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Kurt Schreiber

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Where can I get affordable, healthy, and good food for my school's lunches?

I am this upcoming year's Student Body President at my school, and I am personally fed up with the nasty lunches and breakfasts that we are served at my school. I have been watching many TED talks on the matter, and many of the speakers say that there is an alternative to the current fast food we are served, but they don't offer any details. So if you have any ideas or specifics for cheap, healthy, and good food I'd love to hear them. Maybe you could even link to a website that can help me. Thank's in advanced for your help!

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    Rafi Amin 20+

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    Jun 11 2012: If we are to be such that choosy with our food, then we can cook ourselves & take to schools.
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    Heather White 10+

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    Jun 10 2012: Hi Kurt, First of all you need to get the school behind you, including the catering staff. Your school will need to be committed to the concept of local, seasonal food as menus will need to change frequently to reflect the different food gluts. It does take more menu planning and higher cooking skills than reheating pies - but it's worth it. Find out what is local already - perhaps your milk supply is local - so start my expanding your existing links e.g. yoghurt, butter...

    Get the whole school involved by setting up a school allotment / orchard / herb / salad garden / beehive. Any unused land within the school can be used for this purpose. Planters / window boxes for herbs and salads, flat roofs (but these spaces will need to be checked for load bearing and safe access) as well as defined areas where plots can be established or fruit trees grown. You may not be able to be self sufficient, but you will raise the profile of food and the knowledge of where it comes from and how it's grown.

    Next, approach your local farmers market co-ordinator. This person should be able to advise you about the local farm food supply network and give you contacts for the most suitable farm suppliers.

    As regards cost. Local food is not always cheap food. If you value the work of your local farmers and the freshness and quality of the produce you will need - and want - to pay for that quality / freshness. Glut food is cheaper which is why seasonal is so important in the local food philosophy.

    Join a local food group - there are 1,000's of ideas on how to develop local food across schools - you'll get more than enough help and advice - good luck!
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