Meatless Mondays? There are great vegetarian sources of protein (spoiler alert: Greek yogurt has way more protein than the more common processed versions of yogurt which are basically sugar bombs). Incorporate beans, spinach, nuts, quinoa, and tofu. Avoid filling up on empty carbs - try to incorporate healthy grains  lower on the glycemic index.

Here is an awesome video made by a Food Justice organization in Oakland using creative visuals to discuss the life-threatening harm caused by our current food system. It is less than 7 minutes.

Food justice is the production of healthy, local, fresh, nutritious, foods made affordable so people of all backgrounds can access them. Communities  working for food justice are often growing and selling food in local economies, leading to robust communities and a healthier environment. Three more food justice organizations in Oakland are Phat Beets, Planting Justice, and People's Grocery.

Snack attack? Carry healthy snacks with you so you don't binge when hunger strikes (11pm Cheez Its in the library - we've been there).  We recommend nuts - just a few gives a great energy hit and many nuts have lots of health benefits. 

Send a Message to the Vallejo City Council

We have passed the community gardens initiative in the recent participatory budgeting process that took place here in Vallejo just last week. But the city council can still go against the people and vote to put some projects ahead of others or reduce the funding dollars to certain projects. We can't let this happen!

Please read Irene's excellent editorial in the local Times-Harold that talks all about this (and give her a pat on the back when you see her.)

Please help by sending an email to the Vallejo City Council:

rmcconnell@ci.vallejo.ca.us; sgomes@ci.vallejo.ca.us; jmalgapo@ci.vallejo.ca.us; martibrown@ci.vallejo.ca.us; hsunga@ci.vallejo.ca.us; bsampayan@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Here is a template. You may want to send it "as is," but the email will be more powerful if you add you own comments. Be sure to include "Participatory Budgeting" in the body or subject line.

----------

Council-member,

I wanted to write to let you know how passionate I am about the City of Vallejo's need for better nutrition, health education, and local food growth. I think that community gardens are going to be a great way to make that happen and I am so excited to see that the people of Vallejo agree.

The new funds from the participatory budgeting process will greatly strengthen the fabric of the community, improve the health of our people, and beautify our neighborhoods. I hope you will stand strong with me in support of the community gardens funding initiative as we continue to work hard to help Vallejo thrive.

Sincerely,

----------

Get Out and Vote, Vallejo!

Polls open this TODAY, May 11, for Vallejo's first ever Participatory Budgeting process.  There is a great proposal for Community Gardens and Nutrition Education. This proposal will support 10 gardens all over Vallejo, including the Vallejo People's Garden and Loma Vista Farm!  

 

 

 

The proposed project has three goals: 1) Increase access to fresh, healthy produce across Vallejo and especially in low-income neighborhoods. 2) Empower area residents of all ages, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds with the skills to grow their own food, provide nutrition education and foster environmental stewardship. 3) Boost the city’s morale by creating connections within and between neighborhoods of people helping people.

Voting Locations and Hours
Sat., May 11, 10am - 6pm
Florence Douglas Senior Center
333 Amador St.

Mon. - Fri., May 13 - 17, 12pm - 7pm
Vallejo City Hall
555 Santa Clara St.

Sat., May 18, 10am - 6pm
Vallejo Adult School
2833 Tennessee St.


Community Gardens increase the sense of community ownership, stewardship and identity.  They bring people together from a variety of backgrounds and lead to community-based efforts to address health and social concerns such as obesity in children and local crime.

Touro Students, Your student ID is all you need to be able to vote for your top selection from 32 proposals on the ballot. See you at the polls!

Proposed Soda Tax Brought to California Legislature This Week

A proposed California tax would charge one cent for every ounce of fizzy, sugary soda purchased. This means a can of soda would cost an extra 8 cents and a Big Gulp would be 44 cents more expensive than before. The purpose of the tax is twofold: 1) discourage excessive soda consumption, 2) the fund raised would fund statewide programs raised at reducing childhood obesity.

Read more at http://www.californiahealthline.org/features/2013/statewide-soda-tax-gaining-momentum-in-calif-legislature.aspx

Loma Vista Farm Volunteering

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to give you a heads up about two awesome volunteer opportunities at Loma Vista Elementary School's farm. Yeah, it's a farm fully loaded with goats and pigs and chickens...ponies, cows, garden beds, a green house, kitchens, and an alpaca named Curly. A flier is attached with full details. 

One opportunity involves assisting in cooking classes for the kids as they take a break from their regular studies. The other opportunity is to get your hands dirty tending the garden. This garden is special though as it is the pilot for the district's first "farm to cafeteria" program. That means that all the food you help to grow will contribute to feeding the roughly 75% of students who utilize the government's assisted lunch program for low income families.

As you may know, Vallejo is a food desert. Some of the students in the district, especially those who take advantage of assisted lunch, may rarely see fresh foods on their plates at home. This is a public health issue in our community and one you can help make a dent in by volunteering just a few hours of your time.

The farm is located here.

For more information, please see the attached flier or email Whitney Ball... or talk to Irene Smarr or me at school.

-Travis