If you didn’t watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution last week, you missed an entertaining hour of America at its best. Liberal, British chef meets stubborn, “you can’t make me” West Virginians. Jamie Oliver, (The Naked Chef), is in the small, Appalachian town of Huntington, WV - recently deemed the unhealthiest town in America. His first day, he is raked over the coals by the good ol’ boy radio show host at DAWG radio, then he is greeted with cynicism and flat out hostility of the elementary school cafeteria workers.
As a Southern girl, I was a bit appalled at the lack of hospitality offered to Jamie. He (at least on camera) maintained politeness in the face of outright rudeness. What is wrong with trying to make food for kids better? Healthier? How dare he! Who gave him, a Brit, the right to care about our kids’ health? The nerve!
Now, I can relate to the busy parents raising picky eaters. I raised my daughter, Carson, like many single moms – on Cheerios, Velveeta shells & cheese, and yes, chicken nuggets. She hated fruit and only liked one vegetable – green beans. I worked full-time and every day was a race to and from before and after-school care, and work. Grocery shopping, cooking, and meals were to be done as quickly as possible and preferably without tears - from me or from Carson. Somewhere around 2002, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and began reading about the dangers of all the processed foods we eat. I decided to eat more natural foods and cut out processed foods. Let me tell you, it was damn difficult to do! I love shells and cheese! Wendy’s burgers! Bugles! Their little cone shape, that crunch… Oh, sorry…
Now, let me assure you, none of my friends would call me a great cook behind my back. These days though, I buy fresh green beans, fresh salad, squash, peppers, fruit, whole grain pasta and whole wheat bread. I don't buy canned veggies other than green beans (because my daughter loves them). I don't buy boxed meals, frozen meals, or white pasta. I buy organic dairy and meats. Warning! It does take more preparation - like fifteen whole minutes more. So, it is not for the faint-hearted! When I first started this little meal plan in my house, there were outcries from the masses (that being my daughter).
The deal was, I cook and you eat. If you don’t like it, you don’t eat. Carson learned to like it. I’m not saying there weren’t tears ever, but today my 12 year old daughter requests steamed veggies and roast chicken. She knows fried foods don’t live in our house and cookies are contraband that my husband sneaks in with the potato chips. (Well, he’s Canadian so he’s used to sneaking things across the border.) Now, we’ll have burgers and fries but it’s maybe once every 4 months – not once a week or once a day!
Jamie Oliver is meeting tired, beaten down parents that want the best for their children, but don’t know what that is. They believe the marketing promises on food labels of cookies “fortified with calcium” and they trust the government to provide good food for kids in school. Maybe the USDA (who regulates the country’s school nutrition programs) should abide by my rules. If I can’t pronounce and define more than three ingredients, I don’t buy it.
I was frankly surprised at the extreme resistance Jamie Oliver met in the first episode. I know people are afraid of change, but he’s not suggesting we feed them bean sprouts and tofu! He’s suggesting we cook fresh foods for them – our children! Rather than filling them with carbs and sugar.
Off with his head! This is America! We’ll feed our kids crap ‘cause it’s our God-given right!
Open your eyes, people! You make choices for yourself and your kids everyday. It’s worth the battle to get kids into healthy foods – start young and they’ll live longer, healthier lives!
Sermon over. Please return to your regularly scheduled French fries.
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