Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Last Friday I turned on my television for the first time in weeks, nay months, to put on a DVD, and the channel just happened to be on a show that was beginning called Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I had never heard of him or the show (I've since found out he is the chef behind the deceptively named show The Naked Chef), but was immediately drawn in when I learned the premise involved him going to Huntington, West Virginia–a town that had been statistically determined to be the unhealthiest place in America–to work with the school lunch program and one family in an effort to plant the seed of healthy eating.

Two hours later I found myself captivated by the show and in love with Mr. Oliver. In talking with my friend Scott, I've also learned that he single-handedly transformed the school lunch program in his native England with a show he did called Jamie's School Dinners, and the government there has since allotted nearly half a billion dollars to reform what their school kids are eating.

The fact that Michelle Obama has made it her mission as First Lady to improve the health and diet of America's children makes me feel that it's the perfect time for a show like this. I have to say, I'm actually shocked it got picked up by a major network, so kudos to ABC for airing it. It's actually a very important topic that probably goes against most American's lifestyles. That is only reaffirmed by everyone in Huntington that Mr. Oliver interacts with. For the most part, he meets opposition at every turn from people who fear change, think everything is fine the way it is, and that he's coming in to town to make these people look stupid.

I could go on and on about this topic, but instead I'll just recommend you tune in this Friday to see for yourself. I can only hope Mr. Oliver has similar results in this country as he had in England. Health Care reform is absolutely great, but if we can get people to take better care of themselves and avoid needing to rely on doctors and insurance, we'll be even stronger.

Click here to go to ABC's website for clips and information about the show, and click here to go to Jamie Oliver's own website.