New Approaches to the Health Promoting School: Participation in Sustainable Food Systems
Liesel Carlsson BSNHon MSc.AHN Candidate & Patricia L. Williams PhD PDt (2008): New Approaches to the Health Promoting School: Participation in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 3:4, 400-417
The purpose of this review is to synthesize research on 3 strategies that public schools use to procure food from within sustainable food systems—school food gardens, farm-to-school programs, and school procurement policies—and discuss the potential roles for dietitians. Peer-reviewed and “grey” literature provides a wealth of successful models for how schools participate in sustainable food systems, why they do it, what benefits they reap and what barriers they en counter. While available published literature provides reason to believe that these strategies may contribute to sustainable community de sign, food system localization, and child health and nutrition, it has also be en suggested that they may encourage transfer of government responsibilities to the community.