Our Target!
Donations Matched By Generous Donor
The Sampson Foundation, a local family foundation striving to create healthy communities, has generously agreed to provide a grant to RFFK for $50,000 for 2015/2016 with an additional match of up to $50,000 for any other donations RFFK receives.
 
Over the last three years, RFFK's partnership with The Sampson Foundation has allowed us to continue to grow our educational programs, including our flagship Food Day and Culinary Challenge events, and to advance our school food advocacy efforts. This year's donations will extend our reach and include more students, more families, and more schools in our fun, project-based-learning activities and programs. 
 
Together we can make a lasting change for our children and our communities.  Please help us take advantage of their matching donation offer by making a tax-deductible contribution to RFFK today. 
Thank you for your support!
usda
RFFK Teams Up With LCPS On 
USDA Farm To School Planning Grant
Loudoun County School Nutrition Services (Loudoun-SNL) is pleased to announce that it is 
the recipient of a competitive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School grant of $44,961. Loudoun County runs one of 74 projects in 39 states receiving support this year through the USDA's program with a goal to better connect school cafeterias and students with local farmers.    
     
Loudoun-SNL has partnered with Real Food for Kids and the Loudoun County Health Department to execute the grant that will provide planning funds to develop a district-wide farm-to-school action 
plan and conduct program activities in five elementary schools comprising nearly 3000 students.  Another objective is to increase locally grown products on school menus from approximately 10% to 20% over the next three years. The grant will have education and economic impact for students, their families and the local economy.  
"Children who have the opportunity to have hands-on experiences in school gardens from planting seeds to taking care of the developing plants through harvest time and develop an appreciation for where food comes from and a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating,"  said Dr. Becky Domokos-Bays, Supervisor of School Nutrition Services.  Domokos-Bays added, "we are looking forward to our collaboration with Jenny Hein, executive director of Real Food for Kids, and Covington Brown, statistical analyst at the Department of Health."
alexandria
FCPS School Nutrition Services Partners With First Local Farmer
Maple Avenue Market Farm | July 2015 Sara, Oliver & 1100 Tomato Plants
FCPS Food and Nutrition Services has partnered with its first local farmer, Chris Guerre. He will provide seasonally fresh, locally grown produce. 

In addition to farming, Chris and his wife, Sara, own the Maple Avenue Market in Vienna, Va. The details are still being worked out but Chris could be delivering produce once a week to Marshall High School destined for The Statesmen Station, its cafeteria's fresh food bar. 
 
Welcome Real Food For Kids Alexandria!
Real Food For Kids is thrilled to announce its newest chapter, 
Alexandria City!


The Alexandria Real Food For Kids chapter recently formed its board and it's ready to start creating positive changes in Alexandria City Schools.  It held its 
first event at MVCS with an apple tasting and a booth at the Alexandria Field Fest promoting healthy snacking by providing local organic apples.

For more information on the chapter and how to get involved in Alexandria please contact [email protected].
strong4life
Strong4Life 
School Nutrition Program in Georgia
Real Food For Kids is excited about the work of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with Georgia public schools. 

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) knows
 school nutrition managers and staff can have a powerful influence on food choices and that smart food choices have a profound effect on children's health. That's why it has created the Strong4Life School Nutrition Training Program, to equip school nutrition teams with effective strategies to boost sales and inspire smarter eating. The Strong4Life School Nutrition program aims to increase consumption of healthier foods in Georgia school lunchrooms by better equipping school nutrition team members with targeted skills and an innovative toolkit. CHOA uses basic marketing principles to encourage kids to make positive choices regarding the foods they eat. The belief is that kids who practice better choices today learn the behaviors that can help them lead healthier lives. So far, CHOA has trained 1,198 School Nutrition team members, reaching 605 schools.
 
For further information, please contact [email protected].
localfarmer
RFFK Celebrates Food Day In October
Real Food For Kids celebrated two Food Days this October at Sleepy Hollow ES in Falls Church and Sully ES in Sterling.

Both days were a huge success because of our amazing presenters and volunteers. We are so grateful to all of them for giving of their time and sharing their talents with these school communities. 

For more details about our Food Days please check out the articles below.
Real Food for Kids Launches In-School Nutrition Program at Sleepy Hollow Elementary with Food Day Celebration
Students got a chance to try out some healthful recipes and take part in some stretches and exercises.

The kiddie pool perched on the table in front of Chef Diana Nash was a clue that this was no ordinary cooking demonstration. The 150 kindergarteners and first graders watched Nash quietly from the gym floor of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Falls Church (more)
Real Food For Kids brings healthy eating education to local school

Hundreds of elementary-aged students danced to the beat of a Zumba class, saw a chef create a giant colorful salad in a kiddie pool, met farm animals in their school's courtyard and learned about bike and helmet safety on Friday, Oct. 23. (more)
expo
Save the Date: Feeding Academic Success Culinary Challenge & Wellness Expo
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. 
Robinson Secondary School, Fairfax, VA. 

Our 4th Annual Culinary Challenge engages middle school and high school culinary students to share their creativity and enthusiasm in a competitive format to create a delicious, nutritious school snack, breakfast or lunch that their peers will enjoy. New this year is the addition 
of educational breakout sessions. Come and meet top experts to explore food from the perspective of a journalist, a farmer, and a chef as you learn about healthful cooking, smart food sourcing, and exercising for a healthy lifestyle. 
More information will be provided in the coming months, but you want to be sure to save the date. 

Want to be a part of the program? Let us know at [email protected].

Happy Holidays from Real Food For Kids. We wish all of you a safe and healthy 2016!


Real Food For Kids | PO Box 1521 | Great Falls | VA | 22066-8521
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