The question behind the name
Why 1977?
1977 represents a turning point — not a claim that one year or one policy caused what came next.
What changed?
Around the mid-to-late 1970s, the way Americans ate, worked, moved, and thought about food began a period of significant change. Over the decades that followed, our food environment became increasingly complex while obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health challenges became more common.
Our position is deliberately simple.
We don't believe there was one cause — or one simple answer.
1977 is an invitation to ask a better question, learn from what changed, and use those lessons to help people today.
1977 isn't about returning to the past.
It's about learning from it. We want to examine food, nutrition, community, and everyday habits with fresh eyes while keeping the focus on practical help in the present.