Thoughts while watching: Jamie’s showing kids a cut-up chicken where all the “nice cuts of meat are” and those that aren’t. “What happens to the giblets and carcass?” the question is posed. He proceeds to blend all the castaway parts with a food processor to a fine slurry. He asks the kids, “which is the good meat? Those cuts there, or the slurry?” Of course you know how they’ll respond, he says. To the slurry he adds taste ingredients, stabilizers, It makes a “big load of gunk.” Cut’em out, add bread crumbs, and deep fry. They still would eat it. “We’ve brainwashed our kids so brilliantly so even though they know something is disgusting and gross, they’ll still eat it if it’s in that friendly shape.”
Me? I'd have taken some LIVE chickens and let the kids play with them, then suggest we kill 'em all and make either "good food" or "bad food." Let's see how they react to that. Then, let's make nuggets or a fine "chicken pie." Of course, I'd offer a fine multi-colored vegan entree as a substitute. "Eat a Rainbow." A robust stir-fry without oil, but ladden with several vegetables, spices, flavors, and textures, over a whole-grain.
It's ironic that his focus was on the "giblets and carcass" and not on the fact that he's working with a dead animal's cut up body and about to feed it to children. Wrong on so many counts, but then, he thinks eating meat is natural and fresh. That's the fundamental brainwashing. Let's the children see the live, warm, living animal that's about to be slaughtered then butchered. I think the chicken nuggets will then be much more unappealing than from Jamie's approach (and he was stunned that American children were willing to eat this stuff).
Back at the cafeteria. Only one choice this time, the fresh food. He comes in wearing a “pea pod” suit. Watching him dance in front of the kids in the costume is kind of disturbing. Ton of food not eaten, thrown away. Next, a test of what older (6 yrs. old) kids know about produce, You can guess the results. Admittedly, pretty pathetic when you've got to wear a "pea pod" suit to attempt to convince kids to eat more vegetables {of course, Viva Vegie has been doing this for at least 13 years... ).
THE FAMILY: they’ve “loved” the menus he’s provided. Apparently, not all the recipes were made. Kids still fave “pizza!” Off to the hospital to take measurements and gauge the health of the family. Kids showing signs that they have a high probability of their life being shortened by 30 years through diabetes, heart disease, and other disorders. Fat Dad expressing concern. Duh. And Jamie's menu might reduce the risk a tad, but it won't eliminate it with all that meat and added oil/fat.
THE SCHOOL: he brings in the parents to see what the kids are eating for lunch. Pours a month's worth of chocolate milk into a big canvas “pit”... sloppy joes, french fries, natchos, and all these rest. Then dumps a truckload of fat, representing a whole year’s worth, into a humongous container. Of course the parents support him (or it’s shown as such). Nice to see Mom and Pop involved. But then, is their own diet that much better? Overall, visually, an effective bit.
THE OBESE KID: shows him how to do a vegetable, noodle, chicken stir-fry. Tear jerking, until, Step One: add a bunch of oil to the pan without measuring to saute your vegetables & chunked dead animals. I'm not impressed.
THE SCHOOL: beef frijitas (“fresh meat” with cheese), “fresh vegetables.” That's the thrust of the menu. In England, kids can use knives, forks, and spoons. In America, he discovers, only spoons. WTF? Some drama, has spent double normal alottment of funds, nutritional analysis not in, you’ve got a few more weeks.
How ironic that the next commercial is from Hilshire Farms Lunchmeats, "Go Meat." I'm not impressed, again. Jamie's passion and goals are good/admirable, but his methods are flawed. The moaning and groaning gets a bit tiresome after awhile, but still, for every 45 minutes of the two episodes I've seen, there's about 15 minutes or so of really interesting stuff: the Feds requirements about grains, silverware issues, and more.
I'll watch the next one. At least he's stirring up a debate, and I hope it goes farther than the show itself.
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