My children have never had a school-provided meal...two are at home with me all day and the other is in half-day kindergarten (and will be homeschooled next year...another story for another time). But from friends I know who have children in school, from watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, and from simply seeing Americans pull into fast food restaurants on a daily basis, I know that school food is in desperate need of an overhaul...toward natural, fresh and healthy meals.Have you watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC? If not, I think you should. If you are looking to change the way your family eats, it's educational. If you and your family already eat fresh, nutritious meals, it will help you understand other Americans better and open your eyes to a whole other world that is perhaps right next door.
Episode 2 has been the most, well, appalling to me. In that hour it showed Jamie Oliver step into a kindergarten classroom, hold up vegetables, and ask the students what they were...and none of them knew the answers. Not what a potato is. Not a tomato. And certainly not an eggplant. But wait, it gets so much worse. Just watch the video below in which Mr. Oliver shows children how chicken nuggets are made. It was an "epic failure." I'll be honest, I cried.
I encourage you all to join me in signing Jamie Oliver's petition to improve school food. Here is an excerpt from his site followed by a link to sign the petition:
"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!Click here to sign the petition today! It takes 30 seconds.
With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future. Sign the petition to save America's cooking skills and improve school food. It could be the most important thing you ever do for your family. America's health needs you now!"
And then please, start a food revolution in your own home...cook something. From scratch. With fresh and raw ingredients - no packets, no cheating! And get your children in the kitchen with you...kids can cook with some guidance and instruction. It will get them on the path to a happy and healthy life!
I'm a high school teacher up in Montreal Canada and am currently watching "Super Size Me" with my grade 10 and 11 Ethics and Culture classes. We have been discussing rights, responsibilities and ethical issues in the context of advertising, fast food, junk food, school lunches, nutrition and physical activity. It has been a really positive experience so far. Most of the kids seem fairly well educated about the dangers of fast food; however, they admit to their own continued consumption of these products. They have also admitted to being swayed or tempted by ad campaigns even as young adults and reminisce fondly about childhood experiences with these restaurants and their host of characters. I think I will show them this clip in addition to the movie ( which has a cartoon version of the McNugget process) and see what they say.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to report that our Cafeteria serves healthy, home cooked meals served with milk for under $3, fries only show up for special occasions about once a term, and soda is banned. One step at a time right!
I'm seriously thinking about challenging myself to go an entire month this summer without using any pre-packaged or processed foods. I would be making everything from scratch right down to the pasta to bread. I'm also thinking about joining a CSA farm.
Anyway, sorry for the long comment! in Short thanks for posting this!
Katrina
in Montreal :)