Food revolution

British chef and television personality Jamie Oliver shared his philosophy on cooking at home with an eager crowd of food lovers on November 22, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. Chef Jamie Oliver of TV’s The Naked Chef, Jamie’s Kitchen, and Jamie at Home fame spoke to a packed theatre at Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall. In town to promote the philosophy behind his latest mission Jamie’s Ministry of Food and its accompanying cookbook, Jamie’s Food Revolution, the charismatic Oliver enlightened the audience on his mission to get people back into the kitchen, cooking their own meals. Holding court for eighty minutes, the chef-turned-celebrity was enthusiastic about practicing what he preached, often dancing across the stage or posing to illustrate a point, namely, that anyone can cook and it is never to late to learn to cook for oneself. Jamie’s Food Revolution and the Ministry of Food

First published in the UK as a compendium to the Ministry of Food television series, the book is known in Britain by the title Jamie’s Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours. The British title illustrates the idea that Oliver is trying to pass on in the UK, the United States, and in Canada: everyone has the ability to cook good, healthy, fresh meals at home. When it premiered in 2008 on television, Jamie’s Ministry of Food was set in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. This location was chosen as it represented a very average picture of British working-class society. By recruiting several students for his cooking class, the theory espoused by Oliver was that when an individual mastered the ability to cook even one simple recipe, he or she could then teach two more people the same recipe, and they in turn would pass it on to two more people. The “Pass It On” campaign gathered mobility through social networking sites such as Facebook where users were able to chart their progress in learning recipes and passing them forward.
Anyone Can Cook According to Oliver
Jamie Oliver’s overarching theory is, of course, given the necessary instruction, anyone can learn to cook. Oliver claims that all it takes to begin cooking for oneself and family is self-confidence. The revolution he is taking charge of is to push for the switch from fast food to home cooking, for not only the sake of the nation’s wallet, but also for health reasons. Oliver believes that families can be fed quality home cooking on any budget- be it $10, $20, or $50- there are affordable and delicious options for all. Part of Oliver’s campaign includes not only teaching people the necessary kitchen skills, but also the grocery shopping know-how in learning about fresh and healthy ingredients, beginning with elementary school-age children. His faith rests in the younger generations as he says this is the generation who will seek out change, ask questions and are more eco-conscious than ever. A charismatic speaker, he encourages all people to go “back to our roots” in eating healthy, sustainable foods, especially those grown locally.
How to Get Kids to Make Healthy Choices
With a young family of his own and years of experience working in schools and kitchens with kids, in addition to the insight gained in his Jamie’s School Dinners project, Oliver has a few tips for getting kids into food. Instead of forcing kids to eat vegetables, he insists on making things fun, including grocery shopping, suggesting parents let children pick fresh fruits and vegetables out themselves. Oliver also believes in focusing on the healthy and fresh items kids do like, instead of forcing them to eat the things they dislike. As well, Oliver says there is nothing wrong with blending extra vegetables into child favourites like pasta sauce and soups. It is clear Oliver is passionate about cooking and getting people to make healthy choices. With the compelling Ministry of Food series and the accompanying book full of easy-to-learn crative recipes, his food revolution has the ability to change the attitudes and kitchens of a great number of people.