By Anita Thomas
Mar 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Huntington, West Virginia is listed as the unhealthiest city in America. Government statistics have taken data that shows the citizens of this city have the highest death rate of heart disease and obesity. England Chef Jamie Oliver challenges the city and school system in making changes in school meals and teaching Americans how to prepare healthy and delicious meals. Besides taking over the kitchen at Central City Elementary he has opened a business to teach the citizens the proper way to prepare and cook the meals.

He pitches his plan on the local radio station with the DJ explaining to him that the people like the way they eat and will probably not except his challenge. Not prepared for the negative response he begins to realize he may have a bigger challenge the he thought.

Entering the kitchen and meeting the staff he can feel the anxiety and tension coming from the cooks. They are apprehensive about his challenge and do not like the fact he will be forcing change. The morning meal consists of pizza and canned fruit and Jamie is astounded that pizza is served as a breakfast food. For lunch the menu is chicken nuggets, baked beans and a fruit. Jamie takes note that the healthy food is put in the trash from the students and only the processed food gets eaten. Children he discovers have bad food habits the start at home, a survey he takes during lunch on what they had for dinner the night before proves that. They are eating for lunch the same food they had for dinner the night before.

Head cook Alice Gue feels he is setting himself up for failure and is determine to prove him wrong. Jamie can feel the tension and anxiety coming from the staff. He has a meeting with the cooks and learns his choice of food items being served needs to pass FDA regulations. Rhonda McCoy works for the government and is in there in the city to oversee the school systems around follow these food guidelines. Jamie speaks to her about the regulations and guidelines and is confused as to why the food served is allowed.

The day following his arrival to the school actually begins midmorning with a rough start. The staff is uncomfortable with his choice of food to be served for lunch and they decide to allow the children to make a choice as to what they eat. The fresh lemon baked chicken, brown rice and salad pass the regulations, but does not pass well with the students. When given a choice the children choose frozen pizza over the baked chicken. He decides the best way to have them eat healthy is to take way any choices they may have when eating. His struggles continue the following day when taking over the kitchen and prepare healthy food that taste good.

Bad press and more negativity continue to follow Jaime in the town of Huntington. As we see in previews for upcoming episodes. His task of changing the eating habits of the American people starts to take its toll on Jaime. To see if he can work his magic you need to tune in next week for more episodes. Follow Jamie as his challenge continues in the city of obesity.