Food Revolution

We don't have cable.
Too much $.

We don't have a dish.
Too much hassle.

We get our TV the old fashioned way, we Netflix it!
...or for up-to-date stuff it comes through the airwaves, Yes people still do that!

The only thing I miss is not being able to see the Sox games. However, the benefit to having only a few channels is that the kids don't watch much TV and sometimes when you want to veg out and your Netflix queue is in transit, you are held to the mercy of the programming of the over the air channels.

So we were watching TV a couple of Sundays back and advertisements for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution came on. We were both horrified and riveted by the subject. Over the last 10 years of our marriage we have made great strides in eating healthier and reducing the overall quantity we consume. So naturally what appeared to be such a reality TV train wreck had to be watched.

The footage has definitely been edited to increase the "drama" that TV execs think create ratings but overall I think it is truthful. I can see some of the people I know fitting right into the mindset of the town he has descended upon. I live/work in a area that has a large number of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm share programs, farm stands, and farmers markets. The people I'm thinking of regard all of these fresh food advocates as nutcases.

The first two episodes focus on the negatives. Things like; what the people don't know, how much junk food they eat, and how it will all kill them. I'm sure the way it is presented is mainly because it has to survive and gain viewers, but it does make one think. In fact, I wondered aloud to DaMom what our elementary school lunch menu looked like. DaGirl is in her first year of morning preschool there and doesn't eat lunch there.  DaMom found a menu and brought it home:

School Lunch - April 2010

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
				Apr 1 1 ASSORTED SANDWICHES TOMATO SOUP CHILLED FRUIT OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES	Apr 2 2 GOOD FRIDAY NO SCHOOL	Apr 3
Apr 4	Apr 5 5 CHICKEN PATTIE SANDWICH SHREDDED LETTUCE RICE PILAF MIXED FRUIT	Apr 6 6 STEAMED HOT DOGS RED. FAT “CAPE COD” CHIPS FRESH VEGGIES BLUEBERRIES W/ TOPPING	Apr 7 7 PIZZA POCKETS HERBED NOODLES GREEN BEANS CINNAMON APPLESAUCE	Apr 8 8 WHOLE GRAIN SPAGHETTI W/ MEAT SAUCE STEAMED PEAS BREAD & BUTTER SLICED PEACHES	Apr 9 9 ASSORTED SANDWICHES TURKEY NOODLE SOUP CHILLED FRUIT OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES	Apr 10
Apr 11	Apr 12 12 BUILD YOU OWN BURGERS POTATO PUFFS SHREDDED LETTUCE SLICED PEARS	Apr 13 13 POP CORN CHICKEN MASHED POTATOES CORN NIBBLETS STRAWBERRY CUPS	Apr 14 14 STEAMED HOT DOGS BAKED BEANS “ROLD GOLD” PRETZELS CHILLED FRUIT	Apr 15 15 ½ DAY PARENT CONFERENCES	Apr 16 16 ½ DAY PARENT CONFERENCES	Apr 17
Apr 18	Apr 19 SPRING RECESS	Apr 20 SPRING RECESS	Apr 21 SPRING RECESS	Apr 22 SPRING RECESS	Apr 23 SPRING RECESS	Apr 24
Apr 25	Apr 26 26 GILARDI’S “WHOLE GRAIN” DOUBLE STUFF CRUST PIZZA TOSSED SALAD CHILLED FRUIT	Apr 27 27 SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES FRENCH FRIES CORN NIBBLETS PEAR HALVES	Apr 28 28 FRENCH TOAST STICKS W/ SYRUP OVEN BAKED SAUSAGE ORANGE JUICE DICED PEACHES	Apr 29 29 TURKEY FRICASSE MASHED POTATOES STEAMED VEGGIES DINNER ROLL CINNAMON APPLE SLICES	Apr 30 30 ASSORTED SANDWICHES MINESTRONE SOUP CHILLED FRUIT OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES

We were stunned by it. It's nearly as bad what's on the show!
I've seen the "kitchen" there. None of this stuff can be prepared fresh there, it all has to be prepackaged. There is one household sized stove and some warmers on a line.

And there in lies the problem; preserved, prepackaged, foods designed to meet bizarre guidelines established by a nationwide program. How can a french fry be considered a vegetable? 

There is an obvious problem here.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

"You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result."'--Mahatma Gandhi

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