| The steady rise in a number of nations` weight gains | | | | needs expensive repairs. |
| amongst their populations has heard the alarm bells | | | | As school nutrition programs nationwide provide |
| ringing at what many describe as an obesity epidemic. | | | | healthy school breakfasts and lunches to students at |
| It is generally agreed that something must be done | | | | a national average of less than $2.00 per balanced |
| to put a halt to the overweight problem, otherwise | | | | meal, costs to upgrade and replace kitchen |
| the cost to health and life itself will be staggering. | | | | equipment are often difficult to cover. For this |
| A public education campaign by New York city's | | | | reason, the School Nutrition Foundation' Winston |
| Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - five | | | | Industries Equipment Award was created in 2007 to |
| advertisements, which have been posted in 1,000 | | | | assist school nutrition programs to secure the |
| subway cars - struck a variety of themes. It was | | | | equipment they need to continue to offer quality, |
| designed to make commuters aware of what | | | | nutritious meals. |
| unhealthy eating can do to the body, as well as | | | | About the School Nutrition Foundation |
| showing the number of calories contained in example | | | | The School Nutrition Foundation, established in 1964, |
| dishes. | | | | is a non-profit corporation that provides high-quality |
| Childhood obesity in Europe is growing at an alarming | | | | professional development, financial aid and research |
| rate and is accelerating rapidly. | | | | programs to child nutrition professionals and members |
| In 2005, 14 million children were categorised as | | | | of the School Nutrition Association (SNA.) The |
| overweight or obese with an estimated 400,000 | | | | Foundation's commitment to the child nutrition |
| children entering this category every year. In 2007, | | | | community is integral to implementing positive change |
| the number has risen to 22 million. | | | | in school meals and, ultimately, to the health of school |
| There are serious health consequences for obese | | | | children. SNA is a national, non-profit professional |
| children now, and as they grow up. | | | | organization representing more than 55,000 members |
| Around 20,000 obese children have type-2 diabetes, | | | | who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students |
| over a million obese children are likely to show signs | | | | across the country. The association and its members |
| for cardiovascular diseases, and over 1.4 million may | | | | are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious |
| have early stages of liver disorder. | | | | meals. |
| Obese children are more likely to become obese | | | | In England cooking lessons are to be compulsory in |
| adults, meaning they will be at higher risk of | | | | England's secondary schools for children aged 11 to |
| developing cancer, heart disease and suffering from | | | | 14. |
| depression. | | | | Pupils will learn to cook for an hour a week for one |
| Preventative measures have been drawn up to make | | | | term. Poorer pupils' ingredients will be subsidised. |
| younger ones at school more aware of dietary needs | | | | Cooking is an optional part of the design and |
| which will, if taught from a very early age, help | | | | technology curriculum, but is not currently taught in all |
| children learn about what goes into food, the best | | | | schools. The move is part of the strategy to tackle |
| ways of cooking, healthy recipes and so on, so that | | | | obesity, as experts believe 1m children will be obese |
| they will benefit in their later lives. | | | | in a decade. |
| Research has shown a link between nutrition in early | | | | The Department for Children, Schools and Families |
| childhood and improved productivity and overall health | | | | says that about 85% of secondary schools do offer |
| later in life. And a study recently published in the | | | | cookery, (cooking), in some form. It wants those |
| medical journal The Lancet offers the first direct | | | | schools to make the change immediately, and the |
| evidence that eating well as an infant and toddler | | | | rest by 2011. |
| stands to increase earning potential as an adult. It`s | | | | All 11-year-olds in England will be able to receive a |
| getting essential that children learn to cook at school. | | | | free cookbook under a programme aimed at tackling |
| Soaring obesity levels look set to drain local health | | | | obesity. Head teachers will be able to order the |
| and public service budgets, which will mean higher | | | | booklet, which has recipes for favourites such as |
| taxes for all, experts warn. | | | | spaghetti bolognese, roast chicken and jacket |
| Obesity could cost NHS in England £6.3bn by | | | | potatoes. |
| 2015 if no effective action is taken says the | | | | Primary pupils |
| Department of Health. | | | | It might come as a surprise to many parents but |
| According to recent statistics, obesity kills more than | | | | cookery - or food skills - is already, theoretically at |
| 9,000 Britons a year. | | | | least, compulsory on the primary school curriculum. As |
| Last year, the Government-commissioned Foresight | | | | they learn about nutrition, food groups and the |
| report warned that unless urgent action was taken | | | | science of food, children are expected to progress |
| half of all Britons could be obese by 2050. | | | | from cutting up fruit to baking bread. |
| Earlier this year a warning was given that heavily | | | | In practice, either because they don't have trained |
| overweight schoolchildren faced dying eleven years | | | | staff or the facilities, few schools do much, if any, |
| younger than their slimmer classmates. | | | | hands-on cooking with children. Now that cooking is |
| So, what is being done to improve youngster`s | | | | to be taught to secondary school children, public |
| education with regard to cooking? | | | | health campaigners' focus has switched to giving |
| In Canada, for instance, Toronto's Rising Chefs | | | | younger and more impressionable children a better |
| Culinary Centre, introduced the art of food | | | | and practical food education. |
| preparation to kids three and older. Classes are | | | | Primary school teachers are not given any training in |
| taught by an executive chef with more than 20 | | | | teaching cooking, although there is a scheme for |
| years experience and a designation of certified chef | | | | secondary food teachers to pass on skills to primary |
| de cuisine, the highest accreditation awarded in the | | | | school staff. Very few primary schools have any |
| culinary profession in Canada. The owners say that | | | | facilities for children to cook in, either. In Wales a |
| kids who learn to cook for themselves stand a | | | | commitment to teach under-11s how to cook has |
| better chance at avoiding obesity. | | | | been made. |
| An array of week-long options are served up at this | | | | But critics have expressed concern about the |
| year-round kids' cooking school. Spark an interest in | | | | practicalities of the idea. |
| global flavours with the World Tour camp; each | | | | Clarissa Williams of the National Association of Head |
| week explores food from a different part of the | | | | Teachers said the training of food technology |
| world, including the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, the | | | | teachers had been neglected for so long it would be |
| South Pacific, the Americas and the Caribbean. Kids | | | | difficult to see the strategy through. |
| spend the day preparing two dishes and learning | | | | Children will have to participate in a one-hour lesson |
| about the country they're from. Tweens may prefer | | | | each week for a whole term, in the bid to teach |
| the one-week Culinary Boot Camp, where they'll learn | | | | nutritional lessons that put a stop to obesity. Many |
| the art of food presentation, concoct delicious | | | | may think this is an excellent idea, with support from |
| sauces, pastas and meat dishes, and visit local farms. | | | | TV chef Jamie Oliver and parents that relieve |
| Or there's the Baking Boot Camp, which schools your | | | | themselves of the pressure to cook meals that must |
| child in breads, pastries, desserts and piping | | | | be green, lean and tasty because now, their children |
| techniques. Ages six to 12. | | | | can do it. |
| From their website - "Welcome to Rising Chefs home | | | | Whether just one hour a week is enough though is |
| on the web! | | | | debatable. Just as cooking needs time, so does |
| We would like to thank you for taking the time to | | | | teaching it. Practical cookery in an hour is impossible, it |
| learn more about our wonderful company. We | | | | limits the number of dishes taught and becomes |
| specialize in making cooking fun! Based in the Greater | | | | rushed, so already many believe the Government's |
| Toronto Area or GTA we cater to kids, teens, and | | | | plans are flawed - a two-hour lesson a week would |
| adults who want to learn how to cook. Never before | | | | certainly be more useful if the plan intends longevity |
| has a Toronto cooking school put as much energy | | | | in Britain's educational scheme. |
| and time into making healthy recipes, healthy eating | | | | The situation in Germany, however, is different. |
| choices and great food come together in so many | | | | Neither elementary school nor high school curricula |
| comprehensive classes. " | | | | require instruction in food-preparation skills or on how |
| Rising Chefs students who are five and older will get | | | | to run a household. Only occasionally will a high school |
| to cook themselves, while youngsters aged three | | | | offer these subjects as electives. |
| and four will be introduced to gastronomy through | | | | Sadly, the number of children who are taught |
| measuring, mixing and other hands-on activities. | | | | food-preparation skills at home is continually declining. |
| North District Middle School in Varnville, South Carolina, | | | | Scientists bemoan the loss as more and more |
| USA, was selected from more than 60 applicants | | | | students grow up without the necessary skills for |
| nationwide to receive the first-ever School Nutrition | | | | running a household. |
| Foundation' Winston Industries Equipment Award. The | | | | This is where Aid Infoservice came into the picture. |
| school kitchen, serving the only middle school in | | | | It has instituted a program of instructional building |
| Hampton School District One, will receive quality | | | | blocks for elementary students by establishing a |
| commercial kitchen equipment including Holding | | | | "Nutrition Competency Driver's License." |
| Cabinets, Holding Drawers and a Steamer from | | | | The core of this curriculum, comprised of six or |
| Winston Industries, Inc. - a leading foodservice | | | | seven two-hour classroom sessions, focuses on |
| equipment manufacturer located in Louisville, | | | | practical experiences with food ingredients and |
| Kentucky. The award was applied for in order to | | | | kitchen tools, but does not include experience in an |
| update the 40-year-old kitchen equipment that often | | | | actual kitchen lab. |