Schoolyard Foodie's Page

by GEHRY OATEY

The Center for Disease control tells us that 72 million Americans are victims of obesity. This post is not going to be another hope-squelching commentary on how fat we are getting in America.
Although there is substantial evidence to support that thought, this
short piece can provide some glitter around a project that is helping
to prevent obesity.

Every Wednesday, volunteer parents and middle school students run the produce stand at

… Continue

ebruary 24, 2010...12:54 am

The Schoolyard Foodie: Squash is Camote–Dual Language Immersion in the Kitchen

… Continue

by GEHRY OATEY

Imagine you are 12 years old. Your body is starting to do new and fascinating things like grow facial hair, smell, and change its voice. Your emotions are bounc

… Continue

The Schoolyard Foodie: 2012 — The beginning or the end?

by GEHRY OATEY

A Mayan elder told me recently to forget all the BS about 2012 (he didn’t quite use those words). No, the world is not coming to an end, despite all evidence to the contrary from Hollywood. According to this wise elder and farmer, 2012 is the end of another cycle; we are leaving a 100 year period of war and violence and entering into 100 year cycle of wisdom. My Buddhist leanings aside… from what I see happening around food… Continue

by GEHRY OATEY

I have so far done a good job at pecking away at the holes in Oakland’s current school lunches. The ‘hella’ stale sandwiches, reheated meals, and expired milk are, sadly, accepted as normal here in our district—as they are in many of America’s cafeterias.

It’s time to recognize some small strobes of light (to grab a phrase from the previous post) making their way to Oakland. Thanks to the hard work of a few ‘fed-up‘ teachers, students, community members, and district staff, the… Continue