Jamie Oliver's food revolution: but kids don't like fresh, healthy food

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is at the forefront of positive change for children and families...Except, kids still prefer fast food, processed food high in sugar, salt and fat.  What's a parent to do?  It may not be as easy as grabbing dinner while coasting through a drive-through window, but sitting at a table and sharing healthy food as a family will have far greater benefits to your children, to your stress levels and to your family relationships.  Choose to be an entitlement-free family instead of a family that chooses short term convenience over true value.

Be a family that stands up for "more"!  The pressure on parents and children to give in and give up on healthy food choices has created a "Culture of Corpulence" as described in the March 14th Newsweek article.  Consider these facts from Claudia Kalb's article:

• When McDonald's opened in the 1950's, a soda weighed 7 ounces.
• Vending machines with predominantly "junk food" are in 17% of elementary schools, 82% of middle schools, and 97% of high schools
• Food and drink advertising to children is a $1.6 billion annual effort

Parents and children have become blind by a "new normal" of food and of eating.  The "new normal" has not only changed our eating habits and preferences; it's changed our bodies and brains.  Processed foods, high in sugar, salt and fat, have literally changed brain chemistry.  Parents, and especially kids, crave the processed food and crave more of it. 

The new food addiction is described in this passage from Your Food Addiction is Great for Business:

The brain has 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion connectors for memory alone. Each brain cell is dependent on homeostatic balance to function properly. High doses of sugar, salt, fat and caffeine can cause imbalances in the brain's normal chemistry. Eating natural foods allows the brain's chemistry to function normally. Natural foods assist homeostasis, supplying vitamins, minerals, soft fibers, cell salts and enzymes to assist the body in maintaining balance. In a balanced state, hunger is in relation to the body's need for nutrition.

Read similar discussions about processed food affecting taste, hunger and food preferences in Nancy Tracy's 'Bliss Point' of Fat, Sugar and salt linked to Hypereating, Obesity and Why Does Fast Food Taste So Good? from Fast Food Nation.

So, what is a parent suppose to do when the odds are stacked against you?

1. Create a "healthy food mantra" for your family.  Use it to guide you through the obstacles when you're tempted to give in and give up.  Start simple: "There's always time for good food, and time together".  Or, "we celebrate everyday by cooking something good".  Or, "kids eat healthy food so they can live long to torment their parents"!
2. Plan easy meals and snacks.  Bring healthy food into your home.  Download Jamie's Oliver's iphone app for easy 20 minute meals.  If you don't plan it, it can't happen.
3. Include food shopping, prep and mealtime in your daily/weekly schedule.  If it's truly a priority, you have to create time for it.  Yes, eliminate something else from your endless to-do list.
4. Give your child time to "detox" from sugar, salt and fat.  Expect a little whining and testing behavior as your child adapts to a new healthy "normal".  No one likes change.  Parents need to lead the way to what's right, what's healthy and what's meaningful.
5. Eat together every day.  Time spent together over good food does more for your family life and your child's development than any other activity - REALLY.  The family connection will make up for the yuck-factor of all these new food experiments.

Make a commitment to do the right thing...right now.  And sign onto the Food Revolution by signing Jamie's petition:

I support the Food Revolution. America's kids need better food at school and better health prospects. We need to keep cooking skills alive.