This week is Parks and Rec in Santa Rosa……see the photos.

We have a full class of 6-9 year olds this week and they are eager to learn and just as eager to eat! Yesterday they learned about kitchen safety and sanitation as well as basic knife cuts. They made blueberry muffins, a green salad with mustard vinaigrette, and spaghetti with marinara sauce (with tons of veggies.) It was all a big hit! The nutrition lesson was macronutrients-what they are and why we need them.

Today they learned about oven temperatures and measurements while they prepared homemade granola (they made parfaits) hummus with pita chips, zesty veggie salad (they learned how to blanch) and raw kale salad. Whew! We chatted about the importance of sleep today and also the importance of finding a way to de-stress if they were ever feeling stressed. They all had their favorite ways all picked out! (interestingly enough) From snuggling with teddy bears, to climbing tress, to taking a long shower to exercising or reading books-they all knew what worked for them. An interesting note is that almost every child we have asked this question to has had the same answers…..in all classes and in every age group.

Enjoy the photos…more soon!

D5 Student Chef’s at Guys Can Cook Too!

We are SO proud of our D5 student chefs. Clare, Anton, Ivy and Sofie prepped and cooked Panini for Rotary’s Guys Can Cook and there was close to 800 people there! It’s wonderful and potentially life changing when kids participate in a community event. This event funds so many community events and our D5 kids were part of it!

They used their culinary skills prepping all the ingredients and then cooked the Panini at the event. They also explained to everyone who stopped by our table-some many times!- what ingredients were in the Panini. Clare is in high school at Analy and is part of our D5 Student Advisory Team, and Anton, Ivy and Sofie are 9 years old. How great is it that they were able to converse with so many adults at their young ages?

DirectionTwo is the Body/Mind connection and this direction covers things like sleep and stress. Part of being well-rounded is giving back; being a part of something greater than yourself and these kids learned that. They were pleased to know that the leftover Panini helped to feed the homeless.

DirectionThree is the Body/Earth connection and part of this direction covers the importance of not wasting. D5 is very close to zero waste and as part of this mantra, the kids learned that the leftover sliced zucchini was dehydrated to use in one of our next classes.

Many lessons! Mostly, we are pleased to say, the kids had a fantastic time as did we all!

We’d like to gratefully acknowledge Ken Silveira, owner of Pacific Market, for donating the ingredients for our Panini. It takes a village!

Enjoy these great photos taken by Sofie’s Mom.

D5 at The Sustainable Enterprise Conference

We were really pleased to be invited to attend The Sustainable Enterprise Conference at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, which is a sustainable community.

We chatted with friends and colleagues-generally one and the same. We were pleased to share how we teach sustainability to our D5 kids.
Here is the information on the poster you see on the wall behind our table briefly explaining D5 and Sustainability.

What is sustainability?
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.
Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.

Sus·tain·a·ble
adjective
1. Capable of being sustained.
2. Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment: sustainable agriculture.

Sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty
noun
1. the ability to be sustained supported, upheld, or confirmed.
2. Environmental Science: the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance: The committee is developing sustainability standards for products that use energy.

At DirectionFive, Sustainability is a Verb

Sus·tain
Verb sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains

1. To keep in existence; maintain.

Through fiscal responsibility. We manage our funds carefully and have a commitment to grow our scholarship fund so kids from all walks of life can attend D5’s programs.

2. To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.

Education is the key necessity that we provide.

3. To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.


Good health is one of the keys to success. By providing education to improve the health of our nation’s kids, we provide hope and therefore opportunities.

4. To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.

D5’s programs discuss stress reduction, spirituality and the power of physical and mental health. We encourage vitality through health education.

5. To bear up under; withstand: can’t sustain the blistering heat.

When kids feel strong and healthy, they are able to endure challenges easier.

6. To experience or suffer: sustained a fatal injury.


See above!

7. To affirm the validity of: The judge has sustained the prosecutor’s objection.

Validity of D5’s success is the improved health of kids. For kids, the validity of good health equates to a happier, healthier life!

8. To prove or corroborate; confirm.

Confirmation of kids improved health through the D5 programs is proof positive of D5’s success.

9. To keep up (a joke or assumed role, for example) competently.

When kids maintain or obtain their good health and feel strong, they feel confident and want to continue that feeling for life. When kids truly understand how their bodies work and how to keep healthy, this education will be sustainable for life!

Some Photos from this fantastic Event. We learned so much and so many people learned about D5. Thanks to Oren Wool for putting on this incredible conference.

It’s a Family Day!

One adult and one child $150.00





This class for parents (or Grand parents or a favorite aunt or uncle) and kids is going to go by in a heartbeat! We\’re making homemade pizza (learn to make various dough\’s), Caesar salad, fruit salad, watermelon iced tea, and fresh berry ice cream. Yum!

Dates for Upcoming Classes!

All Classes are In Santa Rosa at The Lomitas Kitchen. Call or email for more details and to register!

July 14th: Noon to 5:00.

Pizza! Salad! Ice Cream! …oh my!

Home Made Pizza
Arugula Salad with Summer Veggies
Mustard Vinaigrette
Ranch Dressing
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Fresh Berries

$90.00

Open to all age groups, but break out in groups depending on age. 16 in the kitchen.

 

These next three classes are the D5 half-program. This fun program could make a difference in the health of a child for a lifetime!

This program is a 15-hour program taught in three 5-hour sessions or five 3 hour-sessions. The format is the same as the full program but the material is not as in depth and less recipes are made- though they will still make 15-20 recipes!  The kids will learn major points of each of the first four program while they learn all the basic kitchen skills and the recipes that all cooks need to know how to make with healthy ‘tweaks.’ This will give them the knowledge they need to begin down the path of a healthier life. See Our Program on the web site for all details about this incredible program!

Tuesday, July 17: 11:00 to 5:00

Thursday, July 19: 11:00 to 5:00

Friday, July 20: 9:00 to 5:00

$250.00.

Minimum 8 students. Maximum 16. Open to all age groups, but break out in groups depending on age. 16 in the kitchen.

 

Another D5 Half Program!

Tuesday, July 31, 11:00 a.m. To 5:00

Thursday, August 2: same time as above

Friday, August 3: 11:00 to 3:00

$250.00.

Minimum 8 students. Maximum 16. Open to all age groups, but break out in groups depending on age. 16 in the kitchen.

More soon!