SAGE Organic Garden at Pine Crest School

If you know anything about SAGE, you know that our organic garden at Pine Crest School in Boca Raton, FL, is a thing of beauty and something of which we are immensely proud. Don Janezic, SAGE's Food Service Director at Pine Crest, lavishes attention on the soil, the plants and the compost that enriches them. The garden -- which recently won third place in its category in the Florida School Garden Competition -- isn't just a source of wonderful...

Farmer Melick's Asparagus

Hunter Stagg, SAGE's chef/manager at The Peck School in Morristown, NJ,  recently received his first delivery of spring bounty from a local farmer named Peter Melick. Stagg approached Melick several years ago about supplying produce to Peck, and the two became friends. Melick recently phoned Stagg and offered him some of the first picks of his Jersey asparagus. Stagg put it into a salad and served it to Peck students and staff. The fresh taste was "out of this...

Greening Your Plate

Spring is a great time to take a look at how the food choices you make impact the environment. Earth-friendly food goes beyond organic food; it also includes how food is packaged, shopped for, prepared and served. Here are five great ways to “eat green”: Go for organic. Foods that are USDA-certified organic reduce pollution, because they minimize the use of pesticides. Choose organic for foods you eat most often, or ones that are the most affordable. Eat fewer processed...

Food for Thought at 'Future' Conference

There was an incredible amount of brain power at the May 4 "Future of Food" conference at Georgetown University. (Watch video of the speakers here.) Some of the world's most important thinkers on the subject of food politics -- including Marion Nestle, Eric Schlosser, Will Allen and Vandana Shiva, not to mention the Prince of Wales -- shared (all too briefly, in my opinion) their thoughts on what we need to do to revolutionize our domestic and global food...

More Education Needed on Food Allergies

Food allergies are making news. A peanut allergy issue at a school in Florida prompted a leading organization, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), to reinforce the importance of education. Food allergies are life-threatening for some, but proper planning coupled with education allows all students a chance to eat safe, wholesome meals at school. SAGE's food allergy policy and education materials are based on information from FAAN. Earlier this month, the newest managers at SAGE spent time discussing food...

Nutrition Presentation at Laurel School

Last week, I visited the Laurel School, a girls' school in Cleveland, OH. SAGE's Food Service Director has been working hard to put together an event for the students that combines food sourcing, menu creation and good nutrition – something SAGE knows a thing or two about! The main event, on April 7, will be a food expo of local vendors. My contribution to the program was a presentation focused on basic nutrition and SAGE's Spotlight program. I also reviewed...

Kids in the Kitchen

During Winterim Week at Alexander Dawson School in Boulder, CO, some students elected to help out in the kitchen and garden. Ninety Lower School students helped make pizza, strawberry shortcake, composed salads and dressings, as well as table arrangements. Their rotation included time clearing the garden and helping double its size. Middle and Upper School students helped prepare meat and vegetable lasagna, banana chocolate chip bread and composed salads and dressings. In addition, they took turns working the serving line...

Carnival Crews