True or false: High school students in Sacramento are actively and enthusiastically involved in changing the way they and their families think about, shop for, and consume food? Absolutely true. And if this surprises you, you should have a chat with some of the teens involved in what could really be thought of as “living laboratories” of Hiram Johnson, Sacramento Charter, and Luther Burbank Senior High Schools. No doubt they are not the only adolescents interested in engaging in a healthier lifestyle, but they are the first local students to participate in a movement, co-founded by well-known celebrity heart surgeon and television host, Dr. Mehmet Oz, known as HealthCorps. The idea

The City Council unanimously approved a recommendation Tuesday to develop a vending machine nutrition policy that requires at least 50 percent of products sold in machines in city-owned facilities to meet an approved healthy requirement. “I think it’s something that’s necessary,” Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said Tuesday. “It would be nice to have better choices at community centers where our kids are. I think this is something our communities need.” The new vending machine nutrition policy will set parameters for sodium, sugar and calorie content of food and beverages available in all vending machines. It would also require beverage choices to include ample variety of water, low-fat milk a

Losing weight and getting into shape often top the lists of New Year's resolutions Americans attempt to commit to annually, and that resolution is met with the advice that a plan that combines diet and exercise is the best way to achieve or maintain desired results. But diet and exercise alone isn't enough of a plan to keep an individual committed to getting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. From everyman Jared Fogle to supermodel Cindy Crawford, the presence of a supportive community played an integral role as a third element toward goals that incorporate losing weight, getting fit and staying healthy. "Getting weight loss support from family, friends and sometimes even professionals

Slow Food Sacramento and Movies On a Big Screen will present the documentary film Lunch Line at the Guild Theater Sunday, September 26th at 7:00 PM.  Admission is $6, and tickets are available at the door.  The Guild Theater is located at 2828 35th Street, Sacramento. Lunch Line begins by telling the story of a group of Chicago high school students who have just won a contest to cook up a healthier school lunch.  The students get to travel to Washington, D.C. and prepare their winning menu for policy makers.  The film goes on to document the history of America’s 64-year-old school lunch program and to examine the difficulties in making substantive changes to it. Following the film, there

Tahoe Park residents braved wind and cloudy skies Saturday to attend the grand opening of the Tahoe Park Community Garden. Wielding golden scissors, a team including Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Sacramento City Councilmember Kevin McCarty cut the ceremonial red ribbon. "This will only enhance your neighborhood," Matsui said, "this gives you a gathering place." She went on to say that community gardens reduce crime and vandalism "because everyone now has a stake in the community." The garden, which is on the campus of Tahoe Park Elementary, was created as a means to fight obesity and promote healthy lifestyle choices and eating habits. "Young people sometimes think food comes from McDon

Freshateria.com, a website offering healthy alternatives to be served at elementary schools for lunch in Sacramento and surrounding areas, launched March 15. The website offers more nutritional options to be delivered to a child's school for $3.75 per meal and is served from the cafeteria at lunch time. The meals are USDA-certified for portion size and calorie-to-fat ratios and consist of organically grown fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and naturally raised meats. Freshateria.com is an outgrowth of 15-year-strong Sacramento catering company Jealousy Catering, run by entrepreneurial duo Mike Souza and Rick Reynolds. According to Souza, the idea sparked as a way to diversify bus

Executive Chef Gary Gainey keeps the Sacramento Kings nutritionally healthy and is dedicated to educating children on healthy eating and making smart eating decisions. I attended one of his classes at Raley's Supermarket in Fair Oaks with Kings star Jon Brockman. Check out my video! video by: Chris Morrow Follow Chris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/morrowchris

Keep this in mind the next time you're trying to decide what to buy at the grocery store to stay healthy: Too much of what's sitting on shelves today isn't really food. It's nothing more than "edible substances." That's what best-selling author Michael Pollan told a sellout crowd during Wednesday night's California Lecture at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N St. The Knight Professor of Journalism at University of California, Berkeley, has won national acclaim for such books as "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food." "What is food?" was just one of the questions Pollan addressed in a question-and-answer format led by California's food and ag czar, A.G. Kawamura. That suc