The Fine Print.
Rant ahead. Consider yourself warned.
So I mentioned that I would be posting about "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution", a new show that premiered a couple days ago. When I saw the previews for the show, I knew I would enjoy it, but I also knew it would probably frustrate me, and indeed it did.
I have given myself a couple days to try to compose my opinions into a meaningful and thoughtful post, rather than just running on at the mouth about a personal pet peeve in a way that might offend someone. I cannot guarantee that I will be successful in that endeavor. I will acknowledge also that some of my strong feelings may have been a result of having learned minutes before watching the show of the passing of the health care bill.
The premise.
"I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It's time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!" -Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver (a chef) is taking an initiative to revolutionize the way that people think about food and therefore, change what we eat in an effort to take on our nation's epidemic of obesity and disease. Jamie's efforts begin in Huntington, WV, which has the title of the unhealthiest city in the nation. Much of the first show was dedicated to detailing the challenge Jamie had at hand when it came to addressing the school lunch program in the school district.
I was appalled at the food that was on the menu set out by the district in accordance with the USDA's guidelines. Not necessarily surprised, but definitely appalled. These children are eating two meals a day at the school and so little of it had any real nutritional value whatsoever. Pizza for breakfast and chicken nuggets for lunch. I found myself wondering (in anger) if a nutritionist got any say in what food is given to these kids. The importance of adherence to the guidelines was quite evident, yet there didn't seem to be an understanding of the spirit behind the guidelines. The food on the school menu was packaged, processed, preserved...lacking in nutrient content. And the excuse/explanation was that it was quick to prepare and the children eat it. (Ex: flavored milk vs. lowfat plain milk, sugary fruit cocktail vs. raw fruit, white grains vs. whole grains, fried vs. roasted)
If it doesn't grow in the ground or have a mother, don't eat it.
As Jamie sets out to change the meals offered, the school cooks were adamant that the children wouldn't eat fresh, healthy options. At this point my blood was boiling. SO WE AREN'T GOING TO FEED OUR CHILDREN REAL FOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE IT?!! SERIOUSLY? First of all, they don't want to eat it because their taste buds are so bombarded by salt and sugar every time they eat that fresh food tastes bland and boring. If they didn't eat those things on a regular basis, they would be able to better appreciate the flavors of fresh, real food that was grown in the ground rather than made with a machine. You have to teach them what to eat. Don't make all the junk an option, because of course that will be what they choose if they have the choice. But if the options are fresh, wholesome and nutritious, and that is the ONLY choice they have, they will eat it if they are hungry!
Give the children some responsibility. Teach them about why those choices are better. Explain how their bodies use that food and why it is important to feed your body the fuel that it needs to operate properly. Explain why whole grain offers your body what it needs while all the "white" options have been stripped of everything that might be useful to the body. Give your kids some credit, they can start making good choices for themselves no matter what the age. I'm not saying they shouldn't have choices. But the choice can be: broccoli or carrots? chicken or turkey?
Eat less, move more.
I think we need to raise the awareness of the impact of our food on our bodies. I don't know if we take for granted that people will just know this stuff, or if people do know and just choose to ignore it, but whatever the issue, we need to take responsibility for our health. So many of the diseases that we are suffering from and dying from are a direct result of the food we eat. Let's start to battle health care costs by first taking responsibility for the things we have control over. Eat nutritious food. Move your body.
Heart disease with a side of diabetes, please.
I've been learning more and more about the preservatives, chemicals,
hormones, additives, etc. that we've made a part of our daily diet and
how they change the way our bodies work, resulting in a multitude of
metabolic implications. I've been shocked to learn how greatly all these
items contribute to many health problems beyond the usual ones we're
all aware of. I wish I had educated myself about these things sooner.
And I would be less than forthcoming if I didn't admit that at times
I've wondered to myself if these things had any hand in my mom's cancer,
or Sadie's tumor, or a host of other things. I don't waste my energy
dwelling on those things, but they have crossed my mind.
I was talking with my grandma on the phone today and she was asking me if I'm still eating organic food. She told me that when she was young and living in New Mexico, the food that they farmed didn't have anything sprayed on it or added to it. We don't live that way anymore. If you want to eat that way nowadays, you have to make a conscious effort. I wish that weren't so.
90/10
Now I like the tasty but nutritionally useless items as much as the next person, but I'm doing my best to teach my children by example that those choices should be treats, things we eat once in a while, not as staples. I in no way want to make my kids think that they "aren't allowed" to eat sweets or white bread or chocolate milk, I just want them to make enough good choices that the occasional bad choice will have minimal impact (90%healthy, 10%treat). We try to make many of our treats from scratch so that we can make them out of healthier ingredients and we know exactly what is in them. I eat the whole grain options on a daily basis so that I can occasionally have a cajun turkey sandwich (which is served on a white roll) at Roosters or club mex on challah at Einsteins. :)
Children need to be educated on how to make healthy food choices. Adults need to be educated for that matter. When you know better, you do better. Or at least that is what I choose to believe and I know that it is certainly true in my own life.
Thank you, Jamie.
I guess I should probably end it here because I could go on and on, and besides, I just remembered how irritated I am that physical education is being removed from schools. That could be an entire rant in itself. So I'll wrap it up here, despite the fact that I know I'm forgetting half of what I had bottled up. I invite your feedback. I'm certainly not a nutrition expert. Just a girl with a lot of opinions. I am thankful for shows like this that challenge us to do better, raise our awareness, and hopefully educate us.
