Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

[dislaney]

I can't wait to watch this.

 

[RitaE]

To be honest my kids would choose pizza. Heck, I'd probably choose pizza most days if I could eat whatever I wanted all the time. I love pizza. But my kids will eat roast chicken if that is what is served and they even like roast chicken -- just not as much as pizza.

The kid who won't eat story is very common in my experience. There is a boy in my youngest son's grade who will only eat french fries. And whatever those nutritional shakes are that they give kids who are nutritionally deficient. Pediasure or whatever. He gets those for lunch too. I'm not sure if the school actually provides them or if his Mom sends it in.

And yep, we went in there for the Thanksgiving meal feast this year and the lunch cooks brought him out his own special plate of French Fries while everybody else had Turkey and dressing and green beans. From what I hear the screaming hissy fit if they don't give him fries is not to be missed, his and his mother's I imagine.

I have a nephew (he's approaching 40 now) who would only eat the typical tacos, pizza, hot dogs etc as a kid. He was 300lbs+ by High School and a Type II Diabetic. He's been insulin dependent for years now. It's sad. Sometimes I wonder if his parents ever wished they had that decision of "oh just let him eat ____, it's not worth the struggle" back.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Need to set up my TIVO

Here is his TED speech from a few weeks ago. Moving stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY

The food at school is crap! I hope he can help change the way the kids eat, at our school ice cream, chips, cookies and pizza are available every day. When I went to school we only had ice cream on Fridays. I refuse to give my kids money for it, but there are some who buy 3-4 dollars worth every day.

 

[jamimb]

Need to set up my TIVO

Here is his TED speech from a few weeks ago. Moving stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY

The food at school is crap! I hope he can help change the way the kids eat, at our school ice cream, chips, cookies and pizza are available every day. When I went to school we only had ice cream on Fridays. I refuse to give my kids money for it, but there are some who buy 3-4 dollars worth every day.

I know what you are saying. Our school sells chips and ice cream every day and I think it's deplorable! There are kids (especially in the older grades) who eat these things and nothing else. Im a mean assistant teacher. I only allow my class ice cream on Fridays and even then they have to eat some healthy food before they get it.

 

[sallybrealey]

I know what you are saying. Our school sells chips and ice cream every day and I think it's deplorable! There are kids (especially in the older grades) who eat these things and nothing else. Im a mean assistant teacher. I only allow my class ice cream on Fridays and even then they have to eat some healthy food before they get it.

The show was very interesting when it was in the UK. Some parents were sneaking food into school for their kids, chips, burgers etc.

They need to catch them before they get to 11, once they get over that age its so difficult to change their ways

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

The show was very interesting when it was in the UK. Some parents were sneaking food into school for their kids, chips, burgers etc.

They need to catch them before they get to 11, once they get over that age its so difficult to change their ways

That's so sad that the parents would sabotage their own kids.

One funny, but sad, story at school. The food manager was talking to the superintendent and was saying how he would love to serve brown rice, hummus, more salads etc but the kids won't eat it. I turned and was like are you serious?? Do you see how much food they throw away every day?? I figure if you cook it and nothing else, eventually they will eat it.
I'd also like to move morning snack to the afternoon. My kids eat breakfast at 7:30, snack at 10, and lunch at 11:30, 12, and 12:30. Then nothing until dinner? they come home and pig out. Snack should be moved to 2 - 2:30. Of course we never had snack growing up and we survived.
I got yelled at by a teacher when DS1 was in 1st grade because I didn't pack snack. The week before I got yelled at because he was throwing away 90% of his lunch. I told the teacher when he started eating his lunch, then I'll provide a snack.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Thought it was an excellent show so far. I was a bit surprised at how mean the cooks were to him - I guess they were just told he's coming & deal with it! LOL
I know I watched a show he did in England on Food Network going into school there - I don't know if there was ever a follow up show to that one & I thought it was interesting this one never mentioned that he's tried this in his own country.

Cause I can see why people would be ticked to have some foreigner come in & say you're fat - change it - he almost needs to be working hand in hand with the preacher - the 2 of them going into the school - since he's from the area & more likely to be trusted. People would be saying - go fix you're own schools in your country -kwim?

 

[luvmyfam444]

I really enjoyed this and cant wait for more episodes. I didnt think the kids would pick chicken over pizza though!

I know - like that was even fair! I think that was clearly a setup just for the drama fact...

 

[luvmyfam444]

PS: this is also practically a scripted re-run of EXACTLY what happened in that little mini-series program promoted by Shaq....

Do you guys remember that...

Exactly the same story.

And, unfortunately, probably the same outcome.

No real change or results at all.

Yes I remember watching that - but I forgot about it - till you mentioned it -hmm wonder if there's an update anywhere - interesting to find out!

 

[mum4jenn]

I don't know how the process works, but if the menu says "mashed potatoes" do they have to use those instant processed potatoes or could they make them from scratch? In other words, do the individual schools order their own supplies or are the supplies sent to them by the state board of ed?

HAve you ever tried to cook and mash enough potatoes to feed 600-1400 kids and have it done in less than 3 hours????

 

[danyella522]

i like the show. I hope it is an eye opener for some. I know kids can be picky but we need to introduce healthy options at a young age.

the breakfast pizza made my mouth drop and the 1st graders who didn't know their vegetables in raw form

 

[JVL1018]

I'd also like to move morning snack to the afternoon. My kids eat breakfast at 7:30, snack at 10, and lunch at 11:30, 12, and 12:30. Then nothing until dinner? they come home and pig out. Snack should be moved to 2 - 2:30. Of course we never had snack growing up and we survived.
I got yelled at by a teacher when DS1 was in 1st grade because I didn't pack snack. The week before I got yelled at because he was throwing away 90% of his lunch. I told the teacher when he started eating his lunch, then I'll provide a snack.

I questioned why snack in the morning at my kids' school too-and was told it was because so many kids don't eat breakfast that they start to fade or feel sick prior to lunchtime.
My son eats cereal every day at 8, has his snack at 10:15 and his lunch at 11:30. Half his lunch comes home each day.
My daughter does not eat breakfast, not because she doesn't have time, she's just not hungry-she eats all her snack and al her lunch. Both kids come home ravenous.

Last year in 3rd grade, my daughter's teacher had the kids decide when they wanted snack and the consensus was in the afternoon, so they had lunch at 11:30 and then snack at 2:45 right befpre they packed up to go home. Liked that better.

 

[LisaR]

HAve you ever tried to cook and mash enough potatoes to feed 600-1400 kids and have it done in less than 3 hours????

So serve baked potatoes instead. It doesn't have to be instant or nothing. Baked would be easy and healthy.



I thought it was interesting about the whole knife debate. Kids aren't allowed to bring 1 inch plastic Lego guns to school in the US and Jamie wants them to have knives at lunch. I think he is fighting a losing battle on that one in this land of zero tolerance.

I did enjoy watching the staff during lunch getting involved with the kids (talking to them, showing them how to use a knife, asking about the food). Those are such simple things and I think they make a huge difference.

 

[mum4jenn]

So serve baked potatoes instead. It doesn't have to be instant or nothing. Baked would be easy and healthy.

OK...Are the tax payers going to want to buy more expensive equipment just to bake up to 1400 potatoes because the ladies only have a maximum of 3 hours to get everything cooked. There are other foods to cook besides a baked potato...(vegetables, meat, bread )

It is easy for the folks NOT in school food service to judge and think they have all the answers. Yes I agree that there are MANY school systems that need much improvement...especially the ones that get the food in cellophane covered containers and just re-heat...but unless you actually have to work under the time constraints and budget constraints and even labor constraints it is a whole lot easier to judge from the other side of the fence.

I feel good about most all the food we have to cook and serve. We still have improvements to make but there have been tons of improvements made since I was in school.

 

[LisaR]

OK...Are the tax payers going to want to buy more expensive equipment just to bake up to 1400 potatoes because the ladies only have a maximum of 3 hours to get everything cooked. There are other foods to cook besides a baked potato...(vegetables, meat, bread )

It is easy for the folks NOT in school food service to judge and think they have all the answers. Yes I agree that there are MANY school systems that need much improvement...especially the ones that get the food in cellophane covered containers and just re-heat...but unless you actually have to work under the time constraints and budget constraints and even labor constraints it is a whole lot easier to judge from the other side of the fence.

I feel good about most all the food we have to cook and serve. We still have improvements to make but there have been tons of improvements made since I was in school.

Judging? Why is it whenever someone disagrees on the Dis, it is automatically judging?

While those of us that aren't in food services need to think of things from another angle, those of you in food services need to do the same. It is likely that there is a happy medium somewhere. Maybe your school can't bake potatoes but others not only already bake them, they can make big batches of mashed potatoes without a problem. It can be done in some places.

I highly doubt food services needs to make 1400 baked potatoes. I am guessing you don't make one of everything to accommodate every single kid in the school.

Food services in school systems aren't the only ones that have to work under ridiculous time, labor and budget constraints. It isn't as though this is unique to the school system. It is part of the job and it is up to the employees to make it work. I say this as my husband sits next to me up to his eyeballs in his companies budget issues. It sucks but he will make it work because it is his job.

 

[eliza61]

Thought it was an excellent show so far. I was a bit surprised at how mean the cooks were to him - I guess they were just told he's coming & deal with it! LOL
I know I watched a show he did in England on Food Network going into school there - I don't know if there was ever a follow up show to that one & I thought it was interesting this one never mentioned that he's tried this in his own country.

Cause I can see why people would be ticked to have some foreigner come in & say you're fat - change it - he almost needs to be working hand in hand with the preacher - the 2 of them going into the school - since he's from the area & more likely to be trusted. People would be saying - go fix you're own schools in your country -kwim?

Some times it takes a person outside your comfort zone to give you a kick in the rear. It's not only about being fat. Did you see the 14 year old boy? He is going to have diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other problems. His entire family is overweight and have been part of the problem. Your right some times it does hurt to have some one you don't know give you the truth but it just might be enough to change your behaviour

 

[mum4jenn]

Judging? Why is it whenever someone disagrees on the Dis, it is automatically judging?



I highly doubt food services needs to make 1400 baked potatoes. I am guessing you don't make one of everything to accommodate every single kid in the school.

Well yes we do as a matter of fact. We only have one serving line so that means we have to have food for every child that wants to eat.

 

[LisaR]

Well yes we do as a matter of fact. We only have one serving line so that means we have to have food for every child that wants to eat.

So you have 1400 servings of every single solitary item in stock every single day? Wow! Someone needs to look at managing things a little better.

 

[mum4jenn]

So you have 1400 servings of every single solitary item in stock every single day? Wow! Someone needs to look at managing things a little better.

I never said that. You are the one who said we should bake our potatoes and I said there was no way we could bake that many potatoes AND cook the rest of the food and you said we should not need a potato for every student.

We get trucks in every other week but that means that we have to have enough food to serve every student the same items for a minimum of two weeks. It is not like we go to Publix to buy our food everyday.

 

[NotUrsula]

That was always the way serving was done at my school when I was growing up: whatever was on the menu was served, on every single tray. If you didn't want it you either gave it away or tossed it, but the lunch ladies didn't have time to be asking each child whether or not they wanted something; they just handed you the tray. The average large school kitchen that served the foods that Oliver advocates would probably have no choice but to pre-plate and use warmers, so yes, you would have to cook enough potatoes to serve every child.

I can absolutely see why some food service personnel would be resentful of Jamie Oliver's style. He can be very patronising, and he has a really ridiculous tendency to think that the specialty equipment needed to produce in quantity the kind of food he advocates is just normal school kitchen stuff, when it isn't normal and is quite expensive; even the average hotel kitchen would most likely only have half of it. Most school kitchens that I have used (in a volunteer capacity) over the past 10 years only had one piece of specialty equipment other than a 6-burner stove and a large-capacity sink; an industrial mixer for baking. A lot of older schools don't even have walk-ins.

How do 3 people peel 1400 potatoes in 90 minutes while also prepping the rest of the meal? There is only one way: use a commercial potato rumbler. They cost around $1000, are about the size of a home dishwasher and can handle a bit less than 30 lbs. of potatoes per cycle. 1400 potatoes is going to be probably 600 lbs.; you do the math. Also, rumblers don't tend to handle white potatoes well; they do best with red, which really are not that good for mashing.

I know that around here, the total amount of money that most of the schools can spend on meal production is $2.80 per child. Most budget-conscious folks would find it easy to spend that much and serve fresh food at home, and think it should be easily doable when buying in bulk. So it would be, if the money only had to go to buy food. It doesn't though: it also has to pay for the workers' salaries and health insurance, FICA contributions, workers comp. insurance, software and office supplies, equipment costs and maintenance, paper supplies, and sometimes even the utilities for the kitchen. It takes years of practice to correctly and consistently hit the FDA requirements for school lunch values with fresh foods; the rules are written in a way that discourages their use because they are difficult to quantify. Also, remember that in a lot of districts 2 meals per day are being served, not just one.

I'm not saying that Oliver has a bad idea, just that restaurant techniques are generally out of reach for the average public school system as funding now stands. Most of the time they are going to need more staff and a lot more equipment to pull it off, and that leaves less money to purchase all of that fresh food. With most schools currently dealing with cuts in curriculum due to tax shortfalls, this is not likely to be an area where big ideas are going to find fertile ground.