Jamie Oliver traveled to what was called the unhealthiest city in the U.S. -- Huntington, West Virginia -- to educate the residents about the food "that's killing America" in his new series, 'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution,' which premieres March 26 at 8 PM on ABC. (A special preview aired on the 21st.)
During his tenure, the people of West Virginia put up a lot of resistance. A radio DJ in the town bluntly told him, "We don't want to sit around eating lettuce all day!" And the women in the school cafeteria were equally upset with the British chef's presence -- causing Oliver to break down in tears. "They don't understand me," he cried.
However, the British chef persevered, determined to make a difference in everyone's diets and consciousness about their health. Jamie chatted with PopEater about his experience on the show.
"We're not painting a perfect picture of me walking in there and going 'Da da dah.' We follow what really happened. Even to the bitter end," he says.
I really enjoyed the premiere. There are so many misconceptions about the people from that part of the country, and I think you're really helping the world to understand.
Thank you. I think Huntington comes out looking just beautiful over the series. Reality TV has got a bit of a dodgy rep, so we played with it very sensitively.
Were you expecting the kind of resistance you encountered when you first got there?
Honestly, yes. I've never done anything worthwhile involving change that hasn't gotten resistance. Change is the hardest thing in the world and resistance is normal. It's never particularly much fun, but you have to just keep going and push through it and try. It did take about a month and a half before I broke the back of it. The thing that really helped was working with individual families – them spreading the word that I was there for good reasons and I actually was changing their lives and allowing them to live differently.
Watch the First Episode
It seemed that the first family you visited were much more willing and positive about the experience than others.
All of the families that I came in contact with were never saying, "We don't want you, get lost, go." It was more of the opposite. It was, "Help, please. I feel like a bad mom. I know what I'm doing is wrong, I just don't know how to do it right. No one's ever taught me to cook at home or at school, so I'm sitting here with four kids wondering, 'What on Earth do I do?'" Telling that story is quite important. I think there are going to be a lot of parents feeling a bit bad about that. You can't really blame the parents when the whole culture and the whole horizon of food is all the same. Knowing how to shop and to cook a few things gives you so many choices to live differently.
You just want to tell them it's not all their fault.
Absolutely. It's not their fault to a point. Obviously, there comes a point when they've got to deliver. It's all right saying, "You know, you're doing it wrong," but you've got to go and do it. You have to invest time in it. It's not like when your kids learn to ride a bike, they've done it straight away. You've got to invest time in that. When your kids learn to talk or walk, you have to invest time in that. Cooking is no different. Cooking knowledge is no different. I know I'm a biased, but the way I look at it, you use cooking three times a day, normally in your life. Then, probably the second biggest amount of money that you spend in your life is at the supermarket. You might as well get good at shopping and save yourself the money. I haven't actually worked with a family yet who I haven't saved them $100 to $150 dollars a week.
You said it took about a month and a half for the people of Huntington to accept you. Will we see more struggles in upcoming episodes?
The show is very fun and natural and it is what it is. We're not painting a perfect picture of me walking in there and going 'Da da dah.' We follow what really happened. Even to the bitter end ... I'm not saying it's a happy ending. I'm saying that wonderful things are achieved. Really, the happy ending is what's going to happen in the next year or two years.
What's the best advice about cooking that you have?
Oh that's a hard one. Of course, you can keep it simple. You really only need, I call it ten recipes to save your life. Recipes that you enjoy from stew to pasta to sauces to stir fry -- knowing how to make salads taste delicious and making greens taste delicious. Everyday dishes like that, that's the kind of thing you want to have in your repertoire. And ten simple recipes, as well. The other thing is when you're shopping, organizing what you buy so you don't waste money. But one of the biggest things is -- if you turn around a pack and you don't understand what's on the back, if it sounds like a science lesson, don't buy it. That's a quickie.
Olivia Wilde gives back with her involvement in the EMA Garden Project to promote organic food. She got her hands dirty by planting seeds, watering them and tasting the fresh fair.
First of all, it's Huntington, WV...not VA. I grew up in Huntington and the people don't like someone telling them they are wrong. That doesn't mean it's correct, but they are good people.
I work at my son's school as a noon supervisior ,{ watching the kids at lunch time } i see all the food that those kids throw away .it is sad when we have so many starving people in this country . the people in that town should be ashamed of them selfs . lazy parents giving the kids frozen chicken nugget ,gross . kids now days don't know how to eat real food .only procesed or fast food .when real chicken is served to them they don't know how to eat it . lazy parents . too many people not MAKING REAL FOOD thats why america is fat...
I saw an report on CNN how kids who are overweight and subsequently eat poorly are actually aging faster. Poor eating habits puts undue pressure on vital organs and causes their organs to work excessively. This whole eating thing and the poor habits that we have developed in the U.S. needs to be right up there in terms of importance with jobs, healthcare and the like. It's time someone produced a television show that speaks to a really important topic in this format.
Alice Gue (cook on the show)....please change your attitude!!! He is just trying to help you. As I have stated before, I am from Huntington originally but I was horrified to see your disdain for this man that is trying to help the students that you say you love.
Please take a dose of reality. This is a tv show. If he was greated with open arms then there would be no show. This is a reality show, i.e. scripted parts occur. Also, he is not there out of the generosity of his heart, he is there TO MAKE MONEY. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
I think Jamie Oliver is a leader not a follower and that is exactly what it takes for change and invention. The cafeteria women were all unhealthy looking and extremely rude. They were unable to change for the good of themselves and especially the children. I don't know how it ends but I am going to watch.
Your kids won't eat anything EXCEPT junk food? Then they're not really hungry. We ate what mom put in front of us, end of story. This is a rule as old as the hills, more people should go back to this kind of thinking. Meat, starch, veg.. If there was something we didn't like we had to take at least ONE bite of it. The rest we scarfed down like animals. Then WE cleaned up the kitchen while she folded laundry! I'm 42 years old and I can take care of myself. I can cook, clean, and sew on my own damm buttons without crying over it. Not many born after 1980 can say the same, and the future is even MORE bleak!
OK let me see if I can get this straight...you see how many of the cooks at the elementary school are obese, if they don't see anything wrong with their weight how do you expect them to get behind trying to get the kids to eat better. The dietician for the school system is overwight by a good bit too. The problem is Jamie is here in America where people have the right to be as unhealthy as they want to be. The saddest part is these people don't even care about trying something that could let their children live healthier happier lives.
Jamie Oliver is doing a fantastic job and a HUGE undertaking because he truly cares about these people. They need help and need to be shown new ways of cooking and eating. I felt very sad alot of times watching this show but it is good. he is trying to make a change and the kids at school is definitely a great place to start. Right on Jamie!!
Go Jaime.......help these people see the junk that they are feeding their children. Children need white milk and vegetables and fruit everyday.....not when it is convient. and what happened to mom and dad sending a lunch box to school. why do we allow the school to feed our children! I feed my child what i believe is healthy and you should too. NEVER GIVE YOUR CHILD SODA...EVER
I am from Huntington, WV. I remember when he and all the filming crew came. Everyone knew from the start that they were here to make fun of WV like most people in the country does....that was the problem. I watched the show and it appears we were not seen as any different than any other show has tried to portray us, except for "WE ARE MARSHALL" which is a true story about our University where I earned my BSW. All "lunch ladies" are hard core - they sort of have to be to deal with so many children each day. If he went to St. Mary's Hospital or Cabell Huntington Hospital or to the V.A. Hospital where I am employed, you would have seen different attitudes toward change. We all worry about our children and love our kids here. We are a great SAFE low crime town with plenty of LOVE to go around. I never ate school lunch as most kids do not.....I took my own so I could eat what I liked. So did my children. We are not fat - I am a PhD, my oldest daughter is a lawyer, my middle daughter a RN, and my youngest in college. We are not the only successful people in this wonderful town, but it is full of people like us!
As a fellow West Virginia, I of course know that you are right. But if Jamie's show visited your family and others like yours, it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining, would it? Much better to seek out people Jamie can make fun of, so he can exaggerate his importance, and entertain coast dwellers with highly edited footage that reinforces stereotypes.
I really think your feeling that they were making fun of West Virginians is just being a little sensitive. I did not get that feeling at all from the show. I don't feel WV's were portrayed badly at all. The lunch lady wasn't very nice, the school was only concerned with money....those are things that happen in every state. The family he visited was overweight, but kind and intelligent....like families I've seen in many other states. I didn't see anything about the show (so far) that made WV look bad.
I wish people could put their sensitivities aside and realize that parents need to stand up to the government that is requiring schools to feed our children absolute garbage. Don't let the Department of Agriculture decide what food it wants a school to buy. DEMAND that your children eat healthy food while in the care of the school. I don't think that is at all too much to ask.
I grew up on Govt. subsidized Hot meals cooked from scratch in the Elementary schools - But that was in the 60s. That was when "lunch ladies" earned their pay and took pride in what they served. And kids ate it because we didn't have all this processed crap ! Here in NH our schools serve processed chicken EVERY day with just a different name every day !! It's totally unacceptable !
Jamie Oliver should stay in England and make the fat slobs in England eat right and get in shape. Let us Americans take care of ourselves. We don't need a Brit to tell us Americans how to eat. Clean up England Oliver, not our country. Thanks for listening all.
As a child, I spent a short time in West Virginia attending elementary school and we had home cooked meals back then. This is shocking at how much processed food kids are fed. This one school is a blue print of how bad school lunches are across America. This program should make every parent demand that schools serve healthier food to kids. Of course most kids will choose pizza and fast food over healthy food that's why adults have to provide healthy choices for them. Nothing wrong with pizza and hamburgers, etc. but not everyday.
I'm glad someone really cares about all our "fat kids". They won't live as long as their parents due to the bad food consumption and being couch potatoes with their video games. When I was a kid the school lunch ladies really cooked food, not just heating up the junk food being delivered to schools these days. Kids need to eat healthy meals and for God"s sake make them go outside and play. Kids these days don't play anything but video games, watch tv and sleep, no wonder they are so fat and lazy. My kids were fed properly and sent outside to play, get fresh air and sunshine and they were much slimmer than several of their friends. Today in their middle age they are still slim and healthy because I cared enough to make them learn to like fruits and vegetables and get plenty of excerize outside in the sunshine as kids. Parents and schools are to blame for our kids being so fat and lazy and not much of a life to live. As "Jamie" said, you're killing your kids.
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First of all, it's Huntington, WV...not VA. I grew up in Huntington and the people don't like someone telling them they are wrong. That doesn't mean it's correct, but they are good people.
Reply
I work at my son's school as a noon supervisior ,{ watching the kids at lunch time } i see all the food that those kids throw away .it is sad when we have so many starving people in this country . the people in that town should be ashamed of them selfs . lazy parents giving the kids frozen chicken nugget ,gross . kids now days don't know how to eat real food .only procesed or fast food .when real chicken is served to them they don't know how to eat it . lazy parents . too many people not MAKING REAL FOOD thats why america is fat...
Reply
I saw an report on CNN how kids who are overweight and subsequently eat poorly are actually aging faster. Poor eating habits puts undue pressure on vital organs and causes their organs to work excessively. This whole eating thing and the poor habits that we have developed in the U.S. needs to be right up there in terms of importance with jobs, healthcare and the like. It's time someone produced a television show that speaks to a really important topic in this format.
Reply
Alice Gue (cook on the show)....please change your attitude!!! He is just trying to help you. As I have stated before, I am from Huntington originally but I was horrified to see your disdain for this man that is trying to help the students that you say you love.
Reply
Please take a dose of reality. This is a tv show. If he was greated with open arms then there would be no show. This is a reality show, i.e. scripted parts occur. Also, he is not there out of the generosity of his heart, he is there TO MAKE MONEY. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
I think Jamie Oliver is a leader not a follower and that is exactly what it takes for change and invention. The cafeteria women were all unhealthy looking and extremely rude. They were unable to change for the good of themselves and especially the children. I don't know how it ends but I am going to watch.
Reply
Your kids won't eat anything EXCEPT junk food? Then they're not really hungry. We ate what mom put in front of us, end of story.
This is a rule as old as the hills, more people should go back to this kind of thinking.
Meat, starch, veg.. If there was something we didn't like we had to take at least ONE bite of it. The rest we scarfed down like animals. Then WE cleaned up the kitchen while she folded laundry!
I'm 42 years old and I can take care of myself. I can cook, clean, and sew on my own damm buttons without crying over it. Not many born after 1980 can say the same, and the future is even MORE bleak!
Reply
100% Agree. This is how my wife and I feed out kids. They can't eat what you don't buy and prepare for them. At least at home they cannot.
OK let me see if I can get this straight...you see how many of the cooks at the elementary school are obese, if they don't see anything wrong with their weight how do you expect them to get behind trying to get the kids to eat better. The dietician for the school system is overwight by a good bit too. The problem is Jamie is here in America where people have the right to be as unhealthy as they want to be. The saddest part is these people don't even care about trying something that could let their children live healthier happier lives.
Reply
Jamie Oliver is doing a fantastic job and a HUGE undertaking because he truly cares about these people. They need help and need to be shown new ways of cooking and eating. I felt very sad alot of times watching this show but it is good. he is trying to make a change and the kids at school is definitely a great place to start. Right on Jamie!!
Reply
Go Jaime.......help these people see the junk that they are
feeding their children. Children need white milk and vegetables
and fruit everyday.....not when it is convient. and what happened
to mom and dad sending a lunch box to school. why do we allow
the school to feed our children! I feed my child what i believe
is healthy and you should too. NEVER GIVE YOUR CHILD SODA...EVER
Reply
I am from Huntington, WV. I remember when he and all the filming crew came. Everyone knew from the start that they were here to make fun of WV like most people in the country does....that was the problem. I watched the show and it appears we were not seen as any different than any other show has tried to portray us, except for "WE ARE MARSHALL" which is a true story about our University where I earned my BSW. All "lunch ladies" are hard core - they sort of have to be to deal with so many children each day. If he went to St. Mary's Hospital or Cabell Huntington Hospital or to the V.A. Hospital where I am employed, you would have seen different attitudes toward change. We all worry about our children and love our kids here. We are a great SAFE low crime town with plenty of LOVE to go around. I never ate school lunch as most kids do not.....I took my own so I could eat what I liked. So did my children. We are not fat - I am a PhD, my oldest daughter is a lawyer, my middle daughter a RN, and my youngest in college. We are not the only successful people in this wonderful town, but it is full of people like us!
Reply
As a fellow West Virginia, I of course know that you are right. But if Jamie's show visited your family and others like yours, it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining, would it? Much better to seek out people Jamie can make fun of, so he can exaggerate his importance, and entertain coast dwellers with highly edited footage that reinforces stereotypes.
I really think your feeling that they were making fun of West Virginians is just being a little sensitive. I did not get that feeling at all from the show. I don't feel WV's were portrayed badly at all. The lunch lady wasn't very nice, the school was only concerned with money....those are things that happen in every state. The family he visited was overweight, but kind and intelligent....like families I've seen in many other states. I didn't see anything about the show (so far) that made WV look bad.
I wish people could put their sensitivities aside and realize that parents need to stand up to the government that is requiring schools to feed our children absolute garbage. Don't let the Department of Agriculture decide what food it wants a school to buy. DEMAND that your children eat healthy food while in the care of the school. I don't think that is at all too much to ask.
I grew up on Govt. subsidized Hot meals cooked from scratch in the Elementary schools - But that was in the 60s. That was when "lunch ladies" earned their pay and took pride in what they served. And kids ate it because we didn't have all this processed crap ! Here in NH our schools serve processed chicken EVERY day with just a different name every day !! It's totally unacceptable !
Reply
Get your *ss back to England, idiot.
Reply
Jamie is a hero!
Reply
Jamie Oliver should stay in England and make the fat slobs in England eat right and get in shape. Let us Americans take care of ourselves. We don't need a Brit to tell us Americans how to eat. Clean up England Oliver, not our country. Thanks for listening all.
Reply
As a child, I spent a short time in West Virginia attending elementary school and we had home cooked meals back then. This is shocking at how much processed food kids are fed. This one school is a blue print of how bad school lunches are across America. This program should make every parent demand that schools serve healthier food to kids. Of course most kids will choose pizza and fast food over healthy food that's why adults have to provide healthy choices for them. Nothing wrong with pizza and hamburgers, etc. but not everyday.
Reply
I'm glad someone really cares about all our "fat kids". They won't live as long as their parents due to the bad food consumption and being couch potatoes with their video games. When I was a kid the school lunch ladies really cooked food, not just heating up the junk food being delivered to schools these days. Kids need to eat healthy meals and for God"s sake make them go outside and play. Kids these days don't play anything but video games, watch tv and sleep, no wonder they are so fat and lazy. My kids were fed properly and sent outside to play, get fresh air and sunshine and they were much slimmer than several of their friends. Today in their middle age they are still slim and healthy because I cared enough to make them learn to like fruits and vegetables and get plenty of excerize outside in the sunshine as kids. Parents and schools are to blame for our kids being so fat and lazy and not much of a life to live. As "Jamie" said, you're killing your kids.
Reply