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Congress is revising the Child Nutrition Act, which determines what foods are served in school lunches. Sign the Physicians Committee  for Responsible Medicine petition today to tell Congress that students deserve nutritious foods—more fruits, vegetables, vegetarian foods, and healthful nondairy beverages. Encouraging Congress to make healthful changes to the Child Nutrition Act will help lower the rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Also, check out PCRM's Golden Carrot Award (cash prizes for food service professionals), Report Card to grade school's lunch nutrition,  Guide to healthy school meals for food service workers, teachers, and parents, and ask PCRM for help in Improving your school's lunchroom.

Getting your Calcium from the original source is best. "Other ways to get your calcium fix include eating the following foods: fortified grains, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, kelp, seaweed, watercress, chickpeas, broccoli, red beans, soybeans, tofu, seeds and raw nuts." per the Cheese, it's grosser than you thought article.  I personally like my quick cabbage salad recipe: 1 bag of shredded purple  cabbage, shredded carrot, raisins, and your favorite dressing. (sliced almonds optional)

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), hospitals across the country are cutting meat from the menu in attempts to lower their global warming emissions. Though meat options will still be available, staff members will encourage patients to choose healthy meat-free meal choices as part of an overall sustainability plan in the healthcare industry, reports The Guardian News and Media. Please view the complete article here.

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk. If you know a person who eats meat, this could be a beneficial video to share. Vegetarians & Vegans may not agree with everything Mark Bittman says, however, it could help meat eaters see how important a plant-based diet is for the health of the planet, themselves, and their families. The Video is here.

Janine Benyus is the author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, a book that has galvanized scientists, architects, designers and engineers into exploring new ways in which nature's successes can inspire humanity.  Her TED video provides 12 sustainable design ideas from nature. I recommend you start at the 2 minute point.

The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) is hosting a talk where Ruppenthal will share ideas from his book and show examples of gardens in compact urban locations. A surprising variety of food can be grown in even the most cramped and paved of quarters-sprouts, mushrooms, ferments and cultures, vegetables, even berries and fruit trees! The talk will be followed by a reception with some locally grown snacks. Admission is free. Time: 6pm - 8pm  Location: Ferry Building, Port Commission Hearing Room, 2nd Floor, San Francisco (Market & Embarcadero). More information is here.