Haldane completed the first year of its Farm to School initiative and received a gift from First Lady Michelle Obama’s national Let’s Move campaign. When Haldane partnered with Chef Mark Gandara for the Chef in the Classroom program, a component of the farm to school initiative, Superintendent Dr. Villanti registered Haldane on the Let's Move Campaign/ Chefs Move to Schools national website.
The Chefs Move to Schools program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, helps chefs partner with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices.
For registering with the national campaign, Haldane received a free cookware demonstration kit from The Partnership for a Healthier America. It is a beautiful kit containing All-Clad pots and pans, cooking utensils, bowls, a portable induction burner and more, valuing over $2,000.
The Partnership for a Healthier America serves as a partner to the First Lady’s Let’s Move Initiative by linking and mobilizing the private sector, foundations, thought leaders, media, and local communities to action and further the goals of curbing childhood obesity within a generation.
On Monday, June 20th, Mark and Sunny Gandara presented this gift to Cindy Miozzi, Haldane’s food service director. Cindy has been working with Chef Mark since the beginning of the school year preparing the recipes he develops in the classroom and serving them to the whole school each month. “Farmer’s Choice “ is what Cindy calls the fresh, local vegetable dish she serves in the cafeteria each month.
What is great about Haldane’s Farm to School initiative is what is happening in the cafeteria. Each month, the entire student body is being exposed to new foods. Not only are the kids that buy lunch encouraged to try the new vegetable dish, but anyone who is adventurous enough can ask to try a free sample.
For the final Chef in the Classroom event of the school year, Mrs. Battersby’s 5th grade class made a “Rhubarb Jumble Crumble” with Chef Mark. It was met with such enthusiasm that when it was served in the cafeteria the following week, the kids were asking for seconds and ultimately it sold out.
Haldane is looking forward to starting up the program with Chef Mark again in the fall and trying out the new cookware and tools they received for participating in the Let’s Move campaign.
