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Digital News Report – Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is not a diet plan but a roadmap to healthy eating and healthy living (watch the full episode #1 below). It is more than just cutting down the calories.
The television series, which starts tonight on the ABC network, will explore the eating habits of Americans. The Brit will travel to one of the least healthy cities in the United States, Huntington, West Virginia.
Oliver will visit a school and talk to the cooks. He created some friction when he complained about the instant mashed potatoes. He told the other chefs that they were not mashed potatoes as he read off the ingredients. “It tastes like starchy stuff with nuts in it”, he told the camera man.
“This is about life and death”, Oliver explains. “I am going to start with this one family; grassroots and let it grow and grow and grow, and that is how you start a revolution. Real people, real change.”
Americans need more fruits and vegetables in their diet. He visited one family and discovered that they weren’t consuming the right foods. Pizza, corndogs, French fries…. The list went on. By placing all of the food in one place at one time the family realized what they were doing to themselves.
The series will premier tonight with a special two hour event.
By: Jason Chang
Finally, somebody is discussing a real problem in the US. I hope Jamie can change one school at a time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I pray this revolution opens the eyes of the ones that need awakening the most. Our children in this great country need the advice and the leverage to help them make some changes in their eating habits. It’s truly a grab and go society, and with your help I know many will be helped, lives will be saved. I am a retired school cook of more than 30 years, and I know from experience the food could and should be healthier. The changes over the years always seem to defined by what the students would eat, and I know they mostly ate what they were use to eating at home. I visited with so many of the students over the years, and the majority of them said they just wanted to hurry out to play at lunch recess (or before school started after breakfast had been served). I know there isn’t a quick cure for all of the problems with obesity in our county, but I am so glad steps are being taken to help us all make the healthier choices. Again I thank you. Sincerely, LaDonna Uttenreuther
WHERE IS THE NEW JAMIE OLIVER SHOW???? It’s NOT on!!!
Thank you again.
im watching the permire of this show and these people want to put him down because really if people, schools ect start make health food that doesnt kill us the big companies will lose money. and the people that put him down that are the ones in the community r the ones that r over wait and dont want to put the effort to make healthy food for our kids. it upsets me to see that no one cares about how r kids r dying early because of unhealthy food and not alot of exercise escept one man. i support jamie oliver and i hope he can plant that seed.
Thank you Oliver for your incredible show! It is disturbing to see that our public schools have such little regard for the well being of our children! Keep up the good work Oliver!
The people of Huntington, WV are sadly mistaken if they think that their children, as well as children across the united states are eating healthy in schools. The cooks at the Huntington, WV schools seem to not care about what changes can be made, they only seem to care about how much harder their jobs will be made by making these healthy changes. Some of the people of Huntington, WV that they depict on the show are genuinely serious about making changes for themselves and their children. The others however (radio dj’s, lunch cooks, principal and those that are the heads of school lunches) are as Jamie put it “anemic” in their knowledge of what is proper nutrition. If many of them had bothered to realized what the word “anemic” means, it does not mean “stupid and dumb”. It means “lacking in color and vitality”. So Jamie Oliver was spot on when he said they were “anemic in knowledge about health”. Their meals lack color, offer no vitality for the body and in turn are making their children lazy and overweight individuals. Its very sad. Hopefully Jamie can make a change. And hopefully those lunch cooks (especially Alice) realize that just because they can heat up or microwave frozen food doesn’t make them superior. It only makes them contributors to early deaths for the children. Good Luck Jamie!
Touche Jamie…thanks for caring about our kids and the foods they eat. Loved the show. You’re up against a whole culture that relies on eating unhealthy foods. We’re the “bread basket” of the world and we have our children and ourselves eating horribly unhealthy foods. Keep up the mission, help change our idea of what FOOD really is. Thank you.
I love you and agree that lunches in Schools have changed to the worse. I support you 100%. The cooks, school principal, and the radio dj are the stupidest people in the world. Please come and change my school. Today the lunch was all brown and every Friday that I am on duty it is brown and fried. HELP. I will join you if you need me.
I feel SO sorry for Mr. Oliver having to deal with these junk food junkies. The stuff they’re feeding kids in school has only gotten worse since I was there. It’s very disgusting how these people seem to not care at all that they are dooming their kids to clogs arteries, diabetes and the whole gamut of diseases that come from being junk eating obese people.
Then, the fact that these kids can’t even name common vegetables is just freakin’ sad. Come on, parents, get out of the fast food lines!
Come to Canada – we need your help too.
I am watching the show right now and I am SOOOOO horrified. I just saw children watch chicken bones be chopped up into patties and then eat them. They actually ate mashed chicken bones, happily! They have no concept of why they eat. What happened to “food is fuel”? Not only that but all of the shows I have seen like this the lunch ladies are always pissed off! They take offense to wanting to feed salad? Really? And we wonder why our children are obese and getting type 2 diabetes at age 12. We send our children to school to learn, that is the entire point of school. So why is it that the place we send our children to be molded we literally are teaching them how to be die younger than us? It’s so disturbing. I support Oliver’s mission no matter how many people he pisses off. The truth hurts now but it’s going to kill soon.
Thank you Jamie!! Don’t give up on these children and their familes!! Thankfully, I was brought up by parents who taught us proper nutrition. They showed us how cooking was fun and healthy at the same time…just like you!! As a result, I’m a fitness instructor and try to educate familes about nutrition and staying active. My daughter, who is now 23, loves cooking and experiencing new healthy foods. Honestly, as she was brought up on healthy eating, she did not prefer pizza to a good well planned healthy dinner with salad and vegetables. It blows my mind that these families don’t realize how bad they feel being so out of shape and over weight. I hope you help our entire nation see what they are doing to themselves and how they are destroying a wonderful life of fun, active healthy beings.
Way to go jamie. Huntington has alot to learn. By definition it is manslaughter. I don’t make good choices for myself so that absolves you of responsibility….
holy crap. The matron in green seemed all too smug and more than happy that the kids didn’t like the food. And all those obese bitties in the kitchen are totally helPing kill the kids. Keep at it jamie like u said one at a time. And I would call not knowing what a tomato is… Anemic!!! They just have to learn how that’s why they.re sick. Go justin!!
Jamie!
Its a revolution! I saw the premier and I’m convinced. Our children are eating nothing but
processed fat, sugar and salt and it needs to stop. This nation can’t be strong if it isn’t healthy, and it all starts with the kids.
With the attitude of the principal and those FAT nasty lunch ladies,there will be no change.They obviously don’t want a change and that ALICE GUE IS A REAL nasty example of all lunch ladies in the U.S.Did you see that all of them were overweight?
Spot on Jamie! Love it, can’t wait for more!
Jamie,
Thank you for caring like you do. You have opened our eyes to this Major Problem in America. I think the Real problem is with the USDA. they set the guidelines for these “lunch ladies”. They are given a set of food standards to follow and they don’t know any better, or are not allowed to waver from what they say is the standard. But these guidelines were invented in the 1950’s. Long before Processed food became available to us. So you know from here where it went wrong. OMG thank you for all that you do. If you ever need anyone to crusade with you, I am there. It amazes me that these kids ( and parents) don’t know the “cause and effect” that this “food” is doing to them !!!!!
I loved the Priemier!Finally someone is showing what children are putting into their bodies. I was shocked that the children didn’t know how to use a knife and fork. No sense in blaming anyone at this point in time. I simply hope that parents start taking grocery shopping seriously and start a new family fun night – cooking at least one meal together. Come to Canada Jamie! Well done.
I am a Rregistered Dietitian and horrified, however not the least bite surprised, to see the reaction of the town in WV, to how badly they eat. The lunch ladies, principal and food service director of schools are disgraces. How selfish they are to be threatened to make necessary changes to save the health of these innocent children and fuel their bodies with the nourishment it needs. These adults have not stepped up to the plate to implement the tough choices and the path of real work, not least resistance to teach these kids what healthy eating looks like and the implications of the choices they make, mostly because the adults themselves are not willing to make these changes, hence selfishly carry on with their deadly eating habits. Children need parents, not friends, to guide them into adulthood and healthy eating is one of the many tasks we, as gatekeepers to good nutrition, need to model, encourage and discuss as they grow. Please, a six year old that doesn’t know what a potato looks like, are you kidding???????
Thank you! My daughters have been telling me for years that they are tired of processed food in the elementary school system. You support their opinion.
I could not believe that the kids did not know basic vegetables.It also amazed me that kids on the show tonight do not know how to use utensils. We as parents are not doing our jobs at home to teach our children healthy eating.
It is sad to say that sharing good food with family and friends and proper eating are not a priority. This is the glue that keeps a family together . . . time together, with healthy food, a little manners and good conversation.
Those lunch ladies should be fired. One of them actually said she’s only there for the money! They were soooo uncooperative it is no wonder everyone is over-weight and dying, (including them!). They were only concerned about how easy it should be for them to prepare, and not the health of the children. Who eats PIZZA for breakfast??? In todays economy, hiring an entire new lunch lady staff would be easy. Why try to teach old dogs new tricks? Bring in a new, health consciencious staff, with fresh new healthy ideas, and the rest will fall into place. If I were pricipal, that would be my first priority.
I won’t even go into the fact that the children don’t know what a potato looks like1!!!!!
Jamie,
I totally agree with your opinion of gloves – nobody washes gloves, or even throws them out and gets new ones. Hands are easy to wash. Thanks
I actually hate the computer, but feel so strongly about your new show I had to write. I also hate reality shows. But because I have fought my weight the better part of my 57 years and have just recently tried to change my losey eating habit, your new show really hit home. I have all your cook books and decided to watch for 10 minutes. I have one thing to say I’m hooked. I actually cried along with you when I realized how comitted you are. T.V. or not I wish you the best of luck. I live in Helena, Montana and if you ever try to change our schools let me know, I know alot of people. Sincerely Delayne Whorley
It is a very HARD job to change people’s mind and culture. They love to eat “dead food” and dislike “living food”. And the root of the problem is CULTURE, traditions from generation to generation. Hope Jamie keeps going no matter if he gets great changes or little changes in people. Even if he gets to help 1 person to change, it will have been worth the effort.
P.S. alot is not a word – the proper term is “a lot”.
Thank you Jamie Oliver for coming to the US! Praying your show will bring awareness to GMO foods and how it is hurting us.
WOW!!!! I am a Canadian viewer and now a dedicated ‘food revolter’!!! I cannot believe I actually shed some tears during this show! I am so open to getting healthier and will continue to tune in to get more and more tips on eating better….I have a spouse and 3 young children that NEED to be healthy and happy (and YES I do believe the 2 go hand in hand) THANK YOU!!!!!
Aaahhh Jamie your show rocks it is definitely my favorite show. Good work and thank you so mmuch for caring enough about kids, families, people. Once again you rock!!! Nutrition goes much further than just physical health but the effects of our mental health. Nutrition amazes me. There is so many problems, illnesses, diseases that could be prevented with nutrition. It angers me soo much that it is soo expensive to eat healthy and so cheap to eat crappy. Blows my mind……..no wonder there are so many diseases and health problems.
I really enjoyed the show! It took a lot of courage for people in the show to be on tv and work on changing their lifestyles. Thank you for your show and I hope people can make a difference.
WOW! I knew there was a reason I wanted to make sure I watched Jamie’s show. To me, it is obvious that he is very passionate & truly cares about the health of the people of Huntington, WV. It’s simple…change is never easy. But it must happen or he is right, they will die. I realized the same thing last year. I lost 66 lbs. I changed my family’s diet. My son, who is 11, now loves salads, fish, rice, whole wheat breads, lowfat ice cream and lots more! He even grabs boxes of the shelves at the grocery store and reads the labels. I am very proud of him for that. I know that that one small act of being aware of what he is eating will change his life forever. It’s not easy, but it can be done. One day at a time, one meal at a time. I wish Jamie Oliver the best of luck in his endeavor and admire him for his courage to take on this life threatening problem.
I have been waiting 20 years for someone other than myself to be available to my brothers family with influence advise and solved the unhealthy way we feed ourselves and our children today.
Thank you so much for taking a stand and sticking to it. If you need any support in a way I can assist, please give me an email.
Judy Hall Stapes
Thanks for posting this Jason,
Mr Oliver is amazing for doing this show. People need – NEED – to see this. For the children’s sake. It is not their fault but they are building habits that will be incredibly har dto break.
Just watched episode one and two and I am flabbergasted. And yes, we need him here in Canada too.
Go Jamie! Go! Fantastic! People need to learn what food is, how it is made and enjoy real food…I felt sick seeing those kids eat that #@$%!!!
I was shocked at the reation of the people in the town. Jamie is only trying to help, yet they seemed so resistant!!!! I was also shocked at what the school was serving and how many “silly” nutrional rules there were. Mico nugets and freeze dried potatoes were OK for the school nutrional guidelines but brown rice was a problem? I’m so glad someone is bring this problem to light. THIS IS WHY I ONLY PACK MY CHILDRENS LUNCHES. I did learn a lot from the show, I will cook better in my own home now!
What a great show, I am astonished with the utensil usage in the school… That just goes to show you that finger foods are the only foods they eat. Do you remember this in your school lunches? I hope he can make some changes and whoever approves these menus at the schools really take a long, hard look and make changes in the RIGHT direction. Bravo Jamie! Great job.
Good for you for what you are trying to accomplish. If this town does not appreciate it, maybe you should find one that would.
My whole family was in shock when the cooks acted like they were upset because they were going to have to work at cooking and didn’t want to deal with the extra silverware!? We live in a city and the kids in grade school use ALL silverware. Just don’t get it. They all act like they don’t want the change. As big as our schools are they still cook healthy foods. It is not that hard or over budget. Good grief.
I applaud Jamie, and his efforts. This country needs to change, and soon! The vegetables and fruits that are wasted every day, is disgusting. I don’t have the answer, but maybe Jamie does. We need to start somewhere. It is a gigantic task, but it must be done. Jamie, this is perhaps the best show I have ever seen on television. You have my sincere thanks for showing parents what is making our children are eating, and how this junk food is killing them before their time. Tom Laughlin
Jamie, way to go. How can I help to get Americas food guidelines changed? We can’t tolerate the goverment , state, or school boards to teach our children tothat eating this way is okay. I used a knife in elementary school. We had vegetables and the food pyramid was interpreted way different. I want to help our youth understand and eat right.
WOW! Finally this problem is being addressed on a national level. My mother has been a manager at a fairly large high school here in Evansville, IN for many years. What has always amazed me is not that it is strictly regulated by the government on its menu, but how totally unhealthy the food is that is being served! The past few years they have been SLOWLY making small changes. Getting rid of the mexican pizza and enchiladas due to fat, switching to some whole wheat (not whole grain) products and so on. By no means are they close to what I or anyone who cares about what goes into there mouths would be satisfied with. It is all about convienence and budget. I really hope this show will help wake up America and those in charge of these so called “nutritious” school lunches.
What a wake up call for our country!
This show has inspired my husband and I to give our children healthier food choices. It is a shame to think that you shop more in the frozen food section than the fresh produce area. Yes, I could say that I am too tired to cook real food, but a lot of it is laziness. I hope that these small changes will snowball into something great! Way to go Jaime, thank you for caring.
The show did a great job at pointing out how ignorant these people are.
I feel for these poor teachers. I bet their test scores are in the pits, so after complying with state curriculum mandates they will be expected to teach veggie identification, and the Emily Post method of proper dining. Next, a mandate will come that teachers will be required to take their student’s laundry home. Actually that would be perfect because as the clothes are spinning round and round in the dryer, a lot of correcting and lesson planning can be accomplished.
Face it, this food issue is not going to change. It costs too much to prep, cook, and serve fresh food, unless of course you ask the teachers to do it.
Loved the show and support your crusade! I am a West Virginian and your show brought tears to my eyes! It saddened me so much to see the resistance you faced. However, I realize, it stems from fear..fear of change..and fear of what they think healthy eating means. You are saving these childrens’ lives! Please do not give up. I never realized the challenge it would be. You will make a difference. The people of WV will be won over. They are wonderful people who want to do the right thing! God Bless you and your effort.
Jamie, I send you my heartfelt Thanks for taking on this huge task. After watching the show my first reaction was to be angry with the school lunch staff, principle etc of Huntington WV but then I realized just like the little children, the staff are doing only what they have been taught. The people we really should be mad at is ourselves because we have not taken the time to teach our kids from our own home better eating habits. We have also not gone screaming and yelling to local, state and federal goverments to make them also do better in offering a healthy start. These school children across our country are the future and as adults, all of us have sadly let them down. As a nation we should all be ashamed.
Inspiring! I’ve been watching Jamie and Ryan promoting the program this week on Anderson Cooper, Larry King Live and Oprah. All people who believe in a better life for America and have the resources to do so. Thanks for taking the time to produce such a fine show. Eat fresh, eat organic, buy at your farmer’s market whenever possible. Better yet; grow your own food.
Bloody Good Job Jamie!! You are exactly what this country needs! As much as I didn’t think it was important to hold my knife properly and I hated having to stack all my food on the back of my fork as a young girl (yes my Mum is a Brit) I was shocked that the kids had never ever used one! WOW. However, it was more than shocking to me that the kids couldn’t identify veggies…Whart!?! We are all products of our environment and I would never judge the lunch ladies. They have a job to do and old habits are hard to break. Change is tough for a lot of people. I just hope they come around, understand what you are doing is wrapped in love and I hope they make some changes (baby steps are good!) and take joy in the process! I’m just so excited to watch you impact the world – PLANTING THE SEED – in such a really great way! I’d love to be on your team as I support healthy food choices. (I could help with food prep and education wrapped in FUN!! Call me! :)
BTW, it brought tears to my eyes when you connected with that young man (doing stir fry) He is gong to be a better man for your input. Little steps, I’m so glad you are here!
Carry on Jamie, you are on the right track!!
Hugs and Happy Healthy Eating!
Jamie you are doing a great deed here. You are helping people open up their eyes to something that has been an ongoing problem. Thank you for taking the initiative and really putting it out there that a change needs to be made NOW! I am completely on your side. Keep up the great work.
PS, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t get discouraged by the mentality and reaction of individuals such as those you experienced in WV.
REPLAY THE SHOW(S) ! Please, I missed tonights and I am so upset. I was so looking forward to wathcing those lunch ladies squirm. Why are people so afraid of bettering themselves ? It’s like they live in caves, those lunch ladies. The “executive” who plans the meals is a complete joke – she has a college education, I would guess, so she should know better! I’m sure there are tons all around the country like this. Very sad. GO JAMIE !!!
Jaime Oliver is what America needs! Our school district in Colorado would LOVE for him to come and make healthier meals for our children! The district has already implented using whole wheat, has a salad bar, only offers white milk, and is trying to use as many natural ingredients as possible. The problem they are encountering is that not many kids are buying the school lunch. I was not having my kids eat the school lunch because it had so much high fructose corn syrup and processed ingredients. In our district the parents are very excited about the nutritional changes. Go Jaime! If you come to our school I know the lunch ladies will not be rude to you and they will be excited for all your ideas (and I guarantee that kids around here know their vegetables!). Thank you for having the passion to change the food kids eat……keep it up!