Jamie Oliver is Back!

Jamie Oliver has no idea who I am, but I could not help but feeling like a long time friend was coming home when he returned to America for the show. Even though we do not know each other we are kindred spirits when it comes to being passionate about helping families change their eating habits.  

Now, I know that there is obviously drama related to any reality TV show, but still I get excited at how Jamie Oliver exposes poor habits that are developed in and encouraged by the typical school system in America.  Granted there are schools are doing it right in regards to nutrition, and we highly applaud them!

My kids were completely groused out by the way a processed chicken nugget was made in the series last year.  It continued to open their eyes to the sad unhealthy state of most fast foods our society so frequently scarfs down.  

Use this time watching Food Revolution with your kids to start some great conversations about what is really in food.  Ask them what changes they would like to make in your household based on what they learn.  Let them LEAD and watch what happens!  

Many times we as adults do not want our kids "telling us what to do."  Let this be a time for your kids to tell you what to do:  Allow them to choose something after each show that they want to remove from or add to your family's nutritional routine.  They can be a part of throwing something unhealthy away and going to the store to purchase a good replacement.

Let your kids take the LEAD and watch what happens.............

Clip of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Nature's Packaging

My kids eat snacks during the day, and my goal is for what they eat to count for something significant in their bodies.  I want them to enjoy it and know why it is good for them.  I try to stay as homemade as I can.  Prepackaged snacks often times have lots of artificial ingredients and fillers to increase their taste and shelf life.  Seriously, a package of goldfish or graham crackers is going to taste the same 5 years from now! That should speak volumes to us and stop us for a minute to consider what is in that "food like substance" as Michael Pollan calls them, that allows it to remain the same so long.  I like to reduce their exposure to prepackaged snacks to occasionally.

Today, we limited our partaking of prepackaged snacks and helped the environment by eating fresh tangerines.  The kids love pealing them by themselves,and the taste is unbeatable!  They are packed with vitamins and minerals that are bioavailable - ready to be absorbed into their bodies and get to work!

Now, I cannot change the shelf life very much of the snack we had today, but I can guarantee that the packaging is perfectly designed to go back into the ground and create new life after it decomposes!   And, the effect of what is inside the snack will beat anything you can buy in a man-made package!  We can thank our Creator, God, for creating the first snacks for on the go- perfectly packaged!