Chinese New Year in Chicago

Chinese New Year Celebration in Chicago

Chinese New Year Celebration in Chicago

Celebrating an "Organic" Chinese New Year


At the Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, a Chicago Public School in Lincoln Park, Chinese New Year is being celebrated "organic" style thanks to Big Bowl, Chicago’s renowned fresh Chinese and Thai restaurants, and Organic School Project, an initiative in the Chicago Public Schools that teaches children about more mindful food and lifestyle choices.

Chinese New Year in Chicago

The school’s curriculum, which includes Mandarin, also incorporates the traditions and historical significance of the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.

Big Bowl prepares the organic, natural and sustainable good luck lunch for 350 children in pre-kindergarten through grade 8, and enlighten them with Chinese cultural activities. 

Chinese New Year in Chicago

Big Bowl chefs and Alcott cafeteria employees prepare a Chinese New Year lunch consisting of ‘lucky foods’ that represent bounty and long life.

Chinese New Year in Chicago

To celebrate the Year of the Ox, the menu choices included: 

  • beef and broccoli (entree)
  • tofu and broccoli (meatless option)
  • chicken noodle soup with long life noodles or dumpling (side dish)
  • fortune cookies
  • oranges or tangerines (dessert)


Chinese New Year in Chicago

OSP (Organic School Project) combats childhood obesity and related health epidemics through its Grow. Teach. Feed.™ model, laying the foundation for youth to build sustainable lifestyles. It connects youth with the earth and enables them to make more positive choices for themselves and the planet through activities such as:
  • planting and harvesting a garden
  • monthly wellness workshops
  • mindfulness exercises
  • composting and recycling in the lunchroom


Chinese New Year in Chicago

OSP feeds More Positive Foods through the school food service system; meals are mostly made-from-scratch, organic and natural, and are sourced locally when seasonally available.  All of these components teach children the natural processes that form the web of life. 



Photos on this page courtesy of OSP




For more information:

www.organicschoolproject.org





Comments for Chinese New Year in Chicago

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Apr 10, 2015
Good to read
by: Beverly M. Means

I really wish more people write about it. I really appreciate the post.



Jan 23, 2009
Great program!
by: Miriam

Really fun way to encourage healthy choices on kids while adding to the festivities of the new year.

Click here to add your own comments

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