Jamie Oliver; Ministry of Food

trying-very-trying

Nelski wrote: »

what a sad programme this is - those poor kids what chance do they stand ("what does boiling water look like? does it bubble? :eek: :eek: )
Good luck Jamie I hope you are successful - got to say hes a lovely teacher so encouraging

My 14yr old dd picked up on this not knowing how to simmer or boil water. I just told her that she should think herself lucky. Oh, they complain whenever I ask them to help in the kitchen( I'm disabled and seem to be getting less and less able almost daily), but three have learnt and one is still learning the lessons that will help them to be independent self supporting young ladies!"

Suzybloo, I'm not trying to have a go at you, and I know what you are saying about the smoking etc, but have you walked a mile in her shoes We all need some release and these people obviously don't have mse old style to help them. Surely that poor woman is beating herself up enough, without us adding to it.

At least I thought Jamie was trying to understand their problems.

jcr16

i watched this tonight. now i will admit i love a takeaway. but when i heard the mum saying she has never cooked her children a proper meal ever and her daughter was 5. i burst out crying. i felt so sad. i coulnd't belive what i was hearing. but it was nice to hear the same mum saying she wants to change. and i think change can only come when you want to. I really hope this prog does help.

i can understand the mum who said her money didn't go far enough to pay for everything and to pay for a taxi or bus to get the food. but i didn't understand how if she was buyign takeaways it made the money go further. as £12 a night is £74 a week ( i think) but she could easily do a weekly shop on about £40 there for having money left. as even with buying takeaway she would have to buy food for breakie, lunch, cleaning products , shampoos etc plus as she showed the 2 salad baskets in the fridge were full of choc bar's. i just think it is about showing how to budget, how to shop , how to cook. i think Jamie oliver is doing an amazing job. he is trying to help people. he has so much enthuiaiusm. yes he is prob earning well from it. but hey if it help the next generation then i'm all for it.

i can't ever remember my mum teaching me to cook, but my mum always cooked. we only ever had 1 take away a year it was the day we got back from holiday mum and dad simply couldn't afford it and they always saved a bit from the holidya budget. and i picked up cooking tips just by watching my mum. and my pure interest and love of food i got my first home with hubby at 20 , we both worked full time, no children. did have a fair share of take away's. but i wanted to cook i was entusiast for it.my mil and mum often got phone calls while i was in middle of making a meal and getting them to talk me through what to do. i was lucky i had that, some people don't. i hope to teach my children the basic's. my dd is 5 in oct and son 3 they both love getting involved even if it is making a sandwich, buttering the bread.

rosieben

I don't usually like Jamie tbh but I do admire what he's trying to do. He's a good teacher, I was really impressed with his attitude - encouraging without being patronising or superior; and I could have cried for that young mum especially when she acknowledged that she wasn't doing the best for her kids. Its easy to judge from where we are, but we have no way of knowing her circumstances or history.

I still cant get my head around that fact the JO did so much work towards improving school meals and then Gordon ******* Ramsay gets the honour

Penelope_Penguin

rosieben wrote: »

I still cant get my head around that fact the JO did so much work towards improving school meals and then Gordon ******* Ramsay gets the honour

Does he Jamie Oliver is always acknowledged in our school

Penny. x

sammyjig

I think what confuses me is, didn't they learn cookery at school? We did when I was at school and I know the schools teach it now. Did they stop doing it for a while?

I don't remember my mum actually teaching me to cook but I was always in the kitchen with her. The key thing is, I am 38 and married with 2 kids and even now, if I am attempting something new, I always ring my mum to ask for advice. We would then mull it over together. We also have this forum for advise/tips.

A lot of it is about confidence I think.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I saw this and it actually did'nt surprize me.I don't think Jamie willl change much though.There are some people regardless of income who won't cook and some are just too lazy to cook,I've known quite a lot of them over the years.
I was brought up by my grandmother who was a brilliant cook,despite the fact that when she was small her mother did'nt cook as they had someone to do that for them.She soon learned when she married a miner and had very little to live on and four children to bring up during the war years.She taught me everything I know about cooking and looking after a house and family.
On the other hand my best friend who was very well off never cooked and lived off what I call rubbish(packets and tins).Her son who was four at the time when watching me prepare a salad asked why I going to eat rhubarb leaves and grass(lettuce and cress)He never got vegetables apart from tinned peas and carrots.
Also it may seem harsh but I think those women should be ashamed of themselves wasting money on fags when they have small children they could spend the money on.There are people working and not being able to manage buying food let alone fags.And what loving parent smokes with kids around.Just irresponsible.There's no excuse.
If I blame anyone though I blame the fact that schools stopped teaching domestic science.I don't know when they stopped doing this but my girls are all in their 30s and they did'nt do it.You need to start young and teach cooking and home skills as a way of life not an after thought.

MUMOF4_2

wow, lots of you tuned in then! I really enjoyed the show, it opened my eyes to a completely different lifestyle. I was so amazed by people relying on takeaway to feed you children, doner kebabs, burgers, chips, every night. The children all looked well and not overweight. That would scare me to death dishing up meals high in salt and fat, and to be honest, i couldnt afford it anyway. My son is doing cooking at school today, he is 12 and his making pizza, ok, its not the most substantial meal, but its going right back to basics, making the base, grating the cheese, making the tomato sauce. Im really glad that they still doing cooking at his school. I cant remember being taught cooking by my family either, but i guess i must have watched mum as a child, and when i moved out at 18, i guess it was a case of learning fast!!!I love cooking now!

moanymoany

My reaction was the same as many others on here. I thought that it wasn't only not being able to cook behind the takeaway mums, it was laziness.

Can't cook/won't cook? Chips and cheese, kebabs! :eek: If they are worried about money and really can't cook what about eggs on toast, cheese on toast, baked beans on toast. How much cooking is there in a banana?

Sitting on the floor and eating with fingers.... The only positive thing I can say is that the children seemed open to new food and were lovely.

Most packets of pasta have instructions on how to cook them. A pack of mince and a jar of sauce with instructions does not need a Michelin chef. Jacket potatoes, sausages, frozen peas - none need 'cooking', tinned tomatoes, bacon and eggs - frozen beefburgers and bought bread rolls, fresh tomatoes. Sorry, not convinced!

Having said that, I hope this programme reaches many people who would otherwise continue with this way of life. I do think it highlights just what many of our children are being fed. Lots and lots of little time bombs ticking away - full of future ill health.

I though it was shocking.

Skint_Catt

I did wonder why he didn't sjust how them a basic pasta dish Even I haven't tried making my own meatballs yet, though I would know how.

bravobeastie

10past6 wrote: »

This is going to be a difficult one to call, I don't wish to be offensive, but considering she was on benefits she certainly had a better home than us, mostly top of the range items, my partner and I are on a very tight fixed income as my signature shows, it annoys me when we are struggling to make ends meet, yet some people on benefit seem to be doing better than us.
.

You may find a lot of that is on credit.

However, i also noticed that she smoked (i'm also a smoker) but cannot fall into all this 'i can't afford it' rubbish when she's got gold hanging off her like no-ones business (you can guarantee it was all real stuff)