Some dweeb nobody knows whines about food in America

[Checkmite]

Story

Long Beach, California (CNN) -- Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on Wednesday called for an overhaul of America's food system, saying the country's poor decisions about what to eat are shortening life spans and increasing health care costs.

America has a "food system"?

"My wish is for you to have a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, to inspire families to cook again and to empower people everywhere to fight obesity," he said in a speech at the TED Conference in Long Beach, California.

We have health classes, cooking shows, and gymnasiums. Lots and lots of them.

• Every child in the U.S. should learn to cook 10 meals before leaving high school.

I'm sure the vast overwhelming majority of them can. And in any case, what's that going to accomplish? In home economics, I learned how to make low mein from scratch, and I've never done it again since.

• Supermarkets should appoint "food ambassadors" to explain to customers how they can prepare local, fresh and seasonal foods.

Yeah, that's all I need is people getting in my way when I'm grocery shopping, trying to "educate me". I can read labels just fine.

• Food companies should make education a central part of their business.

Then they wouldn't be food companies anymore; they would be education companies. Then they would have to raise the price of food to cover the cost of all their educating.

• Food labeling should be improved to accurately warn people about unhealthy food. He called America's current food-labeling system a "farce."

This entire "wish" is a farce. There's absolutely nothing wrong with current American nutritional labeling; it literally tells you everything - carbs, fat, sodium, sugar, calories, serving size, number of servings per container - everything!

 

[Foolmewunz]

Do you get out much? Oliver a dweeb? Right now, he's likely the most recognized chef in the world.

 

[lionking]

Do you get out much? Oliver a dweeb? Right now, he's likely the most recognized chef in the world.

I suspect Checkmite was being sarcastic.

But I'm interested in his answer to the unarguably serious US childhood obesity problem.

 

[Foolmewunz]

I suspect Checkmite was being sarcastic.

But I'm interested in his answer to the unarguably serious US childhood obesity problem.

I'm not sure - Maybe Jamie Oliver's only well-known amongst the 5 billion or so who reside outside of the USA. I can't recall if his programs get much airplay.

But, rather than worrying about what some furriner has ta say about amurrican eatin' habits, I think that anything that promotes dialogue on standard fare is a good thing.

 

[Checkmite]

But I'm interested in his answer to the unarguably serious US childhood obesity problem.

I don't pretend to have an answer; but I'm quite certain that none of Oliver's proposed changes is going to make one whit of difference. Everybody already knows that Burger King is unhealthy; it doesn't stop them from eating there. Everybody already knows that you control weight by eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat and bread; the knowledge does not compel them to change their eating habits. I think Oliver is being presumptuous in pinning the problem on a lack of education - "oh, the reason Americans are fat is because they don't know any better". It's like those Jack Chick types who think that all it takes to convert an atheist/Jew/Catholic/Muslim is to show them the passage from the Bible that says Jesus was the son of God.

And his unqualified notion that current food labeling is a "farce" is comical. It's like saying that a complete list of all 44 US presidents "isn't extensive enough". I don't see what of any nutritional significance could POSSIBLY appear on food labels that isn't already there. I suspect he's probably thinking that foods manufacturers should be forced to prominently label their own products "unhealthy" if they're processed or whatever.

 

[HawaiiBigSis]

I know that one of Jamie Oliver's schticks is to change the food choices at elementary school level.

That's probably the level the "re-education" needs to occur at.

Yeah, every adult knows -- or should know -- proper nutrition, but what needs to be learned early on is making the appropriate choices. Perhaps adding nutrition to the curriculum, taking the bad choices out of vending machines, making school lunches healthier would all be ways to model the behavior that would then be carried through to adulthood.

It would not happen overnight, and would probably take a generation or two to accomplish.

 

[lionking]

I know that one of Jamie Oliver's schticks is to change the food choices at elementary school level.

That's probably the level the "re-education" needs to occur at.

Spot on. He has played a part in changing eating habits of UK kids. Why can't he do the same in the USA?

Oh, that's right, he's a foreigner. He therefore has no right to make observations about the US. Got it.

 

[KingMerv00]

Do you get out much? Oliver a dweeb? Right now, he's likely the most recognized chef in the world.

I've never heard of him. I can't boil water so I'm probably not the best source anyway.

 

[arthwollipot]

I've never heard of him. I can't boil water so I'm probably not the best source anyway.

Hmm. Maybe he really doesn't get much airtime in the US. He's certainly all over the Food channel over here.

 

[Lucian]

Hmm. Maybe he really doesn't get much airtime in the US. He's certainly all over the Food channel over here.

No, I'd say he gets a fair amount of airtime here, as well. And I don't watch the Food Network much. Furthermore, while I can boil water, I usually burn it.

 

[uk_dave]

Furthermore, while I can boil water, I usually burn it.

Try soaking it first.

 

[Darat]

I don't pretend to have an answer; but I'm quite certain that none of Oliver's proposed changes is going to make one whit of difference. Everybody already knows that Burger King is unhealthy; it doesn't stop them from eating there. Everybody already knows that you control weight by eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat and bread; the knowledge does not compel them to change their eating habits. I think Oliver is being presumptuous in pinning the problem on a lack of education - "oh, the reason Americans are fat is because they don't know any better". It's like those Jack Chick types who think that all it takes to convert an atheist/Jew/Catholic/Muslim is to show them the passage from the Bible that says Jesus was the son of God.

And his unqualified notion that current food labeling is a "farce" is comical. It's like saying that a complete list of all 44 US presidents "isn't extensive enough". I don't see what of any nutritional significance could POSSIBLY appear on food labels that isn't already there. I suspect he's probably thinking that foods manufacturers should be forced to prominently label their own products "unhealthy" if they're processed or whatever.

Yet Jamie Oliver (and I find his TV persona bloody annoying) has had a dramatic effect on the diet of UK children, just today a report showed that 15% more of primary school kids are having vegetables with their school dinners. He spear-headed that change in school dinners in the UK.

So for once he is someone with a an empirically proven track record on how you can get people to change their diet, especially for children.

Link to report: http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/news_item.asp?NewsId=224

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Yeah, every adult knows -- or should know -- proper nutrition, but what needs to be learned early on is making the appropriate choices. Perhaps adding nutrition to the curriculum, taking the bad choices out of vending machines, making school lunches healthier would all be ways to model the behavior that would then be carried through to adulthood.

When I left Houston in 2004, they were putting healthy stuff in the elementary school vending machines, replacing, for example, chocolate with sandwiches and Coca-Cola with milkshakes.

 

[richardm]

When I left Houston in 2004, they were putting healthy stuff in the elementary school vending machines, replacing, for example, chocolate with sandwiches and Coca-Cola with milkshakes.

Yes, but were the kids buying it?

Edit: One of the issues Oliver faced in the UK was that he found you could put good food in schools, but getting the kids to actually eat it was a different matter, and attempts to persuade them that doing so would be a Good Thing were often done in the teeth of some quite severe opposition from parents. Arguments included things along the lines of: "We know this and don't care because the kids prefer chips", "The kids will only eat what they want to eat", "It's not fair making them eat rabbit food" and so on.

It appears, though, that persistence has paid off and we are now seeing an improvement in eating habits in schools. I can't quite see why attempting the same thing in American schools wouldn't be worth a try, not least since Oliver and his team have already seen all these arguments before and found them lacking.

 

[zooterkin]

I'd agree with Darat; Jamie Oliver knows what he's talking about, although he can be annoying. He may find it more difficult to make headway in the US if he is not well-known.

And his unqualified notion that current food labeling is a "farce" is comical. It's like saying that a complete list of all 44 US presidents "isn't extensive enough".

I'm a foreigner, and I know that only 43 men have been president

 

[Foolmewunz]

I'm a foreigner, and I know that only 43 men have been president

That is correct, but we count Obama as the 44th.

 

[332nd]

Oliver is known her on Food Network but he's not really a star. (and I watch FN a lot.)

Having said that, I see nothing wrong with what he's saying. Yes he is annoying (tv persona as mentioned.) and yes there will be Americans that grumble about him being a dang furiner, but he's right. Most of my childhood was spent hating veggies and the only reason I wasn't a fatty fat fat fat is because I had the metabolism of a jack rabbit on meth. I finally came to love the "rabbit food" but it was rather late in life. Why not get kids to love it early on?

That is correct, but we count Obama as the 44th.

... .... I'm sorry this keeps making me laugh.

 

[Checkmite]

Yet Jamie Oliver (and I find his TV persona bloody annoying) has had a dramatic effect on the diet of UK children, just today a report showed that 15% more of primary school kids are having vegetables with their school dinners. He spear-headed that change in school dinners in the UK.

I don't know what school lunches are like in the UK; but in the US in primary school, it's not a choice thing. In the US, there is a set meal for each day, and you either eat what's on the tray or you don't. In some schools, you have a "choice" of chocolate milk or regular milk. So if the result of 15% more kids eating vegetables with their school lunches was accomplished simply by compelling the schools to add a vegetable side to each meal and eliminating the chocolate milk as a choice, color me unimpressed. Kids eating more vegetables at school because there's nothing else to eat there now isn't a great accomplishment and says nothing about what they'll eat when they actually have a choice.

 

[Darat]

I don't know what school lunches are like in the UK; but in the US in primary school, it's not a choice thing. In the US, there is a set meal for each day, and you either eat what's on the tray or you don't. In some schools, you have a "choice" of chocolate milk or regular milk. So if the result of 15% more kids eating vegetables with their school lunches was accomplished simply by compelling the schools to add a vegetable side to each meal and eliminating the chocolate milk as a choice, color me unimpressed. Kids eating more vegetables at school because there's nothing else to eat there now isn't a great accomplishment and says nothing about what they'll eat when they actually have a choice.

As richardm put it he's someone who has "...already seen all these arguments before and found them lacking..." and actually made a change for the better happen. He is not talking from either ignorance nor with a lack of actual evidence but from experience with dealing with attitudes such as you express and now actual data that shows his approach can make a significant change for the better in children's diet.

I really don't understand what you have against his ideas.

 

[The Fallen Serpent]

I don't know what school lunches are like in the UK; but in the US in primary school, it's not a choice thing. In the US, there is a set meal for each day, and you either eat what's on the tray or you don't. In some schools, you have a "choice" of chocolate milk or regular milk. So if the result of 15% more kids eating vegetables with their school lunches was accomplished simply by compelling the schools to add a vegetable side to each meal and eliminating the chocolate milk as a choice, color me unimpressed. Kids eating more vegetables at school because there's nothing else to eat there now isn't a great accomplishment and says nothing about what they'll eat when they actually have a choice.

It still may help with obesity for the years they have no choice. Also keep in mind part of the call in change is for schools to stop selling soda and candy bars to their students. I went to two different high schools. One banned non-water drinks in class, the other sold coffee from a stand that was open between periods. Guess which school encouraged kids to became caffeine addicts? If parents allow their children to eat unhealthy lunches that is fine, no one is advocating removing parental choice, but the schools should not be the enablers that they currently are by trying to compete in food sales.