Original Health Nut

Regis Balaban has been working with the Cleveland Public School District since the early 1980s. He is now the Director of Food and Child Nutrition Services and he has been a non-stop health-nut and health-nut advocate for the entire Cleveland public school community.

It all started back in 1987 when he initiated a breakfast program in Cleveland elementary schools. He realized, long before the research proved it, that the student’s consumption of breakfast had a direct correlation to their academic performance. They were more alert, performed better, and were more motivated in class. Shortly thereafter, the state began drafting a law that encouraged more school districts to provide breakfasts at school. Mr. Balaban, realizing just how important breakfast was to his students chose to implement the program in all Cleveland Public schools. This executive decision came before any legislation even passed. In fact, beginning in 1995, he made breakfasts free for all children in the Cleveland public schools and has been serving over 4 million breakfasts a year since ever since.

Since the universal breakfast program was such a big hit, in 1998, he made the same program available for lunch as well. Again, this program was free to all children and implemented in all of the schools. So what does this all add up to? It adds up to a man that for more than a decade, has been providing two meals a day at no cost to all of the children who attend Cleveland public schools. It’s fair to say to Regis Balaban has enriched many children’s lives. But he didn’t just stop there. Next on the agenda: don’t just feed them, make sure the food is good for them as well.

In 2003, Mr. Balaban applied and was selected to be part of the USDA’s pilot Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This program allows students to pick up baskets of fresh fruit and vegetables and bring them back to their homeroom where the teacher leads a lesson about the items’ nutritional value, where it’s grown, and other fun food facts. The best part is, the kids get to try the produce! Mr. Balaban says that many of these kids have never seen the items before and the teachers have been extremely enthusiastic about the lesson since it is a great way to introduce new, healthy foods to the children. It is currently being offered in a number of schools in the Cleveland public school district three days a week.

Since the USDA pilot program was such a hit, a few years later in 2008, Mr. Balaban started a fresh salad program in 44 schools. The schools implementing this either program make fresh salads or receive them from schools that have proper facilities at least two days a week. It has been a huge hit among students and teachers.

Mr. Balaban has also created what he calls an Alliance for a Healthier Generation. In this program, schools get bronze, silver, or gold awards if they meet various nutritional criteria. This includes serving low calorie, low fat milk, providing whole grain options at lunch and having healthier items in vending machines. As a part of this program, Mr. Balaban successfully worked with local dairy companies to develop a fat free chocolate and strawberry milk that contain no high fructose corn syrup, a common additive in school lunch programs. The healthier milk options will be available at all Cleveland public schools starting in 2014. In addition, he has eliminated sodas from all Cleveland public school vending machines.

Even after more than 30 years of service to the Cleveland public school community, Mr. Balaban continues to advocate for the students’ health by ensuring that they have access to healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch, and snacks.