Changing Trends Can Save Money And Lives!

We’ve all heard the reports that obesity has been on the rise globally, especially in children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2012 more than one-third of children and adolescents in the Unites States were overweight or obese, and statistics show that there has been a steady increase over the past twenty years and they expect the number will continue to rise. Many have argued that the reason for the increase is due to the high cost of fresh food and that only cheap, processed, and unhealthy food is affordable. But the people at Green Bronx Machine believe differently.

First, they understand that the trend of increasing childhood obesity is a SOFT TREND, a trend that might happen; it is not a future fact that cannot be changed. In other words, we can react and respond to the increasing problems associated with the rising trend of obesity (such as an increase in diabetes) or we can work on changing this trend line and implement strategies to decrease the number of obese children.

Green Bronx decided to challenge the notion that marginalized communities prefer processed, fast foods. Instead, they believe both parents and kids would prefer good tasting healthy food that does not cause weight gain and poor health. They believe that the real problem is education, cost, and access. Instead of focusing on changing how parents shop for and buy food, they focus on the kids by creating an alternative that solves all of the problems outlined above.

Imagine a lush, thriving green garden in the heart of Bronx, NY—an indoor garden, that is. Imagine towers of seedlings growing into spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and other healthy foods. And imagine it all being tended to by kids. That’s what Green Bronx Machine is doing. They’re making it so people don’t have to leave their neighborhood to get fresh, healthy, affordable food.

Why start with the kids? Because when kids bring home fresh food to their families, everyone gets involved. Kids, parents, and grandparents lose weight and get healthy together. They start talking about what goes into their bodies, and the message spreads. Green Bronx Machine has learned that plant-by-plant, classroom-by-classroom, they can change a Soft Trend and at the same time change outcomes and destinies.

By having access to healthy food and growing it themselves, kids not only lose weight—they also open their eyes to a different future, one that has far more opportunity than they ever imagined. Now they are becoming teachers, doctors, business professionals … and tomorrow’s leaders. That’s exciting, especially when you realize that it all started with the idea of reversing a Soft Trend.

Can you think of other Soft Trends that could, and should be changed?

©2014 Burrus Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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DANIEL BURRUS is considered one of the world’s leading technology forecasters and innovation experts, and is the founder and CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advancements in technology driven trends to help clients understand how technological, social and business forces are converging to create enormous untapped opportunities. He is the author of six books including The New York Times best seller Flash Foresight.