Together at the Table: What's on Your Plate?

by Meredith Paterson
I wanted to write today about two OHMazing™, tenacious activists who were curious about something and set out to find answers. And they were only 11 years old.

Sadie and Safiyah, © Aubin Pictures

In the documentary What's on Your Plate?, produced and directed by Catherine Gund, Sadie and Safiyah, two friends in New York City, set out to get answers about where their food comes from and how it gets to their tables. They interview people from many different aspects of our food system. They go to grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and school cafeterias as well as to farmers' markets and farms-- all in a quest to determine how our food system works and why it has gotten to the point of our food being "trucked over 1,500 miles before we bite into it. And seeds are engineered to die out after one season in order to ensure corporate control of the food chain." (Catherine Gund)

This is a can't-miss film, an incredible opportunity to talk about food with your family and to look at the system together so that everyone can make educated choices about what they put in their mouths.

"Kids need to know the full benefits of local food: more energy-efficient production,
more prosperous farmers, healthier communities, longer lasting and better tasting
fruits and veggies. Kids need to know that their food doesn’t only come from the
supermarket or the factory, but from nearby farms, trees and the ground. Adults
need to be empowered to share this information with the next generation. . . .

These days, when I tell my kids to eat their veggies, I also have to tell them that I am
willing to fight for their opportunity to do so. This film represents a part of that
work. . . .

The film culminates with a delicious local meal cooked by the girls and
friends they have made along the way. Sadie and Safiyah formulate sophisticated
and compassionate opinions about urban sustainability, and by doing so inspire
hope and active engagement in others." (www.whatsonyourplateproject.org)

Filming at the Union Square Farmers Market
with eco-chef Bryant Terry © Aubin Pictures

The film's website has lots of resources for kids, parents, and educators including blogs, recipes, curriculum guides to go with the film and more.

A reader-submitted recipe to the website for a your What's on Your Plate? movie night.

Super Cauliflower-tastic 

Ingredients:

• 1 head of Cauliflower
• Water
• 2 Cloves of Garlic (more if, less if)
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• Salt & Black or White Pepper to taste
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes to taste

1. Trim cauliflower stalks and separate florets. In large stockpot, add cold water and 1-2 garlic cloves. Place cauliflower in large steamer basket and place into stockpot. Bring to boil, about 10 minutes.
2. When cooked, remove water and toss boiled garlic in with the cauliflower. Remove the strainer. Return pot to low heat and add olive oil. Mash all with potato masher.
3. If you don’t have a potato masher, use the back of a heavy spoon or fork.
4. Taste and add salt and experiment with the use of white or black pepper seasoning. Use crushed red pepper for garnish for to spice up the dish.
5. Serve warm - tastes great cold too!
*Adding your favorite fresh herbs bring a different taste thrill - try dill or oregano. Try a lemon squeeze over a bite-ful for a tasty zing...