Mommy Goes Green

Last night, I watched Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution with mixed emotions.  Jamie was in Huntington, West Virginia – the city named as the unhealthiest in America because over 50% of the occupants are obese.  During this episode, he visited an elementary school to prepare fresh food lunches and teach the children and parents about healthy eating habits.  

Jamie demonstrated to several children what is in “chicken” patties.  He took a whole chicken and cut off the breasts and wings.  Then he cut up the rest of the chicken – including skin, bones, and all the other yucky stuff – and put it in a food processor.  Once blended, he made a patty out of it and covered it in bread crumbs.  He then asked the children if they wanted to eat it and they all said YES.  It was disturbing.  ( “chicken” patties will never cross the threshhold of this house again )

He showed a classroom of first graders basic vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes and the children could not identify them. I was part angry ( with the parents ) and part sad ( for the kids ).

Jamie was required (by school guidelines) to have both rice and bread with the lunch he was serving the children – I’m not a nutritionist but doesn’t that seem a little unbalanced?

Seriously – these children only had spoons to eat their lunch.  They didn’t even know how to eat with a knife and fork.  Is that unreasonable?  My 3 year old can use a fork and knife to eat.

The bottom line is that these problems are not just with one school, in one city in America.  It’s a problem in every school, in every city in America.  It’s also a problem in our homes.  It’s just easier to cook boxed, canned, and processed food.  Food isn’t given the priority that it should be and it’s making our bodies sick. 

I’m currently reading a book from Dr. Sears titled, ‘Nutrition Deficit Disorder’ (NDD), and it parallels the concepts in this show about the relationship between food and health in children.  It talks about the connection between NDD and all the other ‘D’ diseases like ADD, ADHD, and OCD.  I’m only a couple chapters in but I will definitely be sharing with you what I’m reading as I think you’ll be amazed at how much what you feed your children affects their ability to learn, control their behavior and overall health. 

I absolutely recommend you check out Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – there are 4 more episodes so tune in Friday, April 2nd for the next one.

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