Food Revolution Day 2015: What YOU can do to help

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day is tomorrow.

Yes, this Friday, May 15th, 2015 is the fourth annual Food Revolution Day – a day of global action created by Jamie Oliver to engage and inspire people of all ages to learn about food and how to cook it. Once again, I am beaming with pride to be a part in my own small way, and I’ve got plenty of ideas for you should you wish to join in the movement.

The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation uses the power of Jamie’s global voice to shout about important food issues, driving individuals and businesses to take part in impactful change and pushing governments to improve their food policies in support of better public health.

This FRD, Jamie is asking for help – and it’s easier than ever to throw your support behind him.

Sign Jamie’s Global Petition

Picture this: a classroom packed to the brim with – partly delighted, partly terrified – first graders and Mateo is introducing them to two of our backyard chickens. He’s already given a speech about what hens eat, how they live and why they are his favourite animal, and he passed around a dozen brown eggs to show the class.

The hen steps out of her cage and the room erupts in shrieks. She struts under a small desk and pecks at a crumb of goodness knows what….an action that is greeted with more howls of appreciation from the class of children. Mateo is grinning ear to ear all the while, because this is fun.

This happened yesterday, at the elementary school the boys attend. It’s just one of the fun ways we are getting involved for Food Revolution Day in our neighbourhood. It was the most fun I’ve had in a while – and it was excellent fuel for getting me revved up to fight for food education in schools.

“My wish is to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower peoples everywhere to fight obesity.” ~ Jamie Oliver ~

With diet-related diseases rising at an alarming rate, it has never been more important to educate children about food. FRD (#FoodRevolutionDay) is fighting to put compulsory practical food education on the school curriculum. Yes, we can educate at home, bringing kids in the kitchen and garden, but how many children really get this opportunity?

If food education for children is important to you, please support Jamie and ask governments around the world to put kids first by signing his petition. It takes about 20 seconds. Please, Sign it. Share it.

I signed the petition ages ago. Look, we still had snow on the ground! Now it’s your turn; let’s help Jamie get to 1 million signatures and really make a difference. Psst, if you want a closer look at Jamie’s cause, watch his TED Talk. Powerful stuff.

Okay I signed the petition. What’s next?

I’m glad you asked! Your involvement can be as simple as teaching a child (or a group) to cook a meal from scratch, or leaning about some new ingredients at the local farmers’ market.

At home:

• Educate. Start by telling your children about Jamie Oliver and FRD. Watch this FUN video he just put together for the day.
• Make Jamie’s Squash It Sandwich and introduce your kids and their friends to a new vegetable.
• Round up your friends and host a dinner party, picnic, potluck or barbecue – there’s lots of inspiration on the Food Revolution recipes page.
• Take your kids to a local farmers’ market, try some new ingredients and cook with them from scratch.
• Make a commitment to to cook more often with your kids – it doesn’t have to be every day, just a little here and there.
• Plant something! Visit a local nursery and grab a packet of seeds for $.99. Then get your hands dirty.

At school:

• Bring in a variety of fruits and vegetables, play “name that produce” or cook up a dish with the ingredients you’ve learned about.
• Encourage the teachers to visit the Food Revolution Day website and check out the recipes and resources.
• Ask students to choose healthier options in the school canteen on May 15th (and beyond) – making sure there’s a lot of colour (vegetables and fruits) on their plates.
• Take part in Jamie’s “Squash It Sandwich” lesson streamed online on May 15th –everyone can cook along with Jamie.
• Share a cooking or gardening memory with the class.
• Share Jamie’s FRD musical video with the class. What a great medium for getting the message out.

The lovely folks over at Food Revolution Day have plenty more ideas for you, too. Remember, in all you do, snap and share your photos with the hashtag #FoodRevolutionDay.

I’ll be an another elementary school tomorrow, talking to kids about cooking, demoing the Squash It Sandwich and helping out in general. I’ll also give away a few copies of my cookbook, and send an electronic take home of my recipes with the kids. I can’t wait!

It’s truly an honour to join with Jamie and the whole global FRD team for such a great cause.

Have you signed Jamie’s global petition? How are you getting involved in Food Revolution Day?