Primary Times winter 2018

PRIMARY TIMES EXCLUSIVE
Staying Healthy with...
Jamie
Oliver
Primary Times teams up with Jamie Oliver to
discuss the importance of fresh ingredients
A
global phenomenon in food
and campaigning, Jamie
Oliver has inspired millions
of people to cook fresh, delicious food
from scratch. In an exclusive interview
with Primary Times magazine, Jamie
talks about reducing childhood obesity,
educating parents about the benefits of
using fresh ingredients, and improving
everyone’s health and happiness.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU
TO BECOME A CHEF?
My parents are fantastic cooks, and
growing up in a pub, as soon as I was old
enough, my dad put me to work in the
kitchen. I loved being around the chefs
and the food, and I quickly got to help
with the actual cooking. That’s where it
all began.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO
DEDICATE A LARGE PORTION OF
YOUR CAREER TO IMPROVING
CHILDREN’S EATING HABITS?
I think having kids of my own focused
my attention on the next generation
and what we can do to make sure they
have happier, healthier lives. My current
focus is transforming the environment
that leads people to become obese.
That means better food education, laws
to stop companies promoting junk food
About Jamie
Parent, chef and restaurateur, Jamie Oliver started
cooking at his parent’s pub at the age of eight. After
leaving school, he began a career as a chef that took
him to the River Café, where he was famously
spotted by a television production company
and the Naked Chef was born.
to kids, limits on how much salt, fat and
sugar can go into our food, and making
a conscious effort to make it easier
(and cheaper) for people to eat well
every day. I’m a great believer that if you
give children (or, anyone!) clear, useful
information more often than not they’ll
make the right choice.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE
YOUR PRIMARY-AGED
CHILDREN TO TAKE AN
INTEREST IN INGREDIENTS?
I can’t recommend enough getting them
involved in the kitchen nice and early, to
spark an excitement about food. Even
simple jobs like getting them to pick herb
leaves or stir a batter will give them a
great sense of accomplishment and will
mean they start to understand, and be
interested in food.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE
YOUR CHILDREN TO REACH
FOR A HEALTHY SNACK?
Fresh fruit is really brilliant! Try making
your own popcorn, for instance, flavoured
with cinnamon or lemon zest. Dips are
super-easy to make: I’ve got a really tasty
minty yoghurt dip to serve with crunchy
colourful veg!
WITH THE RETURN OF JAMIE
AND JIMMY’S FRIDAY NIGHT
FEAST, WHAT IS YOUR
GO-TO HOMEMADE
FRIDAY NIGHT
FAMILY DINNER?
Just an amazing curry
– rice, all the pickles,
homemade flatbreads.
All the different spices
and flavours. Happy days.
Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast
returns to Channel 4 this December.
Jamie’s Minty
Yoghurt Dip
Ingredients:
4 sprigs of fresh mint
1 lemon
¼ clove of garlic
200g natural yoghurt
salt & pepper
1. Finely chop the mint leaves,
and add them to a mixing bowl.
2. Grate the zest of half a lemon
into the bowl, then cut the lemon
in half before squeezing the
juice into the bowl.
3. Peel and chop the garlic and
add it to the mixture.
4. Add the yoghurt, salt and
pepper and stir everything
together! You’re good to go.
YOU’RE CAMPAIGNING FOR A
HEALTHY RATING SCHEME IN
SCHOOLS, WHAT DOES A 5*
SCHOOL LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
A five-star school will meet school dinner
food standards, teach kids about the
food they eat, and encourage them to
be active too. On a Friday Night Feast
episode later this year I go into a school
to explore exactly why this stuff matters.
Don’t miss it!
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WINTER 2018 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Nottinghamshire
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