(Los Angeles, CA) -- The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation “Big Rig Teaching Kitchen” debuts tonight in the final episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution on ABC. A flagship for Oliver’s Food Revolution campaign against obesity, the “Big Rig” will teach kids life-changing cooking skills. The newly formed Jamie Oliver Food Foundation has partnered with California’s leading health foundation, The California Endowment, to bring the truck to Los Angeles. Over the next year, it will visit four of their target communities, working in collaboration with local community groups to reach an estimated 2500 schoolchildren.
“Food knowledge and cooking skills are the two biggest weapons we have in the fight against obesity,” said Jamie Oliver, who continued, “I’ve never worked with a kid who didn’t love a cooking lesson and once they’ve learned a few basic skills in the kitchen, they can start making better choices at the grocery store and table. “
Jamie conceived the plan for an inspirational mobile classroom as part of his TED Prize wish. TED supporters Mike and Sukey Novogratz donated $500,000 to build the rig, and award-winning architect David Rockwell offered his team to design it.
The Rig offers a five-week course structured around quick, affordable family meals made with fresh, whole ingredients. Kids then take the lessons home and build the confidence to cook for their families. The curriculum also includes: “nutrition 101” teaching portion-size, the components of a balanced meal, and nutritional comparisons between processed and fast foods versus foods they cook themselves. Recipes are tailored to meet the USDA health goals set out in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It is staffed by culinary instructors trained by a Jamie Oliver food team and supported by The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities team.
The Big Rig launches in South Los Angeles with Challengers Boys & Girls Club, where it will be parked for the summer. Children who attend Challengers-affiliated and other local school, summer camp, and community programs for children and adults, will be the first participants in the Food Revolution cooking experience. The truck moves to Long Beach this fall, followed by Boyle Heights and Santa Ana, spending ten weeks in each location.
“The California Endowment couldn’t be more excited to work with true community partners like the Challengers Boys & Girls Club and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. The Teaching Kitchen is an opportunity for us to work in tandem with our partner organizations and to demonstrate to children and local families that nutritious cooking can be not only fun and healthy, but can help enrich family and community life,” said Kathlyn Mead, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of The California Endowment.
Today the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation is also pleased to announce that it will be piloting a new training program for community volunteers, to ensure that the Rig leaves behind a sustainable legacy of trained Food Revolution instructors everywhere it visits.
JOFF is working with USC and the Childhood Obesity Center to establish an evaluation program which will measure the impact cooking can have on improving food choices and family eating habits.
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The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation was established in 2011 to fight obesity and promote better dietary health through food education and cooking skills. The JOFF will drive a social movement for cultural change, advocate for better food choices and integrity through the food chain and develop educational programs to promote home cooking, in particular in schools and vulnerable communities. For more information, please visit http://www.jamieoliver.com/foundation/
About Building Healthy Communities
Building Healthy Communities is a 10-year, $1 billion plan of The California Endowment. In connection with staff-led, statewide policy initiatives, 14 communities are taking action to make where they live healthier. They’re doing this by improving employment opportunities, education, housing, neighborhood safety, unhealthy environmental conditions, access to healthy food and more. The goal: to create places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Ultimately, we’re aiming at nothing less than a transformation in the way all of us think about and support health for all Californians. For more information, please visit www.calendow.org/healthycommunities/
Building Healthy Communities is a 10-year, $1 billion plan of The California Endowment. In connection with staff-led, statewide policy initiatives, 14 communities are taking action to make where they live healthier. They’re doing this by improving employment opportunities, education, housing, neighborhood safety, unhealthy environmental conditions, access to healthy food and more. The goal: to create places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Ultimately, we’re aiming at nothing less than a transformation in the way all of us think about and support health for all Californians. For more information, please visit www.calendow.org/healthycommunities/
About The California Endowment
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. For more information, please visit www.calendow.org.
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. For more information, please visit www.calendow.org.