Food Revival

November 1st marked an important day for Birmingham and our schools: Slow Food Birmingham hosted a super successful "Taste $3.57" event at Caldwell Park. Our purpose? To call attention to the Child Nutrition Act (scheduled for reauthorization early next year), Slow Food USA's Time for Lunch campaign, and our state's obesity report card. For more background, be sure to read my Birmingham Weekly article, "Getting Real About School Lunches."

Alabama has many obesity challenges: transportation issues, a cultural history full of fried foods, and we are currently ranked as the second fattest state in the country. And regarding food access, the Department of Human Resources  recently reported that one in six Alabamians receives food assistance as stated in a recent report by NBC13. To see how your county ranks, be sure to check out this map the New York Times put together.

So, what about the good news? Well, Birmingham is in the process of removing all fryers from city schools. And then there's hope: Slow Food USA's Time for Lunch campaign believes school lunches could receive a much needed facelift if Congress reauthorizes the Child Nutrition Act to include one extra dollar per meal. Ding Ding Ding. Slow Food Birmingham had an idea: Challenge local restaurants to team up with local farmers and only spend $3.57 (the amount we are asking Congress to approve) to create a delicious school lunch. We called the event "Taste $3.57," made it free to the public, asked for donations (to benefit Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners' Food Summit), and collected signatures for Slow Food USA's petitions while the Yahoos kept us entertained with traditional music.  The kids had a blast: Jones Valley Urban Farm brought their "bike blender" for smoothies, we had a balloon artist working his magic, and a table full of crayons. 

We were honored to have the following speakers share information at our event:
Spencer  E. Taylor – Senior Executive Director, Child Nutrition Program Birmingham City Schools
Dr. Heather Austin, PhD – Clinic Coordinator/Pediatric Psychologist, Center for Weight Management, The Children's Hospital of Alabama and Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Carole Griffin – activist/chef/owner Chez Lulu and Continental Bakery
Melissa Donaldson – Cafeteria Manager for Alabama School of Fine Arts
Sandra Koulourides – R.D. and personal trainer who is owner of Fuel + Fitness

And the food? Absolutely unbelievable. SO delicious and creative. Just look at the menus:

Bettola:
Butternut Squash Soup with side mozzerella/carmelized onion sandwich.

Chez Lulu/Continental Bakery:
Wild Mushroom Soup with Pain de Campagne Crouton
Roasted Tomato and Three Cheese Lasagne
Muscadine/Scuppernong Thumbprint Shortbread Cookie

Jim "N Nicks
Smoked Chicken Tacos with Pico de Gallo and Jack cheese, Black Bean & Corn Salad, Fresh Fruit

Little Savannah
Wright Dairy Pimento Cheese Sandwich with Cullman County Sweet Potato Chips with Yogurt Dip
Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie

Satterfield's
Pulled Fudge Farms Pork with Whole Wheat Penne Pasta, Owl's Hollow Butternut Squash, and Wright's Dairy Cheddar
Sauteed Owl's Hollow Brocoli
Satterfield's Gingersnap Cookie

Whole Foods Market
Mac & Cheese Cups with Smoked Thompson Farms Chicken
Mac & Cheese Cups with Spinach and Cheese

First Juice and Hint donated beverages and we used bio-degradable plates, cups, napkins, and cutlery. Over 200+ attendees signed Slow Food USA's petition. All in all, this event was so successful that we've decided to do it again next year. 

But, what can you do now?

Get involed! Ask your child what they had for lunch when they get home from school.

Sign Slow Food USA’s petition (also attached below)

Learn about the National School Lunch Program

Contact your legislators by mail, phone, fax or use their online web forms to let them know, “Change Can’t Wait! It’s time to provide America’s school children with real food at school!”

Senator Richard Shelby

304 Russell Senate Office Building

District of Columbia 20510-0103

Phone: 202-224-5744

Fax: 202-224-3416

shelby.senate.gov

Senator Jeff Sessions

335 Russell Senate Office Building

District of Columbia 20510-0104

Phone: 202-224-4124

Fax: 202-224-3149

www.jeffsessions.com

Representative Spencer Bachus

2246 Rayburn House Office Building

District of Columbia 20515-0106

Phone: 202-225-4921

Fax: 202-225-2082

bachus.house.gov

Representative Artur Davis

208 Cannon House Office Building

District of Columbia 20515-0107

Phone: 202-225-2665

Fax: 202-226-9567

www.house.gov/arturdavis

Slow Food Birmingham has some exciting plans in store for 2010, so stay tuned! To become a member or to get involved, just go to http://www.slowfoodbirmingham.com/.

Thank you to all of the amazing sponsors, chefs, and attendees who made our "Taste $3.57" such a huge success. Now, let's get to work!