Food and Fitness Initiative

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We Love AmeriCorps!
AmeriCorps and FoodCorps service members in NE Iowa are celebrating National AmeriCorps Week, March 9-17. Every day, six service members give their service to area schools to ensure that schools continue to be a place of learning and growth and are an ideal environment to practice the belief that "Together, We Grow Healthy Kids!" Read more.

FoodCorps Accepting Applications
Are you a leader passionate about healthy food, farms and kids? FoodCorps places motivated leaders in limited-resource communities for a year of public service. Service members receive a $15,000 living allowance, a $5,550 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, student loan forbearance, health insurance and other benefits, not to mention the experience of a lifetime. Applications to be a FoodCorps service member are due March 24. Read more.

Christensen Receives Statewide Honor for Physical Activity Efforts
Congratulations to Ashley Christensen, Regional Safe Routes to School Liaison! She has been awarded the 2013 Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion Excellence in Physical Activity award from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Each year, the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion at the Iowa Department of Public Health recognizes one individual throughout Iowa who has shown commitment and passion in the area of physical activity. Read more.
March 2013
The next edition of the NE Iowa Food & Fitness newsletter is now available.

In this Edition:
Food & Farm Expo on Saturday, March 16
Have you thought about farming or growing food? If so, make plans to attend the Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Expo on Saturday, March 16 at the NE IA Dairy Foundation Center in Calmar from 10 am – 2 pm.

The Expo will have a wide variety of exhibitors covering educational information,materials, equipment, seed and supplies. Learn about hydroponic livestock fodder systems for livestock feed and what to consider before erecting a high tunnel. Check out the agenda.

Whole Wellness, Whole Curriculum Teacher Training Scheduled
Luther College is happy to once again offer the Whole Wellness, Whole Curriculum course for re-certification/graduate credit to all teachers interested in infusing their curriculum with wellness. Applicable to all grades and subjects, this course will provide teachers with valuable training on how to enhance their existing curriculum with ideas and activities that create links between our health, our food, our activity level and our environment. Read more.

Seeking Nominations for Community Leadership Seminar
The Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities in partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative is accepting nominations for an upcoming Community Leadership Seminar beginning May 21. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about improving their community and are willing to work as change agents to support stronger community health.

This interactive workshop is designed for parents and citizen leaders within Northeast Iowa who would like to strengthen their leadership skills and promote healthy behavior change within their community. The workshop will help individuals build their leadership skills and provide the tools and information to work towards change. Learn from others who have created innovative systems change, identify individual leadership strengths, learn skills to improve community organizing abilities, network with other community leaders, and build an action plan to improve your community. Read more.

Local Food Directory Needs Producer Info
The Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition (NIFF) is updating the Local Food Directory for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. This directory is part of the Iowa Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign.

The directory includes listings for producers of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, honey, herbs and syrups. In addition, local farmers markets, stores and restaurants featuring local food are also listed.

Any producers or businesses who would like to be listed in the 2013 directory should visit www.iowafreshfood.com for more information. Producers may also contact Teresa Wiemerslage, ISU Extension and Outreach at 563-794-0599. Directory items need to be received by April 1 to be included in this year’s publication.

NEW this year! The local food directory is completely sponsored by members and sponsors. This year, we are offering a BFBL Supporter level for $25 for our non-farming fans. Be part of this inaugural class! Click here to donate via check or Paypal.

5 Ways to Stay Connected FFI
We all have busy lives with very little time. Web surfing is fun but can take hours going to visit every single website and blog you enjoy. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could just get all the headlines of the most current stories from all your favorite websites and blogs in one place? Our partnerships are important, and we don’t want you to miss a thing. Here are five easy things you can do to stay connected to the NE Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative.

NEW this month! An RSS Feed for the Buy Fresh, Buy Local page has been added. Look for the RSS logo above the news at www.iowafreshfood.com.

School News - www.iowafoodandfitness.org/wegrow
Great things continue to happen in northeast Iowa schools! Check out the FFI Blog for full stories.

Click here for the FFI Event Calendar.
Click here for the Local Food Event Calendar.
(Get your event listed--send your info to wiemer@iastate.edu)

February 2012 Food and Fitness Up Coming Events Newsletter PDF

and the Tradition Continues
HOME GROWN FOOD WEEK Oct. 15 - 19, 2012




HOME GROWN FOODS WEEK Sept. 19 - 23, 2011
		The photo on the left show potatoes that were grown in the South Winn Calmar Gardens. Food & Fitness coordinator Sheryl Holien planted, tended, and dug 85 # of potatoes for the School Lunch Program. The HS Cooks prepared them as an au natural pototo by tossing with oil and seasonings and then baking. The students Loved them. Thanks for ALL the Hard Work Sheryl and HS Cooks.
	Walking Tacos with Home Made "SALSA"	Broccoli
Watermelon	"Baked Potatoes" Even SUPER HEROS eat their VEGGIES	Delicious Broccoli, Baked Potatoes, Watemelon and Homemade Salsa with Homegrown Tomaotes, Onions and Green Peppers from the school gardens. Salsa made by Food & Fitness Coordinator, Sheryl Holien and Food &Fitness Team.

food and fitness team

SOUTH WINNESHIEK FOOD & FITNESS

“WHAT A YEAR”

By Mrs. Sheryl Holien

The South Winneshiek Food and Fitness team was organized the fall of 2009. The year started out with the high school students walking around Lake Meyer in October of 2009. The food and fitness team applied for and received grant money to help off set the cost of fresh food in both centers. The high school students had the opportunity to eat fresh, locally grown, apples, potatoes (baked), celery, carrots, broccoli and apple cider. The elementary students had the opportunity to eat baked potatoes, celery, carrots and apples.

Mrs. Sheryl Holien has been busy teaching mini health units to the Early Childhood through 5^th grade students. The year started out with stranger danger safety, fire safety, water safety, and winter weather safety. In January Mrs. Holien started bringing in different fruits for the students to try. The students had the opportunity to try kiwi, mango, fresh pineapple, and Clementine’s. The student also had the opportunity to learn about the importance of dairy in their diet. At the end of the mini health unit the students enjoyed a piece of string cheese (provided by the Winneshiek County Daily Producers) The mini units will wrap up with home made pumpkin bread, bike and water safety.

A garden is in the early stages at the Ossian center. Kristin Kriener and Sheryl Holien are heading up this project. The garden will contain vegetables that will be prepared by the cooks in both centers so the South Winneshiek students can experience how much better locally grown vegetables taste.

At the home high school basketball games the food and fitness team sold turkey and cheese sandwiches on whole grain white bread (A healthy choice) They also provided the Booster Club with turkey and cheese sandwiches on whole grain white bread, gogurt (yogurt in a tube) and string cheese for the Pee Wee Wrestling Tournament held at South Winneshiek. All of the healthy items were a hit and we want you to look for them in the concession stands this fall and winter.

The food and fitness team has also offered the chance for high school student to sample a variety of home made breads like pumpkin, banana and poppy seed. They were offered during semester exams and the yearly tests given in January and February. Milk was also offered.

The high school students also had the opportunity to enjoy string cheese as a healthy snack. The Winneshiek County Daily producers provided Mrs. Sheryl Holien with 600 pieces of string cheese for the EC-12 grade students. Needless to say it was a Big hit.

The food and fitness team will wrap up the school year with a 5K Fun Run/Walk on May 8^th at 8am. Registration is at the high school gym in Calmar. A registration form can be found by visiting the school web site www.s-winneshiek.k12.ia.us or stop by the high school or elementary offices to pick up the registration form. Come and join the fun. Help us encourage the South Winneshiek CSD to become a Happier, Healthier Community one step at a time.

Food & Fitness
eConnection
Sept 20, 2009

The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative (FFI) invites your school to participate in Home Grown School Lunch Week and will provide your school with resources and guidance.

FFI has received funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Farm to School program to offer twelve, $300 mini-grants to schools to purchase local food for this event.

What Is Home Grown School Lunch Week?
It’s a week where the focus is on eating local foods as part of school lunches (one day or all week), along with conducting school-based activities to promote healthier eating. Food Service Directors in local school systems will offer local items on the school lunch menu during the week. Nutrition education information will be provided to students, and teachers will receive lessons focused on nutrition and the benefits of using Iowa-grown foods.

School and student groups such as the Food & Fitness Youth Teams, FFA, and 4-H are encouraged to create and participate in Farm-to-School events. Students can also participate by buying local foods and packing an Iowa Home Grown Lunch.

How can schools get involved?
Have students develop and implement school-based activities:

Advertise and promote Iowa Home Grown School Lunch Week.
Serve a locally grown food item one day—or every day.
Promote a different Iowa food each day of the week.
Invite parents and grandparents to eat lunch with their child.
Taste-test new foods for the school lunch menu.
Hold a Health and Nutrition Fair or Family Fun Night.
Have students trace the path of a favorite food from the field to plate.
Assemble a display of books and media in libraries.
Produce a class cookbook showcasing Iowa products.
Make apple cider, apple butter, applesauce, or maple syrup.
Arrange a field trip to a participating local farm.
Invite a local farmer to come to speak with your students.
Invite a chef to do a cooking demonstration using local foods.
Have nutritionists visit the classroom.
Have students produce a calendar of seasonal availability of foods.

How do we register our school?
It's EASY! Registration information is at www.iowafreshfood.com.

Applications due September 29. Schools will be notified of their selection by October 2. Written documentation of local food purchase and a final report is required to receive the grant. For additional information, please contact Teresa Wiemerslage at 563-794-0599.

Food & Fitness
eConnection
Sept 15, 2009

Mark Fenton, Walking Guru, Coming to NE Iowa

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative is bringing Mark Fenton, the nation’s most recognized walking advocate, to the area for two days, October 7 and 8. During his time here, Fenton will share his passions about the health benefits related to walking and biking, and how community efforts can encourage healthy behaviors.

On Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m., the general public is invited to hear him speak about “connecting our health to the places we live, learn, work and play.” This will be at the Center for Faith & Life on the Luther College campus in Decorah.

On the mornings of October 7 and 8, he is the guest lecturer for the “Personal Fitness and Wellness” classes taught by Greg Lonning at Luther College.

Much of his time will be devoted to helping the Food & Fitness Initiative launch a regional pilot program for the “Safe Routes to School.” The first afternoon he will tour some of the communities where schools will be involved. On Thursday, representatives from the six pilot schools and their communities will participate in a “lab school-community” workshop in Elkader.

More about Mark Fenton
Fenton is a graduate of MIT, a five-time member of the United States national race walking team, and former editor-at-large/columnist for Walking Magazine. He has hosted various PBS television programs on walking, including a 13-part series called “America’s Walking.” Fenton has authored several books on walking for fitness.

A gifted speaker, he has addressed groups from international and national transportation and planning conferences, to professional engineering and safety organizations to advocacy groups and public health educational symposia.

Please help us spread the word that Food & Fitness is bringing a renowned authority on public health issues and the need for community, environmental, and public-policy initiatives related to better healthy living to our own special part of the world!

Watch for more details in the media and on our website, www.iowafoodandfitness.org

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