I had a few ideas about what I was going to write about in my next post when I hopped on the tube this evening. I had a few topics in mind about oil, Libya etc. But then I thought actually, lets start with something a little more accessible. I didn’t have much engagement on the drugs thing so lets keep it a little less serious for now.
But, as I found my preferred spot within the tube carriage I realised I was struggling for slightly less “serious” things to talk about that I could really be arsed with. Then just as I was about to put my Sennheiser headphones in my ears (the CX-300 ii, I got them for a tenner and you cant beat them) when something hit me, literally.
Just as the doors at Regents Park were closing a gabble consisting of two mums and about 7 kids rampaged in to the standing area of the carriage. They actually were very polite, very apologetic for nearly snapping my shin in half and their kids had a lovely shy, yet cheeky character to them. Blood pressure dropping and problem over right? Wrong. Pretty much every one of these kids were what I would class as morbidly obese, even the youngest lad, who could not have been more than 4 years old had an overhang.
First of all I am going to put a disclaimer in here, before all of the usual backlash happens:
This post is not aimed at kids with genuine difficulties (both emotional and physical), illnesses and whose weight is something completely out of anyone’s control. The last thing I want to do is upset anyone out there with weight problems which they genuinely cannot do anything about.
Ok disclaimer out the way.
Once the severity of the situation hit me I felt genuine rage, and actually thought about asking the two women in charge, “sorry ladies, but what the flying shit are you feeding your kids?” Then I realised there was no way I was in the mood for such a confrontation and actually the Mums look relatively handy.
Within a few seconds this rage turned to genuine sadness, as I realised these really sweet kids have no choice in what they are being fed. They have no choice in the fact that they will probably have some form of diabetes or heart condition by their mid teens. They also have no choice in the fact that they are being given a serious disadvantage in life.
I have great admiration for what Jamie Oliver has been trying to do and continues to do. The whole time I have been watching his programmes on this matter I have thought fair play for not just sitting on your cash and not doing something helpful like so many wealthy people seem to do, but also fair play for choosing this as the topic of focus.
What astounded me on his shows is how people seem to get so defensive and argue with the points he is raising. Its almost like these people feel they are entitled to make their kids fat and expect no consequences. Its so baffling to me that people just dont get why what they are doing is so bad.
The next question here is naturally, who is to blame?
There is no question parents have to take responsibility as they are the ones who are ultimately in charge of the nutrition of their kids. But there was an underlying reason why I didn't confront the two mums on the tube today, and it wasn't just because I bottled it.
I have been very lucky growing up as I have been encouraged to eat, yes, a lot of food, but most importantly good quality food. My dad is a Dentist who applies his scientific knowledge to nutrition and subsequently has written books on the subject and my Mum has always supported this. I was also taught from many trips to France as a kid that food is fun and trying things like shellfish, snails and things that are still moving is a positive thing.
I think its safe to say there is a big percentage of families, the ones on the train included, who dont have this relationship with food and in fact have no clue at all about just how important it is and how it can impact their lives, not just in a superficial way.
Surely this boils down to education?
Why are we not doing more to educate families and kids, and encourage institutions to serve nutritious food? Why are we not thinking of creative ways to incentivise families to feed their kids properly? If people dont know any better, and they have easy options its obvious what path they are going to chose. Apart from anything else, you would think the savings to NHS would make it logical if nothing else?
By the way, please dont give me the argument of cost because thats total bullshit. Eating healthily is not more expensive!
On Jamie Olivers crusade, at every turn he has faced resistance. Not only from defensive, narrow minded members of the public but also from larger, more powerful forces with ulterior motives. If there was one criticism I would point at Jamie Oliver its the fact he didn't question further why these barriers were in his way.
Its easy to forget that supermarkets, food companies, fast food chains are massive business, just as the Petrochemical and Pharma companies are.
We have to question why governments are not doing more to regulate the food industry and help people who are not educated in this area to know any better. Its easy to blame parents, and its probably justified to an extent, but there is more to it than that and surely the blame lies with the people who can really make a difference?
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