Healthy Waltham » In the News

Waltham Day of Play a Success!

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:51:08 +0000

Over 250 people came out on a cold but sunny January day to the 2nd Annual Day of Play at the South Middle School on Moody Street. This event brought together young and old to enjoy a variety of activities emphasizing healthy and playful lifestyles. Special thanks to Hannaford Supermarkets which provided fresh fruit snacks, and also provided the yogurt and fruit used for the kids’ parfait-making at the Healthy Waltham table!

Check out a video of the event courtesy of Chris Wangler and the Waltham Community Access Channel (WCAC-TV):

The Waltham Day of Play was spearheaded by the Waltham Recreation Department. Other participating organizations included: City of Waltham, Waltham YMCA, Healthy Waltham, Waltham Partnership for Youth, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Waltham Children’s Hospital, Waltham Public Schools, Waltham Fields Community Farm, Waltham Land Trust, Greater Waltham ARC, Hannaford’s Supermarket.

Waltham Farm Day

Maria — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:28:06 +0000

On a beautiful fall day, well over 200 people came to the Waltham Fields Community Farm to connect with Waltham’s agricultural past at the first “Waltham Farm Day.” The September 26 event was co-sponsored by the Waltham Fields Community Farm, Healthy Waltham, the Mayor’s Office, and the Waltham Public Schools. Young and old enjoyed apple cider pressing, digging for sweet potatoes, cleaning shallots and garlic, a composting demonstration, and an art project. Presentations on cooking greens and drying herbs were some of the other activities enjoyed by attendees.

Here are some highlights of the day from the Waltham Community Access Channel:

Healthy snack grants in two Waltham Schools this year

Maria — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:32:58 +0000

This fall, fresh fruit and vegetable snacks will be provided free twice a week to students at the Whittemore and Stanley Elementary Schools through a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Grant. The Waltham Food Service Department applied for this grant in collaboration with Healthy Waltham. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The FFVP began as a pilot project authorized by Congress in 2002 as a part of the effort to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn to make healthier food choices. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the Farm Bill, permanently authorized the program nationwide. The program is currently limited to elementary schools with 50% or more participation in free and reduced-price lunch. Schools are encouraged to support the program with classroom activities that focus on healthy eating and the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Building a Garden at McDevitt

Maria — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:36:58 +0000

This summer, a group of Waltham middle-schoolers built a raised-bed garden at the McDevitt Middle School as part of Healthy Waltham’s summer program. Read all about it in the Daily News Tribune article.

Walk & Talk with Elected Officials

Maria — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:40:57 +0000

Back for its second summer, “Walk and Talk with Elected Officials” kicked off on July 6. Organized by Healthy Waltham, the event combines physical exercise with the opportunity to speak with our elected officials. The event takes place Monday evenings at Leary Field on Bacon Street from 6:00-7:15 pm. All are welcome.

Please see the coverage in the Daily News Tribune by clicking here.

Fitzgerald School Taste Test

Judy — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:18:23 +0000

Healthy Waltham and the Waltham Public Schools Food Services Department brought in Waltham parent and chef German Lam to provide healthy cooking tips and demonstrations to cafeteria staff. At the Fitzgerald Elementary School, Chef Lam prepared a turkey cobb salad using lots of fresh veggies and an orange-juice based light dressing. The salad was then handed out in sample sizes for kids to try. Kids even got to vote on whether they liked the salad. The verdict: it was a hit, with 81% voting favorably. Cafeteria taste tests are one of the many collaborations between Healthy Waltham and Food Services to promote healthy eating among kids.

This event was covered by the Daily News Tribune and can be viewed here:

Daily News Tribune Article

Northeast School Taste Test

Maria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:56:14 +0000

Healthy Waltham and the Waltham Public Schools kicked off our test taste program at the Northeast Elementary School in September 2008. On the menu: roasted summer squash, served with tomatoes and fresh herbs. The squash that was prepared in the Northeast cafeteria was locally grown – by Waltham’s last remaining farm, the Waltham Fields Community Farm on Beaver Street. Healthy Waltham passed out samples for kids to try; tasting is optional, but encouraged. The goal of the taste tests is to promote new vegetable dishes in a fun way. The event coincided with the MA Harvest for Students Week, a week celebrating locally grown produce.

The event was covered by WCVB TV Channel 5 as well as the Daily News Tribune. Coverage can be seen here:

WCVB TV Channel 5

Daily News Tribune