Partners in education supporting Healthy Living and Early Childhood Education

The MRDD Schools, ECLC and ECEFC have partnered with Local Matters, creating a strategic plan to focus on healthy living with their staff, children and community. Here are some of the programming that the MRDD Schools have co-created:

Nutrition and Planning Groups at both schools that focuses on healthy living and it's connection to whole foods, nature and intentionally incorporating both into early childhood education. Based on the group interest and Director, Becky Love's vision, we now have a menu of Local Matters immersed within the school:

1. The Veggie Van: A mobile Farmers Market that features 80% Locally Grown Produce, Cooking Demonstrations that are healthy, affordable, are simple and highlight the produce. The Veggie Van comes once a month to both schools, accepts food stamps and will resume in the Fall once school is back in session. The Veggie Van has been a huge success, often selling out in the first hour!

2. Fresh Market Bags: We are in the process of designing a program similar to a CSA for the families and staff at both MRDD Schools offering bags of fresh produce and Local products, such as honey, flour and maple syrup. In addition, all bags contain a description of the produce and the nutritional content, along with Delicious, healthy recipes. This program will be launched in the Fall.

3. Staff Luncheons: The staff is pampered with a catered lunch, featuring locally grown foods incorporated into wonderful multi-cultural dishes. The room that the meal is served is decorated by 4 Local Matters staff, all with materials, literature and music that focuses on the recipes origin. In addition to the delicious food, music, decor and engaging conversation the Food Educators facilitate a brief presentation on the food and culture of that country, offering all attendees a handout with lunch recipes and highlighted information. The attendees direct the lunch with their interest, questions and conversations. Local Matters staff is there to cater, wait on the MRDD staff and create a celebration of food. The most recent lunch focused on Italy and the food and the room was so beautiful that one teacher commented, "I feel so special and wondered the first time I walked in the room, Is this for me?" "All of the food, table decorations and music were so nice." "I learned many new things about healthy foods and had fun while I was there."

Becky Love has partnered with Local Matters to provide her staff with ongoing education and insight based learning, with a target towards healthy living. The staff then incorporates all that they have learned in their education with the children. Our nation is currently in a moment of transition in many ways and this intentional leadership is committed to healthy living and early childhood education.