Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Coming to a TV Near You

by Katherine Gustafson · 2010-02-27 06:00:00 UTC
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As winner of this year's TED Prize, chef Jamie Oliver got one wish, which he used to request that people help him start a movement to educate kids about food, inspire families to cook and empower people to fight obesity. As a way of jumpstarting that movement he will host a new television show, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," to premier on ABC on March 26.

The show chronicles Oliver's attempt to change the way the people of Huntington, West Virginia, eat. He chose the community because it was named the most unhealthy in the nation, so success there would set an example for other communities. In a recent visit to a local elementary school, Oliver was appalled to find the kids eating pizza for breakfast.

The show promises to offer more than just the drama of kids learning to tell a tomato from a potato (though some of the kids he spoke to clearly need the lesson) — a preview, below, reveals some strong skepticism from the townspeople: A combative radio host told Oliver more or less where he can shove his revolution. "We don't want to sit around and eat lettuce all day," the host snipes. "I don't think that you should come in here and tell us what to do. I mean, who made you the king?"

Oliver, in true reality TV style, offers the camera a few frustrated tears, blubbering "they don't understand me 'cause they don't know why I'm here." Soon enough, though, he's up and at 'em, showing the students, parents and teachers a mountain of yucky whitish chunks in a dumpster to illustrate how much fat the school consumes in one year.

"This is the first generation of kids expected to live a shorter life than their parents," he tells the crowd. "Will you support me?" After the trick with the fat, the crowd's skepticism has disappeared. "Yes!" they shout back.

Good thing, because he'll need a whole lot of cooperation to start what he is calling "the biggest food revolution this country's ever seen." At the very least, it should make for good viewing. Take a look at this sneak peek:

To see more of his combative interview with the radio host, check this one out:

Screenshot: ABCNetwork on YouTube

Katherine Gustafson is a freelance writer and editor with a background in international nonprofit organizations.
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