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revisit RISK AND REWARD

What happened to Marlene? Risking opposition and gist, to figure out why peo-
anger from people ranging from the food industry to ple do what they do and
parents wanting to send cupcakes in for birthdays, help them do it better.
Marlene set out to change the food culture in her daugh- How do you manage your
ters’ schools. She rallied the principal and other parents physical wellness— eating, exer-
to create the district’s first health advisory committee. cise, rest? Describe your approach and why
Now, as Director for the Rudd Center for Food Policy you think you do what you do. Then, based on what you
and Obesity at Yale University, Dr. Schwartz’s research have read in the chapter, choose one thing you can do
and community service address how home environ- better. Describe what risk you can take and the specific
ments, school landscapes, neighborhoods, and the reward that you seek, and create a 30-day plan to give
media shape the eating attitudes and behaviors of it a try.
children. She has collaborated with the Connecticut State What risk may bring reward beyond your world? “Students
Department of Education to evaluate school nutrition and need to realize they can influence what’s sold in the
physical activity policies. She co-chaired the Connecti- dining hall or school stores,” Marlene says, emphasiz-
cut Obesity Task Force in 2010, and heads up vital ing that good nutrition is important to most people
research that has national implications for nutritional now. Consider the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack
wellness. options at dining halls, stores, and other campus food
One of the Rudd Center’s studies found that cereal services. What is the nutritional value of the food
manufacturers were marketing the cereals with the most offered? What food brands and varieties would you
sugar and least fiber to kids. Most companies have since like to see removed and added? What change would
cut cereal sugar content by about a third, which is sig- improve student health? Go to www.ruddcenter.org to
nificant. Marlene’s studies have even prodded corporate see the latest research and initiatives that Marlene’s
giant McDonald’s to increase apple and milk offerings in organization is working on. Choose a topic relevant to
Happy Meals.
your experience right now, and advocate for change in
What does this mean for you? The rewards of Marlene’s that area. Marlene encourages students to meet with
work as a parent and a nutritional expert benefit people the presidents of their institutions. As she says, “No
all over the country, and underscore the fact that you can one wants to be seen as the person who ignored the
make a difference. Think about her goal, as a psycholo- students.”

GLOBAL RI SK AND REWARD Former ballet dancer Xu Tingzhong is often referred to as the

“inventor king” of China. He doggedly pursues multiple projects
and holds over 100 patents. Although his work requires enor-
mous risk—he has never sold anything he has created, and lives
on approximately $30 (USD) per month—he takes action every
day for the potential reward of making a difference in the world.
One of his projects is an electric bicycle that converts to a small
bed, which he envisions as a way for the poor to have both trans-
portation and shelter. 36

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