I've been struggling with whether or not to write this post - I know the whole debate about school meals is a sensitive issue for some people.  I can't help it though, I LOVE Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution!  If you missed it last night try and tune in next week, it really makes you think.  I love what he is doing in trying to educate people about making healthy food choices and what kids are eating in school.  I also applaud First Lady Michelle Obama for the work she is doing in the same area.  

As most of you know, I live in Canada.  What many people do not know is Canada is one of the only developed nations in the world that does NOT have a nationally funded school meal program.  You'll have to forgive me as this is the area I work in, so I'm pretty passionate about it.  We do have some provinces that have programs running and others with nothing.  There are charities that step up to the plate and provide schools with funds for breakfast, lunch and snack programs but our government has largely stayed out of it, so far.   We have one in three elementary kids and over 60% of high school kids going to school without breakfast.  Many of those kids are coming from food insecure homes and also do not bring a lunch or a snack.  They are hungry all day.  As a parent, this shocks me - especially a country like Canada with a wealth of resources and other great social programs like universal health care.  It's kind of a no brainer that when a child is hungry it is hard for them to concentrate and learn - and it follows that if they can't learn, they won't succeed in school, if they don't succeed in school their chances for a successful life diminishes as well.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest did a study two years ago on this topic and found that the US government spends 12 BIllion dollars a year on school meal programs!!!    That number was from 2009, it may be more by now.  If my country spent that much on school meals I would be doing a dance of joy.  However, if I found out that what they were spending my hard earned tax dollars on was high fat, high sugar junk food - I would be enfuriated.

What Jamie Oliver is doing is amazing.  He can be a bit overbearing in his enthusiasm for the subject at times, which may put some people off, but his heart is in the right place and his passion for giving kids a chance for a healthy life is obvious.    The parents in the LA school district as featured in last night's show all seemed to get it right away.  In an area with an astonishing 80% child obesity rate, the meals that were shown that  kids are being given at school were obscene.  

I completely agree that parents have the right to feed their children as they see fit, that is their choice at home or out in restaurants.  That is fine.  But it is not parents feeding the children at school - it is the school district.  Meals that are paid for with the public's tax dollars at public schools should be held to the highest nutritional standard possible.   From what I saw last night, the school meals were all unhealthy, processed, high sugar and high fat pre-packaged nonsense.   If there are people who choose to feed their families fast food for breakfast and supper, that is thier choice, it is a free country.  However, if schools were held to a higher standard then at least we would know for sure that there would be one healthy meal per day available for vulnerable children.  

As I said, it looked like the parents in last night's show all got it  - it was the officials who were more concerned with the financial bottom line and are refusing to even consider trying a change.  I hope the parents in that LA school district, and others everywhere are watching and are ready to make their School Boards accountable.  It's your money they are spending.  You have the right to tell them how you want it done.

What does all this have to do with us here on this site?  Good question.  We are all here and on the 17 Day Diet fighting our own battles against obesity and unhealthy eating habits.  Fast food, processed food, unhealthy choices were a big part of how I got here - and I am an adult who knew better!   Lord knows I do not want my kids to have to face this problem.  The 17DD has helped me a lot in cooking healthier options for my family and has opened the door for dinner time conversations about healthier food.   

I am looking forward to watching Jamie's progress in the LA school district and to learning more about what Michelle Obama is doing to help stop the childhood obesity epidemic.  I am hoping my government in Canada is watching too.

Thanks for letting me rant.