If billboards showed farms not french fries

RootDown LA's Food Systems Mural at Manual Arts High School in South LA shows - our food system has changed in the past 100 years..we're getting too many additives in processed foods, and not enough nutrients from whole foods!

Thanks to Roxana Reyes and her team of artists who completed this mural in Winter, 2009.  They made a powerful point when they asked Manual Arts students, "What do you want to see on the walls and billboards surrounding the neighborhood?  Corporate advertising for unhealthy food or the images of healthier food and the abundance of it we can find even in urban areas...?"

Youth Leaders Choose to End the Year Sharing Healthy Food at the Park!

Our Youth Leaders decided to end the year with a celebration of healthy food - by cooking and sharing their favorite recipes at Ross Snyder park last Saturday morning.  A few family members joined and we attracted some soccer players, local families and even the ICE CREAM MAN!  who all appreciated our fruit, homemade salsa, quesadillas, chili and arroz con leche.

Costa Rican Day? at RootDown LA

Leave it to our own Costa Rican born Warren Calvo Leon to declare it COSTA RICAN DAY at RootDown LA's After School Healthy Food Club.  Recipes follow...

Costa Rican Day!

Gallo Pinto:

Make White Rice

Prep the black beans with garlic, onions red peppers and a little butter, simmer

In a pan mix the two together with a little oil and a bit more garlic.

Fry sweet plantains

Put the pork chops on the frying pan.

Butter up the bread and you got a typical Costa Rican lunch without the salad.....

What? No salad?!!!  That's ok.  Our kids are eating enough kale, lettuce, beets, broccoli and sauteed squash on other days.  Plus, pork chops can get a little pricey.  It's ALL about finding the balance...