Helping refugees, one plate at a time

Topic:

         

This article describes a project in France that involves pairing chefs from different countries for a humanitarian purpose.
        

       

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find France on a map?
• What do you know about Middle Eastern food? How about French food?
• What is "fusion" cuisine?

           

Speculate:

• A French organization is helping refugee chefs to partner with French chefs. What might they hope to accomplish?

           

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 666

          

In Paris, Where Food Is King, Refugee Chefs Show What They Have To Offer

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The two chefs featured in this article don't have a common language, but chef Jégo says that "they are able to communicate through food". What does he mean by this? What sort of ideas might they be able to communicate?
• Why might cuisine be an effective way to influence the way that people feel about refugees?
• Marine Mandrila says that one of the goals of her organization is "to show that these people had real lives and professions before". Why is this important? If this goal is achieved, how might it be helpful to refugees?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

            

Reflect and evaluate:

• Mohammad El Khaldy says that Syria has a "big food culture". Does your own country have a big food culture? Explain.
• El Khaldy identifies different regions in Syria which are each famous for their own culinary specialties. How about where you live? What are some examples of regional dishes?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

           

Beyond the page:

• Have you ever tried Syrian food, or other cuisines that are different from yours? Search for restaurants or food festivals in your area, and try something new!
• Explore Syrian dishes, and maybe try a recipe or two from one of these pages:
  Syrian Cooking, or 9 Syrian Recipes to Excite Your Taste Buds
• Check out the website for Food Sweet Food, the organization that inspired the refugee chef project in Paris: (website in French) http://www.foodsweetfood.org/

          

Also in the news:

• In Denmark, local people and refugees are creating music together: These African and Scandinavian musicians create sweet sounds in Copenhagen
• Another group in Paris is hoping to bring locals and refugees together by hosting a dance party in a park: Paris hosts a 'Migrant Ball,' but it wasn't just for migrants
• France isn't the only place hoping to unite locals and refugees through food. Read about a similar effort in Budapest: Budapest Foodies Hope Cuisine Can Help Heal Anti-Migrant Prejudice

        

           

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Eat like Arnold Schwarzenegger

Topic:

            

This article is about efforts in China to reduce the amount of pork in people's diets.

         

          

Before reading:

         

General Knowledge:

• Can you find China on a map?
• What are some examples of "diet-related diseases"?
• Vocabulary: Do you know the meaning of these initialisms? Look them up if you aren't sure.
• The WHO
• USDA
• PSA

       

Speculate:

• An advocacy group in China is trying to convince people to eat less meat. In addition to health benefits, what might be some other advantages to reducing meat consumption?
• What challenges might the advocacy group encounter during their campaign?

         

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and watch a YouTube video on the NPR website. Word count: 632

        

Can Arnold Schwarzenegger Persuade China To Eat Less Meat?

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Re-read the first sentence of the article. Why might the writer have chosen to begin by identifying similarities between the US and China? How might this comparison affect the way the audience perceives China?
• Why are celebrities often chosen as spokespeople for campaigns?
• What is the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions? What are possible consequences of failing to reduce emissions?
• Jeremy Haft doesn't think the media campaigns will be successful. On the contrary, he thinks Chinese demand for meat will increase. If media efforts fail, what are some alternative strategies that could be used to convince people to change their meat-eating habits?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• What do you think about the choice to use Arnold Schwarzenegger for this particular campaign? What are some possible reasons that he was chosen?
• In your country or culture:
• Is obesity a concern for many people? Does the government make balanced nutrition a priority?
• Is meat a big part of your local cuisine? What kinds of meat are most common?
• Are celebrities (from the US or other countries) often used to promote certain campaigns? Give an example. Do you think this strategy is effective? Explain.
• Are there any dishes that signal social status, like eating pork in China?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

         

Beyond the page:

• Learn more about the WildAid organization: wildaid.org
• Check out some examples of different food guidelines in countries around the world: Food-based Dietary Guidelines

        

Also in the news:

• In the United States, celebrity endorsements of unhealthy food have made headlines recently. Take a look at this article: This Is How Much Celebrities Get Paid To Endorse Soda And Unhealthy Food

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Students at an Iowa university learn about sustainable agriculture

Topic:

        

This article is about a student-run farm in Iowa.

       

      

Before reading:

         

General Knowledge:

• Look at a map of the US. Can you find the state of Iowa?
• What kinds of tools are used for gardening? What tasks are each of the tools used for?
• What is "sustainable agriculture"?

         

Speculate:

• What might be the effects of giving students the opportunity to learn by working in a garden?    

       

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 655

A Student-Run Farm Cultivates Passion For Sustainable Agriculture

       

After reading:

      

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What might these students be learning through hands-on work in the garden that they wouldn't learn in a classroom only?
• Not all of the students who work in this garden will become farmers. Do you think that this class can benefit them even if they choose another type of career? Explain.
• Riley Madole says he'd like to continue this type of work in the future, but only a small number of other people in agronomy are also choosing sustainable farming. Why might more people prefer industrial (non-organic) farming instead?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

        

Reflect and evaluate:

• Would you have been interested in an agronomy class like the one in this article, if it had been available to you? Explain.
• Student Heidi Englehardt says that working in the garden has given her a "passion" for physical work. What experience have you had with physical work? Do you enjoy it? Why or why not?
• Do you have a garden? What do you grow? If you don't have a garden now, what would you like to grow if you had one?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Beyond the page:

• Want to know more about sustainable agriculture? This page has a lot of information: What is sustainable agriculture?
• Take a look at this infographic on agriculture: The Global State of Agriculture

    
**Make sure to check the Lively Exchanges page again tomorrow for a special announcement!**
       

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Is McDonald's to blame for rising obesity rates in Israel?

Israel's government has targeted McDonald's in its efforts to promote healthier eating.  Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 672
       
Israel's Health Minister To McDonald's: 'Not In Our Country'            

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Israel on a map?
• What comes to mind when you think about McDonald's? What kind of reputation does McDonald's have?

       

Speculate:

• Israel's health minister has criticized the nutritional value of food at McDonald's. How do you think McDonald's responded?
• This article explains how Israel's government defines "fast food". What do you think are the characteristics of this type of food? How would you define this term?

           

              

After reading:

         

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Do you think it is fair for the government to target one specific company (rather than all fast food companies, for example) in their efforts to promote healthy eating?
• The article says that Israel's health ministry defines "fast food" as "food that is eaten in 7-10 minutes without fork and knife, needs little chewing, and makes the eater feel satiated only after 20 minutes, pushing the eater to consume more". What do you think about this definition? Would you make any changes?
• The article lists several ideas for promoting healthy eating, suggested by Israel's Regulatory Committee to Advance Healthy Food. Choose the 2 ideas that you think are most important, then chose the 2 that you think are least important. Explain your choices. Would you like to implement any of these strategies where you live?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• Is obesity a problem where you live? How does the government promote healthy eating habits?
• Is it fair to blame fast food restaurants for rising obesity rates? How might the government, the education system, or the economy also affect obesity? Should other businesses, like snack food manufacturers, share the blame?
• How do you think McDonald's compares to other fast food restaurants where you live? Is it healthier, less healthy or about the same?
• In your opinion, how healthy are your own eating habits? Do you enjoy eating fast food?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

          

Beyond the page:

• Find out more about the Mediterranean diet, which is common in Israel. Have you ever tried this type of cuisine?
• Take a look at some interesting menu items from McDonald's around the world: 30 Bizarre McDonald's Burgers and Drinks Around the World
• If you're up for a longer read, take a look at this article which talks about changes in fast food offerings in the United States, as well as McDonald's' efforts to change its image: Freedom From Fries

           

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to like Lively Exchanges on Facebook!

Follow-ups: new perspectives on previous posts

Today's post offers some selections for follow-up reading on two topics that have appeared recently on the blog. Did one of these topics interest you? Take a look at other perspectives on the problems or situations that have been covered in Lively Exchanges discussions.

   

Topic #1: Food waste

    

Original post: Denmark Shows the World How to Reduce Food Waste

     

Another perspective:

• How Colorado is Turning Food Waste into Electricity: "Consumers throw out a staggering amount of food every year: Knowing there's a machine to clean up their mess could relieve some guilt of throwing food away."

          

Topic #2: Refugees in Sweden

      

Original post: Refugees Make a New Life in Sweden

       

Other perspectives:

• As Sweden Absorbs Refugees, Some Warn the Welcome Won't Last: "Some 160,000 asylum seekers arrived in the country last year alone, stretching its resources."
• After Fleeing the Taliban, An Afghan Reinvents Himself in Sweden: "Hafiz says that in Sweden, he finally feels like a human being again."

       

Talk about these topics with others, or write about your reflections in a notebook. Have these new articles changed the way you think about something? How do they help you understand the topic better?

Denmark shows the world how to reduce food waste

Denmark's New Grocer Is Selling Expired Food, And It's A Hit

Click on the embedded link above to read the article and see photos on the NPR website.

This article is about how one nonprofit in Denmark is trying to reduce food waste. Word count: 680

Before reading:

General Knowledge:

·Can you find Denmark on a map?

·What is "food waste"? Why is this a problem?

·What is a "carrot or stick" approach?

Speculate:

·The supermarket discussed in this article sells food that other stores refuse to sell because of damaged packaging or because it will expire soon, yet it has become a popular place to go shopping. Why might people like it so much?

After reading:

Review and discuss:

·Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".

·Explain what Per Bjerre means when he says, "If you want to stop [the] waste of food, everybody has to be into it."

·Why is it important that a Danish princess attended WeFood's grand opening?

·What does the writer mean by saying that the Danish supermarket uses a "carrot" approach while the French government uses the "stick" approach?

·In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

Reflect and evaluate:

·The article says that food waste is a cause célèbre in Denmark, which means that food waste is a controversial issue attracting a lot of attention. How do people feel about this issue where you live? ·Are there other things that people care very much about?

·Why does food waste happen? What are the consequences of food waste?

·Consider the "carrot or stick" approach again. Can you think of examples of how both types are used where you live, perhaps in your community, school, or office? Is one always better than the other?

·Are there ways that you can reduce your own food waste? What can you do?

·Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?

·What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Beyond the page

·Search online for information about other stories about Denmark's efforts to reduce food waste.

·Are there any stores like WeFood or organizations fighting food waste where you live? Find out.

·Take a look at the website for Daily Table, the grocery store in Boston that was mentioned in the article: http://dailytable.org/.

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!

Familiar foods in foreign places

Taste of home: The enduring popularity of expat food shops - BBC News

Click on the embedded link above to read the article and see the photos on the BBC News website.

This article is about shops that sell imported food products. Word count: 1082

Before reading:

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Cologne, Germany, on a map?
• What is an 'expat'?

Speculate:

• The article says that although imported food products are in high demand, shops like this one have a lot of competition. Who do you think competes with these shops?
• Why might local people be interested in going to a shop selling imported foods?
• Customers at these shops come for more than imported products. What else might attract people to shop there?

After reading:

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• In the article Victoria Weatherall says, ""It's extraordinary the emotions that food can evoke." Do you agree with her? If so, give examples from your own experience.
• What would you miss most if you moved to a new country? In addition to food, what are some other things that people might miss when they are away from their home country?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

Reflect and evaluate:

• What kind of impact might shops like these have on local communities?
• Some local customers might visit an import shop to find a product they tried while on holiday in another country. Is there a product from another country that you really enjoy?
• What imported foods have you seen in your area? Which countries or regions seems to be popular or common?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Beyond the page

• Have you ever been to an expat food store? Find a store in your area that sells imported food- maybe you'd like to try something new! Or look online for recipes for cuisine from your favorite country. (**Readers in Tokyo: see a list of suggested expat shops below.)
• Explore The English Shop's website.

   
Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!

**Readers in Tokyo- visit one of these expat food shops:
Kankoku Hiroba (Korean): http://www.ehiroba.jp/
Eataly (Italian): http://www.eataly.co.jp/
Maya Bazaar (Indian): http://www.mayabazaar.net/
Darvish (Iranian): http://darvishshop.com/
Mundo Latino (Latin American): http://www.nambei.com/
Asia Superstore (Thai): http://www.asia-superstore.com/
National Azabu (International): http://www.national-azabu.com/
Kaldi Coffee Farm (International): http://www.kaldi.co.jp/

Coping with food shortages in Venezuela

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about how the government of Venezuela is encouraging people to grow urban gardens. Word count: 539

Before reading:

General Knowledge: 
·Can you find Venezuela on a map? What do you know about this country?

·What is an "urban garden"?

Speculate:
·Why might a government want people to grow urban gardens?
·What might be some of the challenges of growing an urban garden?

After reading:

Review and discuss:
·Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
·What are some ways that the Venezuelan government could support people who are willing to grow urban gardens?
·Imagine you are a farmer in Venezuela. Write a letter to the government explaining why they should offer you more support.
·What are the consequences of malnutrition, especially for children?

Reflect and evaluate:
·Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
·What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.
·In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?
·Have you ever worked in a farm or in a garden? If not, would you like to?
·What fruits or vegetables grow well where you live? What kind of foods are native in your area?

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!