Like so many of you, I'm a huge fan of Jamie Oliver and the tireless effort he has put into changing the eating habits of young people not just in the UK, but across the globe. With obesity a national epidemic here in the United States, we need all the help we can get, don't we?
Back in May, when Jamie's team asked if I would do something to celebrate Food Revolution Day this year, I jumped at the chance. I wrote this little piece for the JOFR website...
Revolution sounds like an immense undertaking. Huge. Monumental. As a kid who wanted to make changes in our world, I was deeply intimidated by this notion. Did I have to be another Martin Luther King or Cesar Chavez to make a difference? I felt paralyzed by the enormity of the task.
I've come to realize that every day when we go to the market, cook for our family and friends, it's not just for nourishment and enjoyment, but is a small political act as well. Caring about the people who grow our food, who raise eggs and animals for meat and dairy, even setting aside a patch of earth to grow some of our own herbs, fruit, and veg... all these small acts (when you see them over and over again across the globe) make up a revolution.
Thankfully, Jamie Oliver recognized the radical and profound possibilities of such humble ventures. He has empowered us all to act in small ways together.
I knew I wanted to do something to celebrate Jamie's Food Revolution Day this year. At first, I imagined something big and elaborate like hosting a cooking class for kids, or throwing a huge party. But then I remembered that simple cooking for, and with, my family and friends is enough, and more true to who I am.
We asked Otis, our middle-schooler to bring his buddies to our house for supper. Then, we invited their parents, and our wonderful neighbors and their kids. Our evening was loose, organic, and informal. We followed the classic American tradition of grilling burgers and sipping root beer floats. We chatted, ate, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company.
If this simple joy is revolution, I'm in.
