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!

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!

Fighting a 'Forgotten' Disease

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 an outbreak in one country that has the potential to get much worse. Word count: 662

   

Before reading:

     

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Angola on a map?
• What is an 'epidemic'? Why has this topic been trending in the news lately?

      
Speculate:

• This article discusses a disease that has not yet spread through many countries. Why might people be worried about it now?

       

After reading:

     

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The article says: " The disease has been all but eradicated in wealthy countries but remains a serious threat in areas of Africa and South America where it still pops up". What is the relationship between a country's wealth and the spread of disease? Explain why poorer countries are more likely to struggle with certain diseases.
• Explain what Dr William Perea is implying when he says, "Yellow fever is a forgotten disease".
• What does Dr Perea mean when he says any disease is "just a plane ride away"?
• Why is it important to bring international attention to the situation in Angola? Try to list at least 3 reasons.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

       
Reflect and evaluate:

• Has your country experienced an epidemic in recent years? What are some diseases that you have heard about in the news, and why are people talking about them?
• What are some things that people can do to slow or stop the spread of a disease? In other words, what can people do to prevent getting sick?
• Have you ever received a vaccination? Do people often receive vaccinations in your country?
• 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

• Do some research to find out more about some of the major epidemics that have happened in the last century.

     

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