Lunch, Love, Community 2014
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Helen De Michiel and Sophie Constantinou
Director n/a
DVD, color, 78 min.
K-General Adult
Food, Nutrition, Health, Urban Agriculture, Parenting, Activism
Date Entered: 12/01/2015
Reviewed by James Gordon, University at Buffalo LibrariesIs there anyone who would argue against school children having nutritious, great tasting food at school? It doesn’t just happen all by itself. This film documents the transition from convenience foods to wholesome foods in the Berkely, CA school system and advocates for the Berkely plan to be replicated everywhere.
The transition goals and implementation plan were devised by a group of parents, but resisted by a stunningly narcissistic gatekeeper in the school administration. The only thing that moved her was the wrongful death of a diabetic pupil in a neighboring district. Otherwise the plan might still be on the shelf.
There are 12 segments to the film, each of which focuses on a different aspect of planning and implementation of a nutritious school food program. A study guide is available in PDF, and is also available in video form on the main menu of the DVD itself.
Some segments suffer from gimmicky out of focus and extreme close-up issues. Aside from these minor problems, the segments are good discussion starters.
This movie will be of interest to anyone who likes lunch ladies, but particularly to parents of K-12 children interested in making sure their children get good food to eat at school.