Hitting the Tough Shots - MIT Sloan School of Management

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Today, Shape Up Somerville is geared toward
the entire community and fosters changes
that will make a healthier city. The effort
is getting noticed. Not only did Shape Up
Somerville gain attention at the White House,
but the Massachusetts Health Council named
Somerville the 2010 healthiest city in the
Commonwealth.
According to Rioles, healthy eating is
emphasized throughout Somerville. The city
boasts two farmer’s markets, nine communitysupported
agriculture distribution sites, eight
community gardens, and eight gardens at
the city’s elementary schools. The Somerville
School Food Service Department was on board
from the beginning. Immediately, the fryolators
were expelled from school cafeterias and
vegetable steamers were brought in. Fresh
fruit was made available each day for breakfast
and lunch. Artifi cial trans fat was removed
from food and programs such as “Veggie of
the Month” were introduced to students. Last
MIT graduate student Ranjani Paradise (left) with Nicole Rioles of
Shape Up Somerville. (Photo by Amy MacMillan)
month featured corn, and students shucked corn that they ate for lunch. Colorful posters with educational
nutritional information were posted in school cafeterias. “We are trying to make it a sensory experience for
them,” she explained.
This season, Somerville will open a winter farmers’ market, based on some research done by MIT students.
Ranjani Paradise, a fi fth-year graduate student in biological engineering who is the Co-Leader of the Local
Food subgroup in MITFAC, said the group designed, implemented, and analyzed a survey assessing
customer interest in a Somerville Winter Farmers’ Market, which will be the fi rst winter market in the greater
Boston area. The data allowed the group to make recommendations about how many vendors to include,
what fees to charge, range of products, and best times to hold the market. The market will begin in January
at the Armory on Highland Avenue and will be open during the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays
through March. “There was huge interest in the market,” Ranjani said.
Rioles added, “This has not historically taken place around here…we are hoping this will be a draw
and an inspiration to other cities so that people will have more access to locally grown food in their own
community.”
The First Lady’s Let’s Move efforts have dovetailed nicely with what’s been happening in Somerville
for years. Mrs. Obama has asked Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone to recruit more Northeast
communities to adopt healthier lifestyles. “It really does seem to happen at the community level,” Rioles
said.
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