'Toward a Greener Diet': Food Day 2015 celebration at Yale

Culinary and nutrition experts from Yale Hospitality and Dining, and the Yale Sustainable Food Project will join other chefs and nutritionists at the 2015 Food Day celebration at Yale, titled “The Four Pillars of Food.” The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place Saturday, Oct. 24 in front of Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library, 120 High St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The goal of the event is to celebrate and enjoy real food and to raise awareness for improved food polices. This year’s theme is “Toward a Greener Diet.”

The event will have a particular focus on youth and the contagious pleasure of dance, say the organizers, noting that the Yale Food Day event will celebrate:  (1) taste — food should be delicious, and a source of pleasure- we should LOVE the food that loves us back, say the organizers; (2) health — food should be nutritious, and as good for us as it is good; (3) sustainability — our ability to produce food should be secured with minimal harm to land, water, air, fragile ecosystems, and our fellow species; and (4) vitality — food is the fuel that animal bodies, including the human animal, should burn in vital activity.

The event will feature an audience-participation hip-hop dance program with the lead dancer from Turn the Tide Foundation’s “UnJunk Yourself” music video series on YouTube, and performances from the 2015 United States Acrobatic and Dance Team and Miss Dance USA under the direction of Sean Flanagan,president of the U.S. Tournament of Dance.

“Everyone is invited, and we especially want kids and families to come and enjoy this fun-filled event, and to learn more about Food Day,” said David L. Katz, M.D., director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, and an expert in nutrition. “We hope that everyone will join us for music, dance, and great local seasonal food — and to celebrate the occasion where a movement for health meets the healthy movement of dance!”

Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and founder of Food Day, said “Yale’s creative program epitomizes what Food Day encourages: eating a diet that is healthiest for us eaters and for our planet. So eat green’ and have fun!”

In addition to Katz, the event will include the nutrition expertise of certified master chef Ron DeSantis, director of culinary excellence for Yale Hospitality. Other participants include Rafi Taherian, associate vice president of Yale Hospitality; Mark Bomford, director of the Yale Sustainable Food Program; chef Bun Lai, owner of Miya’s in New Haven, the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world; Catherine Katz, founder of Cuisinicity.com; and best-selling author and wellness journalist Candice Kumai, who will be available to sign her new book, “Clean Green Eats.” 

Although not required, registration is recommended at www.foodday.org/fourpillarsoffood/

The event is sponsored by Turn the Tide Foundation.