ACF Chef & Child Foundation Chair's Message

Dear Fellow Members:

At the 2007 ACF National convention in Orlando, Florida, the Chef & Child board voted to join the ACF Foundation. This vote provides the CCF better partnership capabilities with the ACF and better support under a less complicated system. Projects we have been working on will continue to move forward and our funds will continue to be sanctioned for CCF activities and philanthropies only.

Since 1960, the incidence in children being overweight has more than tripled, and continues to climb, especially in low income families (particularly of Hispanic and Native American ethnicities). The weight gain is linked to the foods that are affordable for these people which are highly processed and laden with fat and high fructose corn syrup.

Additionally, school systems serve foods that are not exemplary for a caloric juvenile diet. The problem is not only restricted to the impoverished. Children of all ages and backgrounds are being subjected to an assault of poor food choices in the typical "American" diet. Many "Children menus" are laden with choices of French fries and refillable sodas. The grocery market shelf has doubled the number of available snack foods in the past twenty years. The result of these food choices is not only obesity but frightening imminent health problems that accompany these bad choices.

We, as the ACF Chef & Child Foundation would like to make a difference in the battle to contain and overcome this toxic trend. At the Orlando convention "General Assembly" Chef Ann Cooper spoke passionately about this problem and sparked the souls of many on the importance of becoming involved. At the Chef and Child seminar she further illuminated what she has successfully done in the Berkeley school system to balance the menu offerings for the children. Jimmy Gherardi also made a great presentation at the CCF seminar on his successful school lunch program in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Each person and each chapter can make a huge difference in turning things around. There are many choices for ways to get involved. October 16th is the ACFCCF Childhood Hunger Day which is an ideal opportunity to get in touch with the local politicians to join hands in overcoming problems of childhood hunger, nutrition issues and obesity.

The ACFCCF is currently working on a joint effort with the Junior League on "Kids in the Kitchen," in March (National Nutrition month). This is a great opportunity to meet the Junior League in your community and join hands in teaching kids about cooking and nutritious foods. Jim Perko, a CCF board member has been working with the Cleveland clinic and the Junior League very successfully to promote his program "Food is Knowledge" which is a children's nutrition training program offered through the school system. The USDA has some fine training programs available as well. There are countless choices for making a difference. The main thing is to just make a commitment and do it.

The ACFCCF is currently negotiating for air time on the Cartoon Network to get the message out there where it will meet the target audience, KIDS. We have also had negotiation talks with the Scripps Institute and McDonald's about making some major changes in how kids eat and what is offered to them publicly. You as chefs can make a difference by changing your offerings for kids on the menu to reflect items lower in fat, salt and sugar. Having choices of vegetables, fruits or a small side salad with the menu item would be step in the right direction for addressing healthy dining. Kids will eat them if they are offered in the right format.

In the year to come we would like to update the Web site to include more links to other sources for combating the obesity issue. We will also be releasing a teaser on line for the Chef and Child cookbook which board member Vince Blancato has worked so diligently on. Phil Cragg will be working on a newsletter or CCF update which we will be posted on the Web site. We encourage you, the member, to keep in touch with us so we will include a link to e-mail the board members with questions, comments and concerns.

Thank you for all your support and we look forward to hearing about your activities soon.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Mikesell, CEC, AAC
Chairwoman
American Culinary Federation
Chef & Child Foundation