What do you mean, no more french fries?

He did it in the UK. And now he’s trying to do it in the U.S. Who is he?

British chef Jamie Oliver is also known by another name — “The Naked Chef” — and no, that’s not because he cooked sans vestments.  It’s because his cooking show across the pond emphasized all natural ingredients.  Jamie (from now on I will refer to him as Jamie, because I feel like I know him) abhors the processed and the preserved. He lives for the natural. And he walks the walk.

Jamie has a personal cause. He believes that healthy eating starts in childhood. Specifically in school cafeterias. And hey, I’m on board with this. I was a second grade teacher for a year, and gained ten pounds eating that crud. You know what I mean. Think back to your school lunches — can you say carbs, little girl? Mac and cheese with sides of garlic bread and corn. Yes! Yummy! Can I have some elastic waistbands now Mommy?

We all know about the epidemic of obesity in children. School lunches are a primary reason. I understand, as does Jamie, that preserved-ready-to-heat slop is easy. It’s cost-friendly. Schools don’t have to hire a lot of cooks, and “waste” valuable dollars.

Jamie tackled the problem for the Brits, and was instrumental in changing the food served in schools. And when he read about the obesity problems with children in America, he decided to come try it here: Huntington, West Virginia, voted the fattest city in America. Thus, his new show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.

We’re joining Jamie in episode three. He’s been fighting the system — which we all know means nasty cafeteria workers — for a couple of weeks now. Alice, at the elementary school, is especially heinous. It’s too hard, and too much work to cook healthy food. She wants chicken patties and fries dammit! Also, the local DJ is against him. Everyone around him has an attitude. Change stinks! Give the kids what they want! Which seems to be french fries.

Not surprisingly, french fries are considered a veggie in the West Virginia school system. This makes Jamie fighting-bloody angry. So he bans them. Cue scary music.

Jamie enlists the help of several real teens to help him sell his idea to the big wigs of Huntington, the movers and the shakers. The school system certainly can’t afford 80 thousand dollars for the kids not to eat junk, so Jamie sets up a plan. His elite crew will cook a three-course dinner for the “chosen,” and it will be a secret. They will think they are getting a gourmet dinner from the utmost chef. Heh heh.

And these great kids bust their buns and pull it off. In the last scene, Jamie introduces them, and reveals his secret to the cheering patrons. Then cue heart wrenching music, as each tells their story of why they chose to be involved with Jamie’s plan. From the obese girl, whose doctors are worried for her life, to the jailbird who needs a hobby, to the girl who lost her Dad to complications from obesity. Oy. Tissue, please!

Next, we see if Jamie gets the funding he needs to implement his program in all twenty-seven schools in Huntington.  Cue scary music again….

Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Apr 03, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT