Healthy Nourishment

Principles:

1. The civilized meal is the cornerstone of human development – both for civilization in general, as well as the individual.
2. Mind, Body, and Spirit all depend upon healthy nourishment, and all three must receive Healthy Nourishment.

The Value of a Meal

The true value of a meal resides in a few simple properties.  A ‘valuable’ meal is one that addresses Mind, Body, and Spirit in their entirety.  To address the these, we must strive to teach with our food.  An entire generation of children is losing the art of the meal.  No longer fed valuable food by their families, they run on fast food and processed, frozen crap.  They eat in cars, in school cafeterias, and in the aisles of liquor stores.

I spoke with a camper from the Long Beach School District one night at dinner here in camp.  His counselor told me that he claimed to be a ‘vegetarian’, but upon our conversation, I learned what this fifth grade student meant.  He told me that he never ate at home, and that he lived on cookies from the school cafeteria and french fries from fast food restaurants. 

A camp dining hall should be a warm, inviting space of nourishment and congregation.  When a guest enters the dining hall, they should feel empowered to re-fuel themselves in mind, body, and spirit.  This ideal is best pursued through a few central, foundational principles.  These principles are High Standards coupled with, Unique, Fun, and Healthy food.  These four principles will guide our choices when implementing change.