Time for Lunch is a Slow Food initiative to get better (and real) food in America’s public schools through the Child Nutrition Act that is up for reauthorization this year. The CNA governs the National School Lunch Program that feeds over 30 million school children each day. Do we want healthy kids? Do we want focused leaders? Do we want motivated and positive members in the community?  Do we want healthy land and citizens who care about the health of the land? Yes! Emphatically, to all of the above. What do all these things have in common? Good, decent, fair, chemical-free food and food-growing practices. If you are what you eat, then you better start being the best that you can be at a young age. Our kids need healthy food as much as they need supportive mentors and safe communities. Support the Campaign!

On Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009, people in communities all over the country will sit down to share a meal with their neighbors and kids. This National Day of Action will send a clear message to Congress: It’s time to provide America’s children with real food at school. An Eat-In (part potluck, part sit-in) takes place in public and gathers people to support a cause – like getting real food into schools.

Getting Congress’ attention is a big job, and we need your help. On Sept. 7, attend an Eat-In taking place near you. If you can’t make the Eat-in, you can still sign the petition for better food in public schools.

Bryant Terry is an eco chef, food justice activist and author of Vegan Soul Food Kitchen (VSK): Fresh, Healthy and Creative African-American Cuisine and co-author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen… and one of my personal heroes. For the past nine he has worked to build a more just and sustainable food system, using cooking as a tool to illuminate the intersections between poverty, structural racism, and food insecurity. Along with many other projects Bryant founded b-healthy (Build Healthy Eating and Lifestyles to Help Youth), a multi-year initiative designed to empower youth to be active in creating a more just and sustainable food system. 

Check out his site and blog here to find out more.