Move over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on white bread and make room for something tastier and more nutritious.
It's lunchtime at The Geneva School, and students are in line at the kitchen window waiting for their special order lunches, served in a fancy white box from Wholesome Tummies.
These children aren't waiting for fried chicken nuggets or greasy pizza. They are hungry for something more exotic and healthier for their growing bodies.
Some have a penchant for Open Sesame Noodle Bowl made with organic udon noodles, multi-grain pasta, carrots and shelled edamame, while others, with more traditional tastes, have opted for French Bread Pizza made with whole grain or Sneaky Mac and Cheese made with pureed organic carrots and melted cheddar cheese.
Samantha Gotlib, co-owner of Wholesome Tummies, quickly unpacks numerous large black thermal bags filled with hot and cold lunches, made to order and individually labeled. Gotlib smiles as she watches the children clamor at the window, looking for their nutritious food.
Gotlib started the all-natural, organic lunch delivery business two years ago with friend and neighbor Debbie Blacher.
As moms, they were disappointed in the overabundance of processed food children are offered out of convenience. The positive response to their venture from families has been overwhelming. "Parents tell me they have been waiting for so long for something convenient and healthy," Gotlib said.
Parents often feel guilty, she said, because they get home late from after-school activities, do homework and eat dinner, and by the time morning rolls around, they are often too rushed to create a well-balanced lunch.
"Parents are sometimes forced into fast food choices they don't feel good about. We are a convenience you can feel good about," Gotlib said.
With the help of Florida Hospital nutritionist Sherri Flynt, coauthor of the book, "Supersized Kids," the duo created a healthy meal alternative.
Each week, Wholesome Tummies makes and delivers between 700 and 1,000 lunches to 26 local private schools. The food is prepared in a rented kitchen space shared with Puff 'n Stuff Catering.
"We have a Disney-trained chef who has taken our recipes to another level," Gotlib said.
When creating new menu items, Flynt said she looks at the nutritional composition of the food and ensures the meal includes healthy carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, and the serving size is appropriate for the age of the child.
"We take the favorite foods, chicken bites, macaroni and cheese, and make them healthy using whole grain, pureed fruits and vegetables," Gotlib said. "We take out as much fat as we can by replacing creams and butters with yogurt."
There have been struggles, Flynt said, with parents requesting larger portions for their children.
"The bottom line is we're all used to eating more than we need to, and your portion sizes are appropriate. Kids are eating double and sometimes triple what they should be," she said. "It's such a great service. I work with so many families that have school-aged children that are dealing with weight issues and the one thing that always comes up is the issue of school lunch.
"For some families, yes, they have time to make their own (lunches), and this is another way they can have more control over what their children are eating."
Florida Hospital has partnered with Wholesome Tummies to help build awareness about healthy eating as part of the hospital's initiative for creating a healthier future for the community. Every prepackaged lunch is adorned with a "Florida Hospital Wants You Healthy" sticker to remind children of their healthy food choices.
The lunches, which can be conveniently ordered online, range in cost from $4 to $6, and every meal includes a choice of one entr�e and two sides, such as celery sticks with ranch dressing, crispy wheat crackers or banana chips.
"We tell parents, if they can't afford to buy our lunches all the time, print out the menu from online and copy the ideas. Make something healthy a couple days a week, and then go for the convenience a couple days a week with us," Gotlib said.
Whether it is obvious to the parents or the children, Flynt said, they are learning healthy food can be fun and can taste good. "They present it in a way that is much more appealing, and that is half the battle; we eat with our eyes first," Flynt said.
Lou Jones, The Geneva School nurse, said she's glad students have another choice at lunchtime this year. "It offers them something different than fast food," Jones said. "They learn how food can benefit their bodies, and Wholesome Tummies meals give them an opportunity to form good eating habits."
source: seminolechronicle
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