Eat Fit NOLA, a nonprofit initiative of Ochsner Health System, has teamed up with Pigeon Catering & Events to bring more nutritious meals to students, offering Eat Fit on the menus of 12 local schools.
Founded in 2013 by Ochsner Fitness Center Registered Dietitian Molly Kimball, the Eat Fit team of dietitians works closely with local restaurants, markets, and now foodservice partners, like Pigeon, to help make the healthy choice an easy choice throughout the community.
Examples of classic school lunch “remakes” include Eat Fit mini pizzas on whole grain bagels or English Muffins, and “Chicken Tender Tuesdays,” featuring grilled chicken strips with whole grain mac and cheese with a homemade cheese sauce that Pigeon developed specifically for Eat Fit.
“As a healthcare organization, it is our responsibility to lead by example and set the standard for meaningful care and healthy living,” said Warner Thomas, CEO and president, Ochsner Health System. “Ochsner is committed to the health and wellness of the city. To reduce chronic disease in our community, we need to change the behavior of our children and their families through exercise, nutrition, and promotion of preventative health behaviors. By offering Eat Fit at local schools, we hope to start this important conversation and initiate change.”
“We recognize the value and importance of providing healthful, wholesome meals to our students, and we’re proud to offer Eat Fit options at all of our schools. The feedback from students, parents and school faculty has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to continuing to grow the Eat Fit program in schools,” said Jean Pierre “JP” Pigeon, managing partner of Pigeon Catering & Events.
Eat Fit items are identified directly on school menus with the Ochsner Eat Fit seal of approval. Parents and students can also download the Eat Fit smartphone app for full nutrition facts for the daily and weekly Eat Fit school menus, and also access the hundreds of Eat Fit home recipes, community wellness resources, and opportunities to connect with a health professional in your area.
Participating schools include:
-Audubon Charter Lower School
-Audubon Charter Upper School
-Audubon Gentilly
-Bricolage Academy
-De La Salle High School
-Holy Name of Jesus School
-Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orléans -- Monroe campus
-Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orléans – Patton campus
-Morris Jeff Community School
-Morris Jeff High School
-Mount Carmel Academy
-St Paul Episcopal School
For more information on Eat Fit and where you can find Eat Fit offerings, download the Eat Fit smartphone app and visit www.OchsnerEatFit.com.