There is nothing that quite makes me so sad and angry at the same time as watching the problems with childhood obesity in this country continue to escalate. Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution has done a brilliant job at further exposing this rising epidemic. It can feel daunting.

I have raised my daughter Chiara to eat foods that will nourish her and give her sustained energy. She has a chef for a mom and loves all sorts of foods from Brussels sprouts to kale to radishes to duck, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian…. she’ll eat them all. With that being said, put some Zebra cakes or Oreos on the table and all good eating habits are out the door. I am one to believe in balance.

I’m not militant but I am fed up. I’m fed up with the choices that are presented to our kids at school (which shape of fat, salt and corn syrup are you going to pick today?).

I know that you don’t want your kids to suffer with the epidemic of diabetes that is in front of them, nor the ADD, or Celiac disease that seem to be coming part and parcel with a diet based on processed foods. Don’t feed into the lie that you are somehow depriving them if you don’t provide all the sugary and salty snacks that their heart's desire.

When is the last time that you honestly put out a plate of fresh veggies or fruit when they got home from school? If it was today or yesterday, applaud yourself. If it hasn’t been in the last week, month or year, JUST TRY IT! It is the first step towards reigning back in control of what happens in our homes and with our kids (and our own) eating habits.

Remember, if you need a Ph.D to decode what is on the label, it probably is best to skip it! Even if you add ONE fresh fruit or vegetable today you are making a BIG difference. You can do it! Give it a try and be part of the solution revolution!