The Healthy Food Movement Our Next Generation Will Thank Us For
The future is in our children. How well we water and nurture them as seeds is how whole and balanced they’ll be as adults. With more than 32 percent of American children suffering from diet related food disparities I believes it’s time to change the narrative to set a new trajectory that encourages our next generation to make healthier food choices for a brighter future. That’s why I wrote the book “Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale” to change the narrative through storytelling.
"Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale" is an explosive story of how a ten-year-old girl saves her fifth grade science class with kale. It mixes fiction with real world threats and shows that anyone at any age can cause a healthy food movement.
It was important to me that youth see themselves as a part of this healthy food movement. As a public health ambassador, food advocate and educator, I noticed great disparities in the healthy food movement that existed across the country. On one hand, movements for healthy food are growing fast, and starting to become a political force, where there are populations who have options in their consumption and they are choosing well. While on the other hand, there are communities that are hungry and malnourished – in a country that is rich in agriculture. It is this separation that impelled me to give rise to a new healthy food movement. A movement that exists for the security of our next generation and is shared through storytelling.
This movement begins with “Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale" and grows far beyond a children’s book. It’s about changing the narrative around food systems, nutrition and health for our next generation. It’s about helping our youth build a connection between their personal health, food and community. It’s a social movement that is spawned and propelled through storytelling. It is my desire that every person knows the story of “Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale" and that they may get in touch with their inner Alexandra McGreen so that they too can be the change they wish to see.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rayna Andrews is a public health ambassador, author and activist with her core work in food security. Rayna is the Founder of the Healthy Food Movement, a food literacy initiative focused on solving preventative health disparities for our next generation. She also serves as the Senior Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
Rayna’s mission in life is to use her power and influence to champion causes that empower our next generation. She envisions a world that operates in abundance and celebrates collective impact that results in healthy and intelligent communities at peace with one another for generations to come.
In her spare time, she enjoys sharing her latest book Alex McGreen and the Tale of the Mysterious Kale with young readers at area food pantries and local Boys & Girls Clubs. She also volunteers her time on several boards: Assistant Governor of Rotary International – District 6270 where Rayna is a Paul Harris Fellow. She’s also the Co-Chair of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Cancer Center Community Advisory Board. As co-chair, Rayna was named a Healthcare Hero by Biz Times Magazine and was recently named one of Wisconsin’s most influential African-American leaders by Madison 365 Magazine in 2019. In addition, her accolades include being named one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees and a United Way Philanthropic 5 recipient.
Rayna holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Urban Planning, a certification in Commercial Real Estate from Marquette University and a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
WHERE TO BUY
You will be able to purchase your copy at Ruby Jean's Juicery located off of 30th & Troost! A great way to teach your children about the importance of eating healthy!