What exactly is Clean Plates NYC, and who is it for? In this short video, founder and coauthor Jared Koch presents a simple description of how his restaurant and nutrition guide can serve as a helpful and accessible resource for New Yorkers and visitors alike.

Recently on the Huffington Post: GMO expert, author, and filmmaker Jeffrey Smith confronts the president of a major food company about genetically modified crops in his products, fearing the worst in ignorance and stubbornness. What transpires is magical – and bridges the gap between dogmatism and true understanding. Read about their discussion, and the mutual awakening it inspired at the Huffington Post website.

Smith also points toward a great resource for non-GMO produce at The Organic and Non-GMO Report website.

Olympic snowboarder Hannah Teter is setting a new precedent for world-class athletes: she adheres to a strict vegetarian diet, donates her competitive winnings to humanitarian organizations, and uses the proceeds from her maple syrup company to sponsor clean drinking water infrastructure in Kenya. Not your typical dumb jock! In a recent interview with the Huffington Post, she describes her lifestyle and her commitments, remarking on vegetarianism, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete.”

Read more at the Huffington Post website.

Coming up at Urban Zen: The FitTown Town Hall will bring together advocates for child health and present solutions that enhance physical and emotional health and wellness for children and teens in the home, at school and in the community. The goal is to engage parents and school staff as agents of change in bringing proactive health and healing practices to American youth. Learn more about www.urbanzen.org.

Day 1: March 10, 2010
Nutrition in Schools
with Ras Baraka, Annemarie Colbin, PhD, Alexandra Jamieson, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Barnaby Spring, and Brian Wansink, PhD
Creating a Healthy Environment
with Kristy Borak, Michael Conard, Sarkis Kalashian, Eric Komoroff and Jean McTavish
Food Thought in Underserved Communities
with Sarita Dhuper, MD , FACC , Anna Hammond, Terri Kennedy, PhD, Craig King and Jerusha Klemperer

Day 2: March 11, 2010
Kids Going Green
with Theresa Dolan, Sarah Fishstrom, Lynn Fredricks,  Annie Novak, Joy Pierson, Akiima Price and Kim Wiley-Schwartz
Exercise, Music and Art Therapy for Kids
with Yong Kim Cedro, Anne Desmond, Beth DeFuria, James O’Brien, Mache Seibel, MD and Clyde Valentin
Spirituality and Mental Resiliency
with Dianne Connelly, Heath Grant, PhD, Tara Guber, Stephen Josephson, MD , Lisa Oz and Alan Wherry

FitTown: A Healthy Path for Kids
Wednesday & Thursday March 10 & 11, 2010
Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio
711 Greenwich Street (at Charles Street)
New York, NY 10014
Tickets: $180 for both days or $100 per individual day
For more information: rsvp@urbanzen.org or 212.414.8520

The Council on the Environment of New York City presents Rock N Grow, a Concert for Youth Education, great bands for a good cause — education programs for NYC’s young people. All proceeds benefit CENYC’s youth education programs, including: Learn It, Grow It, Eat It; Environmental Education; Greenmarket Youth Education Program; Youthmarket. The Council on the Environment of NYC (CENYC) is a hands-on non-profit which improves New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

Featuring:
Davey and the Trainwreck
2/3 Goat
Pie Boys Flat
Cash bar and complimentary Greenmarket snacks

Learn more at www.cenyc.org/ee/rockngrow.

Rock N Grow, a Concert for Youth Education
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Doors open at 7:00 pm, concert begins at 8:00 pm
Sullivan Hall
214 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker and West 3rd)
Tickets $20 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/97937, or $25 at the door

Coming up at Urban Zen: Learn how you can meet the special dietary needs of children living with autism, ADHD , asthma and allergies from experts Dr. Kenneth Bock, author of “Healing the New Childhood Epidemics,” and pediatrician Dr. Stephen Cowan. During this one day experiential workshop, you’ll glean insights from experts working on the front lines of nutrition therapy and dietary management for children. Then, you’ll get a taste of what the experts are really talking about through hands-on innovative food “labs” and cooking experiences that translate nutrition and dietary advice to the kitchen space and child’s plate. You will leave with the knowledge and
the practical tools to implement restorative dietary practices into your lifestyle and your children’s. The workshop will also feature a lunchtime presentation by renowned author and editor-at-large of Psychology Today Hara Estroff Marano. Learn more at www.urbanzen.org.

Food Solutions: Managing Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio
711 Greenwich Street (at Charles Street)
New York, NY 10014
Tickets: $80
For more information: rsvp@urbanzen.org or 212.414.8520

Tickets are still available for the 10th Annual CSA in NYC Conference, hosted by Just Food this Sunday. The event is an opportunity for CSA members and farmers from around the city to come together for a day of workshops, discussion, and good food. Registration and more information is available online at http://tiny.cc/t6Jsq.

For updates on presenters, workshops and expo participants, please visit the Just Food website at www.justfood.org.

Just Food CSA in NYC Conference
Sunday, February 28, 2010
8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Teachers College, Columbia University

Foodprint NYC is the first in a series of international conversations about food and the city. From a cluster analysis of bodega inventories to the cultural impact of the ice-box, and from food deserts to peak phosphorus, panelists will examine the hidden corsetry that gives shape to urban foodscapes, and collaboratively speculate on how to feed New York in the future. The free afternoon program will include designers, policy-makers, flavor scientists, culinary historians, food retailers, and others, for a wide-ranging discussion of New York’s food systems, past and present, as well as opportunities to transform our edible landscape through technology, architecture, legislation, and education.

Speakers include:
• Joel Berg: Executive Director, New York City Coalition Against Hunger
• Makalé Faber Cullen: cultural anthropologist; former Program Director, Slow Food USA
• Stanley Fleishman: CEO, Jetro
• Thomas Forster: policy advisor, School Food FOCUS; co-chair, Food Systems Network of New York City
• Joseph Grima: Director, Storefront for Art and Architecture; co-architect, Landgrab City installation
• William Grimes: New York Times restaurant critic (1999-2003)
• Annie Hauck-Lawson: President, Association for the Study of Food and Society
• Natalie Jeremijenko: Director, xDesignEnvironmental Health Clinic, NYU
• Naa Oyo A. Kwate: Assistant Professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Schedule:
Zoning Diet (1:00 – 1:55 pm)
Culinary Cartography (2:00 – 2:55 pm)
Edible Archaeology (3:30 – 4:25 pm)
Feast, Famine, and Other Scenarios (4:30 – 5:25 pm)

Foodprint NYC
Saturday, February 27, 2010
1:00 – 5:30 pm
Studio-X
180 Varick St., Suite 1610
New York, NY 10014
Free and open to the public

For more information, please visit www.foodprintproject.com.

Back by popular demand, the food documentary film screening and discussion event Hungry Filmmakers will return to Anthology Film Archives on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, after a sold out evening in December. This film series  aims to showcase the work of filmmakers who are dedicated to furthering sustainable food dialogue in a social, friendly environment that allows for deeper discussion. Offering viewers a sampling rather than a full screening of each, the program includes ten-minute excerpts or trailers of each of the featured films. Kerry Trueman, editor of EatingLiberally.org, will moderate a panel discussion with the directors and/or producers following the screenings. Throughout the films in this lineup, our filmmakers explore the dire effects of over fishing and the underlying causes of food-borne illnesses; the lack of fresh food in underserved communities, and the growth of sustainable food production practices that are inspirational to all.

On view:
Fresh by Ana Sofia Joanes
Mad Cow Investigator by Nancye Good
What’s On Your Plate? by Catherine Gund
The End of the Line by Rupert Murray
Fly On the Wall by Jenny Montasi

Hungry Filmmakers
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Doors open at 6:30 pm, screenings begin at 7:00 pm
A reception will follow in the theatre lobby with complimentary snacks, Lagunitas beer and wine from T Edwards. BYOC (bring your own cup) strongly encouraged.

Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Avenue (at E. 2nd Street)
New York, NY  10003
Admission: $15
Tickets available at www.hungryfilmmakers.blogspot.com

Hungry Filmmakers is a not-for-profit event hosted by Shelley Rogers, Cathy Erway, Jimmy’s No. 43 and Tim Lynch. Proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit organization Just Food, which works to promote access of fresh, seasonal, sustainable grown food for all New York City residents.

We’re thrilled to announce that Jared’s wisdom on easy changes to make toward living a healthy life were featured on Dr. Frank Lipman’s website at www.drfranklipman.com/a-simple-rx-for-good-nutrition-good-health-and-a-good-life. Dr. Lipman is a renowned proponent of integrative medicine, and the founder of Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. We’re honored to be featured by such an inspiring advocate for holistic wellness.