Dad-of-five Jamie Oliver reveals his surprising family food rules

Posted in Nutrition.
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Chef and dad of five Jamie Oliver has just become the new face of British grocery chain Tesco, and as he celebrated this relationship he was keen to talk a little more about family and food.

Healthy food swaps

Tesco and Jamie will be encouraging parents to make healthy little swaps to improve their family diet, aiming “to provide delicious, healthier options for the nation, making it easier to eat well without breaking the bank,” according to London Eater.

Speaking at the launch of this new foodie partnership, Jamie says he knows the struggle is very, very real for contemporary parents. Striking a good food balance – including the odd cheat day – is a very personal thing and he hopes that small shifts can make a big difference.

Jamie and Jools Oliver are parents to 16-year-old Poppy, 15-year-old Daisy, 9-year-old Petal, 7-year-old Buddy and 2-year-old River Rocket.

This new Tesco campaign is riffing off a lot of the work Jamie has been doing to promote better eating over the last decade. Earlier this year, he launched a campaign called #AdEnough aimed at reducing the amount of junk food advertising kids are exposed to. 

“If kids are constantly being targeted with cheap, easily accessible, unhealthy junk food, just think how hard it must be to make better, healthier choices,” he said. “We have to make it easier for children to make good decisions.”


  Read more about Jamie:


No fizzy drinks!

For his own family, some junky things are definitely not partaken of on the daily … or even allowed in the Oliver home.

“We don’t have soda in the house,” Jamie told Hello! Magazine at the Tesco launch, stressing that soft drink is a special occasion, sometimes food only. 

While he worries about hidden sugars sneaking into foods, he points out that even the sweet stuff has its place, especially when it’s being loud and proud about its sweetness.

“A bit of cake is just honest – a cake has never lied to you, a cake is a cake,” Jamie said and PREACH!

Strike a relaxed balance

Balancing less nutritious foods with good old nourishing homemade fare is the Oliver approach and Jamie hopes parents will avoid being too prescriptive when it comes to kids’ nutrition.

“I am kind of relaxed but if you were to say, ‘Oh I saw Daisy hanging out at Maccy D’s.’ I personally wouldn’t be upset because I know at home, we largely give her only good options,” Jamie told Hello!

He noted he could whip up a quality burger in less time than it takes to grab a fast-food burger, anyway and we’ll be right over, JO!

 

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