Jamie Oliver is a famous British chef, who has also had much cooking television success. He is particularly known for his long-term aim to spread delicious and nutritious food to everyone.
In 2005, he started the “Feed Me Better” campaign after discovering that many schools were serving unhealthy, processed food (like the infamous Turkey Twizzlers). Thanks to his campaign, the government introduced new nutritional standards for school lunches.
More than twenty years later, Jamie Oliver is still working to make school food even better. He is campaigning for new rules to make sure school breakfast clubs serve healthy meals instead of sugary snacks. He also believes that learning to cook is an essential life skill, so his team created a free programme called 10 Skills to teach children how to prepare simple, healthy and budget-friendly meals. Every year, he also recognises schools that promote healthy eating through the Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards.
Ask your partner:
Are school dinners healthy in your country?
Could you describe a typical menu?
Do you have a vegetarian option each day?
Do you have fruit for pudding each day?
If you really like the food, can you have seconds?
Listen to your partner’s question:
Then say whether being vegetarian is common in your country.
Expand your answer by saying whether you have any friends who are vegetarian or follow any other special diet.
Ask your partner:
Do all students eat at school or is it possible to go home for lunch (or eat with your friends outside school)?
Ask your partner:
Can you bring a packed lunch from home if you do not like the food?
Ask your partner:
Do you agree with Jamie that learning to cook is an essential life skill? Why?
You can improvise a discussion on the recipes you can cook or would like to cook
However, it has also been criticised. Some supermarkets disagree about what counts as one portion, and some food companies claim that processed products count towards your 5 A Day, even when they contain added sugar, salt or fat. In addition, a study by University College London suggested that eating up to ten portions of fruit and vegetables a day may provide even greater health benefits.
Ask your partner:
What do you think of your 5 a day? Is there any similar campaign in your country?
When she/he asks you, respond whether you eat your 5 a day.
Ask your partner:
Have you ever heard the expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? What do you think of it?
Ask your partner:
Do you have any similar proverbs in Spanish to motivate people to have a healthy diet?
Listen to your partner’s question.
Then say what your favourite proverb is and why.