"Some people just talk and say there's a problem. West Virginia is stepping up and saying 'we want to do something about this problem," says Alden Cadwell. He and John Turenne were part of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution in Huntington, teaching cooks how to change school lunch menus in Cabell County for the better. This week, the New England- based Sustainable Foods guys are back in mountain state, continuing those efforts. They came after the persistence of a group of moms grabbed the attention of administrators. They were calling for a change for menus. They say the good that came from changes in Cabell County, and wanted their kids to have those benefits as well.

Kanawha County superintendent Dr. Ron Duerring says, "They're going to be taking a look at what we do and what we prepare here, and then they're suggestions they have to improve that."

They've explored 13 schools across Kanawha County this week.

Turenne says they've looked at the facilities, the equipment that's needed, the staffing, the understanding of skill sets of the staff, and the ingredients, the menus.

Many of the cooks recognize the big changes to school menus in just the past few years, like cutting out added butter and salt, but are open to more aggressive changes.

Piedmont Elementary school cook 2 Bob Stewart says, "If they can show us a better way to prepare the food, some other way to add a little bit more flavor to it that are within the guidelines, sure we'd be receptive."

Turenne says he knows it's not easy. There are financial constraints and USDA food guidelines to stay within, but like they showed folks in Cabell County and many places across the country, it can be done.

"We can do that, we can still provide better, fresh, food at the same time. We help them, we show them why. We show them how. We become the agents of change," he said.

To Be Continued...

Tune in the Food Revolution Now next week to find out what the school system's plans are to use Sustainable Foods' advice. If you're interested in what they do, check them out on the web. Stay tuned!

Business: Sustainable Foods
Website: www.sustainablefoodsystems.com



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