Woman checks sales receipt after purchasing food in a grocery store. (Photo: goffkein.pro/Shutterstock)
LA Unified School District Posts Bizarre Video About ‘Food Neutrality’
‘Diet culture based on oppression has created false hierarchies of food’
By Katy Grimes, September 14, 2022 7:58 am
Los Angeles Unified School District allegedly promoted an odd video on social media about “food neutrality,” food choices and health, obviously marketed at children.
In the video, which is like something out of the freaky Willy Wonka movie with Johnny Depp, bizarre women claim “food choices are based on a false standard of health.”
A very large African American woman says “we are incorrectly taught from a young age that our size and therefore the foods that we eat are markers of our self-worth.”
The short video, by Blair Imani, says “diet culture based on oppression have created false hierarchies of food.”
Outraged parents said they have been told white kids shouldn’t judge poor children for eating processed foods or junk foods.
Imani’s website says she is a “writer, mental health advocate, and historian living at the intersections of Black, Queer, and Muslim identity.”
“Blair Imani (she/her) is the creator of the viral web series Smarter in Seconds. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create ‘progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.'”
Here is the video:
.@LASchools shared this “Food Neutrality” video on @lausdHRDE Insta. They tell our kids that we’ve lied to them & no one food is better for them than another food (oppressive food hierarchy). @lausdHRDE is actively working to undermine parents & hurt kids. @LAUSDSup do u know? pic.twitter.com/eWVy0jyP9Y
— LA Parent Union ❄️???? (@UTLAUncensored) September 12, 2022
The Globe has questions about the video – specifically its intent promoting the lie that no one food choice is better than another food choice (oppressive food hierarchy). The message, “eat what you want to eat” because there are no “good and bad choices,” is alarming in that there is a direct connection between what we eat and our health.
The Globe was contacted by numerous LAUSD parents with concerns about the video. We contacted the coordinator of the Human Relations, Diversity and Equity at the LAUSD, Judy Chiasson, Ph.D, to ask about the decision by the school district to promote the video. We will report back when she responds.
Here is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about food and health:
“An eating plan that helps manage your weight includes a variety of healthy foods. Add an array of colors to your plate and think of it as eating the rainbow. Dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes—even fresh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Adding frozen peppers, broccoli, or onions to stews and omelets gives them a quick and convenient boost of color and nutrients.”
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025[PDF-30.6MB], a healthy eating plan:
- Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Includes a variety of protein foods such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, nuts, and seeds.
- Is low in added sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.
- Stays within your daily calorie needs
Is Blair Imani a nutritionist? Is she a dietician?
“Her work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ+ community. As an educator, influencer, and semi-retired organizer, Blair Imani is dedicated to making the world less terrible and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.”
Why would LAUSD give this video any credence? Parents are not, and have done their own research on it. This parent claims, “The “nutritionist” they got for this video works for Mondelez International. They make oreos, chips ahoy, and sour patch kids.”
The "nutritionist" they got for this video works for Mondelez International. They make oreos, chips ahoy, and sour patch kids. https://t.co/9GcYGMKJY4
— ???????? ???????? ???????? Nezzy the Milk Roach ???????? ???????? ???????? (@PatientEyes6) September 14, 2022
In the land of nanny governments, contradictions abound. In California, lawmakers have banned and taxed smoking, banned plastic bags and polystyrene food containers, regulated the Happy Meal, mandated breaks and vacation time for babysitters, and even ordered fitted sheets in hotels for housekeepers.
In 2010, then-Assemblyman Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), sponsored a bill to ban Gatorade from schools because he said kids drink too many sugary drinks. Soda machines were banned from schools in the state. Citing the increasing problem of obesity, Santa Clara County even banned the McDonald’s Happy Meal.
In 2012, chief nanny, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ordered the downsizing of supersize sodas.
While many people agree that too much Gatorade, sodas and Happy Meals are not healthy, the nanny state went too far by banning them.
So how have we come full circle with LAUSD telling people they can eat whatever they want and suffer no shame… or health problems? Telling children that being cognizant of food choices, is “white supremacy” is mind boggling.
UPDATE: Late Wednesday afternoon we heard back from LAUSD asking us to attribute to a Los Angeles Unified spokesperson:“To our knowledge, the social media content in question did not originate from any employee at Los Angeles Unified. We support the highest nutritional standards for our students and continue to ensure all social media content promotes a safe, welcoming and affirming learning environment for all.”
The email was signed by Sharon Haber at LAUSD, with no departmental identification.
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August 18, 2022
Stick it to the man and eat what ever you want whenever you want. Balloon up to 600 pounds and die young. That’s show those racists who is boss.
Seems to me these people are taking on a lot of liability.
Now not only is there a racist behind every blade of grass, every blade of grass is racist.
So does this mean the granola eating, carrot snacking liberals up in the San Francisco suburbs are racists? The same vegetable, granola eating liberals bring their own bags to the store and that screams racist as well! If we use the logic from the video then can we also become neutral on plastic vs paper and get rid of the 10 cent bag charge to remain neutral and lift up the oppressed.
I say Oreos and sour patch kids deserve to be recognized too!
Equity in all types of food will make California a happier, safer and a more prosperous state. To hell with the risk of diabetes and clogged arteries. (Oops oppressive thought)
Bring back the candy vending machines on all school campuses! Eat, drink and be happy for tomorrow we die.
Me thinks, Mondelez International is using reverse psychology to increase profits. Hmmm.
Well I do not know about you all; but I feel “smarter in seconds”????
LOL Cali Girl!
No kidding, this is the dumbest (and weirdest) thing I’ve ever heard. These people in the “intersectionality” and “no shame” movement have finally gone off their nut. When will it end? Soon, please!
Ha, ha I am glad you get my sarcasm????
It is just so unhinged. Where does it end ShowandTell?
Did not Michelle Obama push the food desert concept and “victory” garden concept?
I thought her point was that POC were oppressed because the corner store only sold soda, Oreos and sour patch kids??
Now it is considered to be oppressive to educate on nutrition?
Will common sense be in vogue again?
Will education and healthy living be universal and know no boundaries?
How about LAUSD just let all kids breathe freely?! That would be a healthy start!
I know! I guess when these people decide to go down the Crazy Path they just get more crazy. And now they don’t know if they’re coming or going. Sigh!
“Eat the rainbow!!!”
The woman who is “living at the intersections of Black, Queer, and Muslim identity” shouldn’t have a problem doing that, right??? (Start with the rainbow and finish with the carpet, right, Blair???)
What a freak show this state is….and this is being pushed on your kids, folks….your HIGH property taxes are funding this insanity….
In ancient cultures, being chubby or fat indicated wealth- the opposite if you were thin. Of course, this was before nutritional science. Perhaps the government’s draconian anti- science lockdowns, maskings, push for mandatory vaccines and censorship of all discussion has warped our ability to make decisions to such an extent that this video now passes for good advice.
It reminds me of Sleeper, the old Woody Allen film, when he wakes up 200 years later to find scientists have “discovered” that eating a diet of junk food was actually good for you!
“Sleeper”! That’s good, Rod. I remember laughing at it at the time, many many years ago. Today it might come off hopelessly dated and maybe the jokes would fall flat (I don’t know), but it’s almost worth another look now to see how much was accurately predicted. And to see if it’s still funny, of course.
And they complain about disparate health outcomes…
And we have to pay off these people’s college debt? No way
Watch out! Oppression is everywhere, even in that apple arugula salad your eating.
Fat, sick, stupid people are so much easier to control, so go ahead and eat all the junk you can!
Ooooh yeah, Diabetes doesn’t care about your views on racism. And telling kids that they can and should eat donuts in the morning instead of a healthier option, such as highly nutritional eggs, or granola for example (which are the same in price, and inexpensive / completely reasonable for any person’s income range) is nuts. They are saying it is racist to tell someone that they shouldn’t eat donuts because “It is all they can afford?” No. The truth is – It is ignoring the bigger problems of these giant unhealthy capitalist companies that are preying on lower income families, and you just made their day with this video. Mcdonalds and Krispy Kreme LOVE that you just gave them exactly the kind of golden ticket they need to keep selling their addictive, unhealthy food products that give people health problems, when in reality – you can absolutely eat affordable healthy foods. Try buying a dozen eggs at vons to last a week and some avocado, and yogurt. Packed with nutrition, and NO carbs or sugar whatsoever. This is very dangerous information that they are telling our kids.