If you’ve caught the first couple of episodes of the new television show, [1] Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, you’ve seen what an important role schools play in teaching children about food. It’s cheering to see that Cheryl Dixon, the Kitchen Manager for Mitchell School in Kittery, has recently been recognized with an award for excellence for her work in promoting healthy eating and local food in her school:

Dixon’s idea was simple: Teach students to lead healthy lifestyles by exposing them to a variety of fresh and local foods.

“It’s so important,” said Dixon, who instituted several programs at the Mitchell School to support her vision. “These are the formative years.”

The first project, the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program, is a unique partnership of several Maine health, business and community-based organizations. The five-year initiative promotes healthy lifestyles for kids and their families, by encouraging individuals to eat five or more fruits or vegetables, limit screen time to two hours, exercise for one hour and drink zero sugary beverages each day. Dixon promoted these goals throughout the school by hanging posters and integrating daily goals into art, library and other classroom lessons.

Dixon also brought the Farm-to-School program to Mitchell School, providing lessons in farming, composting and environmental awareness by exposing kids to fresh produce and locally made dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt.

[2] For full article >

As for Jamie Oliver, he won this year’s TED Prize, an award that includes “one wish to change the world.” His wish: [3] Teach every child about food. Thank-you, Cheryl, for helping to make this wish happen!