Lil' Red Ridin' Thru 'Da 'Hood: A Childhood Obesity Prevention Play
Lil' Red Ridin' Thru 'Da 'Hood is a nutrition theater play aimed at teaching African-American youth about the importance of healthy eating and exercise in order to combat the problem of childhood obesity. Using witty lines, games, cool characters, and a nutrition and fitness hip-hop song, actors aim to capture the attention of kids, while delivering important messages about healthy food consumption and physical activity. The play's main characters, Lil' Red, Big Boy, and Gran'ma Jackson, inspire kids to think about how the food and activity choices that they make today can impact their future. Students who view the play complete school-to-home activities that reinforce the messages of the play. For their participation in the program, students also receive a free CD with the nutrition hip-hop song, What's Best 4 Me!, a jump rope, and a water bottle.
Cast
- Written & produced by Caree J. Jackson
- Directed by Lauren Jones
- Set Designer - Portia Johnson
- Lil' Red - Kenyae Reese, Regina Gavin
- Big Boy - Charles Bryant
- Gran'ma Jackson - Brittani Robinson
The Story
Lil' Red is a sassy, smart neighborhood girl who loves to make good grades, have good fun, and eat good food. She is not, however, so good about getting regular exercising.
One day, when Gran'ma Jackson comes down with a sore throat, Lil' Red decides to take her a remedy to make it all better. On the way, she runs into Big Boy, the neighborhood jokester. Big Boy is big on exercise, but he's also big on eating any kind of food he can get his hands on. Needless to say, Lil' Red and Big Boy don't see eye to eye on what's best for healthy kids.
Come and join Lil' Red and Big Boy on a journey thru 'da hood. They will discover the way to live a healthy lifestyle with a little help from Gran'ma Jackson.
The University of Georgia Department of Foods and Nutrition, headed by Dr. Rebecca M. Mullis, and the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation are teaching kids that "playing" with food can be fun. The development of this innovative research project has called upon the expertise of members of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, the Department of Drama, and the UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble.
Why are programs like this important?
According to the 2000 US Surgeon General's Call to Action, the prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled in the past twenty years. Since obese children are more likely to become obese adults, many diseases resulting from to poor diets and lack of physical activity follow these children into adulthood. Research has shown that African American and Hispanic children are at a higher risk for obesity than their Caucasian counterparts. The CDC has projected that 1 in 3 US children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes. The odds are worse for African American and Hispanic Children; nearly half are likely to develop diabetes. Thus, early intervention and innovative programs, such as nutrition-theater, are critically needed in these populations to help reduce rising rates of childhood obesity.
Sponsors
- The University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- The University of Georgia Department of Foods and Nutrition-Nutrition Intervention Lab
- Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation
Testimonials
Teacher Responses to Play
"This was truly a great presentation! It would be very beneficial to include this as a health presentation throughout the school systems."
"Wonderful play! Take it all around the world!"
"During lessons, some teachers are now giving fruits as rewards instead of candy, cookies, etc."
Student Responses To Play
I liked it when Gran'ma Jackson was getting her groove on! I like everything in the show! There wasn't anything I disliked.
3rd Grade Student
The play Lil' Red Ridin' Thru 'Da Hood was the best show I've ever seen in my life. The play was a good play and I wish I could see it again!
5th grade Student
I had fun with you all. I loved the play you gave us. Everything was so cool! Thanks for coming to our school!
4th Grade Student
Dear Lil Red, Big Boy and Gran'ma Jackson, In the play I learned that eating "go light" snacks is good for your health. Also I learned to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day. I liked when Lil' Red went to Gran'ma Jackson's house and Big Boy was in there.
3rd Grade Student
Dear Lil Red, Big Boy and Gran'ma Jackson, I know I should eat right and I will. I want to live for a long time and I don't want to be sick. I am going to start by eating right and exercising. I will do that from now on and I will stop eating so much candy so I won't have a stomachache. I will also listen to your song! I liked the play. It was funny and helpful.
4th grade Student
Dear Lil Red, Big Boy and Gran'ma Jackson, I loved your play! Thanks for helping me with the food problem. Now I eat healthy things like carrots, salad, and apples. I love them! Before I couldn't stand vegetables, but now I love them. Once again thanks!
5th grade student
Conferences and Awards
- American Public Health Association Conference, Presenter, Philadelphia, PA, December 2005
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service National Nutrition Education Conference, Presenter, Washington, DC September 2005
- Society for Nutrition Education Conference, Presenter, Orlando, FL July 2005
- Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, Presenter, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 2005
- First Place Award Recipient, Student Research Paper/Presentation, National Black Graduate Student Association Conference, Charlotte, NC, March 2005
- Centers for Disease Control Health Disparities Conference, Presenter, Atlanta, GA, February 2005
- First Place Award Recipient, Student Research Presentation, Georgia Nutrition Council Conference, Athens, GA, February 2004
- National Black Graduate Student Association Conference, Presenter, Atlanta, GA, March 2000
Links
Scientific Abstract (For viewing only, oversized publication)
Nutrition Hip Hop Song: What's Best 4 Me!
Sing Along:
I said I'm eatin' good in the neighborhood and making healthy choices like I know I should!
Gotta' cut the fat so I can do my body good
So I'll keep eatin' fruits and veggies like I know I should!
I know eatin' 5 a day is the key
Hey Yo' I'm just doin' what's best 4 me!
About Caree J. Jackson, MS
"I simply hope to reciprocate the favor that leaders of the past have shown me by giving of my God given talents to help improve the lives of others."
Caree J. Jackson
Caree Jackson's research focuses on creating innovative interventions to combat the problem of obesity in the African American community. As a part of her master's thesis, Caree wrote an original script, Lil' Red Ridin Thru 'Da Hood, a nutrition theater play that conveys healthy eating and exercise messages to low-income African-American children. Ms. Jackson recently received a grant from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation to present Lil' Red Ridin Thru 'Da Hood to several Atlanta area elementary schools during fall 2005.
Caree is a native of Atlanta, GA. She graduated cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. In December of 2004, she earned a Master of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition and completed the Dietetic Internship at the University of Georgia (UGA). In addition to her studies, Caree also completed internships with Margo Wootan, DSc at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC, and with Ms. Barbara Storper, MS, RD at Foodplay Productions in Northampton, MA. She is currently pursing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Foods and Nutrition at UGA.
Ms. Jackson's dissertation research includes developing plans to teach nutrition education to adolescents by helping them to develop their own skits. Her program, Healthy 4 Life, was successfully piloted in June 2005 at Camp Summer Spree Horizons, an Athens Area summer camp for disadvantaged youth. She continued to develop the program with adolescents in Atlanta during the spring 2006 with support from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.
Caree is an enthusiastic advocate of community service. She currently serves as Physical and Mental Health Committee Co-Chair for the Atlanta Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a licensed esthetician for the American Cancer Society Look Good Feel Better Program Volunteer, Community Calendar announcer for 1470 AM WXAG The Light, and a youth mentor for her church and other civic organizations.
Ms. Jackson has received many awards for her research and community involvement. She has received first place awards for research presentations at the 2005 National Black Graduate Student Conference and the 2004 Georgia Nutrition Council Conference. During 2005, Caree also presented her work at the American Public Health Association Conference, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service National Nutrition Education Conference, the Society for Nutrition Education Conference, the Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, and the Centers for Disease Control Health Disparities Conference. Ms. Jackson is also the recipient of the Jewell L. Taylor National Fellowship, the Glenn and Helen Burton Feed the Hungry Scholarship, and the Bill and June Flatt Nutrition Excellence Award.
In her free time, Caree enjoys poetry, writing, painting, cooking, spending time with family and friends, listening to all types of music, and dancing!
Contact Us
The University of Georgia
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Department of Foods and Nutrition
Research Director: Rebecca M. Mullis, Ph.D., R.D. rmm@fcs.uga.edu
Graduate Research Assistant: Caree J. Jackson, MS jackscar@uga.edu
Dawson Hall, Room 275
Athens, GA 30602-3622
Phone: 706-542-4869; 706 583-0661
Fax: 706-542-5059; 706 542-3467
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