In the small French town, Salon de Provence (anything from a town by this name has to be awesome, right?!) Chef Dominique Valadier starts his day at fish and farmers markets to get the days produce for the most discerning clientele: 800 high school students.

On the menu: mussels in cream sauce over rice with leeks and stuffed turkey thighs, accompanied by a squash au gratin casserole. ah….pardonnez-moi?

And even better, the ingredients are all fresh, and all local- usually within a 30 mile radius of the school. “Preparation and proximity are the keys to high quality meals at lower prices,” says Valadier.

Perhaps what is most impressive about Valadier’s meals is that they cost the students only $3 a day, less than the typical fast food fare served at many French high schools.

Lunch programs like these have been able to curb childhood obesity rates which for the first time in 2 years have leveled off.   Chef Valadier left the glamorous world of Riviera restaurants to pursue something more meaningful. Investing in students’ well-being is also an act of citizenship, he explains. If young people learn to eat well early on, they will cost the country’s health care system a lot less in the future.

And what to the critics think? 17-year-old Valentine Biemence says she and her friends have all quit eating lunch at McDonald’s and have enjoyed discovering a lot of new dishes.

This inspiring story came from NPR this morning.   You can read the rest here.

takepart and learn about Farm To School programs.