Wholesome Minnesota news
We’re proud to be a voice in our local plant-based movement. Here’s what we’ve been up to.
Wholesome Minnesota supports successful student initiatives
Over the past year, Wholesome Minnesota has focused on working with student environmental groups. The education, support and empowerment we offer has helped jumpstart great progress! Plant-based school meals are being instituted and students are educating their peers on the issue….
Wholesome Minnesota focus on high school “Green Teams” is having an impact!
Jodi Miller Gruhn, Wholesome Minnesota Director, recently met with students at the Apple Valley Environmental School. Her presentation focused on the impact of diet on the environment. Her main point was that a plant-based diet is better for the planet…
Wholesome Minnesota and Support + Feed partner to support and empower student groups
Support+Feed (supportandfeed.org) is partnering with Wholesome Minnesota to educate youth groups on the importance of plant-based eating. The issue is being presented related to the benefits for both personal health and the environment….
Wholesome Minnesota presented to the Minnesota Public Health Association
Wholesome Minnesota (WM) Director, Jodi Gruhn presented at the Minnesota Public Health Association’s state conference in May 2022. The theme was, “Together, for Planet and Community.” This opportunity allowed her to highlight WM’s vision with an influential audience…
Richfield Public Schools is the first K-12 district in the country pledging to offer plant-based food options
It started at the snack bar. When Jodi Gruhn’s kids came in from the playing field, she wanted to be able to offer them healthy, tasty food options — but their choices were severely limited…
Classrooms, Community, and Cafeterias
Take a listen to Wholesome Minnesota Director, Jodi Gruhn and MN Dept of Ag’s Kate Seybold on the Nourish by MN350 podcast. They discuss solutions like local sourcing and plant-based menu items in schools to offer a better future for our children.
Over 200 high school students explore the “power of the plate” with Wholesome Minnesota
My visit to Armstrong High school was one of my favorite days working for Wholesome Minnesota. The FACS (Family and Consumer Science) teachers had promoted my “vegan” visit and the students in the seven classes I visited were incredibly curious. Some because they are interested in plant-based eating, others because they thought…
Minnesota Takes an Important Step Forward on Plant-Based School Meals
This past spring, Minnesota lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation (HF 2764/SF 2970) to ensure that students enjoy access to a daily plant-based meal option through their school lunch programs. The effort, led by Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley of Brooklyn Park…
Why Legislative Change Takes Time (And Why Your Support Matters)
Wholesome Minnesota is working alongside MN Plant-Based Kids to pass legislation that calls Minnesota public school districts to offer plant-based meal options upon request. Similar to what was passed in Illinois in 2023, we are asking Minnesota’s legislature to deliver on the promise of universal meals for all students and support family/student choice. While this legislation seems like a simple ask, legislative change takes an excruciating amount of time requiring us to play the long game.
Plant-Based Progress: Wholesome Minnesota’s Spring 2024 Highlights
CAA’s Wholesome Minnesota program made a big impact this spring! We held multiple events promoting plant-based diets with a variety of groups. Jodi Gruhn, Wholesome MN Director, inspired students and families through presentations, cooking sessions, and interactive activities.
Wholesome Minnesota is on a roll! Presentations to Green Club youth and FACs classes plant seeds of change
In October, Wholesome returned to meet with the Hopkins Green Club again. The teacher at Hopkins has been incredibly supportive, making it a seamless collaboration. Jodi shared her information on the interconnectedness of climate and our food choices. She introduced the hot topic of the Colorado River. Jodi shared: “if we break it down, we can very clearly see the pattern of destruction and overconsumption from animal agriculture. This subject seems to be resonating.”