Food Revolution Day, organized by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation on May 17, is a global day of action for people to make a stand for good food and essential cooking skills.

Mississippi is a state that has long struggled with high obesity rates, but it seems that a state mandate that included food education may have had an impact on reducing obesity levels among youth.

The Food Trust’s School Nutrition Education program provides more than 50,000 children annually with education on healthy eating and related fun learning activities. The program serves about 100 schools, where more than half of children are eligible for free or reduced cost school meals. Trust activities include classroom nutrition lessons, student-run fresh fruit and smoothie markets to teach students about healthy snacking and running a small business (shown in the photo below), parent workshops, field trips to local farms, and school-wide events, such as taste-tests and assemblies. The program also provides teachers with monthly nutrition education materials and lesson plans to incorporate nutrition into their curriculum.

Washington, DC, is the locus for national food policy, but few outside the city know that it has also become a hub for food education. Through programs like the Farm to School Network (run by local organization DC Greens), the Washington Youth Garden, Brainfood, and so many others, youth gain skills in gardening, cooking, and forming healthy habits inside and outside the classroom. 

After nearly 10 years of teaching primarily at-risk youth in public urban high schools, a series of “ah-ha moments” compelled me to abandon my tenured position as a Language Arts teacher. At the heart of my realization was that we’re missing the mark in educating our youth about the most vital of acts—nourishing themselves.

Want to win some sweet Food Day swag? Create a video telling us why you support Food Day and what your plans are for Food Day 2013, and we'll share it on our Youtube channel and send you a Food Day gift!

With just one week left until Food Revolution Day on May 17, how are you planning to get involved?