NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community

2015 Report to the community TBAISD Partners to Help Healthy Kids Learn More Good nutrition helps kids in the classroom By Cathy Meyer Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is becoming the Farm to School resource for regional school districts because ample research and evidence suggests students who eat healthy foods become healthier in mind and body. Therefore, they are more available to learn. Many students eat two-thirds of FoodCorps service members work with TBAISD to create lessons and activities their daily calories at school, so that are aligned with the Common Core State Standards. (Photo: Renee Daggers) there is an opportunity to influand activities that are aligned to ence life-long habits that will bene- healthier foods and menus. This not the Common Core State Stanfit the student. Eating healthy foods only helps the local economy and agdards and integrated into the ricultural industry in our region, but and living a healthy lifestyle do lead existing subject area curricula it gives our community a healthier to increased student performance • With Michigan Land Use Instiand achievement. Also, students who lifestyle with numerous benefits. tute, providing cooking kits to Some ways TBAISD is getting are introduced to healthy foods and those schools currently particihealthy choices take the information involved: pating in Farm to School projects home to their families who are more • Partnering with FoodCorps • Partnering with MLUI and encouraged to purchase and prepare members to create lesson plans FoodCorps to raise awareness at the Food, Farms and Health Conference in Traverse City TBAISD is • Raising awareness through anproviding ecdotal stories, and publishing professional them in a way that will, hopedevelopment in fully, build connections creating and/ or sustaining • Providing professional developschool ment in creating and/or sustaingardens in ing school gardens northwest • Creating video resources for Michigan. regional teachers (Photo: www.tcaps.net/departments/ Michele Worden) food-nutrition-services/ 40

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