School lunch program emphasizes local, organic food

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. — On Friday, 7-year-old Jamarcus Spencer devoured an organic hot dog that is on the menu because the school is working to provide more healthy meals to its students.

"He doesn't usually eat his food. He usually plays with it," said teacher's assistant Vernoica Hudson in amazement as she observed Jamarcus' empty plate. "He ate all of it. I'm going to send a note home to his mama."

That change is just one of those that have been occurring at the elementary school since it started three years ago to upgrade its menu to provide healthy, locally produced and organic foods and eliminate processed foods.

They have received support from the Life Time Foundation, a nonprofit that pays the cost difference for the healthier food and funds new equipment.

The students roared in applause Friday as the school received a $10,000 check from the foundation to purchase a new cafeteria line and oven for the school.

"They're buying us a spaceship of a new oven," said Beverly Kowalcze, food service consultant. "It's going to be state-of-the-art."

Jason Thunstrom, director of the Life Time Foundation, said the organization's goal is to help school nutrition directors source whole, real foods to replace ones with highly processed ingredients.

Anne M. Jeans School and Burr Ridge Middle School, which serve a total of 450 free lunches a day, have been eliminating such highly processed ingredients as high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and hydrogenated oils, bleached flour, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, and antibiotics and hormones.

Kowalcze said one of the challenges of serving healthier foods is finding sources, particularly when she started.

"It was hard to find healthy food that didn't taste like cardboard," she said.

The hot dogs served Friday at the school were produced by broadcaster Bill Kurtis' Tallgrass Beef, which produces grass-fed