© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Why NPR's Allison Aubrey Loves Telling The 'Story Of Us'

It’s no magic elixir, but locally grown food could play a role in addressing America’s obesity and Type 2 diabetes epidemics by bringing children and adults closer to where their food comes from.

That’s according to NPR food and nutrition correspondent Allison Aubrey. The award-winning journalist was the headliner at GLT’s Radio Faces event Friday in Bloomington.

Aubrey herself saw a few highlights of McLean County’s growing local food scene during her GLT visit, including trips to Epiphany Farms’ Anju Above and Bakery & Pickle and a drive past Green Top Grocery in Bloomington.

Credit Jeff Smudde / WGLT
/
WGLT
WGLT honorees at Radio Faces included Hall of Fame inductees, from left, Kathryn Carter, Don Munson, and Robert and Marilyn Sutherland, and Alumni Award recipient Brendan Banaszak. See the full list at WGLT.org/HallofFame.

“If you can reinvigorate an economy by bringing agriculture to your community and connecting people to their food sources, that’s a huge win-win,” Aubrey said.

Her remarks at Radio Faces included the screening of a 2017 story she reported for the “PBS NewsHour,” about how doctors are experimenting with a new kind of prescription—one for fresh, healthy food.

“When you’re connected to your food source and where your food is grown and you know the people growing your food, you start to see food differently,” Aubrey told GLT’s Sound Ideas. “I’m not saying the local food movement is the elixir or the solution to these epidemics, but I certainly think—and this has been shown in studies--where there are gardens in schools, kids connect with how that food is grown. They have a better understand and more curiosity about it. And they’re more likely to try it.”

Aubrey joined NPR in 1998 as a general assignment reporter and then covered the environment. These days you’ll hear her reporting on food, nutrition, and health on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

At Radio Faces, Aubrey said she’s attracted to her beat because she likes telling “the story of us” and our communal well-being. There’s more to life than stories of death and destruction.

“There’s definitely a place for telling the story of us and giving tips and advice for living life a little better or to help shine a little light on the public policies that can help us live a little better,” Aubrey said. 

Aubrey said she’s been surprised by the Trump administration’s approach to food and public health. During the campaign, she said, Trump’s rhetoric suggested he wanted government to take a hands-off approach to food policy. But his FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, has been very hands-on, she said.

“In actuality, this administration has been quite strong in following through on a lot of the work put in place by the prior administration, including Michelle Obama,” Aubrey said. 

One example: The FDA implemented an Obama-era rule that requires chain restaurants and other food establishments to post calories on menus or menu boards. 

“(Gottlieb has) had some of the strongest statements I’ve ever seen about the importance of transparency and giving people useful information to stem the tide of the obesity and Type 2 diabetes epidemic. They’ve been shockingly, surprisingly on the side of public health,” she said.

COUNTRY Financial was the lead sponsor for GLT's Radio Faces. See a full list of sponsors.

allisonlong.mp3
Full segment from GLT.

WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.

Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
Related Content