Jamie Oliver is here to start a revolution. The impassioned chef, TV personality and best-selling author is determined to take on the high statistics of obesity, heart disease and diabetes in this country, where our nation’s children are the first generation not expected to live as long as their parents. Oliver is inviting viewers to take a stand and change the way America eats, in our home kitchens, schools and workplaces, with the thought-provoking new series, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, debuting Friday, March 26, (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The series is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions and Fresh One Productions.
In the series, Oliver heads to Huntington, WVa. — which has been called the unhealthiest city in America — to start his new cooking initiative. He hopes to help get Huntington off that list and start a chain reaction of positive change across the country. Oliver says, “The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love. There’s an incredible community in Huntington, and I want this experience to be a celebration of what we can achieve when people come together. I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn’t have to be boring or dull in the slightest. Wonderful stories will unfold in Huntington, and hopefully this will inspire the rest of the States.”
Needled by local naysayers, challenged by ingrained unhealthy habits and government bureaucracy, and welcomed by some of the most surprising youngsters, families and local leaders, Oliver shows how, in just a few short months, he tried to transform Huntington as a template for the entire country. The stakes — simply the health of our country’s citizens and the legacy for its children.
The series is loosely based on Jamie Oliver’s U.K. series, Jamie’s Ministry of Food and Jamie’s School Dinners, which saw his successful grass-roots efforts improve the school lunches in communities there. For the latter show, it resulted in a total overhaul of the school dinner program in the U.K. In America, he’s turning his attention to helping people of all ages eat more balanced meals and cook with fresh ingredients, not only at schools, but also homes, workplaces and even restaurants.
Oliver’s recent television credits include Oprah’s Big Give for ABC. He is the author of nine popular cookbooks, including The Naked Chef, Cook with Jamie and Jamie at Home. Hyperion published his latest cookbook, Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals, in October 2009.
Executive producers of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution are Jamie Oliver, Ryan Seacrest and Craig Armstrong (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
Dear Jamie- You are a culinary angel sent from God himself. So many of us moms feel helpless with the same issues you are tackling on your new TV Show. Be true to yourself, brother- your intentions are obvious and some people are just not open to change….or the truth. Society has become one of convenience regardless of the risk & damage to our bodies and minds. I am part of a group of moms in a small town in West Texas,- Del Rio- Laughlin Air Force Base- you have our full support & we would be happy to help and support you in any way. I have posted your show on my Facebook page & suggest you start a Facebook page. I have our entire school on it- as well as others.
I know you feel like you are talking to walls in your endeavors- DO NOT GIVE UP- eventually you will be heard. Children do not NEED choices when it comes to school lunches. Any child would choose pizza over Grilled chicken…. I know mine would 5 out of 6 times if given the choice. It took these kids years to develop bad habits- it will take some time to change them. A week is certainly not enough time….for the purpose of TV Production, I understand. This is an EPIDEMIC in our country and it needs to be addressed. I beg you to get on as many talk and News shows as you can. We love you and appreciate you so much- remember- “It takes a village”….. you cannot do this alone….get your parents involved….let us help. Bless you- and fight the good fight,- Cheers!- Renee Harper