Richmond’s Green Monkey bringing healthy back to kids’ lunches

I recently spoke with Lynn Tauchen, one of the owners of Richmond’s newest organic catering and school-lunch business, Green Monkey, and her enthusiasm was infectious. We talked at length about our feelings about school lunches and the pitiful selection and quality offered at Richmond-area schools (and likely schools around the country, for that matter.) Note: I pack my kids’ lunches most days, much to their dismay.

So I had a keen interest in what Green Monkey is doing in Richmond.

Green Monkey “brown bag lunch” is an opportunity to educate and encourage Richmond children about the value and pleasures of healthy food and eating.

Using fresh, Richmond-local, seasonal, natural and organic ingredients is crucial, and using these ingredients are both better for the environment and for people’s health. “Not only that, but they taste better!” exclaims Lynn.

Her children would know: this is what her family eats, and they truly believe in “living” what they do for a living. It’s critically important, Lynn believes, for her family to eat healthy because her husband is undergoing cancer treatment, and eating the best quality foods has such a positive impact on his health. Lynn’s beliefs carry through to the mission for the business and what she and her sister Lisa plan to do in Richmond: not only feed children better, but educate parents, schools, teachers and anyone who will listen on how critical eating well is to our health.

The Green Monkey testimonials illustrate this way better than I can, though. . apparently kids all over Richmond are digging this food, and they probably don’t even realize it’s good for them. I am just bummed they don’t yet deliver to my kids’ school (at least 30 orders must be placed from a school in order for Green Monkey to deliver.)

From the Green Monkey website, one phrase sums up the philosophy of the two founding Richmond-based sisters:

We believe that how you eat, and how you choose your food, is an act which combines the political with the most intensely personal. We believe it can change the way we treat each other, and it can change the world.

There’s also a cute little art contest for Richmond kids to send in illustrations of Green Monkeys for a free dessert, and to have their artwork placed on lunch bags. Too cool. Follow Green Monkey on Facebook, too.

Kate Hall

Kate Hall is the Founder & CEO of RichmondMom.com and author of Richmond Rocks ,a history book for kids. She has three children and a cup that overfloweth. She is truly appreciative of the 100,000 + visitors who visit the blog every year, and for the amazing team of writers who create unique, valuable content. Kate is thrilled to fulfill her dream of having a cool place for Richmond, VA parents to learn, grow, and share while supporting local charities.

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