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Entry #1:
Culinary and Nutrition Education Program Assembly - Sisters Academy of NJ
Food Is Health, LLC was asked to review the current lunch program at Sisters Academy. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the food service operation at Sisters Academy of New Jersey—including surveys, interviews, and a plate waste study—Food Is Health LLC developed a customized Culinary and Nutrition Education Program tailored specifically for the Academy. Sisters Academy, a program of Mercy Center and a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, serves girls in grades four through eight. Its mission is to provide an "education of excellence" that breaks the cycle of poverty by fostering academic achievement, self-confidence, and self-esteem in a supportive and caring environment.
Using data collected during the multi-month review and in collaboration with the Academy’s food vendor, Food Is Health redesigned the school lunch menu to reflect both student preferences and the nutritional standards of the USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Students now participate in a voting process to provide feedback on new menu items, which informs ongoing menu improvements.
A central feature of the initiative is integrating the Food Is Health concept into the classroom. Each month, students attend a themed assembly introducing a new Food Is Health topic, which is then explored further in class. The initial meeting with teachers, held prior to the start of the school year, helped tailor the curriculum, and staff feedback reflected strong enthusiasm and support. Together, these efforts aim to deepen students' nutritional knowledge and promote lifelong healthy habits.
Entry #2:
Culinary and Nutrition Education Program Assembly - Sisters Academy of NJ update
During the month of September, menu items based on the survey results were served during lunch. Students voted on the items and each received overwhelmingly positive results, with many receiving 100% YES votes! We continue to introduce new lunch options each week, guided by student preferences.
Entry #3: September update
Culinary and Nutrition Education Program Assembly - Sisters Academy of NJ
Students participated in a hands-on assembly introducing the Culinary and Nutrition Education Program. Laura Garrett, MS, RDN, and Mary-Pat Maciolek, Ed.D., MBA, RD, FAND—co-founders of Food Is Health—led an informative presentation on Steps to Building a Healthy Plate℠. During the session, students learned about micronutrients and macronutrients through interactive activities that focused on learning how different foods contribute to overall wellness.
Following the presentation, students worked on their September project at tables stocked with materials and supplies. Throughout the month, they had been completing a 3-Day Food Diary with photos, which they used during the assembly to build their own Healthy Plate℠. Students cut out the food pictures they had collected and arranged them on a plate divided into the food categories that make up the Steps to Building a Healthy Plate℠ model.
In the coming weeks, students will take this project a step further by creating Healthy Placemats. Using ShopRite circulars, students will select their favorite foods that fit the Healthy Plate℠ guidelines—helping them build lasting healthy eating habits while having fun with food!
The October assembly and will focus on one of the key Steps—milk and yogurt as important components of a healthy plate.
Entry #4: October update
Culinary and Nutrition Education Program Assembly - Sisters Academy of NJ
Students arrived at the October assembly with their placemat ‘homework’ that each student created as a follow-up to the Steps to Building a Healthy Plate℠ introduction last month. Students held up their placemats, which they created using the ShopRite circulars to identify their favorite foods and categorized them into the Steps. While a few students decided to keep their placemats, many students chose to display their work on a bulletin board at the Academy or on a display at the local ShopRite for the local community to view. The Culinary and Nutrition Education October assembly focused on the Dairy step of the Steps to Building a Healthy Plate℠. Following an interactive presentation on the importance of milk and yogurt which included a demo on how the digestive system works, students broke up into groups to make their own yogurt parfaits! We are happy to share that all students at least tasted their creations while many enjoyed the entire parfait. A few even went back for seconds! Since Halloween was the next day, all students were given stickers and Food Is Health measuring cups. A twisty-loop-bendy straw was offered to every student who chose milk as their lunch beverage that day. More that 80% of the students participated!
Students were given a fun worksheet that focuses on the importance of measuring foods to work on prior to the November assembly, which will focus on another key Step – Beans, Grains & Starchy Veggies!
Entry #5: November update
Culinary and Nutrition Education Program Assembly - Sisters Academy of NJ
On Friday, November 21st, students participated in a hands-on assembly introducing another key step of the Culinary and Nutrition Education Program: Beans, Grains, and Starchy Veggies! During the session, students learned about the important role of this food category through interactive activities where they were able to sample a homemade dish of bean chili and some hummus and crackers while working on the November project at tables stocked with materials and supplies. The students created posters with pictures and drawings of a variety of grain products, starchy vegetables, and beans.
In the coming weeks, students will take this project a step further by creating Healthy Placemats. Using ShopRite circulars, students will select their favorite foods that fit the Healthy Plate℠ guidelines—helping them build lasting healthy eating habits while having fun with food!
The next assembly is scheduled for January and students voted on what the next Step we will focus on: Fruits or Vegetables! The results are in and will be revealed at the January assembly!
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