Transforming meals

My friend, Kate, has a good habit of pressing readers to think through hard social issues, and recently gave me the heads up about a new show, featuring Jamie Oliver aka The Naked Chef. He gave a prize-winning TED talk about the colossal effects of generations of poor eating habits in America, and what he is doing to reverse the trend. (As a side note, she introduced me to TED talks in the first place; yet another evidence of her surpassing coolness in my eyes.)

After watching TED talk I found myself heartened to think that someone (especially a male...not to mention a famous, endearing male with an accent) with a winsome personality is finally taking action to cause a stir about obesity and the surmounting food problem in America. While I don't believe that government is responsible to get us out of this fat, sinking boat, I do wonder how much responsibility they bear for creating the crisis in the first place. If millions of children eat two meals a day at school x 180 days of the year, and the food they are given is killing them, the responsibility lies in the hands of the adults (I'd say parents, he suggests Mrs. Obama & Co.). Turning a blind eye to the problem because my children will never be in a public school is not a loving response (although it is nice to know I'm not exacerbating the problem). Who knew that teaching someone to cook could transform lives? Very informative talk, and worth the 20 minutes.