I am usually behind on my DVR'd shows. One of which is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC. If you've missed the first 3 espisodes-watch them here on hulu. I think its pretty clear how I feel about feeding my family, most importantly my kids. But its not only feeding them, its teaching them to make good choices. The whole teach a man to fish thing. McDonalds to me is the Devil. Have you seen Food, Inc.? You'll probably feel the same. Now don't get me wrong, with a wicked hangover-nothing makes you feel better than a quarter pounder with cheese, but that's a different story.
Moving on. I watched it with the twins & here are some highlights I took away.
Jamie goes to Huntington, West Virginia, namely the 'Unhealthiest City of America'. He starts in the school system-children are the future and all that. There he's faced with angry opposition from the 'lunch cooks' & oddly enough the local radio DJ.
Its not surprising that people become enraged when faced with the removal of their processesed food. The DJ says to Jamie, "We're not gonna sit around and eat lettuce". That seems to be a common misconception. And since the first graders could not name a vegetable (including tomatoes & potatoes!) to save their lives, it would seem that the parents don't know much more, nor want to learn. Jamie asks the kids during their lunch of chicken nuggets what they had for dinner-they all answered chicken nuggets! They're eating the same thing every day, sometimes twice a day!
This particular school serves breakfast. Pizza or cold cereal with chocolate or strawberry milk. Even my kids said "Gross!".
When the lunch ladies were asked what they thought of the very long list of ingredients in the processed foods they served up, they said they see nothing wrong with it! Its all chemicals for god sake!
The Director of Food Services for the school district met with Jamie. She determines whether he stays or goes. She pulled out binder after binder of rules. He had no idea there were so many USDA guidelines to be followed. When making his lunch menu, he had brown rice to serve with the chicken. The principal told him he was breaking the rules, there was no bread. No bread? They are having a grain-rice! He had to serve hamburger buns from the pantry with the meal or he would be unable to serve it. It makes no sense! The red tape is unbelievable. French fries count as a vegetable? No wonder we are all so unhealthy!
Only D eats a school lunch. The twins do not have a lunch program. There is no kitchen. They pack everyday. And D is old enough to make good choices for his lunch. He has salad everyday along with whatever else is served. Its high school, there are a lot more choices than elementary schools. The twins will have school lunch in junior high. I have a few short years to get my message through. BabyGirl will be fine. Bubba, who knows.
My final thought (Jerry Springer-like), is this: We are the adults. If you can't take responsibility for your own health, how can you do it for your kids? Our children are the first generation that has a life expectancy SHORTER than we do. And you know what, its our fault! We are lazy and over-committed! Its easier to drive thru McDonalds or open a box of processed crap than make a real dinner. Oh, you're busy? Me too! I have a job, too. In fact, I run a company & I still make dinner every night. Don't get home until 7 pm? Buy a Crockpot. Two meals from the drive-thru will pay for it. Your house will never smell as good as when you come home & dinner is ready and waiting for you. It's not rocket science-its just takes a little time & frankly, the desire. I don't want to eat garbage, so I don't. Instead of sitting down & watching TV when I get home, I cook dinner. Its SO simple. Its like anything else, you have to want it and do it.