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*Make a food
pyramid and indicate the number of portions a person should eat daily of
each of the food groups.
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Find out about
food chains. Pick an animal and follow the food chain necessary for it to
survive. Or pick a plant, microorganism or insect and follow the food
chain to see what type of life it supports.
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Discuss how
chemicals, war and other human-made things affect the food chain. Now
take that chain and see how it might differ if your take out one like.
Why might we lose a link?
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*Perform two
service projects that address hunger issues. Suggested projects might
include organizing or participating in a food drive, helping cook a meal
for homeless people, donating a food basket to your local food bank or
providing at least two meals to a senior citizen in your community.
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*Imagine what
it would be like to be hungry. How would your feelings about school,
home, the environment and politics be different and why?
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Does your
school or community offer a free or reduced-priced breakfast and/or lunch
program? Why is it so important that this program be offered? How would
you feel if your used the program? How would you treat another person who
used the program? How would you feel if the program wasn't available and
you or your best friend needed it?
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What would you
do if your best friend didn't have food to eat at lunch? How would she/he
feel? What would you do? Consider your friend's feelings. How would you
feel if the situation were reversed? What would you want her or him to
do?
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Have each
member of the troop/group pick a different country. Find out what the
typical diet is for someone your age in that country. What is the median
income for families in that country? What percentage of their income is
spent on food? Ask your family what percent of your income is spent on
food and then compare.
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Make a poster
showing three people (at least one of the present and two of the past) who
have had a significant impact on nutrition or food issues. (Mother
Theresa, Caesar Chaves, Washington Carver, etc.) Explain what their
contributions were.
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*Pick a
country. How has industrialization affected the peoples' eating habits,
traditions and celebrations that are related to food? How do you think
the food habits of the United States have affected other countries?
(McDonald's everywhere, loss of rain forest in Brazil, etc.)
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*With your
troop/group put on a hunger banquet. (Juliettes may do this with friends
or family or with a sister troop). Divide your diners so that 20% sit at
a table labeled First World (US, Japan, Canada), 10% at the table labeled
Second World (former Communist nations and eastern Europe) and 70% at the
table labeled Third World (Africa, China, South America). The First World
table is served a lavish meal first, the Second World table is served a
simple meal next. Lastly, the Third World tables are served rice and
water. Discuss how each table felt about the distribution of the food.
Point out that this inequality persists in the world even with modern food
production and transportation methods.
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Offer a booth
or event and "charge" cans of food as the only attendance fee. Possible
ideas are a puppet show, craft booth or display how local food banks
collect and distribute donated goods. Think of other ideas and send then
to the director of program services at the council service center for
inclusion in the next resource guide for this patch program.
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*Complete one
of these activities:
- Put together a display about hunger.
Display it at your school or in your community where it will be seen by
lots of people.
- Visit a local food kitchen and/or food bank. Find
our how you can help.
- Make a list of all the organizations and/or groups
that deal with hunger issues in your area. Give copies to other troops,
churches and the local newspaper. Mail a copy of the list to the
director of program services at the council service center.
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