Food Revolution

By now, everyone should have heard of the "Food Revolution" started by Chef Jaime Oliver and if you haven't check into it!

Congratulations! Jaime Oliver for taking on the school districts and this country’s bad eating habits!

I can now understand, as an adult, just what my mother was trying to do all those years ago when my sisters and I were in school. Yes, she embarrassed us by coming into our school and confronting the administration about how they could allow soda machines to be placed in the schools for KIDS to drink all that sugar at will. But, guess what? She was right! After she made her stance, the machines were filled with only juices, no sodas! So, she didn't make it all the way to the crappy food being served but she did make progress way back then in one area!

Growing up, in my family, health was a huge priority. My mother was and still is athletic, in great shape, and watches what she puts into her body so my sisters and I were introduced to healthy eating habits all our lives. Ok, we didn't eat breakfast but my mother always made dinner every night that included lots of vegetables, grains, chicken, fish and pasta (she would make our lunch for school too, embarrassment again!). Rarely did we eat meat and potatoes with gravy and rolls and to this day I have never eaten a meal of chicken fried steak, smothered in gravy with a side of potatoes (so, why am I overweight? Duh! All the other crap I began to eat after I stopped dancing and living at home!). It was a special occasion if we had fast food and if we ate out, lets say at a Mexican restaurant, she wouldn't let us fill up on chips and salsa! Hey, don't get me wrong, my sisters and I ate plenty of the cafeteria food and liked it, mostly because it was bad for us!

So, you ask, why and how did I lose control? Well, after all those years of not being able to eat what I wanted and not having to sneak it, once I moved out on my own and was working and partying, I just went NUTS! I have drifted back and forth from healthy eating to bad habits but I do know what healthy eating is and have tried to instill that in my son (not so much in my husband...he's a lost cause!). Luckily, I was raised with proper eating habits and a mother who cared about what my sisters and I put in our bodies so the foundation was set!

Now I'm sure you're asking, "Why she is rambling on about this and what is her point?" My point is that Jaime Oliver is correct in conquering the bad habits we have all grown accustomed to in this country with eating fast food that is unhealthy for us and then allowing our school districts to serve it to our children every day of the school year. What really gets in my crawl is that WE, the parents, have allowed it to happen!

I worked as a "cafeteria lady" for over a year in my son’s elementary school and saw first-hand what kind of food is served, how it is cooked and what it looks like when it comes in off the truck. Let me tell you, that food is not healthy and really shouldn't be eaten! All the proteins came in processed and frozen, the vegetables were either canned or in bags as well as the fruit. There was no prep to cooking this food just putting it in the oven or deep fryer!

I was always shocked when I'd start a conversation about how unhealthy the food was and the response from admin and managers was that this is what the kids will eat!

Since when are the KIDS IN CHARGE? And if some of these kids are getting their only meal at school shouldn't THAT MEAL be the healthier one of the day?

It is high time someone stands up and shows the world what all our children should be eating if parents and the school administrations are NOT going to! We entrust our children's lives and well-being with the school system for at least 13-14 years of their development so why shouldn't they be held partially responsible for what goes in their mouths?

Please note, I said partially! I am guilty of allowing my son to eat the crap they serve but I have also given him a somewhat healthy foundation to work from and I prepare healthy meals when at home unlike some of the underprivileged children who may not get the same at home.

We should all ban together to begin to change the system for the better and join in the "Food Revolution" to ensure our children live healthier and longer lives! They are our future!