I have food issues and always have. Meal time in the Fox household wasn’t ever a delight, and more often than not instigated a family fight. My father didn’t like what my mother prepared; my mom wasn’t crazy about cooking for people who showed no enthusiasm; and my sister and I squabbled as siblings do. It wasn’t long before dinner time with the Fox family devolved into a dysfunctional free-for-all that left me to my own devices. 

As a result, I grew up not understanding which eating habits were good or bad, and didn’t really grasp right from wrong when making selections at the grocery store—a chore I endured simply because I had to. Being an adult also meant feeding myself and cooking for one, without knowing (or caring) what I put into my body. 

I’ve learned a lot since those days, much of which I’ve gleaned via osmosis, because we’re fortunate enough to live amongst honest-to-goodness farmers and folks who grow real, healthy good-for-us food.

Enter Gary Siegel, co-founder of the Siegel Trust Enriching Arts and Music (STEAM) Fund which, among other worthy ventures is “dedicated to providing Arts In Education programs that delve into important topics like social-emotional learning, health, mindfulness, and nutrition for individuals of all ages—from children to teens and even adults.” 

“Take a look at our Real Food Songwriting Program,” Gary suggested in an email. “We’d love to have you join us during a presentation and have the opportunity to see the impact it’s having in our schools.” 

On June 14, 2023 STEAM launched the Real Food Songwriting Program at Livingston Manor Central School, I read, and since the launch STEAM has brought this program to Liberty Middle School and Sullivan BOCES. 

Additionally, I also learned that “STEAM Fund is thrilled to partner with A Single Bite” and that “this innovative program aims to educate students about the origins and importance of food, fostering a positive impact on their choices and habits. Through thought-provoking questions and creative songwriting activities, students will have the opportunity to explore the meaning of food, its sources and its impact on our well-being.” 

“Join us at the Sullivan West Elementary School,” Gary said, “where our teaching artists, Beth and Scott Bierko, a husband-and-wife team of award-winning singer-songwriters and arts-in-education specialists, will be presenting the concepts of real food vs. processed food and posing questions to the participating students [in order] to brainstorm ideas for writing verses to the song ‘Real Food Rules’.”

Tell me, tell me, tell me,
What does food mean to you?
Where does it come from?
What does it do?
What are your favorites?... Are they real?
Tell me, tell me, tell me,
How does food make you feel?
When you pay attention... REAL FOOD RULES!

Beth and Scott were engaging, entertaining and (IMHO) downright funny, as they led us down the path of learning about what we put into our bodies, how to recognize better habits and how to improve our lives—body, mind and spirit—a single bite at a time. 

The kids enthusiastically responded to Beth and Scott and questions and answers filled the air as they began crafting their own lyrics for the song.

Beth: “What are some plants that we eat?” 

Broccoli, potatoes and carrots were mentioned, along with tomatoes and collard greens.

“Collard greens?” said Scott. “I’ve never heard collard greens [as a response] before. That’s wonderful!”

“What about grass?” asked one wisecracking student.

“Cows eat grass and we can eat the cows, but we don’t recommend that you eat grass,” Beth said with a wink.

“Animals we eat” came up next: cows, pigs, deer, turkey and chicken. “Some people eat snakes,” the wisecracker added. 

Beth: “That’s true, some people do eat snakes!”

Once we got snails, alligators and octopus out of the way we discussed mold, why it forms and why healthy-for-us foods go bad faster than the processed variety.

“Because real food starts to decompose,” Scott said, strumming guitar chords before and after he spoke.

 “An Oreo or a Twinkie can sit on the shelf for days, weeks or months,” the duo said. “Even years,” Scott added, “without going bad. Why? Preservatives.”

Following a lively discussion, the kids got down to the business at hand: writing original lyrics for their song—and a conversation with Beth following the session was illuminating.

“The students impressed me with their openness when we engaged them in rich discussions about processed food,” she said. “I particularly liked it when we talked about the connection between emotions and food. As a songwriter, I am impressed by their ability to express ideas [like this] that are not just important to kids, but to all of us.”

If you’re bored it’s easy 
To eat more processed food
But just don’t overdo it
‘Cause you’re in a bad mood

A few weeks later, I was invited back to the school to see the finished product—a thoroughly professional-looking video that had the students wildly excited and that is now available for them to share on YouTube. 

Following the presentation, Scott had this to say: “The teachers and staff are super-engaged at Sullivan West. If you watch the video, it’s clear that there’s positive energy coming from the principal and the teachers, but also from the cafeteria and custodial staff, too. In our experience as teaching artists, we know when we walk into a building and we’re greeted with respect that it likely flows throughout the school.”

Gary concurred. “As part of our Full STEAM Ahead Healthy Habits initiative, we aim to foster a positive impact on health through music, songwriting and nutrition empowering children to make healthier choices. It’s truly heartwarming to see the excitement that the students showed during the presentation, brainstorming, recording and the reveal.” 

Well, that’s great, Gary. Now I’m hungry. 

Check out the fantastic video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpLtjmRFbyM and for more info re this and other programs, go to www.steamfund.org/.  

Fun Fact: “Food, Glorious Food” is a song from the Broadway musical “Oliver!” based on the 1838 novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens.