Matt Malgari, Owner of Smart Sips Restaurant, Supports New Guidelines for School Cafeterias

PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) According to Fox News, cafeteria menus will look drastically different this fall. This is due to new Department of Agriculture guidelines that set strict calorie and sodium limits on school meals. Once the new rules take effect, schools must offer dark green, orange, or red vegetables and legumes at least once a week. Each student must select at least one vegetable or fruit per meal. Flavored milk comes only in the nonfat variety, and there's a ban on artificial, artery-clogging trans fats. Matt Malgari, owner of Smart Sips and More restaurant, believes that this is a great way to get kids craving nutritious, healthful meals both now and for the rest of their lives.

At a School Nutrition Association conference in Denver, Colorado, food workers listened to tips about how to get children to make healthy food choices in the cafeteria. The article explains that this is a serious concern for school cafeteria managers, who are implementing the biggest change to federal school-food policy in fifteen years.

Kern Halls, who works in school nutrition in Florida, says, "We don't want healthy trash cans. We want kids who are eating this stuff." At the conference, Halls showed cafeteria managers how to make some new recipes.

Another part of the plan is the use of "food coaches" who tour cafeterias and hand out samples of fruits and vegetables. These food coaches also demonstrate how to eat these foods. While the idea may seem silly, for kids who have only seen chicken nuggets it's often necessary for them to view an adult eating bone-in chicken. The schools are using forward-thinking marketing research to promote enjoyment of nutritious foods in their cafeterias.

Matt Malgari has built his business around the concept of fast yet healthy and delicious foods. Customers flock to his restaurant, Smart Sips and More, to grab smoothies, salads, and wraps made with fresh produce and fruit. Malgari is a firm believer that educating young children about the benefits of healthy, fresh food is an essential part of changing the way kids think.

"Kids who grow up with chicken nuggets and pizza will turn into adults who eat chicken nuggets and pizza for dinner every night. It's the only thing they've ever known, so why should they want anything different when they're preparing their own meals? But if we can get kids eating and enjoying peaches and broccoli and whole grain bread, then they will become adults who buy these things when they're making their own purchasing decisions. We'll have a healthier nation of food consumers and shoppers. This obesity epidemic will slowly start to become manageable."

ABOUT:

Matt Malgari owns Smart Sips and More, a restaurant committed to providing customers with fast, healthy, and (most importantly) delicious meals. The food is made using local, organic produce and fresh ingredients. Customers can design their own wraps, paninis, and smoothies, or choose from a carefully crafted menu. Matt believes that limited time shouldn't force people to eat a meal from a fast food restaurant.

Website: http://mattmalgari.org