Around The Culinary World: Food Revolution Day

Good evening everyone! We've been big supporters of Jamie Oliver and his progressive food movement (dubbed the 'Food Revolution'). His movement was what started us on our own quest to begin cooking our own meals and eating better. In fact, it was the movement that spawned the idea for this blog (which, coincidentally, turns two years old on May 17th). Since then, our blog has developed into a tool to not only share recipes, but to share healthy dishes and show our readers how easy it is to eat healthy at home.

This week, we thought we'd share the concept behind Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and the upcoming Food Revolution Day. Jamie's methodology and joy of cooking were the driving forces that inspired me to start cooking on my own. Thanks to Jamie's cookbooks and encouragement, I found a hobby that I love and Maggie and I found a passion we can share together.

About The Food Revolution:  

Jamie's movement is so simple in concept and rational that there really is no reason why it shouldn't be commonplace. Unfortunately, politics and general red tape (and a lack of understanding) pose challenges to what Jamie (and the rest of his supporters) are trying to achieve.

What is the food revolution? I'll let Jamie tell you himself:

We're losing the war against obesity in the US. It's sad, but true. Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. It's time for change. It's time for a Food Revolution.

The problem stems from the loss of cooking skills at home and the availability of processed foods at every turn, from the school cafeteria to church function halls, factories and offices. This Food Revolution is about saving lives by inspiring everyone: moms, dads, kids, teens and cafeteria workers to get back to basics and start cooking good food from scratch. 

Essentially, Jamie's ambition is to start a national movement that changes the way America eats. How does he want this to happen? In 5 easy steps:

More cooking at home

• A nationwide network of community kitchens where anyone can go to learn basic home cooking
• Jamie's home cooking course

Freshly cooked meals at school

• An activist program to support parents who want better food in their child's school
• A community website to encourage grass-roots activities for change all over the US

Cooking in the community

• The Food Revolution truck, a mobile food classroom and flagship center for the Food Revolution
• A cooking course available in church halls, community and healthcare centers and the workplace

Schools and Communities - to inspire and educate parents, carers, young adults and children through:

• Freshly cooked meals in schools and colleges
• Cooking lessons for kids at school
• Lessons teaching basic food skills to healthcare and social care professionals
• Cooking classes for the public in the community

Corporations - to promote culture change and encourage community investment on several levels:

• Food industry - help to tackle obesity by producing better food products and labeling products in a more honest way
• Healthcare sector - investing in future health means cost savings down the line
• Employee health - provide better food for employees in company canteens and provide cooking classes for employees to give them the skills they need to be healthy

It seems so easy right? That's because, in reality, it is! If you are in support of healthy eating for our nation's children and encouraging the growth and development of healthy cooking at home, be sure to sign Jamie's petition (Linked below)

The movement continues on May 19th, with national Food Revolution Day. You can read more about Food Revolution Day HERE. 

As I mentioned earlier, Jamie's cause is something we're happy to support, even if that support is only sharing healthy recipes with you on a weekly basis. We'll continue that recipe sharing trend this week with two brand new recipes. Maggie takes to the kitchen on Tuesday with a unique dish featuring an uncommon whitefish. I'll follow her on Wednesday with an Irish inspired dish that is so elegantly simple you will have no excuse not to try it yourself! Be sure to stop in Tuesday night to see what Maggie has cooking. Until then, 

~Cheers