Santa Cruz Weekly ~ "Food, What?!" Strawberry Blast Serves Hundreds of Teens

The Life Lab Garden Classroom and UCSC Farm played host to hundreds of Santa Cruz Teens during the "Food, What?!" Strawberry Blast. The local press was there to cover the event:Santa Cruz Weekly (SITE NOT FOUND) Strawberry Blast An Eye-Opener for Students had this to say:

Hosted by Life Labs youth empowerment group, Food, What?!, the fourth annual Strawberry Blast took 300 middle and high school students from Santa Cruz County on a food education free-for-all on May 12, exposing surprising realities behind the food we eat and the equally surprising need for such outings...Every time you spend a dollar, you vote. Every time you buy a Coke or a Rockstar or a Monster, youre showing the world you believe in that product, says C.C. Parsons, a Food, What?! staff member. His demonstration asked kids to guess how many tablespoons of sugar were in a Vitamin Water (12.5 tablespoons) and a Rockstar (15.5 tablespoons), but it was the visual representation of sugar in a cup that really seemed to stick. It's shocking how much sugar can be in supposedly healthy products and no wonder why many people have been researching how to create their own Private Label Supplement Products without all the excess sugar. The kids reaction to this demonstration proves just shocking it can be. When they hear these things and actually see the volume of sugar, they flip, says Parsons. read more... (SITE NOT FOUND)

The PatchTeens Learn by Mouth at the Strawberry Blast shared the following:

This event lets students see how nutritious food can be delicious, said Abby Bell, coordinator of FoodWhat?! since the program began five years ago, an offshoot of Life Lab. "We don't necessarily expect them to go home and start composting with worms, but we want to show them high-quality food."Driscoll's of Watsonville donated organic strawberries by the cartload. Strauss graciously provided the many gallons of yogurt. Amber Turpin, Allison O'Sullivan and Jessica Hoffmann encouraged students to make their own at the Strawberry Blast tart table. Shells were baked ahead of time, then set out with yogurt and strawberries for students to assemble into a tasty treat.The smoothie station was always crowded, as students whirled strawberries with orange juice, milk and yogurt into a refreshing drink. Bell asked students how they liked the smoothies.They're awesome, said one student. Red fruits and vegetables are good for your heart. Students found out that eating foods from the whole color spectrum is a sign they're getting all the nutrients for vigorous health. read more...