The Laptop Lunches lunchbox has inspired a grassroots movement in Redding, California known as the Healthy Lunch and Lifestyle Project (HELP). The new nonprofit environmental program was founded and is run by Executive Director Bridgette Brick-Wells.
The program aims to create healthy lunches for kids while drastically reducing lunchroom waste. In select schools, they provide a lunch option for school kids to order prepared lunchtime meals in the Laptop Lunches bento box. The program promotes minimally processed foods including whole fruits, vegetables, meats and cheese products. HELP uses locally produced foods from farms maintaining organic, sustainable agricultural practices.
In addition to reducing trash waste, the program minimizes food waste, too. What isn’t eaten is composted. The program has also created a Garden Classroom, teaching kids of the seed to table process of food production. We can only hope a program like this one spreads nationwide! For more information visit the HELP Website.
