Jamie Oliver could get another chance with L.A. schools chief

 

The second episode of Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution" in Los Angeles airs Tuesday night on ABC, and he called in to his executive producer's radio show to talk about what's ahead. Oliver, who left L.A. a few weeks ago after filming most of the Season 2 episodes, said during “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest” this morning that he's coming back to L.A. next week to finish up.

The tension of the season pits Oliver against the Los Angeles Unified School District. He wanted entree to the school cafeterias; the district said no thanks, it didn't need the drama that would inspire. But Oliver told Seacrest that he hoped that the arrival last Friday of a new superintendent, John Deasy, would result in a welcome mat for "Food Revolution." He said he hopes he and Deasy "can be allies."

A news release issued on Oliver's behalf shortly after the radio program Tuesday morning went a bit further. It says school officials have "since reconsidered their participation in the series" and that Oliver is returning to L.A. to meet with Deasy. However, district spokesman Robert Alaniz said there was no such appointment on Deasy's calendar. But, he added, "that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been a conversation" about a meeting.

And for Oliver, making news on the day his program airs can't hurt ratings. Readers who tune in can see the Emmy-winning chef making a second attempt to talk to the school board and also outside a school dressed as a tomato.

-- Mary MacVean

Photo: Jamie Oliver. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Kim]

Jamie needs to talk to the USDA-They are making the rules that LAUSD follows. Heck the USDA is proably giving the schools half of the processed, gross food they are serving. Yeah LAUSD has a crappy program but it is meeting the guidleines that the USDA has given them. I say if parents want their kids to eat right- pack their lunch for them OR be willing to pay a lot more money for a healthier lunch. What a concept- parents taking responsibility for what their own kids eats.

[mangiabene]

Bravo to Jamie and LA Times for shining a light on this issue -- what about using produce grown in schoolyard gardens in school lunches? Why not teach kids about sustainability with hands-on experience using a holistic approach linking education to food production, cooking, good eating, and health?! Great tools for living the good life!

[KC]

It's called kickbacks.
Somebody in the LAUSD is making a lot of money from kids eating crap.
Keep fighting the good fight, Jamie.

[Art]

Does everyone really think that Jamie Oliver's motivations are completely altruistic? This man is not a saint. I have no doubt that he is as concerned about improving his show's ratings and selling books as he is about children's nutrition. If LA schoolkid's nutrition really is his only concern, then he should donate all the proceeds from the shows he has done here in LA to the district.

[Claudia]

I'm a parent who lives in LA and am appalled at the treatment that LAUSD is giving Jamie. The man is trying to improve something that is broke. At least give him the chance to prove that healthy school meals can be made within the budgets the state has given. The closed door approach coupled with threats and the crusty looks that this board has been giving Jamie has been utterly shameful and disappointing. Hopefully enough LA residents will pressure this board to open their eyes and allow change for the better to happen. Good on you Jamie for doing what you do!

[Joseph]

No matter how you feel about Mr. Oliver or his show, there is no avoiding the fact the behavior of the LAUSD is embarassing. In their attempt to avoid drama and conflict they have wound up creating more of both than if they just let him in their kitchen. Refusing to let the students even talk to Jamie about the food? Ridiculous. The fact is if they truly had nothing to hide, they wouldn't be trying so hard to keep the cameras out.

[canaryyyellow]

I hope Jaime continues his help because is such an important figure in this movement for change. The message in pushing people to eat healthier is simple...what is being served in caterias is not healthy. It's not REAL food. It's processed, pasterized, and artifical food. This is not helping our children grow. Jaime is starting very necessary conversations that we all should be having. KNOW WHAT YOUR EATING. It's simple.
You don't have to be a vegetarian or vegan. It's not a fight about not killing animals and all that. It's about knowledge and knowing what your putting into your body and what in return that is doing to your health. Los Angeles needs help...we barely have any money, barely any staffs in our schools, and an overall population that continues to grow. Step off the high horse LAUSD

[theconlib]

Why do we need to pay for all this "healthy" food anyway? Cheap food is good and cheap! I like money! I mean it's not like we're going to have to pay the health care costs for these kids when they have type 2 diabetes and insurance won't cover them. I'm an American darn it, and if I wanna eat like crap and have the school board suppress requests for examining my child's lunch then that's my freedom to do so! Freedom! America!

[Deborah]

As a parent and a Grandmother I was/am appaled at the way the LA SBoard is being closed minded about America's future...OUR CHILDERN. But then are they that ashame what they are feeding the kids!??? I very well think so.
Jamie hang in there U WILL PREVAIL! All my support to what you are trying to teach all of us.

On that note I have started a veggie garden that 5 families are working in and sharing. I have had the opportunity to interduce different ways to cook what my friends and family love to eat that are healthier for them.

My hat off to you and your staff!
Deb

[Steven M.]

If students want "healthy food," let them or their parents pack it. Instead of spending money on food that would end-up in the trash, it would be wiser to increase and expand the Youth Services program at LAUSD, which requires physical exertion and exercise, after school and during the days of summer, on playgrounds.

[nancy]

Maybe they didn't speak enough English to understand that you were trying to help them.

[ceciliaclarice]

come on LA USD; take advantage of what this talented, caring man can do for your kids!

[Ana]

I think as parents we should push the school district to open the doors to Jamie. Unless they have something to hide. This is scary WHAT are they hiding. These are public schools and are paid by tax payers. Everything that goes on in public schools funded by tax payers should be public information. I hope the parents of these schools in Los Angeles School Ditrict demand the school to disclose where and how the food is prepared. I leave in a different county of Southern California and have a son and grandkids still in elementary and high school and they perfer to take their lunches or eat till they get home because of the quality of food. As parents we have rights and I believe this is a form of child neglect and abuse by the school district Ana

[R E McCray]

Every member of the Los Angeles Unified School District board should be ashamed of themselves for their cowardly, disrespectful and unprofessional conduct. Each one of these people is a detriment to the welfare of our children, and the poorest of role models for professional conduct. I put each and everyone of them in the same category as a common thief since they are robbing our children of their health. They are overpaid, useless bureaucrats milking your tax dollars for their personal gain, and our children's health. Call your congressman, the Mayor and other local leaders to have them all fired ... for each child that develops diabetes or who dies of obesity - we should charge each member of the Los Angeles Unified School District board with criminal neglect and murder. They are vicious, hateful people, self serving individuals serving their own personal and financial interests. Audit how much money they earn ... and then justify spending 17-cent on a child's meal.

[Rafael]

Dear Jamie,
I am a student at Roosevelt High School, which is part of LAUSD, and I was told about the district turning down your offer. I was shocked and outraged. Why? Because our school needs better food! The food served is disgusting and most likely unhealthy, therefore I do NOT eat the food. I rather wait until I get home than eat the cafeteria food. I believe something should be done. Good Luck!

[patricia friberg]

Hey Jamie,
Here is an idea, ask the school board to prove the school lunch is good food by eating the lunch for two months.
Good luck to you. Patricia Friberg

[Sean Brady]

What I saw on your show tonight is pretty typical of people who do not fully understand the ramifications of their decision if they made one to let you in to those L.A schools as they have never been challenged before so they take the safe bet and close the door. You made huge inroads in your show tonight and if you keep the communication open and don't get mad as you open more doors one at a time you will eventually succeed. Thanks for having the guts to give it a go.
Sean Brady
Billings Mt

[candy tapp]

hi jamie i'm from huntington wva just up the street from were you was here in huntington the frist time., i didn't get to come at the time you was here., because i have a disable husband that i take care of but i did get to watch you on tv and radio from then and now i think you are doing a great job., i don't have kids but i do have nieces, and nephews that i love very much and all kids., and me my self is over weight i'm a 51 yr old woman and weight 228 pounds about 2 to 3 months a go i weight 256pounds somthing like that and it has been very hard to lose it ., but i'm trying to work on it .but if there is anything that i can write or tell anyone anything ., i will try for you because i believe me and this world needs some one like you to help us and are school. candy

[Kurt W Fisher]

Jamie is the first hope for change we've had in 50 years. I grew up in the LAUSD in the '50s....those old sour faced men should be ashamed for the way they have treated the CHILDREN of LA then and now.
Jamie is here to educate and train all of us and all you want is to line your pockets on the backs of our children and bad diet with artificial food.
Stay in the fight Jamie. It's working here in Colorado.

[amanda]

jamie,

i think the only reason that no one wants to do this is because they dont want to go through the trouble of changing changing this problem, lazy is the only way to decribe them, its pathetic and sick that they think our kids can live like this. i have four kids and i cook dinner for them every night. im just glad my kids like veggies and fruit more than candy and junk food.

[Maggie Vincent]

I just watched the episode this evening and am totally amazed that the LAUSD are such a bunch of non-caring individuals when it comes to the young people. There are a couple of gum-chewing women on the school board who would benefit from a change of diet and some exercise. I'd be willing to bet that there is some nepotism with the purveyors providing the food stuffs to the schools. Jamie's efforts are from the heart and for the well being of the young children not having a choice in the foods provided by the schools.

[Ann Todd]

Mr. Oliver, There is a picture that is attached to this email that I couldn't send along, but you email me back, I'd be glad to share it with you. It something our 14 yr. old daughter did to help promote healthy eating our school district! Please asap. Her print is going to print on April 25th!

Subject: RE: poster contest

Hi Ann.

We are so excited to celebrate your talented daughter's poster! Congratulations to Emily. Wow! Her poster is absolutely amazing!
As Co-Chair of the SHIP School Health Coalition (volunteer), I am in charge of coordinating the press event around the poster contest.
We would like to reschedule the event to make sure that Emily will be able to participate. There are several poster contest winners, but Emily is the grand prize winner.

As the grand prize winner, her poster will be on a billboard on I-35 (Grand Ave & I-35 in West Duluth - facing East, will be seen driving towards Spirit Mountain) from April 25th through late May. Attached is what the billboard will look like. If you have any concerns about this, please let me know immediately. You'll notice only her first name is mentioned to protect privacy.

[Donna Lawson]

I'm in college at 57 years old and I have to eat the school food. I'm dealing with type2 diabetes. I've been watching your show every week and I get mad every week because of those stupid administrators. They are really killing our kids and they don't care. The school food is really bad and that is all I've got to eat. They will serve two vegtables that are carbs and it is just hard to eat right. I'm praying for you to break through there control and I want to see you have success in that school district. Maybe they will get the hint that people want to eat right. May gd bless you.
Donna

[Joe]

There is probably so much graft and corruption in the LA food system that they do not want transparency.

[joe formuso]

hi jamie im a father of three children of the ages of 10,8,6 and watching your show from toronto ,canada and you and your staff are a gods gift to healthy food.I would like to take this oppurtunity to say the los angeles school board for food is out in left field.If you need my help any way shape or form i would love to help. I love you and your staff and what you stand for god bless you.

[Theresa Brennan]

Dear Jamie,

As an American I am ENRAGED by how you are being treated by the LA Unified School District. What a bunch of morons! Parents raise up and speak for the heatlh or our children, YOUR children. Seriously, the man is armed with carrotes and lettuce, and wholesome beef and he is being banned from schools. Really???

[Regggie]

I think Mike from the school district is one of the smartest Admin in that School System

[Julie McKinney]

I absolutely love Jamie Oliver....I am from Charleston, WV...I watched the entire first season about Huntington, WV....and he is huge...in this unrewaring LA-thing.

What is wrong with our country? We need to feed our children better. We need to feed ourselves better....

My thing is exercise and nutrition. I am just a normal person.

YRU fat...?