The episode opens with Jamie appearing at a conference full of people responsible with preparing school food. He had an Q&A session full of a lot of negativity towards him. People expressed their concern of looking bad. Pride is getting in the way of Jamie having a chance to improve the school food. One particular person decided to allow him into his central kitchen to see what is happening. But his board got scared and said Jamie couldn't bring in the cameras.
Jamie got to share some of his frustrations when he received an award for being a public health champion by UCLA. Jamie expressed that the last month has been the biggest struggle of his professional career, but he wasn't giving up. He decided to move his kitchen to right across the street from West Adams High School (the only school he was able to enter). On his last day of filming rights, he has his culinary arts students prepare a "sample" for the students at an assembly. The meal included rice, salad with homemade dressing, salsa, and chili. I don't know what he put into this chili, but I found several chili recipes available at Jamie Oliver's website.
To try and show West Adams High School what a school serving healthy lunch is like, Jamie takes a couple representatives to Carpinteria High School in Santa Barbara. For the last 3 years they have been cooking meals from scratch. They are able to break even on food costs even if 70% of their students on a free or reduced lunch program. Even the students like their lunch, which is something you normally don't hear from high school students. The school even has their own organic garden where they grow food to serve in the school. Wouldn't it be great if more schools were like this. Better Home and Gardens help donate plants to begin a garden at West Adams.
Click here to learn more about the garden at Carpinteria High School.
Jamie also takes some time to visit the family from last week. The single dad and two boys who had their house filled with a year's worth of fast food, now have their house filled with fresh fruit and vegetables. They are even growing their own vegetables and herbs outside. Now they are cooking for themselves all the time. It didn't take very much. They just had to have their eyes opened and a nudge in the right direction. I hope people see how they changed and it inspires them to do likewise.
The show ends with some hope for Jamie. The LAUSD has a new superintendent. This gives Jamie a chance to meet with a new person and see if his attitude is any better than the previous superintendent.
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