you say you want a revolution

jamie oliver is one of my mostest favoritest chefs/cooks. his cooking shows are a hoot to watch and his cookbooks are dreamy. well, he does more than just write recipes and speak with a british accent [love]. jamie oliver has a passion for healthy food, healthy families, and a healthy system. he founded jamie oliver's food revolution. it is a great cause. here's what he has to say about the revolution...

We're losing the war against obesity in the US. It's sad, but true. Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. It's time for change. It's time for a Food Revolution.

"Since I've been working in America, I've been overwhelmed by the number of people who have come out to support the Food Revolution. More than 630,000 people have signed the petition, over 300,000 of you subscribe to our newsletter and thousands of you have written to me. The only message I keep hearing is that you believe your kids need better food, and that you want help to keep cooking skills alive. That's why this Food Revolution matters."

The problem stems from the loss of cooking skills at home and the availability of processed foods at every turn, from the school cafeteria to church function halls, factories and offices. This Food Revolution is about saving lives by inspiring everyone: moms, dads, kids, teens and cafeteria workers to get back to basics and start cooking good food from scratch.

Jamie's ambition? A national movement to change the way America eats.

Jamie wants to mobilize the huge response to the Food Revolution so far and turn it into a movement for change in which America leads the world. It will bring together millions of people and inspire the nation to fight obesity with better food. At its heart is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again. Here are some of the ways we'll be doing that:

More cooking at home

A nationwide network of community kitchens where anyone can go to learn basic home cooking

Jamie's home cooking course

Freshly cooked meals at school

An activist program to support parents who want better food in their child's school

A community website to encourage grass-roots activities for change all over the US

Cooking in the community

The Food Revolution truck, a mobile food classroom and flagship center for the Food Revolution

A cooking course available in church halls, community and healthcare centers and the workplace

Schools and Communities - to inspire and educate parents, young adults and children through:

Freshly cooked meals in schools and colleges

Cooking lessons for kids at school

Lessons teaching basic food skills to healthcare and social care professionals

Cooking classes for the public in the community

Corporations - to promote culture change and encourage community investment on several levels:

Food industry - help to tackle obesity by producing better food products and labeling products in a more honest way

Healthcare sector - investing in future health means cost savings down the line

Employee health - provide better food for employees in company canteens and provide cooking classes for employees to give them the skills they need to be healthy

May 19th is FOOD REVOLUTION DAY. "This is Jamie’s first day of action and inaugural global food festival to mark our commitment to food education for a better life. As we all know, we are amidst an epidemic - obesity and diet related diseases are defining the health of the next generation. We want food education back in schools, universities, homes, communities and businesses. Food Revolution Day aims to educate, empower and inspire people everywhere to stand up for real food. Let’s start a conversation about global and local food issues, ask people to consider their food choices and provide a platform for those with the skills and knowledge about food to pass that along through local events."

i love what Jamie Oliver is doing. we need it. if you want to see how you can get plugged in to your local community effort, make sure to check out his site for more info. you can also go here to check out his picks for bloggers of the month. it is a cool assortment of people who write about food, nutrition and life. here's to good food and good health.