Hard for me to believe that some people do not know how to cook, like from scratch. By scratch, I mean with a raw onion, carrot, or whatever. I guess I am lucky and did not even know it. My mother knows how to cook, both of my grandmothers cooked, I am now lead to believe that this is unusual. I am so glad that I am unusual. It actually makes me 
to know that.
Jamie Oliver, The Naked Chef, was recently on TED.com, with a speech to the American public about the dismal state of the health of the United States and beyond. He is the winner of the 2010 TED prize, congratulations Jamie! The British have been making a very noticeable effort to get people back into the kitchen and taking control of the food that we eat. Empower the people. We are one of the most unhealthy nations in the world and stealing Jamie’s words “we are giving our children a shorter lifespan then us because of the landscape of food we have built around them.” Diet related disease is the biggest killer in the US today. The sad thing is that it is controllable.
I have been indoctrinating my kids from birth about the virtues of real foods and, in the words of Cookie Monster (circa 2000 something), cookies and fast food are “sometimes food.” Thank you Sesame Street for having my back! I am overcome with good feelings everyday when I see people like the First Lady, Michelle Obama, the Let’s Move campaign, Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, Slow Food’s Time for Lunch and countless others who are out fighting for what our children eat. Has anyone taken the time to look at a school lunch tray in the past decade or two? We all have memories or nightmares of hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes with green beans and canned peaches. And, get this, we only had chocolate milk once a week. The horror!
Back in the dark ages, when I went to school, most of our food, however crappy it was, was actually made on sight. Yes, they used canned crap as part of the ingredients, but at least it wasn’t ALL bought pre-fried and frozen. The food back then was not something to be proud of, but the sh*t they serve today is horrendous, laden with excess fat, mostly simple carbs and not one ounce of love went into that food like substance. Even the PBJ sandwiches are on the cheapest bread with loads of sugars and unnecessary and usually hydrogenated fats. Then to make it more nutritious they serve it with yogurt made with food colorings and high-fructose corn syrup. Do you have any idea how many children get most of their food at school? It is a number much bigger than you can imagine, and this is what the local school officials and the government think is acceptable for growing minds of children who are at school to learn. How can you learn after gorging on fake foods?
Even in the local parochial school, there is no difference, they buy hot lunch from the public school. I approached the school about providing a better service and the principal acted interested, mentioned that others were also interested, obviously not really ready to make a decision for the better health of the kids. Sad really. I was willing to do anything to make it work. Getting the kids involved and empowering them, even have special meals for feast days and during Lent, as it was a Catholic school I thought that would be fun and nutritious. They send home letters lecturing parents not to include high-fructose corn syrup in the kid’s lunches and not to bring fast food to school, but that was with a forked tongued as Sister would reward the kids with such items. I realize that it can be a little more expensive to provide better nutrition, but for a Nun who can afford sandals that cost more than $200 I would think that a couple dollars to spend on providing something healthy does not seem like such a stretch. I wish I realized sooner the hypocrisy of her empire.
Jamie Oliver, he is my hero. What a man he must be to set out to help those who do not want to be helped. This is one of the most inspirational speeches ever. I am heart-warmed to know that he won the 2010 TED prize, he so deserves it. I want to be sure and catch his new television show that debuts later this month.
You can make a difference, start with the people around you, your family and friends. Then move on to the community and with the community comes the school. 2/3 of the Americans are statistically obese. It is horrendous.
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Here are some easy video cooking lessons that are sure to inspire someone you know! Making food at home need not be complicated or fussy. Still afraid? Check out these links below to help you overcome your fears.
Mark Bittman quick videos on making REAL food
some excerpts:
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Seriously, could you be any more perfect?
You go mentioning scratch cooking, Ted Talks, and Jamie’s new show all in one post. I could just hug you!
p.s. I’ll probably post an entry after the first episode of his show; are you going to do the same? I’d love to hear/read your thoughts!!
That sounds like a great idea, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead. It’s a date then, except that now you are in a different time zone so you get to see it first.
I’m looking forward to your post. Hope you are enjoying your new home
I SO LOVE Jamie Oliver, so does my nephew! Our 1st stop when I took to him UK for graduation??? Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen London! Had to make reservations 6 months in advance, and was one of my best meal’s ever. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylastbite/sets/72157617748481563/
Thanks for sharing Jo! I love the photos, my problem is that I never plan that far ahead. I am planning on stopping in England this summer between Germany and Ireland, but dates not ironed out yet. It looks like you two had a great time, hope he knows how lucky he is to have an aunt like you
You are awesome! This is at my heart too, I think the best we can do for our children is provide them with “good fuel” so their brains and bodies can work.
I also believe it is not only the food, but the lack of time children are given to eat food. Lunch time is now about 20 minutes door to door and of that time children are standing in line for so long they may have 5 minutes to eat. Many children skip lunch cause it’s such an ordeal. They eat chips, cookies and candy because they are readily available and fast to eat.
Food needs to be an essential ingredient for our family’s health and well being. If it means pulling out the carrot peeler, lets do it!
You would be proud of me…since we’ve moved here, almost everything I buy to put in our bodies is grown, made, harvested locally – and we are so much better for it!
I have learned much from you…can’t wait to see all of you!
I also admire & love Jamie Oliver!! He has been a great teaching cook to all of my family! I have been learning how to make pasta from scratch of him by all of his books & series on tv.
He certainly deserves this award winning prize!! He does great things for Fifteen & for charity & for all common peaople all over the world!! He is a true crusader!
You are so right, the actual eating time is very small. It is even less if they are on kitchen duty. I think that we have forgotten what eating together is all about, it has become just for calories. Incidentally, I think that the shorter the time allowed for this ritual the more calorie laden food-like-substances are inhaled and the less important it becomes.
As for the carrot peeler, it takes seconds and kids love those jobs, besides a freshly peeled carrot tastes so much better than the bagged “baby” carrots that have been soaking in a bleach solution to keep them “fresh.”
Thanks for bring up that point, it is very important part of the whole equation.
I am so proud of you! I am glad that you now live somewhere where you can get fresh local produce year around. Having it delivered once a week is a great idea, I would venture to guess that many do not even know that service exists, or wouldn’t think to look for such a thing. You are a great role model
Sophie, he has done more for making food accessible than anyone I know. I love his way in the kitchen so flowing and not rigid recipe following, I think he takes the fear away from those who are intimidated by the whole process. I love his books and programs too! Hooray for the Naked Chef