High Maintenance Mom

Whether or not you have been watching ABC’s new reality show, Jaime Oliver’s Food Revolution, you certainly know the growing concern over America’s public school lunches. Flash back to your public school lunches and pizza, chocolate milk, french fries and rolls surly top the list. I remember those cute little chocolate/vanilla ice cream cups with the little wooden “spoons”. What I don’t remember is fresh fruit, chicken (no, not nuggets cooked in oil), fish (no, not sticks cooked in oil), vegetables (maybe even those from a small garden planted on the school grounds) or a dessert that isn’t complete junk (think oatmeal raisin or cranberry cookies or even fruit…gasp!)....more

When I saw the promo ads for Jaime Oliver’s Food Revolution I thought it would be a massive battle for him but at least it would continue and in some cases start the conversation about healthy food in our public schools. But when the articles started coming out about Jaime Oliver’s failed attempts to change West Virginia’s “fattest city” Huntington, I wanted to scream, “are you really surprised?!” Did people really think that middle school kids would pick healthy fresh food over the processed junk they have been eating for years…their whole lives? My kids eat healthy food because that is all I buy for them. Yes, I allow treats but we also talk about “grow foods” and how they help your body and how treats are Ok in moderation. I teach my kids about the human body and how food is used, we read labels and we talk! What I did see that I liked on Jaime’s show (aside from him at least trying to make a change) were the teachers and administrators walking around during lunchtime encouraging kids and talking to them. Do you leave your kids alone during meal time or do you sit with them, talk about the food and encourage them to at least try it? There is a lot of research out there that suggests an adult sitting with kids during meal time helps on so many levels but one is encouraging them to eat their (hopefully healthy) food.

So maybe Jaime’s show has gotten caught up in the reality show drama and maybe he is struggling with the strong hold the US government has on public school food guidelines but at least he is out there trying to change minds and change lives. It will take more than a reality show to change the way our kids (and adults) eat but it may not take more to start a revolution and isn’t that we what?

Here are a few books that have helped me along the way:

The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue by Missy Chase Lepine

Healthy Child Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan

The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood by Dr William Sears, Martha Sears, James Sears & Robert Sears