Enrichment Works Nutrition Programs Win Grants Worth $23,000
Catholic Healthcare West & Network for a Healthy California Support

The gift, announced by Hospital president Michael L. Wall and Vice President Teddi Grant, will bring 28 performances of "Food For Thought" to 14 Valley elementary schools. "We're proud to be associated with (Project Director) Bonnie Bailer and the wonderful work she's doing at Northridge Hospital, " said Enrichment Works Executive Director Abraham Tetenbaum. "We salute the generous leaders at Catholic Healthcare West who are responsive to community needs and have fought this epidemic with everything they've got."

Meanwhile, a sequel to the popular musical entitled, "Food For Thought II: The Message Comes Home" will be funded in part by a $5,000 grant from the Network for a Healthy California - LA Region, a project of the County of Los Angeles Health Department. "The County Health Department has been so helpful to us," said Tetenbaum, "and we can't wait to perform the new show at their regional meeting next year."

In “Food For Thought,” MC Vendor starts out as a cocky purveyor of candy, soda and chips, but he cannot keep up in gym class. He goes to a doctor who, in a Who-inspired rock number, diagnoses “Junkfooditis.” She “operates” on the vending machine by opening him up and yanking the unhealthy snacks right out of his body. The doctor sends MC Vendor to a Registered Dietician who shows him the food pyramid and teaches him the importance of a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.

MC Vendor feels awful about selling junk to the kids he loves and resolves to re-stock and redeem himself by selling healthy snacks and drinks. He earns the money needed to buy these new items by appearing on a game show called, “The Weakest Sausage Link” and, with the help of his friends in the studio audience, correctly answers questions about nutrition. This recapitulation of the lessons taught by the Gym Teacher, Doctor, and Dietician has him singing – or rapping – a healthy new tune at the end of the show. And the children sing along.

Over 700 performances have demonstrated that children identify with MC Vendor and go along for the emotional ride. By the end of “Food For Thought” they cheer the notion of eating “five servings of fruits and vegetables every day” more loudly than they did the candy and soda being hawked at the start of the play. Enrichment Works actors who have returned to perform at schools a year after appearing in “Food For Thought,” have come back with stories of kids running up to them, calling them by their character’s names and singing the “Five a Day!” song.

In “Food For Thought II,” the message comes home. Armed with his new understanding of nutrition and fitness, MC Vendor journeys to his parents’ house for the holidays. He discovers that mom, a microwave, is still skipping breakfast and preparing huge, unhealthy portions of processed foods. Dad, a semi-retired remote control, is a couch potato, watching TV sports all day long and eating the wrong kinds of snacks.

While proud of their son’s success on the TV game show, Ma and Pa Vendor resist his attempts to change their habits. But once again, with the help of his student friends, MC Vendor finds a way to win.

"Food For Thought" was written and directed by Emmy winner Ian Patrick Williams with music by Norman L. Berman and lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum. Jordan Preston and Danielle Vernengo star.