Eat SMART

High school students from the Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club have been learning all about food - about where it comes from, its chemical composition and the energy stored in food, and the impact of their food choices on their health. They have even been growing their own garden at the Boys and Girls Club!

The Eat SMART program involves a partnership among the Greater Milwaukee Boys and Girls Clubs, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Growing Power and the Center for BioMolecular Modeling, who together are developing a curriculum centered around food.

Students participating in the program meet twice a week for a healthy meal and activities that teach them about making good food choices. After taste-testing a variety of foods, often new to the students, the group has assisted in selecting and providing healthy snack options in the club's concession stand, and participants earn 'ATP bucks' which can be used to purchase a Market Basket containing a week's worth of fruits and vegetables, provided by Growing Power.

At the conclusion of the program, participants cook and serve a healthy meal to their families at a festive dinner.