On November 15, 2012, the National Academy of Sciences Koshland Science Museum here in Washington, DC, premiered its new Food for Thought exhibit. This engaging experience offers an interactive and thought-provoking opportunity for visitors to explore the practical how-to of healthy eating.
To kick off the grand opening of the exhibit, the Koshland held its second Healthy Plate Cook-Off, which featured healthy meals prepared by teams of students from the DC Central Kitchen culinary training program. The student teams were required to follow the guidance that supports MyPlate (at ChooseMyPlate.gov) in preparing their recipes and meals. The teams’ meals were judged by a panel of nutrition and health professionals for taste, appearance, and nutritional value. I was honored to represent the Department and serve as a judge at this event.
I highly recommend a visit to this exhibit, which challenges individuals to shop healthy in a virtual grocery store while on a budget and to plan a high school cafeteria menu to meet the new national school meal guidelines. It represents the epitome of translating nutrition science into what I call “active nutrition” and it just might prompt some healthy changes in how we eat.
And if you missed the Cook-Off, don’t worry! Join the Healthy Plate Challenge and you could win a prize from the Koshland museum. To enter the contest, submit a photo or video of your MyPlate-inspired meal by Monday, December 17, 2012. Additional information about the challenge can be found at the Healthy Plate Challenge web page.
