I adore my local Whole Foods (fresh, organic produce and a fresh peanut butter dispenser? Of course I love it!). But I was a little wary when I heard about the company’s latest program.

The grocery chain has started an initiative called the Team Member Healthy Discount Incentive. Whole Foods employees with low BMI’s (Body Mass Indexes) are eligible to receive a bigger store discount than employees who are above a certain BMI level. So even though every employee gets a 20% discount, those who are deemed healthier by the store can get up to 30% off. According to Whole Foods’ CEO John Mackey, the program is an effort to reduce the company’s health care costs.

I’ll be honest: This doesn’t sit well with me. I definitely think it’s important to stay healthy, and offering employees incentives for doing just that could be a good thing. But considering that many experts are uncertain about the accuracy of measuring health with BMI, and the varying definitions of what really makes a person “healthy,” this just seems fishy. What about an employee who’s perfectly healthy but whose BMI is higher than the company wants? She may have to accept her standard discount while her “healthier” coworkers enjoy 10% more.

On the other hand, the program is optional. And the employees’ “Healthy Discount Levels” aren’t just based on BMI; they also take into account cholesterol and blood pressure. What do you think? Is this incentive a good way for employees to stay healthy? Or is it unfair?

-Michelle, KIWI editor

Whole Foods Market has teamed up with renegade lunch lady Ann Cooper to create The Lunch Box, an online resource that seeks to help schools serve healthier food to students.

Knowing that schools need more than healthy menus to overhaul a bad lunch program, The Lunch Box covers all the bases (though it’s got plenty of recipes that come complete with nutritional information, too!). Featuring technical tools, financial modeling, educational manuals, and marketing materials, the website has everything schools need to lay the foundation for healthier student meals. Additionally, The Lunch Box will house a blog and discussion forum to encourage teachers, administrators, and school communities to support each other and and exchange ideas. “We hope this website is the go-to place [when it comes to improving school food,” says Chef Ann.

While there’s already plenty of information available on the website, Chef Ann says plenty more is on the way. “We have some other partners that we’re beginning to work with. We’ve really just begun on this site–we’ll be building extensively over the next 18 months,” she says.

Want to learn more about ways to make your school healthier and greener? Check out MyHealthySchool.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer

EACH CAMP INCLUDES: Professional cooking instruction of hands-on kid-friendly recipes in a focused, fun and safe environment. Trained culinary teachers from Whole Foods Market Bowery Culinary Center and KIWI Magazine. A limit of 12 participants, ensuring a low child-to-instructor ratio. Cooking projects, games, craft activities and creative excursions. Lunch or snack and beverages (special diets can be accommodated). Lessons on sustainability, composting, gardening, recycling and other eco-friendly ways of life. Apron, chef’s hat and a graduation goodie bag packed with cool stuff!

SESSION I:
Half-Pint Voyager: 2 ½ to 4 years
11am – 12pm
July 14TH to 16TH
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
2pm – 3:30pm
July 13TH to 17TH
World Explorers: 8 to 10 years
11am – 2pm
July 20TH to 24TH
Globe Trekkers: 11 to 14 years
11am – 2:30pm
July 27TH to 31ST

SESSION II:
Half-Pint Voyager: 2 ½ to 4 years
11am – 12pm
August 11TH to 13TH
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
2pm – 3:30pm
August 10TH to 14TH
World Explorers: 8 to 10 years
11am – 2pm
August 17TH to 21ST

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, please register online. For general questions about the camp or to register over the phone, please contact Alison Martin at the Whole Foods Market at 408-257-7000 x325.

Whole Foods Market, Stevens Creek Culinary Center
20955 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014

Join chefs from KIWI® Magazine and Whole Foods Market® in exploring culinary regions of the world through food and festivity. Each camp incorporates exciting global foods and facts. We’ll crank up the heat and get hands-on as we make international dishes from places such as Mexico, Morocco, China, Italy and Japan. Explore continents and countries one plate at a time!

SESSION I:
Globe Trekkers: 12 to 14 years
12:30pm – 3pm
July 6TH to 10TH
World Explorers: 9 to 11 years
12:30pm – 3pm
July 13TH to 17TH
Jr. Jetsetters: 6 to 8 years
12:30pm – 3pm
July 20TH to 24TH

SESSION II:
Jr. Jetsetters: 6 to 8 years
12:30pm – 3pm
August 3RD to 7TH
World Explorers: 9 to 11 years
12:30pm – 3pm
August 10TH to 14TH

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, please register online. For general questions about the camp, please contact Chef Frances Vavloukis, Culinary Center Specialist at the Whole Foods Market at 410-224-2042, or email Chef Frances Vavloukis at asiculinary.center@wholefoods.com.

The Culinary Center of Annapolis at Whole Foods Market
200 Harker Place
Annapolis, MD 21401

Join chefs from KIWI® Magazine and Whole Foods Market® in exploring culinary regions of the world through food and festivity. Each camp incorporates exciting global foods and facts. We’ll crank up the heat and get hands-on as we make international dishes from places such as Mexico, Morocco, China, Italy and Japan. The camps culminate in an around-the-world cooking competition. Explore continents and countries one plate at a time!

The Whisk and The Spoon
The Learning Kitchen at Whole Foods Market, Princeton
3495 US Route 1 South
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone 609.799.2919

SESSION I:
Half-Pint Voyager: 2 ½ to 4 years
11am – 12pm
June 29 and 30
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
July 1 to 3

SESSION II:
Globe Trekkers: 11 to 14 years
11am – 2:30pm
August 24 to 26
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
August 27 and 28

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, Please register online or if you want to register over the phone or have additional questions please email Nirit Yadin nirit.yadin@wholefood.com or call 609.799.2919 ext. 305.

EACH CAMP INCLUDES: Professional cooking instruction of hands-on kid-friendly recipes in a focused, fun and safe environment. Trained culinary teachers from Whole Foods Market Bowery Culinary Center and KIWI Magazine. A limit of 12 participants, ensuring a low child-to-instructor ratio. Cooking projects, games, craft activities and creative excursions. Lunch or snack and beverages (special diets can be accommodated). Lessons on sustainability, composting, gardening, recycling and other eco-friendly ways of life. Apron, chef’s hat and a graduation goodie bag packed with cool stuff!

AUGUST DATES: TBD. CHECK BACK FOR SCHEDULE UPDATES

OR CALL THE CULINARY CENTER AT 916-488-2800

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, please register online. For general questions about the camp or to register over the phone, please contact Customer Service at Whole Foods Market Sacramento (916) 488-2800.

Join chefs from KIWI® Magazine and Whole Foods Market® in exploring culinary regions of the world through food and festivity. Each camp incorporates exciting global foods and facts. We’ll crank up the heat and get hands-on as we make international dishes from places such as Mexico, Morocco, China, Italy and Japan. Explore continents and countries one plate at a time!

EACH CAMP INCLUDES: Professional cooking instruction of hands-on kid-friendly recipes in a focused, fun and safe environment. Trained culinary teachers from Whole Foods Market Bowery Culinary Center and KIWI Magazine. A limit of 12 participants, ensuring a low child-to-instructor ratio. Cooking projects, games, craft activities and creative excursions. Lunch or snack and beverages (special diets can be accommodated). Lessons on sustainability, composting, gardening, recycling and other eco-friendly ways of life. Apron, chef’s hat and a graduation goodie bag packed with cool stuff!

SESSION I:
Half-Pint Voyager: 2 ½ to 4 years
11am – 12pm
June 23RD, 24TH and 25TH
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
July 13TH to 17TH
World Explorers: 8 to 10 years
11am – 2pm
July 20TH to 24TH
Globe Trekkers: 11 to 14 years
11am – 2:30pm
July 27TH to 31ST

SESSION II:
Teen Bootcamp
11am – 3pm
August 5TH to 7TH
Jr. Jetsetters: 5 to 7 years
11am – 12:30pm
August 10TH to 14TH
World Explorers: 8 to 10 years
11am – 2pm
August 17TH to 21ST
Globe Trekkers: 11 to 14 years
11am – 2:30pm
August 24TH to 28TH

To enroll in KIWI Kids’ Camp, please register online. For general questions about the camp or to register over the phone, please contact Christine Carroll, The Culinary Center Director at the Whole Foods Market Bowery at 212-420-1320 x245.