Here’s an interesting fact for you – 1 in 20 British parents believe that a packet of potato chips counts as a portion of vegetables. 1 in 10 believe that eating fruit is bad for you. It’s probably too late to educate these parents about healthy eating choices – but it doesn’t need to be too late to educate their children. That’s the message British chef Jamie Oliver is trying to get across with his Food Revolution Day on May 15th.
Here at Food24, we’re unashamed foodies. We’ll go anywhere, anytime to nibble, chow, gobble, lick, savour and enjoy pretty much any kind of food you can name. We’re big supporters of foraged food, of seasonal menus, of farm-to-table restaurants and food markets, not just because we’re trendy and all these things that are hot right now, but because we care about what we eat and we want to know and understand more about it and how it gets onto our plates. That way we can make good choices or at least, well-informed bad ones!
How did we get to be such food lovers? Well I was taught to cook at a very early age by my mum. We didn’t have much money growing up, so luxuries such as store-bought cakes, frozen meals or takeaways were never on the menu. Everything was made from scratch and my earliest memories of home are all tinged with the scent of something lovely coming from the oven.
I wouldn’t say I’m a brilliant cook, but I understand the terminology and can produce most everyday dishes from raw ingredients without too much fuss. It doesn’t always look good, but it certainly tastes that way!
The problem is that too many kids are no longer getting these invaluable lessons from their parents. A stay-at-home mum or dad is becoming a rarity these days, not the norm, and lack of time means parents are having to increasingly depend on pre-prepped or store-bought convenience food. So children are missing out on vital knowledge and skills when it comes to choosing, preparing and eating healthily for life.
It’s this gap that Jamie is trying to fill. His campaign aims to get food education on the menu of every school, teaching the kids about where their food comes from, what effect it has on their bodies, how to best prepare it and most importantly – what fun good food can be.
Diet-related diseases such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and strokes are some of the world’s biggest killers so this isn’t just about being trendy and shopping at a cool new market – it’s about saving our children’s lives!
Food Revolution Day is May 15th and there are a number of suggestions about how to celebrate it on the official . But you don’t have to wait until May – you can start right now! We’ve got loads of recipe inspiration and fun things to make with your family!
Let’s get cooking, South Africa, and join the Food Revolution today!