In the eye of the beholder

Food as a lens for socail justice

Overview: Residents of the south Bronx suffer from high rates of asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.  But, what does a healthy neighborhood really look like? who creates access to health? who DEFINES health? The purpose of this workshop is to plant seeds of peace so that we will be able to practice healthy lifestyles. In breaking negative perceptions, habits and relations with food we can have a balance lifestyle. Throughout this hands-on workshop we will collectively brainstorm and highlight ways in which we can all be healthier.

Objective: To highlight healthy living lifestyles that are cultural relevant, economically practical and attractive to the common citizen. Through discussion and creation of magnets or pamphlet.

Resources needed:

Cut the Junk pamphlet  NYC Human Resources Administration (15-30 copies)  

Presentation board of some kind or 1 large table cloth & sticky spray

One sided old scrap paper

Markers/ Construction paper

Laminator and/or Magnet strip

Method: A facilitator will cover ground rules – “creating an open space”. Facilitators will first read the overview and the purpose of workshop.

1.       Do a small food icebreaker with audience (there is no wrong answer to these questions)

What does it mean to be at war with your food/Name 3 foods that you think of when you hear the word Healthy/Name 3 foods that you think of when you say “Unhealthy Foods are”/who defines healthy foods/who controls healthy foods

2.       Have 5 volunteers from the audience to read out loud. (Each volunteer will read one paragraph from Cut the Junk.) Following each reading, facilitators will moderate 3 comments from the audience.

Introduction. Food Cost & Comparison. Portion Control.

3.       Groupwork: Choose one note taker from each group to record “healthy lifestyle habits”. Following discussion if there is time, we will use the thoughts from the discussion to create “self - reminders”