2006 Archives

No cooking skills are required to lend a hand at one of our 21 monthly cooking classes for 4th graders--just a desire to help, a sense of adventure, love of children and perhaps enthusiasm about working side-by-side with Houston's finest chefs.  Download our December schedule and join in the fun.

powered by performancing firefox

The holidays are a perfect excuse to spend quality time with your children in the kitchen, either whipping up traditional family favorites or exploring healthy new recipe ideas together.  The wonderful Houston chefs who donate their time to Recipe for Success’s Chefs in Schools program have been devising healthy seasonal alternatives that the children have loved--sometimes to their own surprise.  Try these yummy Sweet Potato Biscuits from Lauren Gockley, the pastry chef at Jean-George's Bank. Enjoy!

powered by performancing firefox

The quiz !

British lawmakers are getting out in front of the need to curb advertising to children--read about it here.  Time to lean on Congress to implement  restrictions on junk food advertsing aimed at American children.  The millions spent on sophisticated marketing to ensare new young consumers regularly swamp the hard work and underfunded programs to encourage healthy eating.

powered by performancing firefox

The children at MacGregor Elementary who are in Brennan’s Chef Randy Evan’s cooking class got a treat last week.  A PBS film crew visited them for an up-close look at how Recipe for Success and our Chefs in Schools program really works. 

If you read Parade Magazine today, it seems that Americans are beginning to pay attention to the idea of healthy eating.  Finally, a trend in the right direction.  According to Parade, 57% say that they are eating more salads and fruit.  But, it looks like they remain  in denial about their children, with only 9% of the parents surveyed claiming that their children are overweight. 

An Op-Ed by Harlan Coben in the New York Times this week railed agaist what he calls "Snack Tyranny"  and points out that any exercise benefit a child gains by soccer is wiped out by Ding Dongs. 

Excellent point. 

powered by performancing firefox

    "Please give special thanks to Chef Roberto Del Grande.   For first time, just a few minutes after Mr.Del Grande started to talk, my student Maria Chavez openly interacted with him.  Usually Maria is very shy and I could not find--until that moment--the way to motivate her.
    It was amazing to see her participating and enjoying the class. As an educator I appreciate the tremendous impact that Mr. Del Grande has made in the heart of all my children but especially Maria’s."   Thanks, Sandra Garza
See Maria below interacting with Chef Robert

powered by href="http://performancing.com/firefox">performancing firefox

Download the November class schedule here and email [email protected] to let us know when you can help.

powered by performancing firefox

"I am having a ball!  It is so much fun to see how the children get into it--I'll be back for sure." exclaimed volunteer Phyllis Abyad after her first Chefs in Schools experience with Chef Ronnie Ortiz at Gross Elementary.  See volunteers Phyllis Abyad, Kim Tutcher and Mimi DelGrande below with children at Briscoe, Gross & Rodriguez.

powered by performancing firefox

Love to cook? Want to work beside your favorite chef?
Be a Recipe for Success volunteer and lend a hand at one of our Chefs in Schools 4th grade cooking classes. 
We conduct 22 classes a month.  Surely there is a day and time that works well for you to come help with one of them.  Each monthly class takes 2 hours of your time and promises lots of fun.  Email us at [email protected] to find out more.

powered by performancing firefox

October is International Walk to School Month.

powered by performancing firefox

powered by performancing firefox

Chefs in Schools started in five of Houston's elementary schools last week when dozens of Houston's finest chefs visited fourth grade classrooms in five HISD elementary schools.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest keeps us informed about food politics and provides easy links to communicate with Congress about upcoming legislation. Read more here:

Take Action!

In the offer it and they will eat category . . .

McDonald's Fighting Childhood Obesity And Diabetes? Ha! Now That's A Good One!

'Veggie U' teaches kids healthy eating

The Health Museum hosts a Teddy Bear Check-up: Saturday, December 2

“HISD Proposes Opening Breakfast Program to All,” Houston Chronicle, June 23, 2006

The School-Lunch Test - New York Times

Download file

HISD waited until the very last minute to get their new federally-mandated Wellness Policy in place before the start of the 2006-07 school year. We havent seen the ultimately approved document yet, but we do know that there were last minute changes made to the final draft attached below.

Even the draft falls prey to shortcomings pointed out by Action for Healthy Kids' review of a sampling from across the country. HISD's goals are general, without either measurable guidelines or penalties for lack of compliance. As always, the ultimate responsibility for vigilence lies with parents and the community and depends entirely upon the willingness of an individual school's administration.

RFS calls for the HISD School Board to not settle on this new Wellness Policy as final document, rather a work in progress that can be continually improved.

Download file Volunteer Application

Welcome to The Dish!

Recipe for Success Foundation’s new blog.

We will use this page to keep you updated on all our program activities and to direct your attention to news and information that we think you will find interesting.

Down the right side of The Dish, are buttons leading to our discussion boards and a cloud of words that links to our research by keyword.

Anyone can participate in our public forum, but the other discussion boards are password access only.

We hope you find this page helpful and interesting. We would like your feedback. If you have ideas or
suggestions or questions about how to use this site, please drop us an email.

Best regards,
Gracie Cavnar
Founder & Chairman
Recipe for Success Foundation