Food for thought presents ‘Fed Up’

Apart from two giant M&Ms that say “FU” on the documentary poster for “Fed Up,” a quote declares congress considers pizza a vegetable.

The Moscow Food Co-op will present the September documentary selection “Fed Up” for its Food for Thought Film Series. The film will show at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center in downtown Moscow, and those who donate a fresh food item to Backyard Harvest, an organization that connects local produce with low-income families, can attend for free.

Producers Laurie David, who also produced “An Inconvenient Truth,” and Katie Couric share a dark truth about the food people eat and the lifetime of social and physical effects that are linked with it in the film.

Misty Amarena, the outreach and education coordinator for the Co-op, said it is especially important for college students to start learning about the food they eat. College students are beginning to become aware of their eating pattern and habits, but it’s never too late to start eating healthy, she said.

Amarena said she is especially passionate about this issue because she has her own personal experience with the matter.  She had siblings who ate in a school cafeteria where most packaged and unhealthy lunch options are served.

The film is good at “exposing nutrition and dietary myths,” Amarena said.

Zoology junior Sierra Harden said on a college campus, staying active and eating healthy is very hard.

“Because we are always active and eating healthy helps you with your school work, if you’re eating bad food it’s not going to be easy to be active,” Harden said.  

Amarena said the reason why the film was chosen to be presented in-between the two universities is so that there are opportunities for college students to get involved in food-related issues.

The film identifies the physical aspects of eating packaged food every day, such as personal interviews with children suffering from childhood obesity. In many obesity cases, it starts with young children who eat in the cafeteria and don’t understand what they are eating.

Many college students find it hard to shop for groceries on a budget and still maintain a healthy diet, Amarena said. She said buying groceries in bulk is cheaper, lasts longer and is very healthy. At the Co-op being a member has its advantages, including discounts on seasonal produce, such as 10 percent off.

 “Fed Up” provides an inside view into a world many college students don’t understand well, and presents students with the opportunity to get involved with their community.

Backyard Harvest and Vandal Nutrition in Moscow are two ways to get involved helping fight food injustice.

Jessica Bearman, Backyard Harvest coordinator said Backyard Harvest believes that everyone deserves to have access to healthy food.

“Backyard Harvest’s role is to connect people who have enough to share with folks who aren’t able to grow or purchase their own fruits or vegetables,” she said.

The price of admission to see the film is an item of local produce, or $6 for general admission, and $4 for Co-op owners and university students.