In 2004 Jamie Oliver decided to raise the issue of food standards in school cafeterias. Touring British schools, he was not pleased at what he found. Chips with everything seemed to be the order of the day, as well as a plethora of processed foods (including the now notorious Turkey Twizzlers) which only needed to be reheated. Budget restrictions meant schools had very little to spend per pupil on meals, so many had little choice but to go for the cheapest options provided by catering firms.
Jamie also faced an uphill battle to get students to agree to ditch the junk, and go for the healthier options. In many cases it was simply fear of the unknown – not having tried things such as a simple salad or pasta with fresh herbs before, children wanted to stick to foods with which they were familiar. For some children school dinners were the only hot meal they had during the day; outside school it was the usual crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks. Additives, preservatives, e-numbers – where was the nutrition? What were kids eating at home?
As a tie-in to the Channel 4 TV show, “Jamie’s School Dinners”. Jamie’s Dinners was released to try and get families cooking again. Just like the schools, families also have budgets, and the idea here is to produce simple, affordable, tasty and easy-to-prepare meals within that budget. As he says in the introduction, “It all comes down to your perception of value – is it about buying the cheapest thing you can get, or is it about spending a little more and getting something that tastes nicer, smells better and makes you feel good in return?”
As well as the usual chapters on meat, fish, pasta and vegetables, there are three sections that may be of interest to working families looking for new ideas.
Five Minute Wonders
What harassed mom (or dad) hasn’t dreaded the thought of a yet another last-minute dash around the supermarket after work because there’s nothing in the house for dinner? A great alternative to microwave meals, these recipes have ingredients available in any supermarket, and they only take around 5 - 10 minutes to cook.
Family Tree
The idea here is simple. Take one base (or “parent”) recipe – say pesto or tomato sauce - and then use it in any “offspring” recipe that takes your fancy. As well as using the tomato sauce in pasta, for example, it can be combined with polenta, sausages, prawns, or mushrooms. Improvise and enjoy!
Sandwiches
A helping hand for that age-old problem; what to put in a lunchbox that kids will actually eat, that’s good and good for them at the same time? As well as different fillings and types of bread, Jamie also has suggestions on alternatives such as salad or quesadillas. And these aren’t just for kids – don’t mom and dad deserve something more special than another tired old store-bought sandwich too?
Jamie’s Dinners (Penguin Books, 2004, ISBN 0-718-14696-7) is more than a cookbook. It’s Jamie Oliver’s mission statement; to take the mystique out of cooking and make it something fun and easy that the whole family can do, and enjoy, together. Enthusiastic without being preachy, it’s obvious “proper food” is something about which he is passionate. For more back-to basics recipes, try Cook With Jamie, a complete “starter kit” for anybody who wants to feel more at home in the kitchen.
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