In What’s On YOUR Plate?, seven kids and their families explore the food chain, sharing fundamental questions and vital discoveries. With honesty, humor, and creativity, they face serious issues including the lack of access to fresh food; health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and food allergies; and the national school lunch program. They celebrate time together by cooking and gathering at the table. The stories, recipes, and terrific activities in this book will inspire readers of all ages to be conscious of what they’re eating and where it comes from, and to make positive changes in their homes, schools, and communities.

The What’s On YOUR Plate? project about kids and food politics started out as a documentary film from the point of view of two curious 11-year-old girls, Sadie and Safiyah. The film was broadcast on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green and has been screened hundreds of times around the world, from Washington to Wisconsin, Glasgow to Seoul. Along the way, the girls spoke with friends, teachers, farmers, food activists, politicians, and each other; their journey inspired this book.

As Sadie and Safiyah say, “We’re talking about our neighborhood. What about yours?”



Catherine Gund is an Emmy Award–nominated filmmaker, writer, director, and organizer. What’s On YOUR Plate? is her first book. She lives in New York City with her four children.