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The West Central Tribune of Willmar
      

Montevideo, Minn. (AP) - A childhood obesity epidemic has many
fearing this generation of children will have a shorter lifespan
than their parents or grandparents.


      A lack of physical activity is one of the causes, but the
biggest culprit is a diet high in calories and low in nutrition.


      A growing number of parents in the region are working to turn
things around, both at home and in school cafeterias.


      They are making some headway, according to Lynn Mader. A
dietitian and self-described "angry mom," Mader is promoting the
Farm to School project in the area as part of the State Health
Improvement Plan.


      In the last two years, the number of school districts in
Minnesota that have introduced locally produced farm products into
their school lunches has doubled to more than 70, Mader said.


      During a presentation in Montevideo in early April, Mader
screened a film called "Two Angry Moms," sponsored by the Land
Stewardship Project. It's a documentary about two mothers in New
York who launched a campaign to improve their children's school
lunch programs.


      Parents are taking the initiative to do the same here, too.
Stacey Ross is one of four mothers who organized "The Daily
Bread" to bring locally produced foods to children attending the
Marshall Area Christian School.


      Twice a week, the mothers and other volunteers serve lunches
comprised of locally raised foods, cooked from scratch. Their
offerings range from homemade pizza with whole grain dough from Dry
Weather Creek in Watson, to meals featuring fresh vegetables from
EarthRise Farm in Madison and meats from Moonstone Farms in
Montevideo.


      Lunches are open to staff and the school's 93 students. School
lunches featuring the standard fare of processed foods usually
attract 20 people. When the Daily Bread mothers serve their local
food lunches, anywhere from 80 to 90 guests are on hand, Ross said.


      "We try to create the environment where the kids felt that this
was a special place to be," she said.


      There are challenges. "We're finding that this may be ahead of
its time in this part of the state," said Ross.


      It has proven difficult to find local food producers in the
Marshall area. The mothers drive an hour north to the Montevideo
area to find many of their supplies.


      Tom Taylor, Land Stewardship Project, said the effort to promote
local foods in this area is focusing on building the infrastructure
needed.


      It's taking place at a slow but deliberate pace, Taylor said. It
can start with something as simple as a local producer providing
apples for a single day's meals at a school. Once that relationship
is established, the chances improve that the producer and others
can supply a greater share of apples in the future, he said.

      Willmar offers one of the best examples of the approach, Mader
said. Willmar Schools are leading the way by introducing local
foods to students at least once a month, she said. Willmar students
are introduced to the producer and learn what it takes to raise
local foods, she added.


      Mader said there is no doubt it takes extra effort by schools to
introduce local foods, but she is encouraged. Not only are more
schools making the effort, but those who have started it are not
turning back. "No one is quitting," she said.

Gallery

Fighting obesity, one meal at a time

Schools on front lines in obesity battle

Feds pitch revamped school lunches to students

Health

Minnesota News

Greater Minnesota

Lynn Mader, a dietitian and self-described "angry mom," Mader is promoting the idea of eating more locally grown food through the Farm to School project in west central Minnesota, to help improve the diets of school children.

Minn. moms work to slow rate of childhood obesity

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