Jamie Oliver annoys the &%#@ out of me

stark23x

Anyone else? His heart is in the right place. His goals are admirable, but his holier-than-thou attitude, the language he chooses, his media stunts, his seemingly insatiable need for camera time, his melodramatic posturing...it drives me nuts. It triggers all of my "SHUT UP I'M DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU SAY" reflexes.

He shines when he's dealing with kids in a kitchen. You can see the media persona drop away and he's that guy from way back when who was a bit charming when his friends gathered in his kitchen and ate what he made.

But on American TV? I just want to punch his face. I think he's hurting more than he's helping. Anyone who is passionate about food and nutrition is already on board with things like healthier school lunch, plain milk etc. That's preaching to the converted. He's not convincing the fence sitters with his shenanigans, and he's making those opposed to change dig their heels in and they're not listening to anyone about anything.

Anyone else? Come on, tell the truth! Am I the only big #$&hole here?

Tristis

Jamie who...?

MissTomGettingThin

HATE HIM!

mommared53

Don't know him but I already hate him too. :laugh:

NoAdditives

I love him and I think his show and what he's doing is great.

crystal10584

what's funny is he put on a LOT of weight from his Food Network series way back when, and is now claiming that there are too many overweight people... :laugh:

hotcouponmama

I agree. But can you imagine any other chef doing that show? Maybe Rocco Dispirito would appeal to those old cranky lunch ladies; )

utes09

Jamie who...?

I was thinking the same thing.

live2smyle

Have no idea who this is.

live2smyle

Don't know him but I already hate him too. :laugh:

HAHAHAHA

Jojo42

I LOVE Jamie, he's passionate and approachable. I find him very watchable. Never seen him in the USA having said that.

Hearts_2015

I LOVE Jamie, he's passionate and approachable. I find him very watchable.

^ ditto

I think he's doing great things for the States in helping the schools try and get on track to feed healthier food to the kids. No one else seems to be out there trying to make changes in how the schools are feeding our kids, at least he's working on making changes.

thumper44

I LOVE Jamie, he's passionate and approachable. I find him very watchable.

^ ditto

I think he's doing great things for the States in helping the schools try and get on track to feed healthier food to the kids. No one else seems to be out there trying to make changes in how the schools are feeding our kids, at least he's working on making changes.

I agree..
I can't believe people will say they hate someone without even knowing who he is or what he's trying to do.

America has an obesity problem Everybody is saying it. Everybody is noticing it. People talk about it.
Is anybody doing anything about it?

I applaud Jamie Oliver in his struggles to change the closed mentality of some american people.

I found a pdf to say quickly what Jamie is trying to do in the schools.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/__cms/uploads/Toolkit 1.pdf

paloma1182

You know, i never actually watched his show before.... but the commericals are so annoying.

He does seem to have a good purpose, but I bet you are right... maybe he should approach things differently.

V44V

Totally disagree with the OP.

Who else is doing anything on such a scale to stop obesity in children for starters? The American school system would rather buy cheap then give children the healthier option, yes there is a cost implication, but what cost do you put on someone maklng it to their 30th Birthday or not having the type of life they deserve?

Maybe the Government should stop spending the money it does less important things and put it in to the education system!

sillygoose1977

Love him and everything he is trying to accomplish. He could be my Naked Chef anytime.

MyNameIsNotBob

I agree.
While his goals are admirable, and his work is very worthy, I find him annoying as ****.

craftylatvian

I like what he is trying to do. He actually needs to educate the parents since they are the ones that buy food for their kids, and that food is accessable all the time to the kids. Educating the schools is a great start, but what happens when the kids go home to a house full of junk and fried foods?

kuhristeee

I agree with the OP. I don't hate him (I don't hate anyone...it's such a strong, damaging emotion) but he is annoying to me.

I agree that his heart and intentions are in the right place, but his condescending attitude toward these restaurant owners and school officials really get under my skin. Bottom line, I think most people ARE open and receptive to his ideas, but no one likes being TOLD what they SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be doing. It's insulting. I think people would be far more accepting of the changes he'd like to see in America if he wasn't shoving it down their throats.

People have choices to do what they want to do. Even if it's unhealthy. And even if he doesn't like it.

As far as school lunches go, I agree that there should be SOME healthier options. At my son's school, children have plenty of choices and every month when he brings home the lunch menu, every single day I see that children have the options of some kind of fruit, salad, and a vegetable with every meal. They also have the choice between chocolate and plain white milk.

However, it's my opinion that since people are so up in arms over the school food 'poisoning' today's youth, the PARENTS should take responsibility and either teach their children healthy eating, or pack their lunches every day so that every nutritional fact can be accounted for. Budget cuts and various other financial restraints make it economically difficult or even impossible in some areas for schools to make these necessary changes. Instead of *****ing about the evils of the public school system, concerned parents should consider catering to their own children's needs instead of leaving it up to someone else. Or maybe try to 'change the world' by making a stink over why in the world, if health and longevity are so important, are tater tots and chicken nuggets STILL more affordable than fresh, organic produce and high quality meat? Attacking schools is not the answer.

drog2323

saw him once - it was christmas and I was half drunk. Didn't care one way or another.

but i think it's hilarious you'd like to punch his face in. LOL...

thanks for the laugh.

chris0912

As far as school lunches go, I agree that there should be SOME healthier options. At my son's school, children have plenty of choices and every month when he brings home the lunch menu, every single day I see that children have the options of some kind of fruit, salad, and a vegetable with every meal. They also have the choice between chocolate and plain white milk.

However, it's my opinion that since people are so up in arms over the school food 'poisoning' today's youth, the PARENTS should take responsibility and either teach their children healthy eating, or pack their lunches every day so that every nutritional fact can be accounted for. Budget cuts and various other financial restraints make it economically difficult or even impossible in some areas for schools to make these necessary changes. Instead of *****ing about the evils of the public school system, concerned parents should consider catering to their own children's needs instead of leaving it up to someone else. Or maybe try to 'change the world' by making a stink over why in the world, if health and longevity are so important, are tater tots and chicken nuggets STILL more affordable than fresh, organic produce and high quality meat? Attacking schools is not the answer.

Think back to when you were a kid. If you had a choice between pizza and a veggie burger, which would you choose? If you had a choice between chocolate and plain milk? Even if kids eat healthy at home, odds are that they're going to go for the "forbidden" if parents aren't around to correct them. And packing a lunch for them doesn't ensure that they're going to eat it. Most kids today carry more money than I do as an adult. They can certainly buy something or trade their own lunches. Jamie is not attacking the schools; he's trying to educate them on what they're doing to children in the name of saving money. Think of all you have learned about healthy eating since you've joined MFP. Don't you wish everyone was eating this way?

cassieinor

I LOVE Jamie, he's passionate and approachable. I find him very watchable.

^ ditto

I think he's doing great things for the States in helping the schools try and get on track to feed healthier food to the kids. No one else seems to be out there trying to make changes in how the schools are feeding our kids, at least he's working on making changes.

Take a look at your kids' lunch menus. The food is horrible.......worse for the high school kids than in grade school. I think Jamie has a great idea.......wish more people would listen. Just my opinion.

millerll

I sorta agree with you. His message is indeed admirable, but his delivery sucks. One thing that bugs me is that he's a bit porky himself, and he always looks like crap. If he's going to address the school board and wants to be taken seriously, I think it would help if he shaved, and wore a suit, or at least dress slacks and a nice shirt. And for God's sake, what is going on with his hair? He should comb it, for starters.

But that's just the way I was raised. Today's younger generation think differently, and as a celebrity, he comes across like he doesn't think he has to clean up for the board since he's Jamie Oliver and they're not. Kinda condescending, if you ask me.

janemartin02

He maybe annoying,but I think what he is trying to do is admiralable.Their is an obesity problem with our youth.
I think you have to give him credit for trying.

kuhristeee

Think back to when you were a kid. If you had a choice between pizza and a veggie burger, which would you choose? If you had a choice between chocolate and plain milk? Even if kids eat healthy at home, odds are that they're going to go for the "forbidden" if parents aren't around to correct them.

When I was a kid, I chose pizza. You know what else I ate with that pizza? Corn and salad. The same thing on the school lunch menu today (in our school district, anyway). My point is that TEACHING kids about food and nutrition and TELLING them what to eat vs. what NOT to eat are two completely different things. Kids won't approach certain foods as being 'forbidden' (and thus, more desirable) if you don't tell them that they are forbidden. Teaching them how 3 slices of pizza isn't good for x and y reasons, but 1 slice is alright sets them up to be able to make these decisions on their own without you or the school or the government or whoever having to hold their hand for the rest of their lives.

And just for the record before I go any further, I had no weight problems in elementary school. My problems didn't even start until I was grown. Personal experience just tells me that my weight gain had absolutely nothing to do with 'school food' as much as it did developing a lazy, careless attitude once I reached adulthood.

And packing a lunch for them doesn't ensure that they're going to eat it. Most kids today carry more money than I do as an adult. They can certainly buy something or trade their own lunches. Jamie is not attacking the schools; he's trying to educate them on what they're doing to children in the name of saving money.

Jamie's methods of educating walk a very thin line next to attacking. He walks into these board meetings and throws his fits on tv when things don't work out the way HE wants, yet he doesn't offer any advice or further resources as to HOW to make his gourmet meals more cost effective. He wants kids to be fed certain foods, but offers no guidance for school officials on how to do it financially. Since he wants to be portrayed as such an expert in that field, it makes sense that he would jump at the chance to do that. But no. Seems to me that he's more focused on wanting people to see what a great person and a great leader he is for saving these poor, tainted youth than actually offering ways to make his 'food revolution' a reality.

Think of all you have learned about healthy eating since you've joined MFP. Don't you wish everyone was eating this way?

The short answer: No. I don't presume to think that my eating habits are superior to those who choose to eat junk and burgers and fries every day. They have every right to do that if they want, and it has absolutely no affect on me or my family. But back to the topic at hand, as I originally stated, parents should start considering how THEY can make a positive change with their own children before blaming the schools and trying to take them on. Education is key here. How do they think they can 'educate' and control the schools if they can't even do it with their own children first? The problem isn't the fact that kids have access to pizza and burgers at school. The problem first stemmed from the fact that somewhere along the line, a parent has shown their kids that it's okay to overindulge, without showing them the consequences, or teaching them how food directly affects the body. Many children have an aversion toward vegetables. Well why is that? I know that one, overly highlighted point runs rampant on Jamie Oliver's show...it goes something like this...he walks into a cafeteria and holds up a tomato or something then asks the kids what it is. Some say it's a potato, some say they don't know...are you kidding me? He wants to make it seem as though it's the school's fault for this lack of education. But HELLO. Most kids don't start public school until they're 5, 6, 7 years old. Are you really doing to try to blame them for the fact that your kid doesn't recognize a tomato when he sees one? When the kid has only been attending school for only 1, 2, or 3 years of his 7 year life? That's just an example of course.

To sum up this incredibly unintentionally long novel I've ended up writing, eating habits and teachings start WAY before a kid ever steps foot inside a public cafeteria. It's YOUR responsibility as parents to give them the tools they need to decide what to do once they get there.

bethrs

mho:

both. and.

He is to be commended for his efforts. I think school lunches should offer better choices (or make more appetizing vegetables etc.).

He is annoying to me (or at least his celebrity personality is.)

Parents should teach their kids about nutrition, and in the schools I grew up in it was hard to find good fresh foods. Peaches in corn syrup really isn't a health food. Neither is salad already drenched in ranch dressing.

Finally, I know he is trying to make a compromise by using fresh ingredients to cook appetizing foods to appeal to kids, but I've seen him serve fried foods, breaded foods etc. Just because the tater tot isn't frozen doesn't mean that it's the best choice. It's an improvement, of course, but not really educating about the best choices or all aspects of nutrition.

thumper44

Parents should teach their kids about nutrition, and in the schools I grew up in it was hard to find good fresh foods. Peaches in corn syrup really isn't a health food. Neither is salad already drenched in ranch dressing.

I totally agree.
What if the parents don't know enough about nutrition themselves?
What if they don't care? I think this is where half the problem is.

BrookeEspinosa

I stopped watching last season, so I feel ya!

time2move

I agree with the first post 100%. I absolutely cannot stand him, but watch the show because I have a 2 year old who will be in the public school system soon enough and it scares the crap out of me when it come to nutrition.

dragonbug300

I thought he was annoying until I put all of the pieces together and realized that Jamie is what he is.
Which is to say, he's a complete dork. He's awkward and lacks a bit of self-awareness at times. So what? He's human, and he's doing something that he's passionate about to help improve people's lives. The awkwardness is just very blatant when broadcast on television.
Anyways, give the guy credit where credit's due.

Heather75

I like him. I hate Rachael Ray. She needs a punch in the neck.