Slow Food Olympia attracted about 100 people to a community “eat-in” Monday at the Olympia Farmers Market, one of 307 such events nationwide. Attendees braved the wind and the rain and sat down at sheltered picnic tables in their raincoats, and ate a late and leisurely meal.
Representatives from local schools, children and parents talked about the slow food movement affecting school menus here, and how it should happen on a national level.
“We’re here today to send a message to Congress,” event organizer Loretta Seppanen said, to improve the Childhood Nutrition Act that governs school menus.
The Slow Food group, part of a national grassroots movement, casts itself as sort of the opposite of fast food. Its members promote fresh, homemade local foods and particularly lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
“I’m into it for the taste and the enjoyment and the people,” said Olympia resident Jim Lengenfelder. “If all you do is have fast food as fuel, it’s hit and run. … Take your time. Enjoy your food.”
Slow Food also promotes nutrition in schools, through efforts like school gardens. For example, Roosevelt and Lincoln elementary students in Olympia have their own gardens, which they tend and taste the results. “It’s like the plants have a personality in all of it,” said Arya Kerns, 10, a former Lincoln student. As the garden grows, “you actually care about it.
“It played a big role in my life. That’s what I think. I’m going to remember it.”
“When I went to Lincoln, I felt very lucky to have an organic garden,” said Lincoln alum Hannah Martins, 12.
All Olympia public schools have salad bars that are often stocked with local produce, said Paul Flock, supervisor of child nutrition for the Olympia School District.
“With your support, we will continue to do this,” he said. This summer, the district has frozen fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries for children this fall.
At the North Thurston Public Schools, cafeterias are fixing homemade rolls and salads and working in more whole grains, said Sharon Worgum, director of food nutrition services.
Seppanen hailed Washington State’s Local Farms-Healthy Kids and Communities Act, which the state legislature passed last year, as an example for the nation. The legislation, which passed last year, made it easier for state agencies, school districts and colleges to procure locally grown foods.
One of its sponsors, state Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County, addressed the crowd. She said healthy food and preparation leads to healthy people, and cuts costs of healthcare. And food that’s shipped locally reduces government food shipping costs and has a smaller impact on the environment. She supports national school nutrition legislation.
“A lot of it is just changing attitudes and building awareness,” she said.
