The Local Food & Agriculture Business Blog

I do not watch TV ...so I have not seen his show. I do like Jaime Oliver and love the direction he is going in. My question....if kids are obese..WHY...who is feeding them? Where does their food come from? Who shops and prepares food for them? Parents...WE ARE RESPONSIBLE for feeding our children!!!! Why are we blaming others for kids being fat and out of shape? If everyone stopped buying all the crap there would be no market for it...If you have kids ...YOU are responsible for feeding them a healthy diet...doing the research, the planning , the shopping, the cooking...ALL OF IT!! This is what parents do. If money is an issue...and it is an issue...STOP buying soda, juice, bagged snacks, packaged things...this can go a long way. The lunches served in school are a horror show!!! GO JAIME OLIVER for trying to help clean this up!! Obviously we do need his help in doing so...

Thanks for your thoughts, Rachel! What I'm concerned about is playing the blame game. Yes, parents buy the food for their children at home. Indeed parents have a choice. But in school, what is served as food is directly determined by our legislators, lobbyists, and agriculture subsidies. There are soooo many chefs who are in charge of school food who’s hands are tied! They aren’t allowed to serve healthy food and they are exhausted and frustrated. Too, we have many farmers who wish to sell their healthy produce to schools, but cannot.  
 
Cleaning up school food is a MUST. I think that a reality TV show can bring awareness to the issue. Do we think Jamie can actually fix the problem? 
 

Jamie has worked hard in Britain to improve the school meals there and he did similar shows with great success- I thought he was very gentle with the family and their deep frier and all their meals stacked on the table told it all- and when the children were interviewed at the school - chicken nuggets were mentioned again and again 
when children are eating pizza for breakfast and their milk has to be colored- it tells so much 
- I am a retired teacher

I think you're missing the point a bit here. He's trying to bring awareness to the overwhelming problem of poor nutrition/choices in schools and homes across America. He also had a TV show in England called The Ministry of Food which was the same type of show and he points out that the same things are happening in Britain. Why slam a show that is actually trying to help people make better choices about nutrition? You don't have to like Jamie Oliver, but at least he's got a 'reality show' that has a fighting chance to make a difference and possibly educate. He's pointing out (in the show) the obstacles that make change so difficult. I think he's a positive influence on TV viewing America. ....unlike, ohhh say....The Jersey Shore. : )

As a concerned parent who sits on many committees for the past 5 years to make these changes in the school lunches. I have to say I like that Jamie Oliver is bringing it National Attention. In a culture that seems to be addicted to reality TV. It seems like a good venue to get people to finally listen and wake up and become aware. It is a serious issue. And sometimes a celebrity is what is needed to get people to listen. It is a big issue that has many road blocks on soooo many levels. People want to know how to make it work, how to eat healthier, not everyone knows how. Community effort is key. This TV show brings to a wider community, I don't see any other doing that. 

bravo for jamie,he has enough nerve to bring this all about,i wish he spend his time and money talking with our goverment,and our lobbist,,,and farmer,,maybe this is a start to an end.i do compare him to ramey at all,totally different view here,,i am praying for him,and i cry with him last night show,i wish when i was a kid my mom fed me so much better,than i do now..(it is really really hard to change your diet when your so much older and better to realize that it is hard as hell to like green food,never mind raw...lol)so as a child,,,,,,,god bless you jammie oliver,,,PS.at 50 yrs old i love my greens now,hope i've save myself....

I feel the need to comment as a Chef and parent who works in School Nutrition. I am the Executive Director of New Haven Public Schools.  
 
Parents do need to take some of the blame; but seriously, there are children in this country that rely on school meals as their ONLY nutrition of the day. On the weekends these students eat whatever is available. Children are hungry and schools meal programs feed these children. 
 
Are their problems with the types of food being served, YES. Are we sitting back watching this happen. Absolutely NOT! School meal programs are unlike any other food service program in the country. We rely heavily on subsidies, government reimbursements and USDA commodity food products to serve these meals.  
 
Do we strive to serve the best food that meets the nutritional requirements set forth by the USDA, ABSOLUTELY! Are there things we can do to improve school meals, yes there is and WE ARE. For the last several years states have been working closely with the School Nutrition Association and local advocacy groups to pass local legislation to improve the quality of the foods offered.  
 
Connecticut is one of those states. There are strict guidelines outlining what kinds beverages can be sold to children. 
 
There are also a voluntary set of guidelines outlining food that can be sold to students. Although voluntary, a good majority of school districts participate because the state offers an additional $.10 in reimbursement for every lunch sold if you volunteer to participate in this program. The $.10 adds up quick, for New Haven Public Schools that equates to roughly $300K a year in additional reimbursement. This additional reimbursement is meant to replace the income lost from selling "junk food". It does not cover all of the loss but it is a good start (There is a proposal by Gov. Rell of CT to cut this funding in half, which will be devastating to the children of CT!). The food served meets the more strict requirements set forth by the state's Child Nutrition Office. 
 
In New Haven Schools and other schools across the state we serve whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, many even from local farms (We have served almost 50,000 pounds of local fruits and vegetables this year alone) and serve hormone and antibiotic free milk.  
 
Last year NH School Food restricted all a la carte food sales in our K-8 schools. This year we eliminated mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets and breaded chicken patties from our regular menus. We serve roasted chicken on the bone, utilize red potatoes (from a local farm when available) for our mashed & roasted potatoes and limit the amount of french fries we menu. 
 
We are speaking with our food manufacturers to strive to offer less processed food at affordable prices. I am beginning a dialogue with our dairy to procure chocolate milk without HFCS. 
 
I, along with several members of the School Nutrition Association of CT and SNA members from across the country were recently in Washington, DC to meet with our Congress men and women, the USDA and the White House to discuss what we can do, moving forward to continue to improve nutrition. Michele Obama has made school nutrition her focus as First Lady; the USDA is ready to see through with change and Congress is working on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. We are not just sitting down letting the world go by; we are all banding together to see this change go through. 
 
The best thing we can do is to take baby steps. Change is difficult for people, especially children. To come in like the food police and ban everything and serve all home cooked organic meals or only vegetarian meals will not work. We have made big changes in New Haven; the Wellness cmte along with several community groups laid the groundwork in New Haven for changing the foods. When I was hired by Dr. Mayo, Superintendent of NHPS, my task was to serve more real foods, work with local farms, balance the budget, keep the staff happy (NH School Food's Staff is #1 in my book!) and see to it that change is happening. A big task, maybe, but I was just as excited about it then as I am now. 
 
Chef Jamie's tactics of not only putting the staff down but ridiculing the students is unacceptable and should not be tolerated; while I realize this is TV and not everything happens exactly how it appears and there needs to be a WOW factor, it appeared that Chef Jamie was a bit over the top. 
 
I will be the first person to stand up and say we need better meals for our children; we need to serve delicious, healthy, real food in our schools; we need to work with our community groups and local chefs to make this change.  
 
BUT what we don't need is a revolution against School Nutrition Professionals who are doing nothing wrong; according to the federal guidelines. These men and women are following the rules set forth in place by Congress and USDA under the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. 
 
Check us out on the web at:www.nhps.net/node/8  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Did we watch the same show? I never saw Jamie ridiculing students - he was extremely sensitive and quietly served the pizza for breakfast- please look at Jamie's resume - he has been heavily involved like yourself in working with governments - but in Britain - and has great results. Jamie realizes what an almost impossible task lays before him during the next month he is there - if these meals served follow government guidelines then I am sure they will be changed - because we can do way better than this - i taught in schools for thirty years and not one had a cafeteria - one school had a bagged lunch program for families who had financial hardship - these lunches were all fresh produce and  
were similar to lunches brought by other children - as teachers we spent a lot of time on proper nutrient and yogurt and carrot sticks were cool and the norm and children new about reading packaging labels - I realize this is a tv show but there was a real lack of knowledge about good nutrition by the community -and thus serious health risks 
Jamie was in tears at the end and he has a big task ahead of him - how to help and show his caring without hurting - But often truth hurts - but mixed with love and care I hope for these children he succeeds - his approach has worked in Britain - good luck to all

I couldn't disagree more. I love Gordon Ramsey, but I would call him an insufferable twit for promoting only himself and his restaurants. He's just entertainment. He has thrown a tiny bit of "where does our food come from?" into "The F-Word," but other than that, it's all Gordon, all the time. 
 
On the other hand, Jaime Oliver's "Food Revolution" show and cookbook are designed to *help*. His "Jaime at Home" not only promote healthy homecooking, but it also is a gardening book showing that it is easy to grow your own food and -- most important -- that it makes no sense *not* to. 
 
With the exception of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Jaime is showing the importance of eating and growing healthy food more than anyone else. Is there another show on TV that is discussing this? Dr. Oz doesn't cut it and The Biggest Loser *seriously* doesn't cut it.  
 
I understand that blaming parents is the popular thing to do when it comes to childhood obesity. I'm sure a sadly high number of children get their only real meal of the day from school and that does need to be addressed. But I'm sorry -- most kids are fed junk by their parents and are chronically sick, depressed, etc. My neighbor spotted me at the grocery store and laughed at our carts next to each other -- mine full of produce and healthy meats, hers full of 90% frozen food, 10% packaged baked goods. It's not funny. She should feel ashamed. If Jaime Oliver's blame motivates someone to make big changes, then good!

I don't think Jamie was being rude at all, especially when you compare him to other people in his position. If nothing else, he has brought more awareness to this problem. People are going to find something wrong with everything, but in the big picture, I think he was quite diplomatic and complied with their standards quite well. Resistance to change is a big problem, and if this television program can help some of us to shift our way of thinking...then I think it's a success.

I saw the show last night and loved it. I have no idea how you can defend the good people in the cafe who are feeding this crap to the kids. If people are working behind the scenes to change things to date they have been unsuccessful and from the shots of the people in charge, I can see why. This is a wake up call for all school programs. If this program gets one parent walking into the kitchen of their kid's school and looking at the labels on the boxes of the food that is fed to their kids and being outraged, this show is a success. 
 
 
 
I have two kids, ages 7 and 10, and I take full responsibility for their weight. If they were overweight I would be to blame. I would not blame the food industry or the school system. The parent who had a freezer full of frozen pizza is to blame for making her and her kids fat. She seemed ignorant but willing to learn. If just her family eats healthier, this show is a success. 
 
 
 
The priest made a great point by trying to raise awareness that the food that people are putting in their bodies is killing them, the same way as if they are getting killed in war. The difference is this war is preventable and winable. 
 
 
 
The fact that Jaime is going to teach people how to cook healthy meals should be commended. If he was just in it for the shock factor he or his production company would not have set up shop in this town as a resource. 
 
 
 
I think you missed the mark on this one.

WHEN did it become the "norm" that children BUY school lunch EVERY DAY??? A bought, cooked school lunch for me & my brother was an occasional "Treat" for a special day, for example, Thanksgiving hot lunch, or halloween. But every other day, our mother made our lunches--controlled what we could eat--and that's what we took to school and ate. Period. OF COURSE, no matter your age, if you fill your gut with deep fried, high calorie food EVERY DAY, you will pack on the fat. It was only a very few kids--and many of them from poor families--who got the hot lunch every day. And the poor kids because it was a subsidised meal, that was to help their families be able to feed their children AT ALL. The entire way we live, what we expect, and what we now think is "normal" is waaaay out of balance. Oliver is RIGHT. 
 
Saw him on Letterman last night, and Letterman said, "In the future we will all become 500 and 600 pound people and that will acceptable." And OLIVER replied, "ITS ALREADY ACCEPTABLE. THAT'S WHAT'S SO SCARY!" And he is right. If these kids--at the peak of their rapid metabolisms can't burn the fat, then they have to be eating like Sumo wrestlers. 
 
It is sad commentary that we treat buying a fatted, cooked special lunch every day like it is the norm. I don't even think it was every supposed to be the norm for mid-day eating for children. Sell. Sell. Sell. That's what's behind our fat (behinds!)

Jamie, anyone, who can get the word out is good. I do not have TV but watched it on HULU and I liked it. Staged, yes, but we all have to work together and he is on our side...

I too have to agree with the majority of posters above -- I admire him for taking a stand, going to the place in America where this problem is most prevalent, and offering his time and energies to help make a change. He's setting up a center to offer FREE cooking classes, he's starting in the schools where you have a captive audience and trying to teach the kids about a better way. He's looked in the community for support, and found the pastor as an ally. My god, watching the show, I had butterflies in my stomach for him as he faced the recalcitrant Alice the day after the paper printed some of his comments.  
 
Having watched his Ted talk too, I see his anger at the situation, but he does a good job of balancing it out with humor. Is it harsh some times? Of course. The way many people eat in this country is killing them. I too find that maddening and am delighted to have someone with such a high profile making waves about this issue. Go Jamie! 
 
It's a TV show, a realtiy show no less, so of course you go in expecting it to be edited in a way that increases the drama. But I know that going in. I also don't watch Fox for "fair and balanced" coverage. Ok, I don't watch Fox news at all, but you get the idea...

I applaud Jamie for this endeavor. The whole school lunch program needs to be overhauled. I saw the frustration when he tried to serve fresh food over processed. Kids are taught from toddler age what's good. No wonder all the kids would eat chicken nuggets and pizza over fresh chicken. They've been eating that for years. There are no home cooked meals anymore.Lifestyles center around convenience. If you can buy it already cooked and frozen at the store then we buy it. There are women now days that don't even know how to cook. Fry, yes, microwave, yes, but to cook a good nutritious meal, no.  
 
I know Jamie will come up against plenty of people that won't like what he's trying to do. But I hope this is a wake-up to all. We teach our kids by example. If we don't eat vegetables or fruit they won't either. As adults we need to lead the children into making healthy choices. Not taking them down the road of obesity.

Just found your website last night and want to acknowledge you for the movement of education in sustainable learning. Your time and efforts in advocating sustainable living is hugely appreciated!!! 
 
Regarding Jamie Oliver, I don't own nor watch TV, HOWEVER since most Americans do, I choose to go down stream with this reality show. Creating an alliance with 'Jamie Oliver' will be a good transitional tool in supporting us in the movement of health, awareness and consciousness. Other people have inve$ted and so it may look a different way though we can use their test marketing/results as data for sustainable living and how we communicate to who, for the BIGGER picture. 
 
Let's CREATE alliances and put to sleep the American ignorance. 

Jamie Oliver is a breath of fresh air to a stagnant nation. And if that fresh air catches you off guard it's no wonder with all the toxic laden food we are eating in our country today. He's smart to get after the parents because we all know how protective a mother can be...she just needs a bit of push to understand that her child is in danger...then look out America! Here she comes...

If enough attention comes to the VOTING public regarding serving quality, nutritional lunches in schools (especially since it may be the ONLY meal some children eat each day) then maybe we can generate enough voices to be heard by our government officials that we need them to support efforts that will improve funding for serving quality meals in the institutional setting. I don;t think that Jamies' statement at the TED awards qualifies him as an "unsufferable twit" when he said: "I wish for the TED community to create a movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and bring people together everywhere to fight obesity. "My hope is that millions more people will learn, as so many have already, that it is a happier, healthier life that is built around eating good food, together with family and friends." 
 
 
 
If this desire makes him a "twit" I will tweet right along with him.  
 

Seriously? Here's a guy who's willing to bring nation (maybe world) wide attention to this atrocity. Shame on you! If Jamie's efforts make even the slightest improvement we must applaud him. The fact that kids can't identify the most basic vegetables is unacceptable. Jamie is ringing the wake up bell for America. Unfortunately, to reach the majority, it must be done via television. Oh well--get over it and help fix this problem rather than rag on someone that's actually DOING something. BTW, I find your comment about it being "side splitting, entertaining riot" is completely false. Indeed I found it profoundly upsetting and sad.

While not quite as negatively charged up as the author of this blog post, I did have mixed feelings about the first episode of Jamie Oliver's series. So much so that I didn't make it a point to watch the rest. 
 
The fact of the matter is that what we eat is a CULTURAL issue that has many layers. I specialize in helping people unravel those layers and make the transition to what I call an Eating-for-Health Lifestyle.  
 
My first book, "If It's Not Food, Don't Eat It!", is a guide to help you do just that if you are interested. I also have lots of articles and inspirations on both my website --www.KellyHayford.com -- and my Facebook page -- Eating for Health with Kelly Hayford http://www.facebook.com/eatingforhealthwithkellyhayford 
 
Hope to see you there! 
 
P.S. I am a former junk-food junkie turned nutrition and health coach, so I am intimately aware of what it takes to successfully make and maintain dietary changes.

I've been following your comments. On a personal note, I absolutely support school food reform and wrote this post BEFORE the Food Revolution aired. I have worked with many past clients for whom this was their sole endeavor. I have signed many petitions, sat in many meetings, and made my voice heard! I believe that Jamie Oliver has accomplished many wonderful things and will continue to do so. I’m a huge fan and supporter! 
 
I continue to be concerned about social reform in the context of a “reality show” format. Will ABC allow this show to continue? Is it good enough for continued “ratings?” If there aren’t enough advertisers for the show to continue, does that mean that school food reform will stop . . . the food revolution we so desperately need will stop? In the “reality show” format, have we placed our kids – and the potential assistance they could receive from Jamie Oliver – at the mercy of fickle TV viewership?  
 
I’ve been tracking your comments for another really important reason. I essentially wrote this blog post to allow those who work tirelessly on school food reform to announce themselves – to tell you who they are – so that we can help them . . . we can celebrate their passion and their accomplishments . . . we can bring them into OUR school districts to help OUR kids.  
 
Not one of them has stood up to tell you who they are. You’ve commented from more than 10 states and 3 countries – all indicating the desire, need, and passion to help change the way we feed our children. 
 
Even the folks working behind Jamie Oliver behind the scenes in Huntington – those doing the day-to-day reform work – have read this blog and heard that call to action. They have chosen to sit back and ignore the opportunity to speak to you – to educate you – to provide their websites with valuable resources.  
 
Have they deliberately decided that they are NOT interested in helping YOU? Have they fallen victim to the shiny glitter of the “reality show” illusion . . . . “we’ll go wherever the cameras are!”?? 
 
I don’t know. I honestly don’t. 
 
I DO find their silence to be deafening, however. Their silence speaks volumes. I’m not quite sure what to make of that . . . . . 
 
Anyhoo, thanks for all of your posts and comments, by the way. Really! 
 

I agree with most of the comments above. My mom raised my sister and me as a *single mom* with very limited means and we never at the kind of garbage you see in kids' sack lunches (or hot lunches for that matter). This idea that it's the government's fault that children are fat and sick is ridiculous. As a parent, it is your duty to care for your kids' health. Jamie Oliver is a godsend. I wish he'd open training kitchens in every city in the USA. Jamie, if you ever come out to Santa Barbara, CA, stop by our sustainable integrated urban farm and try some of our fresh trout and heirloom tomatoes! We're hoping to sell fresh, local, organic produce and fish to every school in the area by 2012.