October 24th: Food Day

Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement toward more healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Food Day, created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is powered by a diverse coalition of food movement leaders, organizations, and people from all walks of life. Food Day takes place annually on October 24 to address issues as varied as health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare, and farm worker justice. The ultimate goal of Food Day is to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve our nation’s food policies. 

There are Food Day events going on all over the country, even here in St. Louis!  Saint Louis University’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (DND), the City of St. Louis Department of Health, and Les Dames d’Escoffier International are celebrating the second anniversary of “Gardens to Tables Food Day” on October 24 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  This event will be held in the organic teaching garden run by the DND just a block and a half away from our office in the Allied Health Building at the corner of Compton and Rutger.  This event is held to promote the sustainable, healthy, and just agricultural practices the DND teaches throughout its curriculum.  "Gardens to Tables Food Day" specifically targets students from all of the colleges in the St. Louis area to increase their awareness of the need for sustainable food systems and allow them to become involved with local food.  There will be stations throughout the garden teaching about food deserts and food access, composting and vermiculture, how to get involved with CSA's, fighting childhood obesity, and humane agricultural practices, and many more.  With each station, there will be a menu item served using local produce.

For more information about Food Day, or to search for other Food Day events, visit the Food Day website.  If you are unable to attend a Food Day event, on this Wednesday, October 24th, challenge yourself to eat at least one locally grown food with each meal!