FoodFight in the Classroom

The 3-part FoodFight curriculum is designed to engage students in the larger national conversation about food. We believe that traditional nutrition education curriculum has not been successful in achieving lasting behavioral change because it has not addressed the nested relationship between the social, political, economic and emotional issues that impact the food system and food environment. It has also failed to address the realities of our students’ lives and experiences.

As long-time former teachers, we know that to be meaningful and transformative, it is crucial for curriculum to be dynamic, interactive and student centered. FoodFight lessons are designed to inspire students to challenge and change embedded behaviors and beliefs about food and its role in their lives.

Part 1

Focused on media literacy and critical consumership, this section aims to deconstruct the students’ existing notions of food and consumer culture. This part exposes the mechanisms of advertising and branding and demonstrates how they shape our eating and buying habits. This will inform and inspire students to:

• Examine and challenge the very basic assumptions of American consumer culture, using the fast food industry as our main case study.
• Identify the effects of mass produced, nutritionally bankrupt foods on their health and life chances.
• Understand the “health-wealth” connection and the role of government subsidies and policies in this equation.
• Feel a sense of urgency and encourage a rebellious spirit that will translate in part 2 into constructive personal and social commitments.

Part 2

Students will learn basic nutrition facts and concepts.

• Learn to read labels, ingredient lists and how to interpret health claims.
• Understand the difference between portion and serving size.
• Identify and access healthful alternatives to fast food
• Prepare healthy, affordable meals.
• Create their own “Mindful Eating Plan” in which they commit to making three changes in their personal eating and buying habits.

Part 3

Students will work in small groups to implement a social action plan around an issue concerning food politics and learn the basics of social advocacy and self-empowerment.

• Allows students to share what they have learned with their friends, family and others in their learning community.
• Demonstrates their commitment to challenging and transforming long-embedded assumptions and behaviors connected to health and wellness.

We want students to see themselves as powerful agents of change and as part of the vanguard of community activists who are engaged in the fight to reclaim our food system.

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