TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HARLEM HEALTHY EATING. JAPANESE CHARACTER BENTO LESSONS IN UNDERPRIVILEGED NEW YORK CLASSROOM.
I began my speech by telling the Harlem schoolchildren that I brought a cute friend with me. I pulled her out of a large bag… and they awwed in recognition: “It’s Hello Kitty!”
I talked about kawaii in Japanese culture and character bentos, and gave pointers on healthy eating. The nine-year-olds were very high-energy and asked me rambling questions. Then it was time for the students to try making their own cute-faced sandwiches. They chose ingredients from the spread I had prepped the previous day. By the end of the shoot, almost everything was gone!
The children intuitively understood how to use cookie cutters, straws and other basic tools to make kawaii characters out of food. I went around the tables to help and encourage them.
Amazingly, the children ate vegetables that they’d never seen before — sprouts, green snap peas, red peppers — and said they tasted great. Their parents took away a fun, new approach to making healthy food accessible for kids. I was pleased.
Hana cheered, “Let’s make kawaii character bentos together!” — and we all raised our fists and yelled “Yayyyyy!” Ah, the wonders of Japanese TV.
You will love the episode of New York Wave, which will air next month on NHK (I’ll upload clips). Much thanks to Thomas, a teacher at the school, for his invaluable help in making the lesson possible. Arigato also to Shichi for the photos and help in dishing out the food.
For more images from the Harlem TV segment, you can watch this video slideshow. If you’re interested in cute healthy cooking for picky eaters, I have a new book out, Cute Yummy Time.
I Tweeted a link that got a lot of responses: Condom Fashion Show in China. A very creative use of the material (and my mom sent me the link!). Birth control couture: kawaii or ai-yah?
Received my Akumu Ink x La Carmina t-shirts today and AHH the prints are so eye-catching! Each tee and hoodie is hand-screened; you won’t be disappointed by the quality. (They’re available for order at www.akumuink.com — I’ll post photos of me in them soon.)
What’s next? My visit to NYC Lolita store Tokyo Rebel, my spooky Goth girl band, Bowie’s birthday party, and more undead adventures in LA!
Song of the Day #295: Matenrou Opera (摩天楼オペラ) – Murder Scope (A solid Visual Kei band with hard-rocking melodies.)
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LA CARMINA
38 Comments
I wonder why the parents would keep them from eating healthy foods. Maybe it’s that the parents are fat bags of jizzym??? xD
Also, the whole… outfits made of condoms…I WANT ONE!! D:
Btw, I ordered one of the T-shirts already. I’m waiting for it to come in the mail. I can’t wait ;D
Hm, I think it’s a combination of social environment and lack of time/funds… but hopefully the class gave ideas for preparing healthy, easy school lunches — that the children will happily eat!
Oooh, can’t wait to see the shirt on you!! xoxo
Outfits of condoms…that’s something I never thought I’d see. lol
heh on this blog, you’ll find anything!! ;)
Looks like the best sandwiches ever! So much fun!
I can’t wait to see how the documentary turns out! There was so much energy in the room, it was invigorating!
Sounds and looks like it was so much fun!
love you hat!!
oo yummy!
I wonder why the parents would keep them from eating healthy foods. Maybe it's that the parents are fat bags of jizzym??? xD
Also, the whole… outfits made of condoms…I WANT ONE!! D:
Btw, I ordered one of the T-shirts already. I'm waiting for it to come in the mail. I can't wait ;D
Outfits of condoms…that's something I never thought I'd see. lol
Looks like the best sandwiches ever! So much fun!
Hm, I think it's a combination of social environment and lack of time/funds… but hopefully the class gave ideas for preparing healthy, easy school lunches — that the children will happily eat!
Oooh, can't wait to see the shirt on you!! xoxo
I can't wait to see how the documentary turns out! There was so much energy in the room, it was invigorating!
heh on this blog, you'll find anything!! ;)
Sounds and looks like it was so much fun!
love you hat!!
oo yummy!
This is so cute ^_^
This is so cute ^_^
patiently waiting for my Akumu/LA Carmina Ink!
V Nice:)
patiently waiting for my Akumu/LA Carmina Ink!
V Nice:)
mmm this food is makibg me hungry!
mmm this food is makibg me hungry!
Oooh. Looks like everyone had so much fun. Vegetable-appreciation class. Hehehe.
Oooh. Looks like everyone had so much fun. Vegetable-appreciation class. Hehehe.
That’s so great that you could do that.
I just got the DVD in the mail… will share with you ASAP!
That's so great that you could do that.
I just got the DVD in the mail… will share with you ASAP!
OHH CUTE. from phoenix wright!!!!!!! hehe that’s really clever!! xDD
ahhh such a wonderful thing you did!!! looks like all those lil kids had a really good time!
Thank you!! I had a lovely time. Have you seen the NHK bento documentary yet? It’s on my YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/lacarmina
I did see it! I thought it was wonderful!!!
OHH CUTE. from phoenix wright!!!!!!! hehe that's really clever!! xDD
ahhh such a wonderful thing you did!!! looks like all those lil kids had a really good time!
Thank you!! I had a lovely time. Have you seen the NHK bento documentary yet? It's on my YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/lacarmina
I did see it! I thought it was wonderful!!!