Have you been watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? It is not often that I get excited about something on the television other than a Laker's game!, but this show is a definite exception. Yes it is entertainment, and yes it is similar to many of the other "Reality TV" shows very predictable, but this is one show that highlights a really important issue and makes it accessible to average folks like you and I.
If you have not seen the show, you can catch up on ABC.com or Hulu.com. You may not be surprised by the problems or the solutions, (then again, you might be); either way it is still worth a watch if you have a little time. If you want a little motivation for watching the show, check out this clip. Seriously, it makes me want to cook up a little stir fry every time I see it. Brill-i-ant!
Now that the show or season...I'm not really sure is over, here are some of my final thoughts. You can read my initial thoughts on the Food Revolution here.
A major dilemma that is especially highlighted in the first and last episodes is that processed foods are cheap. Did you see Food, Inc.? That movie talks about this as well. When schools are practically given loads of processed "food", they would be considered (by most) to be fools to pay money for real, fresh foods. They would be accused of mismanagement of finance, and I am sure there would be loads of other consequences as well. When you or I go to the grocery store, and a bag or box of "frozen dinner" costs a fraction of the price (and requires a fraction of the time to prepare), it is sometimes difficult to justify spending your money on the fresher, healthier, and sometimes more time-consuming foods.
This betrays a fundamental mistaken mindset though that cheap=good or fast=good.
Throughout the episodes, Jamie constantly sought the help of the community. Whether he was trying to get individuals like Alice or Rod on board, or speaking to a family or entire school, he knew that a change in the way we eat cannot occur only at an individual level. Communities--whether that be schools, families, churches, or cities--have to choose to change together. There really is power in numbers.
This is especially important when you think about the brick wall he hit in the final episode. Even if every person in Huntington wanted to change the school food system for good, that absolutely can not happen if real, fresh foods are not available. I can resolve to stick to the "outer aisles" at the grocery store or only buy local foods, but without that availability my resolution is void. You and I are dependent on others, and the more people who want to make changes, the more money there will be funneled in that direction. It is pretty obvious that money speaks, and if money is being funneled into a market of real, fresh foods, then more companies like grocery stores, food producers, and even the USDA, will pay attention. Yes, I know the USDA is not really a company, but the point remains.
Finally, I appreciate that the show ended with a call to action. Sitting on your couch (or your computer chair), eating carrots and hummus, and spending the day writing blog posts this is not my life we are talking about here! will quickly hit its limit. Whether you are inclined to restock your own kitchen, learn to cook, sign the Food Revolution Petition, write a letter to an elected official, call your school's principle or head of food programs, or go volunteer at the school kitchen, something needs to be done.
What about you? Have you seen the show? What did you think?
i did not make this image; i think ABC did.
P.S. Does anyone remember this?
This is why I started watching the Food Network. Yep, it's true, and not inappropriate at all because the naked was the food, not the chef.
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