Kitchen Conundrum

  • Home
  • About
  • Eat
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Fish
    • Meats
    • Pasta
    • Poultry
    • Side Dishes
    • Sauces, Dressings and Condiments
    • Soup and Stews
    • Vegetables
  • Drink
    • Beer
    • Cocktails
    • Wine
  • Recipe Index
  • Travel
    • NYC/Metro
    • Cambodia
    • England
    • France
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Vietnam
  • Kitchen Sink
    • Classes
    • Contests
    • Cookbooks
    • Cook The Book Fridays- My Paris Kitchen
    • French Fridays with Dorie
    • Kitchen Gear & Gadgets

Food Literacy Month and A Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

September 13, 2012 by Renee

We interrupt the Camino Posts to bring you this important message:

Did you know that September is Food Literacy Month?  Well it is!

Food literacy is defined as “the understanding of how our food choices impact our health, the environment, and our community.”

Unfortunately, too many people have been food illiterate for far too long and the consequences are devastating. It negatively impacts all of those areas but worse yet, our poor habits have affected our nation’s children. We have created an environment and an attitude where our food choices have literally been toxic and we’ve cut any form of exercise nearly out of the picture altogether.

Childhood obesity is a leading public health concern. Across America, more than 23 million children and ages 2 to 19 are considered to be obese or overweight.1 In California alone, 38% of children are obese! 2 

Children who are obese in their preschool years are more likely to be obese into adulthood. They are more likely to have risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  They’re also at a greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and a host of social and psychological problems such as bullying and poor self-esteem.

With the rising cost of health care, to which obesity and obesity-related conditions are costing billions of dollars each year to the strain on available and accessible health services already, this epidemic has reached crisis levels and is in desperate need of eradication.

However, this crisis won’t be solved with promises of personal responsibility or by the food industry putting people before profits. It will take government, public and private partnerships to educate, mandate and essentially work to change the attitudes of how we consume. Not only how, but what, too.

That’s where fellow blogger, Amber Stott comes in. A year ago, she founded the nonprofit organization, California Food Literacy Center.

Their mission statement is

‘To inspire change today for a healthy, sustainable tomorrow through enduring community food education.’

Through food literacy education they teach children about healthy eating habits and encourage them to change their attitudes towards fruits and vegetables. Reaching children early and instilling good eating habits and healthy living standards is key to abolishing obesity once and for all.

They have developed a curriculum called Your Sandwich can Save the World!  that reaches children through local nonprofits and schools.

They test kids on their food knowledge and then work with them to modify their attitudes and behavior with informative lessons, fun activities, and by actual tastings of various fruits and vegetables.  Each child is also taught how to make healthy sandwiches using locally sourced, whole grain bread and healthy fillings. The results of their pilot program have been astounding! See for yourself here.

Even though they are in California, we could learn a few things here in NY from them. Check out their toolkit of ideas for the month.  It’s a great place to start.

So to honor Amber’s hard work and dedication to the California Food Literacy Center and in celebration of Food Literacy Awareness Month, I am making my own version of a healthy sandwich that uses leftover chicken in a way that stretches a family’s food budget even a bit further.

When I make a roast chicken, there are usually some pieces left over. After everyone has eaten chicken for a day or two it’s time to transform it into something else. I grew up believing that you never throw food away- there were starving children somewhere who would love the peas that I refused to eat. I have carried that mantra well into adulthood and now, nothing goes to “waste” if it doesn’t have to. So the leftover chicken this week became a healthier version of a Waldorf Chicken Salad on a whole grain roll.

Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
 
Print
Author: Renee
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Cooked Chicken (diced into small cubes)
  • ½ cup Red seedless grapes (halved)
  • ¼ cup Walnuts (chopped)
  • 1 stalk Celery (diced)
  • ½ cup Non-fat Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup Non-fat mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 handful Spinach lettuce leaves (or other lettuce)
  • 2 Large Whole Grain Rolls (I like whole wheat Portuguese Rolls)
  • ½ head Green Cabbage (shredded (small head))
  • ½ head Purple Cabbage (shredded (small head))
  • 2 Carrots (peeled and shredded)
  • 1 cup Non-fat mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons Vinegar (I prefer red wine, but white is fine to use as well)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Salt & pepper (To taste)
Method
  1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with the celery, walnuts, yogurt, mayonnaise and mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Divide the two rolls into four pieces. Add the chicken salad and a few spinach leaves. Plate each half of sandwich. Serve with a side of fresh cole slaw.
  3. To make the coleslaw: Combine the cabbages, carrots, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator for a half hour or more so the flavors meld and the cabbage softens.
Notes
You can make the coleslaw ahead of time- to save time. Or just serve with sliced cucumbers or other freshly cut vegetables
3.2.2802

 

This sandwich was created to help the nonprofit California Food Literacy Center celebrate Food Literacy Month. The ingredients are good for you, good for the planet.  www.californiafoodliteracy.org

Please take the time to watch this video, learn more about the program and donate. All of the money raised will help educate kids about where their food comes from and how to make healthy food choices.

California Food Literacy Center from California Food Literacy Center on Vimeo.

 

Sources:  (Because I am geeky like that.)

  1. http://www.healthierkidsbrighterfutures.org/  COAM & National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
  2. http://californiafoodliteracy.org California Food Literacy

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Eat, Featured Posts, Bread, Poultry Tagged With: California Food Literacy Center, Recipe, Waldorf Chicken Salad, chicken salad, coleslaw, sandwich

« Kitchen On the Road- Camino de Santiago- Pamplona; Pig and a Patatas Bravas Recipe
Kitchen On the Road- Camino de Santiago- Burgos and an Oven Baked Lamb Recipe »

Comments

  1. California Food Literacy Center says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    Thank you so much for spreading the word and sharing your AWESOME recipe with us!

    • Renee says

      September 13, 2012 at 9:59 pm

      You are so very welcome! Happy to support such a great and important cause!

  2. Amber says

    September 14, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Renee, Wow!!! Not only does your recipe sound fantastic, but your write-up about the nonprofit is one of the best and well-researched I’ve seen. (Someone who geeks out over stats is a girl after my own heart!) 🙂 Truly, we’re honored that you took part in Food Literacy Month. THANK YOU!–for helping us spread the word and for inspiring your readers!!

    • Renee says

      September 16, 2012 at 9:56 am

      Thank you so much! I always try to do my homework! (And a research background helps!) 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. Bloggers Create Their Own Food Literacy Sandwiches says:
    September 14, 2012 at 3:50 am

    […] Renee and Ari’s Kitchen Conundrum supports us all the way from NY with a delicious Waldorf chicken salad. […]

Categories

Archives

kitchconundrum

Chocolate Babka! It’s a two day process but so w Chocolate Babka! It’s a two day process but so worth it. So good! 
•
•
•
#babka #chocolate #baking #chocolatebabka
Tonight we didn’t order in. We had homemade eggr Tonight we didn’t order in. We had homemade eggrolls and chicken fried rice along with some store bought dumplings. #sogood #chinesefood #fridaynight #tradition
Chicken Parm… a nice family dinner. Can’t beat Chicken Parm… a nice family dinner. Can’t beat comfort food! #dinner #family #familystyle
Totally forgot to post the cut of my soap here. It Totally forgot to post the cut of my soap here. Its been very busy and I’m like a whirling dervish in all different directions. On the food front we made some favorites-Chicken Marbella that sustained us for a week and also a Corned Beef and Cabbage dish because it is March after all. But it was good to have the comfort foods we love and old standards as they provide the most contentment when it’s chaos everywhere else. Regular work and then some wholesale orders and getting the line poured for our Spring/Summer scents. And helping others with a few website issues. And kids. Thankfully, it seems to all be under control now and I’m really happy to be busy. All good things! 

The Eucalyptus Mint cut (smells amazing!) turned out so nice. Very happy with it. Had a request for a classic Cucumber Melon soap. Also a lovely fresh and clean spring/ summer scent. Available soon. But the Spring/Summer line of candles are done and are now available! Yay! 
•
•
•
#cpsoap #cooking #smallbusiness #candlemaking #candles #soap #busy #happy
Still cooking. This week I made the amazing stuffe Still cooking. This week I made the amazing stuffed vegetables from Aglaia Kremezi and they were so delicious. But I didn’t take any photos. I did, however, take video of my latest soap pour. White eucalyptus and mint. Smells amazing! Can’t wait to see how the cut turns out. It was a bit thicker trace than I expected. 
•
•
•
#coldprocesssoap #soap #soapmaking #ecualyptus #mint #stillinthekitchen #somethingdifferent
It’s been a week! Time to relax a little. Braise It’s been a week! Time to relax a little. Braised short ribs and polenta. Dinner is served! 
•
•
•
#weekend #weekendvibes #cooking #dinner #shortribs #polenta
Breakfast buddies. I love when he crunches toast. Breakfast buddies. I love when he crunches toast. #sharing #labradoodle #lovemydog #notofficiallyonthebed
It’s been ages since I’ve posted here. Well, a It’s been ages since I’ve posted here. Well, a month, lol. Thats a while! We made it through the holidays and we are into the new year. And while we are still cooking a lot, most of my big concoctions lately have been outside the kitchen and in the soap/candle studio. Here I am mixing scents, clays and mica colorants. Lots of new products coming to @lesilobleu soon. 
•
•
•
#candlemaking #soapmaking #coldprocesssoap #giftideas #smallbusiness
Traditional Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Puddings a Traditional Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Puddings and roasties. Even though it wasn’t Sunday. A favorite. 
•
•
•
#sundayroast #beef #potatoes #yorkshirepudding #dinner #yum
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and very Merry Ch Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and very Merry Christmas! From all of us to all of you!
A little confiture with our biscuits this morning. A little confiture with our biscuits this morning. Fun flavors with pretty packaging. It’s a bit too sweet for me but I do like the pretty presentation. 
•
•
•
#jam #preserves #confiture #confitureparisienne #framboise #macaron #biscuits
Chicken Piccata for dinner. Love, love, love the l Chicken Piccata for dinner. Love, love, love the lemony white wine and caper sauce. A favorite! #dinner #chicken #lemon #yum
Fried chicken and waffles for dinner. With a maple Fried chicken and waffles for dinner. With a maple sriracha syrup. #dinner #eat #friedchicken #waffle #chickenandwaffles #yum
Leftovers! The best thing for lunch the next day- Leftovers!  The best thing for lunch the next day- Thanksgiving dinner on a roll. #thanksgiving #leftovers #thanksgivingdinneronaroll #yum #thebest
We are full of food and love today! So grateful fo We are full of food and love today! So grateful for the family around our table. #love #gratitude #thanksgiving #family
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for each and every one of you! However you spend your day, may it be filled with love and deliciousness! 
•
•
•
#thanksgiving #gratitude #love #friends #family #delish
So many blooms from our roses … still!!! It’s So many blooms from our roses … still!!! It’s November! I’m capturing them and will dry the petals for soap and bath salts. #roses #latebloomer #davidaustinroses #loveroses
Margez, falafel and hummus with some gyro and roas Margez, falafel and hummus with some gyro and roasted carrots for dinner. Quick and easy for a Wednesday that should have been a Thursday. #dinner #whatdayisit #sotired
Load More... Follow on Instagram

© Copyright 2017 Kitchen Conundrum · Privacy Policy & Disclosures · All Rights Reserved ·

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.