“The Kids Menu” is a feature documentary from the team that brought you “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.” As a filmmaker Joe Cross spent time traveling the world with his previous two films. He met thousands of people and one issue that came up again and again was what to do about the growing childhood obesity problem. In “The Kids Menu”, Joe meets with experts, parents, teachers and kids, coming to the realization that childhood obesity isn’t the real issue, but rather a symptom of a bigger problem. He found a lack of knowledge of what healthy foods are; lack of access to healthy and affordable options; and the influence of negative role models, whether a parent, teacher or even a celebrity.
All of this together seems to be a lot to overcome, but when empowered, kids often make the surprising choice of the healthier path.
In this inspiring and hopeful documentary, we see amazing programs in action, inspiring individuals paving the way for change, but most of all — kids, taking the lead in getting healthier options on their own menu.
Filmmakers
Joe Cross is the founder of Reboot with Joe. His personal story of transformation was chronicled in the documentary “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”, which has been seen by more than 30 million people worldwide. The incredible response to screenings of the film inspired Joe to create Reboot with Joe, making the tools, information and support available to enable anyone to reclaim and maintain their well-being. He has since released two further documentaries, “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 2” and “The Kids Menu”. Joe is a New York Times best-selling author after the success of “The Reboot with Joe Juice Diet”, and has since written 3 three further books. Follow him on twitter @JoetheJuicer, and on Instagram @JoetheJuicer and read his full story. Joe lives in Los Angeles.
Kurt Engfehr grew up next to an EPA Superfund waste site in a working class suburb of Detroit. After living and all over the country, he settled in New York City where he worked for various TV networks such as MSNBC and HBO before becoming senior editor on Michael Moore’s Emmy nominated show, THE AWFUL TRUTH. Kurt then segued from television to film by working on, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, for which he won the American Cinema Editors award for best documentary editing. The trophy is proudly displayed on the mantle above the fireplace, right next to the last award he won, a 3rd place Thanksgiving Day bowling tournament trophy from 1987. Kurt then followed that up by co-producing and editing numerous films such as the Cannes Palme d’Or winning and box-office smash, “Fahrenheit 9/11”, “Bigger, Stronger, Faster*”, “Seamless”, “Trumbo”, “A People Uncounted”, “Just Do It”, “Reject”, “Wrenched”, “Red Army” and “No Manifesto”.
Kurt also co-directed, “The Yes Men Fix The World”, which won the audience award at Berlin and aired on HBO and, “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”, a humorous doc about weight loss and self-realization that was released theatrically in 2011 and has become an online sensation, being seen by over 20 million people.
JAMIN MENDELSOHN PRODUCER
Jamin Mendelsohn has worked in documentaries for the past 11 years including 7 years at Reboot With Joe where she produced “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” and most recently “The Kids Menu”
Jamin has worked on several other feature documentaries including “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”,” Brothers Hypnotic”, (Sxsw, Hotdocs) “Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?” (Sundance) “And What Would Jesus Buy?” (SXSW); she has produced several web series and dabbled in non-fiction television as well. Prior to her career in production, Jamin worked as an account executive at communications agency MWW Group.
Jamin holds a M.S.J. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.