Does Fat Equal Unhealthy?

Jamie Oliver's last promo trailer for his return to school dinners programme showed the nation's favourite chef in a fat suit, eating burgers and breaking his trademark scooter when he sits on it.

'Jamie's School Dinners' highlighted the unhealthy nature of the food that the nation's kids were being served in our schools, and while we all acknowledge that school lunches need to be improved, this attempt to engage people in the second series confuses eating healthy food with being overweight.

Julie Wells, MD of Sticky Mitts, the at-home cooking course for 8-13 year olds commented: "Watch the show. How many of the kids that eat 'unhealthy' food are overweight? How many are skinny? Without being scientific, it's about probably at least 50-50. The issue is not about fat vs thin, it's about good food vs bad food."

With recipes written by Rob Rees, MBE, Sticky Mitts is an innovative way for kids to learn about food and cooking. As you'd expect from a Michelin-starred chef, Sticky Mitts recipes are not revolting in the tradition of most kids cookbooks. No, these are real meals cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients which taste great.

Julie Wells continues: "How many of the children who we recently saw on national news buying junk food through the school fence were overweight? The answer is very few. I'm a mother of three and what worries me about this approach is that pointing an accusing latex finger at young people, many of whom already have body-image issues, might actually turn them off learning about food altogether."

Sticky Mitts helps children learn about food and cooking without lecturing on nutrition issues like low calorie or low fat. As Julie Wells says: "Sticky Mitts is about equipping children with the life skills to make informed choices about what they can eat, what they can cook, and where they can get the ingredients to make fresh, tasty meals. And it's great fun!" For Julie Wells, her kids, and the many people turning to Sticky Mitts, these are the things that matter.

For more information visit stickymitts.co.uk .