I’m spending today at PodCamp New Hampshire. I spent the day attending all sorts of interesting sessions about social media, marketing and photography. I even played a round of Quiddich when most people wanted to be spectators instead of making a spectacle of themselves.
But as a food blogger isn’t the most important aspect of the day the food available to eat during the day. Can I say I was insanely impressed.
The Podcamp was hosted at the New Hampton School, and I wish that I had gone to high school there. The high school cafeteria was a organic or vegan eater’s dream. Our meal was filled with healthy options including fresh fruit, organic breads, and salad options.
I switched to my vegetarian mode to enjoy the incredible vegetarian pizza on a whole wheat crust. I also had a amazing salad with some vegan salad options. When did high schools start offering quinoa.
The school’s food philosophy was right there for all to see. Among them:
- Organic Fruits and Vegetables
- Free range organic eggs
- Meats and Poultry are free of growth hormones and antibiotics (humanely raised)
- Fish is wild caught
- Organic yogurt
It’s a long way from the mystery meats and fries that my high school served. It’s even unusual for professional office cafeterias in America.
Our main dish was a variety of pizza. I’m told the buffalo chicken was very spicy.
I was most impressed with the two kinds of veggie pizza. The pizza was on a great whole wheat crust. I wish more pizza places offered healthier crust options.
They also had a great variety of side salads, many of them vegan. A quinoa and a bean salad? That’s brilliant.
There was an amazing salad bar as well. I would have been happier if my high school offered this.
While the school offers a great selection of ice creams and dessert bars for a treat after the meal. They did have great vegan mint chocolate chip cookies. YUM!
In conclusion, I know why high school’s across America can’t afford to provide healthy meals like this every day. But couldn’t we get a little closer? Or a least see more colleges and universities with a similar healthy philosophy in their dining halls.
I can’t believe that podcamp is almost over. Off to the CommonMan in Ashland for the after party.
Pingback: PodCamp NH » PodCamp NH 2011 Wrap Up
August 15, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Woah woah woah–that’s a HIGH SCHOOL? I don’t eat that well NOW, cooking for myself…Don’t even want to think what it costs to send a kid there. Certainly doesn’t make me miss my days of frito banditos, fries and hamburgers as potential options for everyday lunch (my version of “healthy” high school food was getting a yoohoo and bag of chex mix instead. And it probably WAS healthier).
August 15, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I can’t get over how much money some people will spend to get their kids a leg up in life. But if the leg up includes better nutrition, why not. At the same time the kids don’t have a choice. Their school is away from most other food options, they are a captive audience and I’m sure the food is part of the cost of attendance.
August 16, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I have never seen any school offer food like that! WOW