First Cut Fitness

I know I have mentioned Jamie Oliver and his Food Revolution many times in the past, but the time has now come that not only can you support the cause by viewing the show, but you can lend a voice by signing this petition for better school lunches! With the baby boomers getting older, the youth getting more and more out of shape, and a health care system in disarray, if actions aren't taken immediately, America is about to be hit with the perfect storm.

Join the Food Revolution today, and make a difference in the lives of our children and the country as a whole!

It's finally time to say goodbye to something we grew up with, but its a bittersweet departure that's been long overdue. Although it has served its purpose for awhile, and taught us all general nutrition tips, it is quite apparent - with the rampant obesity epidemic in America today - that the effectiveness of the Food Pyramid has certainly waned over the years.

Was it because it was too difficult to follow on a daily basis? Too much temptation for junk and fast food? Too expensive to maintain? Or that people just simply stopped caring about their health overall?

In the whole scheme of things, is the Food Pyramid really to blame at all? Or is it merely used as a scapegoat to represent "out with the old, in with the new?"

What the USDA now recommends is this system called "Choose My Plate." From the looks of it, it doesn't seem all that much different, other than that they broke it down to even more categories (five opposed to the previous four). Do they think this will help simplify things? The same people who made the conscious decision to not follow the Food Pyramid will undoubtedly respond the same way to this.

As mentioned in my Food Revolution post, it certainly doesn't help that the schools supposedly teaching the kids about nutrition and health are also feeding them slop in the cafeteria. Actions speak much louder than words. People will carry habits learned as a child as they grow up, and the example set by the horrendous school lunches is pretty much telling them that fatty food and sugary gunk are perfectly acceptable and normal. Sure, in the back of their head, they may remember, and can recite the four food groups, but what sits in front of them on the table is what really sinks in their brain (and stomach).

To sum it up, in order to make a dent in this obesity epidemic in America, it's going to take a lot more than just changing the recommended food intake chart, something that likely wasn't an issue in the first place. However, what it does show is that the USDA is indeed trying, and this fresh start is a sign that they actually are aware of the problems. It also serves to remind the general public, as this news will surely reach the mainstream media. Hopefully, it is merely the beginning, and there is much more in store.

Wow, just a mere week after I was singing the praises of my favorite new TV program, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, comes this tidbit of news that ABC is pulling the plug on the show!* I kind of figured something was up when it was inexplicably postponed not once, but two weeks in a row, despite commercial advertisements stating the exact time and date leading up to it.

This is very sad news in many ways. According to the article, ratings were low, and ABC really couldn't afford to keep airing it during the crucial May sweeps. This is understandable, since ABC, like any other company, is out to look after their bottom line. However, replacing it with a repeat of Dancing with the Stars? The same episode that was on just the night before? What kind of slap in the face is this?

What is disheartening is that it proves what I mentioned in my original post about the American public being totally indifferent to this whole obesity epidemic, thinking that lounging on their love seats gobbling up mindless drivel is more important than turning their attention to something educational, entertaining, and ultimately life altering. The fact that ABC has decided to jump ship also shows indifference on their part to provide quality, conscious programming to the population that could certainly use much more of it.

Ultimately, it is a catch-22. ABC may have been losing sponsors (especially junk food manufacturers) due to the nature of the show. Couple this with the less than stellar ratings, and it was a recipe for not so great success. In the end, as previously stated, all this means is that everything revolves around big business, and nothing in America - the health and lives of the youth included - can trump the almighty dollar.

However, I know that Mr. Oliver will not let this bring him down, nor will it bring down any of us who are fighting in this revolution. This battle may have been lost, but the war rages on, and none of us will stop until the very last ounce of breath is squeezed out of each and every one of us. Fight on!

P.S.  Please voice your displeasure with ABC's decision to yank the Food Revolution on their comments page! As with the premise of the show, let's show them what real activism is all about!

*Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution has now been rescheduled for Fridays at 9pm in June, which is pretty much a graveyard for dead shows. At the very least, I suppose we will be able to finish the series.

Now, seeing that I work in the fitness industry, I am not a huge TV person, but once in awhile, I will find a show (or someone introduces one) that really captivates me, especially if it has something to do with health and exercise. One such show is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC.

For those who have not seen or even heard of the show, the premise is simple. World famous chef, Jamie Oliver (of Naked Chef fame, among other things), is taking it upon himself to reform the horrid lunch programs in American schools. Along the way, he also tries to try his hand at revamping the ubiquitous fast food burger menu.

It's no secret that the obesity epidemic in America has indeed reached a fever pitch, and if drastic measures aren't taken any time soon, it will only spiral even more out of control. In order to right the ship, it must start with the roots - the kids. With the current middle aged generation already in its worst shape ever, it is passing along these poor dietary habits to the children. As a fitness professional who works hard to encourage the youth of America to put down the Twinkies and Playstation controllers, and lead more active lifestyles, I commend Mr. Oliver for the stellar job he is doing... or shall I say, is attempting to do.

Without giving away too much of the show, it is actually very depressing and downright infuriating at times seeing how tepid of a response he often receives when trying to do the right thing. It reminds me of the book by Albert Camus, "The Stranger," where the main character is simply indifferent, and doesn't really care about the ills of the world. And these are the people who are running things in our society, and in charge of educating the youth? No wonder our economy and education system are in shambles. Perhaps certain scenes on the show were made to look more dramatic than they really were, but even if so, they sure brought home the point.

What it really boils down to is that in this country, big business rules all, and that definitely does not exclude the food industry. Since childhood, we are all bombarded by these corporations with ideas on what we should eat, how much of it, and how often. It's gotten to the point where people are programmed to believe what they are spoonfed (figuratively and literally), and as citizens of this country, we must let them know that enough is enough. Jamie Oliver is one of those pioneers leading the way in educating the masses.

If we as Americans finally decide to have the gall to fight back by simply eating how we are supposed to eat, and not how we are manipulated, we will inevitably punch these corporations where it hurts... in the big fat gut. All the the while, we'll be collectively trimming down on our own. Of course, these companies - and especially the government - will not let that happen, so we continue to perpetuate this endless cycle of despair.

It is basically a chicken and egg effect. Sure, the government and corporations don't want to lose any of their bread and butter big business, but at the same time, don't you think a more healthy, energetic work force would bode better for the economy overall? Not to mention, it will also put a huge relief on the health care system.

Please share thoughts and comments below! You can catch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on Hulu. Currently, there have only been two episodes thus far for season 2, but I can't wait to see how things unfold!