Radical with Amol Rajan Should School Meals Be Plant-Based? (Your Radical Questions with Jamie Oliver)
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Dec 15, 2025 Chef Jamie Oliver, an advocate for healthier school meals and public health, dives into pressing food issues. He discusses obesity legislation and the need to curb junk-food advertising aimed at children. Highlighting the benefits of plant-based meals in schools, Jamie argues they can be nutritious, cost-effective, and improve health. He also emphasizes the importance of teaching food skills and nutrition to children to foster a well-rounded education. With a focus on improving food quality, Jamie calls for cultural change in British food standards.
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Environment Drives Obesity
- Obesity is a normal response to an abnormal environment full of junk-food marketing and easy access to unhealthy options.
- Jamie Oliver argues changing the environment (marketing, product formulation, availability) is key to reducing diet-related disease.
Nudge With Taxes And Product Positioning
- Use taxes, product reformulation and positioning to nudge consumers toward healthier choices without removing freedom.
- Jamie recommends taxing harmful additives and placing fresh products adjacent to processed ones to erode unhealthy sales.
Move Schools Toward Vegetarian Menus
- Switch school meal systems toward predominantly vegetarian options to save money and simplify operations while maintaining nutrition.
- Jamie says beans, nuts and legumes provide ample protein and fibre and make vegetarian school food feasible and delicious.
