Lancaster Food Day: Celebrating local, healthy, affordable food

Sixty-four percent of Lancaster County residents are overweight or obese. The typical American diet contributes to diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many more which cost America nearly $150 billion per year. Clearly, changes need to be made, but how do we go about initiating such changes across the country? That’s where Food Day comes in.

Food Day is a movement with the mission to transform the way Americans eat. It will take place across the nation on October 24, 2013.

“Food Day highlights the importance of eating local, healthy, affordable food.”

Lancaster has the privilege of participating in this nationwide celebration.

Lancaster Food Day was organized by a coalition that includes Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local, Lighten Up Lancaster, Lancaster General Health, Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College. Linda Aleci, chair of Lancaster-BFBL and Beth Schwartz, Facilitator of Lighten Up Lancaster, are co-chairs of the event.

Several goals have been set for Lancaster Food Day. These include: raising public awareness about Lancaster’s food and health environment, calling attention to the local resources available for strengthening our local food system, and inspiring action to create a healthier and more equitable food environment for all Lancaster Country residents.

How do you partake in Food Day? Currently, Lancaster Food Day consists of over 10 public events and a growing number of “private” events, including sustainable food dinners at F&M, and potlucks in homes and churches across Lancaster.

Please attend any or all of the free public events or host your own food day event! Contact Beth Schwartz at bakoser@lghealth.org for guides, suggestions, and other resources. If you do organize an event, take pictures and share them on the Lancaster Food Day Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/LancasterFoodDay.

Below are the Lancaster Food Day public events available throughout the week of Food Day!

Laura Smith
Franklin and Marshall College ‘14
Lancaster General Health, Healthy Weight Management Intern

FOOD DAY EVENTS
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Dietitian led tours: Shop like a local with healthy, seasonal foods. 11am & 1pm
Lancaster Central Market, downtown Lancaster

Cook easy, healthy dishes with local, seasonal foods. Drop in! 11:45am-1:15pm
Lancaster County Community Foundation, 24 West King St, downtown Lancaster

Thursday, October 24, 2013
Preserve and can seasonal food, juicing and more. Tastings included. 9am-Noon
Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster

An Open (farm)House: Eat & Greet with local foods and farmers. 11am-4pm
Tellus 360, 24 East King Street, downtown Lancaster

Cook easy, healthy dishes with local, seasonal foods. Drop in! 11:30am–1:30pm
Roaring Brook Market, 155 East King Street, downtown Lancaster

Ribbon cutting and harvest lunch in the Ville-age garden. 11:30am
Huntington House, Millersville University, Millersville

Cheesemaking Workshop: “Vegan Cheese v. Dairy Cheese: The Cheese-off!” 5:30pm –7:30pm
The Seed, 52 N. Queen St. #8a, downtown Lancaster

“GMOs and your Food”, with AnnMarie Cantrell of GMO-FREE PA. 5pm
and a Sustainable Foods Potluck: bring a dish to share and recipes to swap.
Wohlsen Center for the Sustainable Environment, Franklin and Marshall College

Movie & discussion: “A Place at the Table” 7pm-9pm
Guest: Joe Arthur, Executive Director, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Weis College House, 600 Race Ave, Franklin and Marshall College

Potluck Dinner in Lancaster Community Gardens. Bring a dish to share. 7pm
Wheatland Middle School, 919 Hamilton Park Drive, Lancaster

Saturday, October 26, 2013
Cook easy, healthy dishes with local, seasonal foods. Drop in! 10am-noon
Lancaster Central Market, downtown Lancaster

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