I’m here today to get you to think a little bit differently about your food
little bit differently about your food
little bit differently about your food but before I do that I want to tell you
but before I do that I want to tell you
but before I do that I want to tell you why I started thinking differently about
why I started thinking differently about
why I started thinking differently about food over a decade ago so almost 11
food over a decade ago so almost 11
food over a decade ago so almost 11 years ago I was pregnant with my second
years ago I was pregnant with my second
years ago I was pregnant with my second child and I was diagnosed with
child and I was diagnosed with
child and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and for you know
gestational diabetes and for you know
gestational diabetes and for you know it’s not usually that big of a deal and
it’s not usually that big of a deal and
it’s not usually that big of a deal and for most women and this happened to me
for most women and this happened to me
for most women and this happened to me too as soon as you deliver a healthy
too as soon as you deliver a healthy
too as soon as you deliver a healthy baby the diabetes goes away and that was
baby the diabetes goes away and that was
baby the diabetes goes away and that was exactly my experience but while the
exactly my experience but while the
exactly my experience but while the physical sort of ramifications of having
physical sort of ramifications of having
physical sort of ramifications of having that condition went away immediately
that condition went away immediately
that condition went away immediately after I delivered my daughter right the
after I delivered my daughter right the
after I delivered my daughter right the relationship that I had to food and to
relationship that I had to food and to
relationship that I had to food and to how I eat that’s been changed forever
how I eat that’s been changed forever
how I eat that’s been changed forever right since that moment I haven’t
right since that moment I haven’t
right since that moment I haven’t thought about food in quite the same way
thought about food in quite the same way
thought about food in quite the same way and I eat differently because of that
and I eat differently because of that
and I eat differently because of that experience now I’m also a professor of
experience now I’m also a professor of
experience now I’m also a professor of political science right and this means
political science right and this means
political science right and this means that am a little bit of a nerd and and B
that am a little bit of a nerd and and B
that am a little bit of a nerd and and B that I tend to filter every experience
that I tend to filter every experience
that I tend to filter every experience that I have through the lens of politics
that I have through the lens of politics
that I have through the lens of politics so you know ten years ago eleven years
so you know ten years ago eleven years
so you know ten years ago eleven years ago when I was getting this diagnosis I
ago when I was getting this diagnosis I
ago when I was getting this diagnosis I was you know ferociously trying to
was you know ferociously trying to
was you know ferociously trying to consume every sort of book on food and
consume every sort of book on food and
consume every sort of book on food and nutrition and then I started thinking oh
nutrition and then I started thinking oh
nutrition and then I started thinking oh gosh this is a ripe opportunity for me
gosh this is a ripe opportunity for me
gosh this is a ripe opportunity for me to talk about politics which is
to talk about politics which is
to talk about politics which is something that I love and so I started
something that I love and so I started
something that I love and so I started to think about what are the political
to think about what are the political
to think about what are the political ramifications of food policy how is food
ramifications of food policy how is food
ramifications of food policy how is food policy made how does it impact what I
policy made how does it impact what I
policy made how does it impact what I eat and what I feed my family and so a
eat and what I feed my family and so a
eat and what I feed my family and so a obsession that started as a result of a
obsession that started as a result of a
obsession that started as a result of a pregnancy diagnosis right continues to
pregnancy diagnosis right continues to
pregnancy diagnosis right continues to this day and I am still an avid reader
this day and I am still an avid reader
this day and I am still an avid reader in and basically any new nutrition or
in and basically any new nutrition or
in and basically any new nutrition or food politics politics books that comes
food politics politics books that comes
food politics politics books that comes out and you can ask my husband and
out and you can ask my husband and
out and you can ask my husband and children they’re these books litter our
children they’re these books litter our
children they’re these books litter our house that litter my home office right
house that litter my home office right
house that litter my home office right now okay it’s become such an obsession
now okay it’s become such an obsession
now okay it’s become such an obsession that I even developed a course at the
that I even developed a course at the
that I even developed a course at the University called the politics of food
University called the politics of food
University called the politics of food which I now teach every spring and it’s
which I now teach every spring and it’s
which I now teach every spring and it’s also really changed a lot about how I
also really changed a lot about how I
also really changed a lot about how I teach what I really want for you today
teach what I really want for you today
teach what I really want for you today is to come away from this thinking a
is to come away from this thinking a
is to come away from this thinking a little different about the food
little different about the food
little different about the food that’s on your plate every day and I
that’s on your plate every day and I
that’s on your plate every day and I want you to be able to think about the
want you to be able to think about the
want you to be able to think about the decisions that impact the sort of how
decisions that impact the sort of how
decisions that impact the sort of how the food ends up on your plate every day
the food ends up on your plate every day
the food ends up on your plate every day I want you to be able to think of that
I want you to be able to think of that
I want you to be able to think of that and I’m gonna do that through three
and I’m gonna do that through three
and I’m gonna do that through three different examples and I chose these
different examples and I chose these
different examples and I chose these examples because they’re examples that
examples because they’re examples that
examples because they’re examples that were really impactful for me when I
were really impactful for me when I
were really impactful for me when I started this journey and there are also
started this journey and there are also
started this journey and there are also examples that were really impactful for
examples that were really impactful for
examples that were really impactful for my students as I am teaching my course
my students as I am teaching my course
my students as I am teaching my course so I’m gonna give you three little
so I’m gonna give you three little
so I’m gonna give you three little vignettes and I want you to keep in mind
vignettes and I want you to keep in mind
vignettes and I want you to keep in mind that I’m only scratching the surface
that I’m only scratching the surface
that I’m only scratching the surface right in this very short talk to show
right in this very short talk to show
right in this very short talk to show you the impact of food and politics and
you the impact of food and politics and
you the impact of food and politics and maybe you’ve never really thought that
maybe you’ve never really thought that
maybe you’ve never really thought that much about the impact of food of
much about the impact of food of
much about the impact of food of politics on food one of my students and
politics on food one of my students and
politics on food one of my students and the first time I taught my course he
the first time I taught my course he
the first time I taught my course he said that he thought the title of the
said that he thought the title of the
said that he thought the title of the course politics of food was a joke
course politics of food was a joke
course politics of food was a joke because he didn’t think there was any
because he didn’t think there was any
because he didn’t think there was any relationship between the two he was
relationship between the two he was
relationship between the two he was convinced otherwise by the end of the
convinced otherwise by the end of the
convinced otherwise by the end of the semester so anyway let me start with my
semester so anyway let me start with my
semester so anyway let me start with my first example my first example is
first example my first example is
first example my first example is probably my favorite and it is sugar
probably my favorite and it is sugar
probably my favorite and it is sugar okay so sugar is big news these days and
okay so sugar is big news these days and
okay so sugar is big news these days and sugar is big news for good reason we are
sugar is big news for good reason we are
sugar is big news for good reason we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic as
in the midst of an obesity epidemic as
in the midst of an obesity epidemic as we all know hey there are more and more
we all know hey there are more and more
we all know hey there are more and more people who are diagnosed every year with
people who are diagnosed every year with
people who are diagnosed every year with diabetes and that doesn’t matter what
diabetes and that doesn’t matter what
diabetes and that doesn’t matter what age you are there are more and more
age you are there are more and more
age you are there are more and more people who are diagnosed with this
people who are diagnosed with this
people who are diagnosed with this disease okay
disease okay
disease okay why is that the case right how did we
why is that the case right how did we
why is that the case right how did we get here how do we get into this
get here how do we get into this
get here how do we get into this position and I want to sort of think
position and I want to sort of think
position and I want to sort of think about how politics has influenced the
about how politics has influenced the
about how politics has influenced the ways in which sugar we are sort of awash
ways in which sugar we are sort of awash
ways in which sugar we are sort of awash in sugar every single day so we like to
in sugar every single day so we like to
in sugar every single day so we like to think that decisions about food
think that decisions about food
think that decisions about food decisions about nutrition that these are
decisions about nutrition that these are
decisions about nutrition that these are made by dietitians nutritionists
made by dietitians nutritionists
made by dietitians nutritionists scientists experts and certainly those
scientists experts and certainly those
scientists experts and certainly those experts are consulted when food policy
experts are consulted when food policy
experts are consulted when food policy is made but I often tell my students
is made but I often tell my students
is made but I often tell my students that you can be a brilliant scientist
that you can be a brilliant scientist
that you can be a brilliant scientist and you can have brilliant theories but
and you can have brilliant theories but
and you can have brilliant theories but if you can’t speak to a politician in a
if you can’t speak to a politician in a
if you can’t speak to a politician in a way that the politician will care about
way that the politician will care about
way that the politician will care about it
it
it your impact on policy is actually going
your impact on policy is actually going
your impact on policy is actually going to be quite minimal but there are people
to be quite minimal but there are people
to be quite minimal but there are people out there who are incredibly good at
out there who are incredibly good at
out there who are incredibly good at speaking to politicians in a language
speaking to politicians in a language
speaking to politicians in a language that they understand and that is
that they understand and that is
that they understand and that is lobbyists right so there are a lots for
lobbyists right so there are a lots for
lobbyists right so there are a lots for the food industry and in particular
the food industry and in particular
the food industry and in particular lobbyists for the candy industry
lobbyists for the candy industry
lobbyists for the candy industry lobbyists for the soda industry
lobbyists for the soda industry
lobbyists for the soda industry lobbyists for the sugar industry itself
lobbyists for the sugar industry itself
lobbyists for the sugar industry itself and many others who are very good at
and many others who are very good at
and many others who are very good at influencing politicians and how they are
influencing politicians and how they are
influencing politicians and how they are going to vote on legislation that’s
going to vote on legislation that’s
going to vote on legislation that’s related to labeling of food for example
related to labeling of food for example
related to labeling of food for example that’s related to the nutrition
that’s related to the nutrition
that’s related to the nutrition recommendations that come down from
recommendations that come down from
recommendations that come down from various bodies of the government right
various bodies of the government right
various bodies of the government right so we’re not talking about something
so we’re not talking about something
so we’re not talking about something that’s necessarily driven by expert it’s
that’s necessarily driven by expert it’s
that’s necessarily driven by expert it’s driven by policy and we know that our
driven by policy and we know that our
driven by policy and we know that our politicians are not experts in nutrition
politicians are not experts in nutrition
politicians are not experts in nutrition and yet they do a whole lot to decide
and yet they do a whole lot to decide
and yet they do a whole lot to decide how much we know about our food and the
how much we know about our food and the
how much we know about our food and the types of food that are recommended for
types of food that are recommended for
types of food that are recommended for us to eat all the time I want you to
us to eat all the time I want you to
us to eat all the time I want you to think about something thing about the
think about something thing about the
think about something thing about the last piece of packaged food that you ate
last piece of packaged food that you ate
last piece of packaged food that you ate right you know there’s that little white
right you know there’s that little white
right you know there’s that little white box on the side of any container or any
box on the side of any container or any
box on the side of any container or any food package that says Nutrition Facts
food package that says Nutrition Facts
food package that says Nutrition Facts on it right if you look on that you’ll
on it right if you look on that you’ll
on it right if you look on that you’ll see that there are daily percentage
see that there are daily percentage
see that there are daily percentage values listed for things like fat and
values listed for things like fat and
values listed for things like fat and cholesterol and fiber but there’s no
cholesterol and fiber but there’s no
cholesterol and fiber but there’s no percentage listed for sugar that’s no
percentage listed for sugar that’s no
percentage listed for sugar that’s no accident the sugar industry has been
accident the sugar industry has been
accident the sugar industry has been very good and very successful at
very good and very successful at
very good and very successful at persuading Congress to adopt legislation
persuading Congress to adopt legislation
persuading Congress to adopt legislation that kind of keeps you in the dark about
that kind of keeps you in the dark about
that kind of keeps you in the dark about how much sugar you’re actually eating if
how much sugar you’re actually eating if
how much sugar you’re actually eating if you think of it if you see on the side
you think of it if you see on the side
you think of it if you see on the side of a package well there’s 12 grams of
of a package well there’s 12 grams of
of a package well there’s 12 grams of sugar and what I’m about to consume
sugar and what I’m about to consume
sugar and what I’m about to consume you’re not really quite sure if that’s a
you’re not really quite sure if that’s a
you’re not really quite sure if that’s a lot or if that’s not really that much
lot or if that’s not really that much
lot or if that’s not really that much right there’s a very simple calculation
right there’s a very simple calculation
right there’s a very simple calculation that we don’t know but we all should
that we don’t know but we all should
that we don’t know but we all should know and it’s this one 4 grams of sugar
know and it’s this one 4 grams of sugar
know and it’s this one 4 grams of sugar is one teaspoon somehow it’s a little
is one teaspoon somehow it’s a little
is one teaspoon somehow it’s a little bit easier for us to understand what one
bit easier for us to understand what one
bit easier for us to understand what one teaspoon looks like rather than than
teaspoon looks like rather than than
teaspoon looks like rather than than four grams of sugar hey this is a
four grams of sugar hey this is a
four grams of sugar hey this is a calculation that doesn’t appear anywhere
calculation that doesn’t appear anywhere
calculation that doesn’t appear anywhere on our food packages and yet it would be
on our food packages and yet it would be
on our food packages and yet it would be helpful for us to know how much sugar
helpful for us to know how much sugar
helpful for us to know how much sugar were actually consuming if we thought of
were actually consuming if we thought of
were actually consuming if we thought of it in terms of this calculation so
it in terms of this calculation so
it in terms of this calculation so let me give you a little bit of a better
let me give you a little bit of a better
let me give you a little bit of a better example okay so think about that
example okay so think about that
example okay so think about that Gatorade that you drank after your
Gatorade that you drank after your
Gatorade that you drank after your workout okay that is typically about 36
workout okay that is typically about 36
workout okay that is typically about 36 grams of sugar which is because
grams of sugar which is because
grams of sugar which is because everybody carries sugar packets around
everybody carries sugar packets around
everybody carries sugar packets around in their pockets okay that’s about nine
in their pockets okay that’s about nine
in their pockets okay that’s about nine teaspoons of shirt so this is nine
teaspoons of shirt so this is nine
teaspoons of shirt so this is nine teaspoons of sugar right that’s there
teaspoons of sugar right that’s there
teaspoons of sugar right that’s there okay I don’t know what to do with it
okay I don’t know what to do with it
okay I don’t know what to do with it right okay so nine teaspoons of sugar so
right okay so nine teaspoons of sugar so
right okay so nine teaspoons of sugar so that’s in your Gatorade okay you can
that’s in your Gatorade okay you can
that’s in your Gatorade okay you can think about the healthy yogurt the
think about the healthy yogurt the
think about the healthy yogurt the healthy strawberry yogurt that you had
healthy strawberry yogurt that you had
healthy strawberry yogurt that you had for breakfast
for breakfast
for breakfast so that was likely about 24 grams of
so that was likely about 24 grams of
so that was likely about 24 grams of sugar so your healthy yogurt let’s just
sugar so your healthy yogurt let’s just
sugar so your healthy yogurt let’s just take that’s about that much sugar for
take that’s about that much sugar for
take that’s about that much sugar for your healthy yogurt in a six ounce cup
your healthy yogurt in a six ounce cup
your healthy yogurt in a six ounce cup so that’s not very that’s a lot of sugar
so that’s not very that’s a lot of sugar
so that’s not very that’s a lot of sugar for yogurt okay but here’s the kicker
for yogurt okay but here’s the kicker
for yogurt okay but here’s the kicker you know that Mountain Dew the 20 ounce
you know that Mountain Dew the 20 ounce
you know that Mountain Dew the 20 ounce of Mountain Dew that you guzzled in the
of Mountain Dew that you guzzled in the
of Mountain Dew that you guzzled in the car right this is a super uncomfortable
car right this is a super uncomfortable
car right this is a super uncomfortable pocket right this is that’s what I was
pocket right this is that’s what I was
pocket right this is that’s what I was hoping you’d do right okay so that is
hoping you’d do right okay so that is
hoping you’d do right okay so that is will keep the sugar up here this is 19
will keep the sugar up here this is 19
will keep the sugar up here this is 19 teaspoons of sugar right and that well
teaspoons of sugar right and that well
teaspoons of sugar right and that well yeah okay that’s going into the yogurt
yeah okay that’s going into the yogurt
yeah okay that’s going into the yogurt sugar but this is how much is in a 20
sugar but this is how much is in a 20
sugar but this is how much is in a 20 ounce bottle of regular Mountain Dew
ounce bottle of regular Mountain Dew
ounce bottle of regular Mountain Dew okay now what I want you to keep in mind
okay now what I want you to keep in mind
okay now what I want you to keep in mind is that the latest Dietary Guidelines
is that the latest Dietary Guidelines
is that the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans right this is the document
for Americans right this is the document
for Americans right this is the document that’s produced by the government and
that’s produced by the government and
that’s produced by the government and consult in consultation with
consult in consultation with
consult in consultation with nutritionists recommends that we consume
nutritionists recommends that we consume
nutritionists recommends that we consume no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per
no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per
no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per day so if you’ve consumed a 20 ounce
day so if you’ve consumed a 20 ounce
day so if you’ve consumed a 20 ounce Mountain Dew right
Mountain Dew right
Mountain Dew right you’ve already consumed almost double
you’ve already consumed almost double
you’ve already consumed almost double the recommended amount for an entire day
the recommended amount for an entire day
the recommended amount for an entire day right so that’s a pretty I think
right so that’s a pretty I think
right so that’s a pretty I think impactful example a messy one too and
impactful example a messy one too and
impactful example a messy one too and I’m just really glad it’s out of my
I’m just really glad it’s out of my
I’m just really glad it’s out of my pockets okay so sugar and politics have
pockets okay so sugar and politics have
pockets okay so sugar and politics have been entwined for a super long time
been entwined for a super long time
been entwined for a super long time there is a little glimmer of hope on the
there is a little glimmer of hope on the
there is a little glimmer of hope on the horizon and that glimmer of hope is that
horizon and that glimmer of hope is that
horizon and that glimmer of hope is that the Food and Drug Administration has
the Food and Drug Administration has
the Food and Drug Administration has revealed that it has a plan for a new
revealed that it has a plan for a new
revealed that it has a plan for a new Nutrition Facts label that will make it
Nutrition Facts label that will make it
Nutrition Facts label that will make it a little bit easier
a little bit easier
a little bit easier for you to see exactly how much sugar
for you to see exactly how much sugar
for you to see exactly how much sugar you’re eating and each you know item of
you’re eating and each you know item of
you’re eating and each you know item of food that you consume the bad news is
food that you consume the bad news is
food that you consume the bad news is they’re going to have added sugars it’s
they’re going to have added sugars it’s
they’re going to have added sugars it’s going to be really large on that package
going to be really large on that package
going to be really large on that package so you can’t miss it the bad news is
so you can’t miss it the bad news is
so you can’t miss it the bad news is that they’ve been so successful at
that they’ve been so successful at
that they’ve been so successful at persuading Congress on legislators that
persuading Congress on legislators that
persuading Congress on legislators that it is going to be too much of a hardship
it is going to be too much of a hardship
it is going to be too much of a hardship for them to do this right away
for them to do this right away
for them to do this right away that we don’t know exactly when this new
that we don’t know exactly when this new
that we don’t know exactly when this new food label is going to start appearing
food label is going to start appearing
food label is going to start appearing right so this is a little bit of an
right so this is a little bit of an
right so this is a little bit of an issue for us so this is my first example
issue for us so this is my first example
issue for us so this is my first example of food and politics and it’s related to
of food and politics and it’s related to
of food and politics and it’s related to my second example okay my second example
my second example okay my second example
my second example okay my second example I want to address a different question
I want to address a different question
I want to address a different question for you which is why does it seem so
for you which is why does it seem so
for you which is why does it seem so expensive to eat healthy so we just
expensive to eat healthy so we just
expensive to eat healthy so we just talked about how we might be awash and
talked about how we might be awash and
talked about how we might be awash and sugar and how that could happen with the
sugar and how that could happen with the
sugar and how that could happen with the influence of the food industry but let’s
influence of the food industry but let’s
influence of the food industry but let’s think about why it seems to us that it’s
think about why it seems to us that it’s
think about why it seems to us that it’s so expensive to eat healthy okay so
so expensive to eat healthy okay so
so expensive to eat healthy okay so think about this you maybe remember this
think about this you maybe remember this
think about this you maybe remember this this is the old food pyramid we don’t
this is the old food pyramid we don’t
this is the old food pyramid we don’t use this one anymore but I like this one
use this one anymore but I like this one
use this one anymore but I like this one because it helps to I think illustrates
because it helps to I think illustrates
because it helps to I think illustrates something here at the bottom of this old
something here at the bottom of this old
something here at the bottom of this old food pyramid was the bread rice cereal
food pyramid was the bread rice cereal
food pyramid was the bread rice cereal and pasta group six to 11 servings you
and pasta group six to 11 servings you
and pasta group six to 11 servings you know how the food pyramid works as you
know how the food pyramid works as you
know how the food pyramid works as you go up the food pyramid that means you
go up the food pyramid that means you
go up the food pyramid that means you are eating less of those categories okay
are eating less of those categories okay
are eating less of those categories okay so why is it that this bottom you know
so why is it that this bottom you know
so why is it that this bottom you know this is still sort of the foundation of
this is still sort of the foundation of
this is still sort of the foundation of what we think of the foundation of our
what we think of the foundation of our
what we think of the foundation of our diets why is it that this bottom these
diets why is it that this bottom these
diets why is it that this bottom these carbohydrates on the bottom have been so
carbohydrates on the bottom have been so
carbohydrates on the bottom have been so ingrained and all over and our grocery
ingrained and all over and our grocery
ingrained and all over and our grocery shelves all over in our probably on our
shelves all over in our probably on our
shelves all over in our probably on our plates and in our snack drawers and so
plates and in our snack drawers and so
plates and in our snack drawers and so ingrained in our in our consciousness as
ingrained in our in our consciousness as
ingrained in our in our consciousness as the foundation of our diets well as you
the foundation of our diets well as you
the foundation of our diets well as you might imagine my answer is always going
might imagine my answer is always going
might imagine my answer is always going to be that it’s a political decision
to be that it’s a political decision
to be that it’s a political decision throughout history throughout our recent
throughout history throughout our recent
throughout history throughout our recent history in particular governments have
history in particular governments have
history in particular governments have been subsidizing staple crops like these
been subsidizing staple crops like these
been subsidizing staple crops like these like wheat like corn and like soy and it
like wheat like corn and like soy and it
like wheat like corn and like soy and it has made it much they have basically
has made it much they have basically
has made it much they have basically made a decision that they were going to
made a decision that they were going to
made a decision that they were going to buy these crops from farmers at almost
buy these crops from farmers at almost
buy these crops from farmers at almost any price right in almost any condition
any price right in almost any condition
any price right in almost any condition so in effect government is making it
so in effect government is making it
so in effect government is making it cheaper it’s making it nice for farmers
cheaper it’s making it nice for farmers
cheaper it’s making it nice for farmers because they don’t have to worry about
because they don’t have to worry about
because they don’t have to worry about sort of the variances in the market it’s
sort of the variances in the market it’s
sort of the variances in the market it’s also been kind of nice for us because
also been kind of nice for us because
also been kind of nice for us because since government is picking up some of
since government is picking up some of
since government is picking up some of the tab to buy these crops that means
the tab to buy these crops that means
the tab to buy these crops that means our food is cheaper right but it’s also
our food is cheaper right but it’s also
our food is cheaper right but it’s also meant that our food is artificially
meant that our food is artificially
meant that our food is artificially cheap we don’t ever really pay the full
cheap we don’t ever really pay the full
cheap we don’t ever really pay the full price of what it costs to produce foods
price of what it costs to produce foods
price of what it costs to produce foods that are made with these staple crops
that are made with these staple crops
that are made with these staple crops like wheat corn and soy and it just so
like wheat corn and soy and it just so
like wheat corn and soy and it just so happens that the foods that we love that
happens that the foods that we love that
happens that the foods that we love that we sort of make with these staple crops
we sort of make with these staple crops
we sort of make with these staple crops are foods we find absolutely
are foods we find absolutely
are foods we find absolutely irresistible it is very cheap as you
irresistible it is very cheap as you
irresistible it is very cheap as you know I go to the grocery store is very
know I go to the grocery store is very
know I go to the grocery store is very cheap actually to buy cookies it’s very
cheap actually to buy cookies it’s very
cheap actually to buy cookies it’s very cheap to buy soda it’s very cheap to buy
cheap to buy soda it’s very cheap to buy
cheap to buy soda it’s very cheap to buy all sorts of junk food that are made
all sorts of junk food that are made
all sorts of junk food that are made with these staple crops because we’re
with these staple crops because we’re
with these staple crops because we’re not actually paying what the full cost
not actually paying what the full cost
not actually paying what the full cost is to produce them but it’s actually
is to produce them but it’s actually
is to produce them but it’s actually kind of expensive to buy the ingredients
kind of expensive to buy the ingredients
kind of expensive to buy the ingredients for a salad that’s gonna fill you up the
for a salad that’s gonna fill you up the
for a salad that’s gonna fill you up the same way right so we often see things
same way right so we often see things
same way right so we often see things like this right here you can have a
like this right here you can have a
like this right here you can have a hamburger fries and a coke for $4.99 but
hamburger fries and a coke for $4.99 but
hamburger fries and a coke for $4.99 but if you get a kind of boring salad and in
if you get a kind of boring salad and in
if you get a kind of boring salad and in water right it’s $6.99 so people are
water right it’s $6.99 so people are
water right it’s $6.99 so people are always saying oh god it’s just so
always saying oh god it’s just so
always saying oh god it’s just so expensive to eat healthy well why is it
expensive to eat healthy well why is it
expensive to eat healthy well why is it expensive to eat why is it so expensive
expensive to eat why is it so expensive
expensive to eat why is it so expensive to eat healthy it’s not that it’s
to eat healthy it’s not that it’s
to eat healthy it’s not that it’s expensive to eat healthy it’s
expensive to eat healthy it’s
expensive to eat healthy it’s inexpensive to eat poorly right you can
inexpensive to eat poorly right you can
inexpensive to eat poorly right you can eat poorly one of the biggest
eat poorly one of the biggest
eat poorly one of the biggest beneficiaries of government subsidies
beneficiaries of government subsidies
beneficiaries of government subsidies has got to be corn right we eat corn or
has got to be corn right we eat corn or
has got to be corn right we eat corn or corn bribe products in almost everything
corn bribe products in almost everything
corn bribe products in almost everything there’s corn all over that $4.99 meal
there’s corn all over that $4.99 meal
there’s corn all over that $4.99 meal they’re from the bun from the corn
they’re from the bun from the corn
they’re from the bun from the corn likely that was fed to the livestock to
likely that was fed to the livestock to
likely that was fed to the livestock to create that hamburger – of course the
create that hamburger – of course the
create that hamburger – of course the high-fructose corn syrup that made that
high-fructose corn syrup that made that
high-fructose corn syrup that made that coca-cola so government makes it easier
coca-cola so government makes it easier
coca-cola so government makes it easier for us to eat junk and a little bit
for us to eat junk and a little bit
for us to eat junk and a little bit harder for us to eat well after all
harder for us to eat well after all
harder for us to eat well after all there’s no subsidy for broccoli
there’s no subsidy for broccoli
there’s no subsidy for broccoli there’s no subsidy for kale for apples
there’s no subsidy for kale for apples
there’s no subsidy for kale for apples or for blueberries so when you hear
or for blueberries so when you hear
or for blueberries so when you hear people say gosh you know it’s just so
people say gosh you know it’s just so
people say gosh you know it’s just so expensive for
expensive for
expensive for me to eat healthy right they’re not
me to eat healthy right they’re not
me to eat healthy right they’re not wrong right but they’re unwittingly
wrong right but they’re unwittingly
wrong right but they’re unwittingly complaining about government subsidies
complaining about government subsidies
complaining about government subsidies that make it really easy for us to eat
that make it really easy for us to eat
that make it really easy for us to eat junk right and really hard for us to eat
junk right and really hard for us to eat
junk right and really hard for us to eat well easily okay so thinking about junk
well easily okay so thinking about junk
well easily okay so thinking about junk food is going to lead me to my third
food is going to lead me to my third
food is going to lead me to my third example okay and this is an example that
example okay and this is an example that
example okay and this is an example that may be really close to some of you
may be really close to some of you
may be really close to some of you because you might live it every day for
because you might live it every day for
because you might live it every day for better or for worse right I am a parent
better or for worse right I am a parent
better or for worse right I am a parent hey you might be parents too and you
hey you might be parents too and you
hey you might be parents too and you want your kids to eat well we all want
want your kids to eat well we all want
want your kids to eat well we all want our kids to eat well one of the primary
our kids to eat well one of the primary
our kids to eat well one of the primary places where our kids are consuming most
places where our kids are consuming most
places where our kids are consuming most of their calories is at school and so
of their calories is at school and so
of their calories is at school and so it’s important that we think about
it’s important that we think about
it’s important that we think about school food and school food as it turns
school food and school food as it turns
school food and school food as it turns out is maybe the most political of the
out is maybe the most political of the
out is maybe the most political of the topics that I could I could talk about
topics that I could I could talk about
topics that I could I could talk about right and I’m only going to scratch the
right and I’m only going to scratch the
right and I’m only going to scratch the surface so if you go online and you look
surface so if you go online and you look
surface so if you go online and you look up pictures of school food maybe you’ve
up pictures of school food maybe you’ve
up pictures of school food maybe you’ve seen this before you look up pictures of
seen this before you look up pictures of
seen this before you look up pictures of school food you’re gonna find pictures
school food you’re gonna find pictures
school food you’re gonna find pictures of American school lunches that look
of American school lunches that look
of American school lunches that look like this mmm
like this mmm
like this mmm right you’re gonna see these greasy
right you’re gonna see these greasy
right you’re gonna see these greasy squares of Pizza some chocolate milk it
squares of Pizza some chocolate milk it
squares of Pizza some chocolate milk it looks like some institutional cookie up
looks like some institutional cookie up
looks like some institutional cookie up there in a package and some less than
there in a package and some less than
there in a package and some less than appetizing looking corn right but then
appetizing looking corn right but then
appetizing looking corn right but then if you google lunch school lunch in
if you google lunch school lunch in
if you google lunch school lunch in other countries you’re gonna come up
other countries you’re gonna come up
other countries you’re gonna come up with things like this France right this
with things like this France right this
with things like this France right this is a French school lunch and is
is a French school lunch and is
is a French school lunch and is beautiful and it looks like it’s
beautiful and it looks like it’s
beautiful and it looks like it’s restaurant quality and they’re drinking
restaurant quality and they’re drinking
restaurant quality and they’re drinking water out of real glasses and they have
water out of real glasses and they have
water out of real glasses and they have actual plates and they have actual
actual plates and they have actual
actual plates and they have actual silverware right
silverware right
silverware right these are lunches in France that are
these are lunches in France that are
these are lunches in France that are served family-style it’s quite lovely
served family-style it’s quite lovely
served family-style it’s quite lovely why don’t our school lunches look like
why don’t our school lunches look like
why don’t our school lunches look like this the answer of course is politics
this the answer of course is politics
this the answer of course is politics everything comes back to politics in my
everything comes back to politics in my
everything comes back to politics in my world right but this is definitely a
world right but this is definitely a
world right but this is definitely a political issue so when your kid goes to
political issue so when your kid goes to
political issue so when your kid goes to eat in the cafeteria the choices that
eat in the cafeteria the choices that
eat in the cafeteria the choices that are available to them and the way that
are available to them and the way that
are available to them and the way that everything looks in the cafeteria is
everything looks in the cafeteria is
everything looks in the cafeteria is largely to do with our National School
largely to do with our National School
largely to do with our National School Lunch Program
Lunch Program
Lunch Program the National School Lunch Program has
the National School Lunch Program has
the National School Lunch Program has been around since 1946 and the kicker is
been around since 1946 and the kicker is
been around since 1946 and the kicker is it was never designed to meet the
it was never designed to meet the
it was never designed to meet the nutritional needs of children what was
nutritional needs of children what was
nutritional needs of children what was it designed to do it was designed to be
it designed to do it was designed to be
it designed to do it was designed to be a sort of exit sort of a dumping ground
a sort of exit sort of a dumping ground
a sort of exit sort of a dumping ground for excess government commodities in
for excess government commodities in
for excess government commodities in products like milk and cheese and pork
products like milk and cheese and pork
products like milk and cheese and pork so all of those choices that your kids
so all of those choices that your kids
so all of those choices that your kids have in the school line and all of the
have in the school line and all of the
have in the school line and all of the complaints that they get about the
complaints that they get about the
complaints that they get about the National School Lunch are because it was
National School Lunch are because it was
National School Lunch are because it was never really designed for nutritional
never really designed for nutritional
never really designed for nutritional excellence right it was designed to get
excellence right it was designed to get
excellence right it was designed to get rid of a lot of food very quickly and it
rid of a lot of food very quickly and it
rid of a lot of food very quickly and it retains a lot of that still to this day
retains a lot of that still to this day
retains a lot of that still to this day so school lunch is maybe one of the most
so school lunch is maybe one of the most
so school lunch is maybe one of the most political of the topics that we could
political of the topics that we could
political of the topics that we could talk about because any effort to try to
talk about because any effort to try to
talk about because any effort to try to change school lunch is met with a lot of
change school lunch is met with a lot of
change school lunch is met with a lot of resistance think back to 2010 there was
resistance think back to 2010 there was
resistance think back to 2010 there was the Healthy hunger-free Kids Act and the
the Healthy hunger-free Kids Act and the
the Healthy hunger-free Kids Act and the whole point of the Healthy hunger-free
whole point of the Healthy hunger-free
whole point of the Healthy hunger-free Kids Act was to increase the amount of
Kids Act was to increase the amount of
Kids Act was to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables and whole grains
fruit and vegetables and whole grains
fruit and vegetables and whole grains and reduce the amount of sodium and fat
and reduce the amount of sodium and fat
and reduce the amount of sodium and fat in school lunches and so that was
in school lunches and so that was
in school lunches and so that was enacted and what happened kids weren’t
enacted and what happened kids weren’t
enacted and what happened kids weren’t eating it right kids weren’t eating it
eating it right kids weren’t eating it
eating it right kids weren’t eating it and you get all of these posts about how
and you get all of these posts about how
and you get all of these posts about how awful American school lunch was online
awful American school lunch was online
awful American school lunch was online that you could see so any to any attempt
that you could see so any to any attempt
that you could see so any to any attempt to change this kind of a school lunch
to change this kind of a school lunch
to change this kind of a school lunch program is very very political because
program is very very political because
program is very very political because Congress can tinker around the edges is
Congress can tinker around the edges is
Congress can tinker around the edges is Congress who can pass things like the
Congress who can pass things like the
Congress who can pass things like the Healthy hunger-free Kids Act is Congress
Healthy hunger-free Kids Act is Congress
Healthy hunger-free Kids Act is Congress who can decide that ketchup as a
who can decide that ketchup as a
who can decide that ketchup as a vegetable that Pizza counts as a
vegetable that Pizza counts as a
vegetable that Pizza counts as a vegetable that french fries count as a
vegetable that french fries count as a
vegetable that french fries count as a vegetable and it’s always the national
vegetable and it’s always the national
vegetable and it’s always the national school lunch program that gets a bad rap
school lunch program that gets a bad rap
school lunch program that gets a bad rap for it and the schools that have to
for it and the schools that have to
for it and the schools that have to actually try and carry it out within
actually try and carry it out within
actually try and carry it out within those limitations so school lunch highly
those limitations so school lunch highly
those limitations so school lunch highly highly political and it’s it’s an issue
highly political and it’s it’s an issue
highly political and it’s it’s an issue that Congress has had a lot of problems
that Congress has had a lot of problems
that Congress has had a lot of problems resolving and fighting a lot with
resolving and fighting a lot with
resolving and fighting a lot with parents and nutritionists alike okay so
parents and nutritionists alike okay so
parents and nutritionists alike okay so I could give you a million more examples
I could give you a million more examples
I could give you a million more examples about the intersection of food and
about the intersection of food and
about the intersection of food and politics and why this is something that
politics and why this is something that
politics and why this is something that we need to think about right it’s
we need to think about right it’s
we need to think about right it’s something that is on our plates every
something that is on our plates every
something that is on our plates every single day hey politics you know people
single day hey politics you know people
single day hey politics you know people don’t usually like to talk about
don’t usually like to talk about
don’t usually like to talk about politics but people really love to think
politics but people really love to think
politics but people really love to think about and photograph their food right
about and photograph their food right
about and photograph their food right they love to do this but
they love to do this but
they love to do this but because we don’t like talking about
because we don’t like talking about
because we don’t like talking about politics it means that essentially our
politics it means that essentially our
politics it means that essentially our legislators don’t know that it’s
legislators don’t know that it’s
legislators don’t know that it’s important to us and they’re really able
important to us and they’re really able
important to us and they’re really able to legislate and have the the influence
to legislate and have the the influence
to legislate and have the the influence of interest groups and make
of interest groups and make
of interest groups and make recommendations without our input okay
recommendations without our input okay
recommendations without our input okay this is something that we have to change
this is something that we have to change
this is something that we have to change food is about the most political thing
food is about the most political thing
food is about the most political thing that is out there right but we have to
that is out there right but we have to
that is out there right but we have to be able to talk about it
be able to talk about it
be able to talk about it you may not remember all of the times
you may not remember all of the times
you may not remember all of the times that food was brought up in our last set
that food was brought up in our last set
that food was brought up in our last set of political elections that’s because it
of political elections that’s because it
of political elections that’s because it wasn’t it was never talked about right
wasn’t it was never talked about right
wasn’t it was never talked about right so let’s start talking about it
so let’s start talking about it
so let’s start talking about it food is maybe the one of the most
food is maybe the one of the most
food is maybe the one of the most political issues that we never ever talk
political issues that we never ever talk
political issues that we never ever talk about let’s start a conversation about
about let’s start a conversation about
about let’s start a conversation about food and there’s no time like the
food and there’s no time like the
food and there’s no time like the present because it’s time for lunch
present because it’s time for lunch
present because it’s time for lunch thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment