Take Action - Prevent Childhood Obesity LAUSD 2011-12 Proposed Menu

Local produce at one early meeting

We need your help in spreading the word about this important issue ... healthy food served in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). I was recently asked to sit on the LAUSD’s Cafeteria Improvement Committee to make contributions to help improve the food served to the thousands of students in the schools district.

The Committee is in a rare position to make some dramatic changes to LAUSD's food menu for the 2011-12, but parent's participation is really critical to make these changes. This is your big chance to let the powers that be know that we want high fructose corn syrup and flavored milk taken off the menu (and any other thoughts) - an opportunity that won’t come around again for another five years.

Recently, LAUSD has started hosting menu planning subcommittee meetings to help improve the 2011-12 menu. The meetings are held every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 11 AM downtown at 333 South Beaudry Ave on the 28th floor (discussion on the menu items will be finalized by Dec 16th - six more weeks). Just told no meetings between now and Thanksgiving. Time is now really of the essence.

The Committee administrators published/printed the prospective menu in the required places (newspapers, etc.) within the community for public comment, but unfortunately there were absolutely no comments, or responses from parents. Boo!!!

There are only a few of us in these meetings pushing for these changes and we need help. The current menus are online at http://cafe-la.lausd.net/Caf%C3%A9_LA_Menu and the new proposed menus can be downloaded here - elementary breakfast, lunch, or secondary breakfast, lunch (pdf).

We need parents to either join the conversation by attending the meetings, or to submit comments via email to ecofamilynews@yahoo.com (I'll print and hand deliver them to the committee and board members). Please post this information to your facebook, mommy blogs etc., anything and everything would be appreciated. WE NEED LETTERS and/or passionate voices in these rooms!!! Join us and be a voice for our CHILDREN!