Government has announced compulsory lessons in cooking
healthy meals under plans to combat obesity.Schools Secretary Ed Balls
is asking the public to suggest ideas for the classic English and world
dishes that all pupils should learn to cook.As a Chef I Applaud the idea
but in practical terms Ed's got it all wrong. Many schools do not have
the facilities to implement this plan and finding the teachers for these
classes would be a Turkey Twizzler affair.The thought of asking the
public to suggest ideas of which dishes the pupils should learn how to
cook will split mayonnaise, you only need to look at the shelf space
dedicated to ready meals to realise that the public has forgotten how to
cook. The classes should start with basic cooking methods; this would
empower the children with the knowledge to produce any recipe rather
than a few publicly chosen ones.Teaching Basic cooking methods will
provide the pupil with the skill to decide which cooking method to use
in order to achieve a healthier diet and the knowledge to continue
cooking throughout their lives.In concentrating on these fundamental
core principles of cooking we achieve sustainability for cooking, not
another whimsical plan by a Chargrilled government.