Finding
On our planet of 7 billion people, one billion suffer from hunger while another billion suffer from obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. This global dichotomy – where people are dying of hunger while others are literally eating themselves to death – is both ironic and alarming. It represents the world today – one that we need to redesign.
YGL Response
Table for Two addresses these two issues simultaneously. The mechanism is simple: every time you eat a healthy Table for Two meal at a participating company cafeteria or restaurant, 20 cents is donated to fund a school meal in a country suffering from hunger. As you prevent your own obesity, you are also helping to alleviate a child’s hunger. Your meal is his/her meal. You are eating a win-win meal together at a Table for Two.
Key Accomplishments
The program is fully established with over 600 partners including corporations, universities, restaurants, government offices, convenience stores and other food establishments; providing over 16 m meals served to date (enough to feed 72,000 children for an entire schooyear). The programme has expanded into 12 countries across Asia, North America and Europe since 2010. Additionally, TFT model has been applied to vending machines (through snacks and drinks), coffee, healthy cocktails, and retail products. In Japan, an iPhone application has been released which works by taking a picture of your meal the app then calculates the calories and assesses the nutritional content. 1 yen is donated per healthy meal uploaded via the application.
Events held in 2010:
2010/05/03: TABLE FOR TWO USA kick-off event at Columbia University (New York, NY)
2010/07/21: Lecture and Reception at Japan Society (New York, NY)
2010/07/22: Lecture and Book Signing at Kinokuniya (New York, NY)
2010/07/25: Speech at Japan Block Fair (New York, NY)
2010/07/27: Lecture at UN Forum (New York, NY)
2010/09/10: Informal talk and gathering with Net Impact and JET members (San Francisco, CA)
2010/09/14: Talk at San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA)
2010/09/15: Talk at University of San Francisco, hosted by Net Impact (San Francisco, CA)
2012 Accomplishments:
2012/04/01: TFT launched at UC Berkeley (at the Berkeley Student Food Collective for a one-month trial)
2012/04/02: TFT launched at UC Davis
2012/04/06: TFT launched at American University
2012/04/06: TFT launched at San Francisco State University
Next Milestones
Table for Two is expanding its impact to include cutting-edge interventions related to sustainable food security with such partners as Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the United Nations World Food Programme.
Leadership
Kumi Fujisawa and Kohei Takashima
More Information:
Table for Two website: http://www.tablefor2.org
Table for Two Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/tablefor2
1 Comment
David Aikman
Posted January 22nd
We have adopted “Table for Two” here at the World Economic Forum. The programme is appreciated because it makes you feel good about making the right, healthy choices on a daily basis. In Davos this year, two of the main buffets as well as the private lunches of the International Business Council (IBC), the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) and several Industry Governors Meetings will be “Table for Two” meals. Walk the Talk.