Healthy Eating Program Inspires Life-Long Habits for Local Children

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Katrin Haldeman and the "Buds"

ALBANY, NY (02/15/2013)(readMedia)-- ALBANY, NY... The Traveling Taste Buds, a food education program conceptualized for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany by Katrin Haldeman, owner of Dali Mamma, will welcome children to downtown Albany next week on a field trip to the Dali Mamma, at their new location at 36 Maiden Lane. Groups of students, or "buds", will visit the cafe on three different afternoons beginning Tuesday, February 19, 2013 and running through Thursday February 21, 2013. The field trips will give "buds" a hands on tour of the Dali Mamma café, teaching them how to create the café's signature dishes, run the register and even take a customer's order. After learning the ins and outs of Dali Mamma's operation, the "buds" will be treated to healthy snacks, a reflection of their own hard work.

Traveling Taste Buds initiative, headed by the Dali Mamma herself (Haldeman), was created to educate children about healthy eating, with the hope that their learning experiences would naturally extend into the community and their individual homes. The program has a simple goal; bring food education into the lives of local children and keep it interesting by connecting nutrition with history, geography, art and music to highlight relevance and importance in their lives. Haldeman engages students with questions such as what their favorite foods are and where would they like to travel if they could go anywhere in the world. The student's answers determine and direct which foods are created and what cultures are discussed.

"Working with children is vital since healthy habits start when we are young," says Haldeman, "Giving kids not just the tools for healthy eating - but the love to eat healthy, is the key to a lifelong love of good food. It was a dream come true that I was able to team up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany to begin implementing this program."

Haldeman credits her own mother for her passionate attitude towards health. At an early age, processed foods were completely removed from the household and her mother shifted the entire family to an all-natural diet. Growing up in a large family, the fifth of eight children, Haldeman also gained an understanding of the importance and impact of community.

"When I conceived the Dali Mamma, it was with the specific intent to not only engage the community, but to also cultivate and grow it," says Haldeman, "Communities are central for survival. If one person succeeds we all succeed. It's my philosophy for life."

"The fact that the Dali Mamma was able to organize these field trips within two weeks of opening the café in Downtown, speaks volumes about the Haldeman's passion to impact our community," says Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany BID, "We are excited to include her sustainable local menu options to our many diverse restaurant offerings in downtown Albany."

The Dali Mamma, located at 36 Maiden Lane in downtown Albany, is open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. Driven by effecting change from the ground up, Dali Mamma's seasonal menu brings fresh, locally sourced food offerings from the farm to Downtown. For more information on the Dali Mamma or Traveling Taste Buds program call 518.443.2233 or visit www.facebook.com/cafedalimamma.

Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit New York's Capital City. The BID is a private, not-for profit 501(c) (3) organization. For more information about the Downtown Albany BID, please visit www.downtownalbany.org | call 518.465.2143 | follow @downtownalbany.

The Mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For more information visit www.bgcalbany.com or call 518.462.5528.

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