Lil Red Ridin Thru Da Hood

A Comprehensive Health & Nutrition
Program for Grades K–6


Lil Red performance - urban nutrition show

FoodPlay Productions is happy to present its newest production, Lil’ Red Ridin’ Thru ‘Da Hood, an upbeat live theater performance that makes learning about nutrition fun for urban youth!

Loosely following the storyline of the beloved fairy tale, the new show features Lil' Red, a young urban school child on her way to her grandmother's house, her friend Big Boy, a neighborhood pal and jokester, and her grandmother, Gran'ma Jackson, a retired teacher and awesome cook. A hip and high energy nutrition and fitness adventure ensues when Lil' Red, Big Boy, and Gran'ma set out to teach each other some valuable and memorable lessons to shape up their eating and exercise habits.

Lil Red audience Lil' Red Ridin' Thru 'Da Hood speaks to children in their language and effectively teaches and motivates them to improve their eating and exercise habits. The play’s characters inspire elementary school children and their families to think about how the food and activity choices they make today can impact their future.

The audience is invited to participate throughout the show and ultimately learns a fun hip-hop song with dance steps that help them remember messages like:
“Eatin' good in the neighborhood and makin' healthy choices like I know I should!”
[lyrics for "What's Best 4 Me!"]

Watch a Video Clip of Lil' Red!

This clip features the show's theme song, "What's Best 4 Me!"

[Having trouble seeing this video? Try these suggestions from YouTube.]

A Research-Based Approach

The playwright, Caree J. Jackson, MS, RD, LD, is a PhD candidate in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia, where she earned her MS in nutrition in 2004.

Lil' Red has had a successful run in several of Atlanta's inner city schools with evaluation results demonstrating dramatic effectiveness educating urban youth about the issues of nutrition, physical activity, and health. It has also had successful tours in the Philadelphia school district and other urban areas. Read some of the feedback from educators and students!

Lil' Red was originally sponsored by the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, The University of Georgia Department of Foods and Nutrition's Nutrition Intervention Lab, and the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.

Caree Jackson and her mother, the inspiration for Gran'Ma Jackson
Caree Jackson and her mother
(Caree's mother is the inspiration for Gran'ma Jackson,
one of the characters in the play.)


Download information about Lil' Red

Contact FoodPlay Productions for tour information and pricing
1-800-FOODPLAY (1-800-366-3752)
Or send an email


Lil Red Ridin Thru Da Hood