Amy Kalafa and Susan Rubin are two angry moms on a mission:  To get school districts to serve fresh, healthy foods rather than the neon green slushies, greasy fries, supersized cookies, and other junk food that have become the norm in school cafeterias across the nation.  In a phone interview, Kalafa, a documentary filmmaker, said she has long wanted to make a film about the politics of food.  With reports of skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and diabetes garnering national attention, Kalafa decided the time was right.  “I kept hearing it’s the parents fault, it’s the parents fault,” Kalafa said.  Rather than pointing fingers at the parents, Kalafa felt people needed to turn their attention to “the toxic food environment in our schools.”

Kalafa teamed up with Rubin, a dentist-turned-nutritionist who had spent the past ten years unsuccessfully lobbying her local school district to serve healthy food.   Together they made “Two Angry Moms,” a documentary that both exposes the unhealthy food that comprises most school lunch programs and demonstrates strategies for getting whole foods into school cafeterias. 

The biggest obstacle Kalafa and Rubin faced in making the film was getting access to the schools.  “There was this fear I’d be pointing fingers, blaming the system,” Kalafa said.  “Once people met me, they realized I wasn’t trying to vilify anyone.”  On the contrary, Kalafa said their intent is to make parents and administrators aware that there is a problem and provide them with education and support in finding a solution.  She said most people don’t even realize it’s possible to get fresh foods from local farmers.  “Let’s face it, we’re a fast-food generation,” Kalafa said.  “People don’t think about their food supply,” nor give any thought to it being shipped from 3,000 miles away.   “Our goal is to show what wonderful alternatives we do have.”

Kalafa is confident that once parents “get it,” they’ll do something about it.  “The film is the beginning of the conversation,” she said.  “We really hope audiences will realize it’s up to them to get involved.”

“Two Angry Moms” features a school district in Westchester County, New York, that with Rubin’s help made the transition from processed items to fresh, wholesome foods.  The district hired an outside chef who created menus using local fruits and vegetables, then trained the food service staff in meal preparation.

It is Kalafa’s hope that the film will spawn a grassroots movement and more school districts will follow the Westchester County example.  “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts this generation of children will be the first to live shorter lives than their parents,” Kalafa said.  “I hope (this film) will be the first step in reversing that tide so we don’t leave that legacy for our children.”

Kalafa and  Rubin are taking their film on the road with a screening and speaking tour.  They’re showing the film in communities and having conversations with audience members after the film to help determine the next step.   For more information or to sign up to host a screening , go to www.angrymoms.org . 

Reviewed by Shawna Galassi

NEW INFO:
The Panelists will include (in the evening screening in SLO):

Kathleen deChadenedes, Director of SLOW Food of San Luis Obispo,
Anne McDermott, Director of the Center of Obesity Prevention and Education (CalPoly)
Eric Michaelsson from Clark Valley Organic Farm (Los Osos)
Melanie Blankenship, owner of Nature's Touch in Templeton
Adam Hill, Professor at CalPoly (running for Board of Supervisor)
Cathe Olson, Local freelance writer about food