Fresh food, and food for thought

May 29,2009
by June Blanc

Local farmers will begin trucking their products to market this weekend. After the long winter, local farmers’ markets will re-open this Saturday in Pleasantville, Katonah-Lewisboro, Ossining and Pound Ridge. Stall after stall of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables, local cheese and dairy products, still-warm baked breads and muffins await discerning shoppers looking for nutritious, tasty food for their families. Farmers’ markets have become a Saturday adventure for many families, with children discovering and helping pick out fresh produce to take home and help cook.

Eating fresh and in season fruits and vegetables is becoming a habit for many, as more and more people strive for a healthy lifestyle. A habit, however, that sometimes feels like it requires a Ph.D. in agriculture to pursue. Advertisers slap “green” labels on products, but don’t explain what that means for the consumer or the environment. This is “natural” and that is “organic.” Which is better, is there a difference? How to distinguish between what is really good and what is hype? 

The primary goal of a new web site, www.healthykids-now.com, is to help answer many of these questions, with the added bonus that references to resources will be local and information particularly relevant to Northern Westchester residents. The suffix in the web site name, “now” is a reference to Northern Westchester. The articles on the web site are designed to help parents learn “best practices;” what works and what doesn’t; what is sound medical advice and what isn’t; and what is happening in other towns or school districts. The authors are physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, town supervisors, school superintendents, to list a few. The web site also contains links to other helpful web sites and a calendar of local events related to food and physical activity

This web site www.healthykids-now.com was developed by Healthy Kids NOW, a coalition of organizations and individuals banding together to promote nutrition, healthy eating habits and physical fitness for children living in Northern Westchester.  Spearheaded by Northern Westchester Hospital’s President’s Council, this coalition includes leaders from across the region including Joel Seligman, President of Northern Westchester Hospital; Brian Skanes, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester; Lee Roberts, Supervisor of the Town of Bedford, Dr. Donald Antonecchia, Superintendent of the Pleasantville Union Free School District and many others. All articles on the web site are reviewed by an editorial committee that includes a physician, Dr. Michael Weissman of New Castle, former Chief of Pediatrics of Northern Westchester Hospital, and a nutritionist, Renee Simon.

Check out the web site frequently as information is always being updated. Healthy Kids NOW considers itself a community resource and asks that individuals and organizations help make the web site reflect community needs and interests and help build it as an ever-evolving site by offering comments on what to cover, helpful resources and upcoming events for the calendar. Healthy Kids NOW can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

June Blanc is chair of the President’s Council of Northern Westchester Hospital. She and Naomi Marrow, both of New Castle, are co-chairs of Healthy Kids NOW.

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