Rotary International District 5170

or School Nutrition & Kids' Health

If you think the title of this talk was made up just to be facetious, youre wrong. It was really uttered by a kid while munching on a bag of French fries at McDonalds; then passed on by the mother to a friend. Maybe the mom repeated it because she thought it was funny. But as humorous as this kids remark might be, it encapsulates in one sentence how little American kids (and many grow ups) know about the food theyre eating or what it is made of.

Taking off from this point, Prof. Freedmans talk is about nutrition and in particular school nutrition and the American diet in general. Some facts: Health care costs General Motors more than steel; a cookie a day wont keep the doctor away like an apple, it will increase your weight 6.25 pounds per year; the 6.5 oz soft drink can has 85 calories; a bagel contains 350 calories. How many of you weigh the same today as 10 years ago? There is lots and lots more to shake and confront you with the consequences of your eating habits.

Prof. Freedman uses a PowerPoint presentation to underscore and illustrate her passionately delivered talk, done with conviction and zealotry. Guaranteed you wont have a nodding head and youll go away glad you came to Rotary today

Comments heard at San Jose RC were: Such a surprise; unexpectedly good program; wish there was more time for Q&A.

Be sure when you invite Prof. Freedman to try and allow some extra time for Question, itll be worth it! And if the ladys journey from San Jose is a long one, why not think about some nutrition for her car? In the spirit of the 4 Way Tests... fair to all concerned.

June 2006