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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Food Revolution

So, I was gonna ask yesterday, but got distracted, did any of you see Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution on Friday night?

Normally, I don't like much reality television, but this was really good.

Oliver, as most of you probably already know, is a world-renowned chef (he has several shows on the Food Network), and in this show, he goes into this West Virginia town, which is supposedly the "unhealthiest" city in America -- the obesity rate among adults there is 50% -- and he attempts to influence how they cook and eat, and he focuses specifically on concerns centering around the town's children. I thought the parts dealing with his attempt to reform school lunches was particularly poignant. If you missed the show, you can watch the full episode on ABC's site here.

Friday night is kind of a bad TV night for a show (except for people like Jerry and I who certainly are home on a Friday night!), so I doubt it got the audience it should have, but if you think you might be interested, it airs on Friday night, on ABC, for the next 5 weeks.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw a commercial for this last week and was interested! I didn't know you could watch it online, thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Funny that you mention that. I actually just finished watching the first episode right before I read your blog today.

I thought it was particularly interesting how the cafeteria ladies were so against fresh food.

Unknown said...

nope, didn't see it. I usually try to watch Dog Wisperer on Friday nights, but it wasn't on. boooooo

Ginny M said...

I did happen to watch most of it (while switching between college BB and that show). I teach middle school, and always am appalled at the "balanced" meals the students are served. How crazy that the requirements were 2 starches (bread and rice)!

SavvyFitChica said...

I loved it! It made me so sad that the kids didn't even know what a tomato was. Sure, an eggplant I can understand, but a tomato? It was so sad. I really love that show- glad I found someone else who likes it too!

Tiffany said...

You beat me to blogging about this!

I watched the most of the show and loved it. I was upset that the teacher was embarrssed about the kids not knowing their veggies because that is the parents job. The parents should be teaching their children about veggies by serving them everynight.

I am also suprised that our schools are still serving the same crap that we ate when we were in school. We have learned so much about healthy eating since then they the schools still think that hot dogs, chocolate milk, fried foods and french fries are healthy. No wonder we are the most obese nation in the world.

Georgia Snail said...

I saw the first episode and became more and more frustrated watching the reaction of the "Lunch Lady"-sorry, I meant to say "cook"-It all boils down to them not wanting to do the extra work, IMHO. Granted cooking mass quantities for those children must be difficult, especially on a limited budget, but just for a moment, if they would step outside of themselves and see the bigger picture.....
Pizza for breakfast? I thought that was only for a hungover college kid.....

One Source Talent said...

I didn't get a chance to see the show, but I loved the previews. It seems he really breaks it down for people who don't really think about what they are eating or for the people who are providing the food. I will definitely check out next weeks episode!

RunningLaur said...

Thank yo for the link! Somehow this slipped under my radar but now I'll be able to catch up!

He did a similar show in England and it worked really well, I'd love to see it catch on here. American federal food subsidies are such a different beast than England's though, it may be much more difficult.

Health & Knowledge said...

I did not see the tv show; but the information you posted is interesting.

Just like inmytummy, how can cafeteria workers be against fresh foods when they are the best you can purchase. Thanks.

Running 365 said...

I think the show is really interesting. Obviously, schools need to be changing, but I did think he was coming down on the wrong people by hitting the cafeteria ladies first. They have to follow a ridiculous amount of (sometimes unhealthy) guidelines and rules and sometimes it's a struggle for them to just get all food cooked on time. I know in our school district, the cafeteria ladies don't have any choices at all about what they serve, expect what day they serve what. They have to work through a food supplier that the school district contracts with and follow their rules. Their hands are tied.

I'm really excited to see what happens with the show because it could be an inspiration to others, but I know a change like that here would have to be initiated through our district leaders.

On a lighter note, check out this French school menu. It will make you ridiculously jealous, for yourself and your kids, and their health.

http://www.stephmodo.com/2009/09/french-school-lunch-menu-no2.html

d.a.r. said...

I haven't seen it..but I have to wonder how much the actual lunch ladies have to say over what gets served--it seems to be a bigger picture problem, with the schools and administrators (aka, mostly budget) having more of a say. Either way, it is horrid.

But, who am I to judge. I just ate cheeto puffs for lunch. I eat so healthy 90% of the time, but I am afraid that the other 10% will be what rubs off on my future kiddos!

Anonymous said...

I missed it, but I've heard quite a few people talking about it... so the buzz is out there! I am always home on Fridays, so thanks for the heads up. I'll check it out this week!

junieb said...

for some reason my dvr shows an episode on monday at 9. and it doesnt seem to be a repeat. just fyi

great show!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I show the promos for it. I will have to watch it online since I was outta town Friday and watched zero tv while gone.

limo hire said...

I miss the show..but i thaks to you for ABC site..really thanks a lot. now i ca see the previus episodes..

Lily on the Road said...

I watched the promo for it where he was showing children various fruits and vegetables and they didn't know what they were...STUNNING to think in this day and age parents do not look after the health of their children. I suppose it is what they have been taught, so they are passing their lack of knowledge on...

very sad.

Anonymous said...

Loved it!! I couldn't believe that the kids ate the chicken nuggets that Jamie made and that they couldn't even name a vegetable. Very eye opening!

Unknown said...

I DID watch it and found it pretty interesting. I guess now there's something good to watch on those quiet Fridays at home!

Elizabeth said...

This is sort of ironic because I've been reading your blog since last summer and am just now stumbling across this post. Incidentally, I actually live in Huntington, WV and I was actually up close and personal with Jamie as he was filming the show in my high school.

I'm happy with the transformation Jamie is trying to make within the school lunches as they are extremely unhealthy and indigestible (i pack my lunch). However, since I was actually there for the entirety of the filming I must say that what you see on the TV is not nearly how it happened. For instance, my school is portrayed as getting very upset when he took away the french fries. On the contrary, no one even cared. Also, from what I've seen so far clips have been pieced together to create a story line that didn't exist. Overall, the only thing I've learned from Jamie's "Revolution" is how much reality ACTUALLY goes into reality TV.

:)

Discount coupons said...

I never seemed it but i heard that it was awesome..