Posted by Alexea Wagner, Nevada on August 15, 2012
“I saw sloppy joes at school, but I wanted to make sure they were cruelty-free,” says Alexea, who serves this with kale salad that has shredded carrot, spicy pecans, and sliced strawberries, and a big glass of soy milk. –Alexea Wagner, age 9, Nevada
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (8-ounce) package tempeh, sliced
Posted by Caroline Cowart, Rhode Island on August 15, 2012
Caroline’s mom, Jennifer, says, “We came up with this lunch recipe because Caroline prefers egg whites instead of regular eggs, and she likes broccoli quite a bit.” They like to serve this with wheat toast and mixed fruit. —Caroline Cowart, age 12, Rhode Island
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
3 large egg whites
Posted by Lauren Kuperman, South Carolina on August 15, 2012
“My daughter Lauren loves Asian cuisine,” says her mom, Faye. “This can be challenging to pack for a lunch. I have come up with this satisfying ‘Asian-style’ lunch for her. I usually cook the noodles the night before. They are very easy to cook: It only takes 2 minutes in boiling water.” –Lauren Kuperman, age 12, South Carolina
Makes 1 serving
Posted by Laura Printon, Vermont on August 15, 2012
Laura took a cooking class in the third grade, which inspired her desire to pick “salsa ingredients” from the garden, reports her mother, Catherine. Because Laura’s brother likes soft tortillas, Laura incorporated chicken or tofu tortillas into the meal along with serving beans and fruit, like kiwi. –Laura Printon, age 9, Vermont
Makes 6 servings
Posted by Gabriel Reed, Virgin Islands on August 15, 2012
“We grew fresh greens at Gabriel’s school,” reports his mom, Vanessa. “We chose kale, tomatoes, and basil from the garden, and made lasagna. We served samples to 84 fourth-graders, and they loved it!” Gabriel often has this with fresh slices of mango and milk. —Gabriel Reed, age 11, Virgin Islands
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
Posted by Marissa Duswalt on August 14, 2012
Posted by Rebecca Dresner on August 14, 2012
Ed. Note: This article is a cross post from USDA's Blog
Do you know what a Malanga is? What about a Chocolate Pepper? A group of students at Slater Jr. High School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island do -- they learned about these unusual vegetables and more during a fruit and vegetable taste testing at their Summer Food Service Program. For the less adventurous vegetable eater, a Malanga is a root vegetable that has a nutlike flavor and looks similar to a sweet potato when cut open. A Chocolate Pepper is a purple Bell Pepper.
Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are great examples. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Here are ten tips that should help you eat more whole grains and start eating healthier:
Posted by Falcon Wiles, Alabama on August 12, 2012
"I came up with my recipe because tomatoes and yellow bell peppers are in season and they are really good for you. And Alabama's tomatoes are both delicious and nutritious," says Falcon. "I like a toasted turkey and cheese sandwich with my soup to include all the Choosemyplate food groups." -- Falcon Wiles, age 9, Alabama
Makes 8 to 10 servings
Posted by Dion Killsback on August 8, 2012
On the evening of July 30, I had the honor of addressing the 165 youth leaders from 53 tribes who were attending the 2012 National Intertribal Youth Summit in Chevy Chase, Maryland. I stressed the importance of fitness within all of the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, especially since childhood obesity is one of the most pressing issues currently facing Indian Country. I believe that through sports like lacrosse, which increase physical activity and simultaneously reinforce cultural heritage, we can help to get our youth on the path toward healthier lifestyles. Thanks to US Lacrosse, the sport’s national governing body, we spent an hour and a half getting active and learning the basic skills of the game.
