So did you watch the premiere? I caught up with it online and it was an absolutely fabulous show. I am so happy that something like this is on prime time TV. I was of course angry when the local radio guy tried to shame Jamie and said "we" (the town) don't want to eat lettuce. I get REALLY sick of hearing that argument. Whenever I talk about vegetarian foods or raw foods locally I get the .. I don't want lettuce line, as if that's all they can eat. Ugh.
I was also riled when the lunch lady gave him a hard time. I was flabbergasted when she looked at a list of ingredients 20 items long and refused to focus on anything but the first one. I also loved how Jamie pointed out that parents should be angry about this. He stated that he sees kids in impoverished areas of Africa eating better than American children and aren't we supposed to be the developed, wealthy country with all the advantages???
This is reality TV I can get behind, LOL. Jamie takes on the challenge of getting the kids eating fresh cooked meals in one week. The problem I saw on the first day is that they put his meals right next to meals of processed junk and let the kids decide what they wanted. Often they chose the processed stuff and the kids that did choose the healthier foods threw away much of it. They threw away apples for heaven's sake!! The lunch ladies gave him one of heck of a time to. They seemed to relish his failure and like it when kids chose to eat the bad foods. Seriously? It made me really angry that the head cook was elated to see kids choose junk. The same lady also called him a liar on several occasions. She made an ass of herself on national TV that's for sure. In the first episode my respect for Jamie grew by leaps and bounds and I was spitting mad as the school for being so dense. I would wager that same attitude is abundant in my own area too.
But it had many hilarious moments to, such as when Jamie went into a classroom dressed as a pea and none of the kids knew what he was!! And it has sad moments, such as when delicious looking food was tossed by the kids. It was just shocking, my kids would have devoured all of it. Throw away pasta or a salad??? Not in this house! It was also very sad when the parents of a child who went to that school during his elementary years find out that their son is pre-diabetic.
Mostly this show made me hungry though.. whatever it was that he and that teen boy made… I want it, minus the meat of course. It looked GOOD!!
Its an awesome show so far and I hope it sticks around because programming this good is rare.
Be sure to check out Jamie Oliver's food revolution book and Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook.
Did you see it? What did you think?
It’s ridiculous to give the children a choice. They’re children. They would eat twinkies for dinner if it was a choice, especially if that is what they were raised on. They need to be given a choice between two healthy foods. And this change needs to happen at home and at school. It’s really hard to make changes in your diet if you have been eating processed unhealthy foods for many years. It’s hard for an adult who knows better. You can’t expect a child to do it on their own.
I saw the first episode online and am about to watch the second, and I will DVR the rest. It’s good. It made me want to cry or throw up or both to see how far we’ve fallen from the “real food” tree.
AND I think I visibly cringed every time I saw a kid throw a plastic milk container in the trash. I wish they would recycle!
LOVED it. I totally have a crush on Jamie Oliver now, despite not finding him at all attractive. It’s the only prime time show I’m watching these days. Well, except for Bones. Because David Boreanaz really is hot.
Anyway, yeah. I truly hope that lunch lady will see how much of an asshat she’s making of herself. I know a lot of people like that and they’re SO frustrating!
Oh we are THRILLED over this show, set it up on the Tivo!
I was so sad and ANGRY that these children are being punished because the “trusted” adults (and parents) would rather save a few bucks and cause a lifetime of health issue for thousands of kids instead of giving them fresh, healthy, and hopefully local food.
I thought it was a great show and I wish he would come to my daughter’s school. I agree…you don’t give kids a choice. That is the only way they will learn to love good for you food. I also agree with the comment about the recycling. Although my daughter’s school does some recycling, it is not enough. I wish everyone would watch this show! One of these days people will realize that some things may take more time and cost a little more money, but they are important enough that it shouldn’t matter!
I thought the program was great. I am so glad that we are seeing a “revolution” in our own country. A couple of things that I wanted to comment on. Who gives a small child a whole apple to eat for lunch? Slice it at least!! Second, I do want to give the school and cafeteria personel credit for being willing to try something different. They could have said “no way.” The part about not giving the children utensils (except spoons) just blew me away. Finger foods only? When the principal started going around and helping the kids use their knives and forks I was hoping that would give some other people the idea to get out with the kids and work with them.
A lot of it had me stunned, and made me sad, and also smile. You have to wonder about all those parents who got riled up at the end – will they actually do anything about it? Will that passion to change things stick around long enough to follow through?
But what really HURT while watching the show was to see all the waste that ended up in a plastic bag that ends up in a dump. The amount that could be recycled and/or composted and kept out of a landfill was staggering.
I joined Jamie Oliver on Facebook last year, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating this “movement” taking root in our country. My daughter started public school this year (kindergarten), and while I almost always pack her lunch, on those few occasions when she does buy — she MUST choose milk, or pay extra to have water. WHAT??
Parents shoulder a lot of responsibility to teach their children about healthy eating & how to make the right choices, but I am astounded at the affect politics (lobbying & subsidies) has on what food choices our children actually have in our schools. I could go on & on, but anyone who wants to change the foods offered in public schools has an uphill battle that goes way beyond the cafeteria. That said — it is definitely a battle worth fighting.
I LOVED it! I was astonished those kids didn’t know their veggies though! I think the parents need to take responsibility for that ~ as well as the school. When we go to the grocery store we walk through the produce aisle and talk about each of the fruits and veggies ~ my 3 year old can name all those veggies ~ and probably give you a recipe they go in. lol. I guess it comes down to your family values ~ our family values eating healthy home made meals. If you’ve been giving your family nothing but processed junk I guess there would be limited time/opportunities to learn about fresh produce.
I hope this really catches on. It can only benefit our kids!
I totally agree! Even though I personally would be WAY more pushy than Jamie, I think this show will appeal to the more general population in this country. My food journey started about 10 years ago and of course, some of these people are just starting theirs so I don’t want to judge them for what they don’t know yet. I applaud Jamie for taking this on (I have loved him since he had his Naked Chef show on the Food Network). I am motivated to contact my children’s school (even though I pack them lunches because I won’t let them eat there). But rather than sit by, disgusted, and wondering what to do, I think I am ready to take a more proactive approach.
As for the kids throwing all that food away? Appalling! I would make them go back to the table. I am not a member of the clean your plate club but in our house there is a rule when it comes to new foods: courtesy bite for the cook who took the time to prepare it, and courtesy bite for the food because it’s always good to try something new. Usually that does it and my budding foodies will eat it all up.
The negativity of some of the townspeople shocked and angered me and I kept talking to the screen saying “can’t you see he’s trying to help you!!??”
I could go on and on, but I won’t. ;) I look forward to the next episode and plan to watch it with not only DH, but the kids too (who saw it after I previewed it and were also appalled at what these families ate when they saw the 1st show!).
I was shocked when those first graders couldn’t identify basic veggies like a tomato or potato – that is a sad, sad diet.
“It made me really angry that the head cook was elated to see kids choose junk. The same lady also called him a liar on several occasions. She made an ass of herself on national TV that’s for sure. In the first episode my respect for Jamie grew by leaps and bounds and I was spitting mad as the school for being so dense. ”
I couldn’t have said it better. I too, caught it online and couldn’t believe what I was seeing the first time. My jaw was to the floor. I couldn’t believe how they were behaving. It also made me feel good that my kids haven’t had a chicken nugget in 3 years! I think it is great. Although I homeschool so I have more choice over what they eat, I still think the food choices and the regulations are WAY out of whack here. The stuff the FDA lets slide so their pocket gets fat, riles me to no end.
Programming this good is rare. So true! I’ve actually added Jamie Oliver’s Food revolution to my tv watching list. It’s now the second thing I watch every week next to Grey’s Anatomy.
I loved the show I really hope it stays around, my three year old really enjoyed it as well, her favorite parts the cooking and the vegetable name game he did with the kids she was so proud she new every veggie he picked up.
I love the show. I have to say I was beyond shocked to find out that kids in that school are never given butter knives and forks (episode 2). My 2 year old knows how to cut his eggs with a butter knife.
I think this kind of programming is great.
I agree w/ “waiting Lisa” post of 31 March. Don’t give the children a choice. Change the menu daily. And for God’s sake (as seen on Apr 02 pt.3), stop considering fries a vegetable. It was a very surreal moment when the lady (can’t remember her name) told Jamie that the burger on a bun-with an OPTIONAL SALAD was OK becuase the fries counted as a veggie. How are you going to go forward. I know that this lady was just making sure that she’d get the funding from the government, BUT she actually told this with a straight face!!? When county administrators and school officials tow the party line, your chances of making any progress is gonna be limited- it’s not just the kids, the problem starts at the top! Until you get rid of this cancer (the administrators and officials that with a straight face will tell you that a french fry counts as a veggie), you’ll not make any progress. They either have no common sense or are getting a kickback someway/some how to be pushing this crap food on the kids.
I love this show. I’m sad that it’s almost over. I hope he goes more places. He should go to my husband’s school! :)