Was anyone else really shocked at what americans feed their kids for breakfast at school?

That is pretty shocking! But as was mentioned by others, when he did his thing in the UK, there was a backlash from parents who would feed their children mcdonalds through the school gates.

Don't judge all American schools by one show. Most schools have a breakfast program and I doubt they're all serving pizza. Any school I ever went to served cereal, instant oatmeal, bagels, and fruit. Yes, there was pizza for lunch, but by at least 6th grade there was more than one line so you could choose what you wanted. Hell, in high school there were 5 lines, only one of which served pizza. Two served a meal of whatever was on the menu, one was burgers and fries, one was pizza, one was deli sandwiches, and one was a salad bar. So it's not like these kids don't have a choice on what they eat.

since my two older daughters graduated a canadian high school not too long ago, i'm totally not surprised - it completely aligned with what i witnessed myself.

the school cafeteria charged more for a piece of fruit ($1) or a small salad ($3.50) than it did for a chocolate bar (50 cents) or a greaseburger and fries combo ($3.00). you could buy a small individual yoghurt for $1.75 or you could buy a full 4oz of gummy candies for $1.50. a roast beef sandwich on whole wheat for $3 or two pizza pockets for the same? milk for a buck or pop for half that?

the average american school budget is $2.80 per student (source: "top chef" in the episode featuring michelle obama's school lunch initiatives) - how the heck are they supposed to feed *anybody* on that kind of budget?

parents feeding the kids rotten ronnie's through the gates!?? how f'g high school can you get!? i hope they get humiliated when ppl see them in public.

bballrox: your personal experience doesn't negate two simple facts:

a) 65% of north americans are overweight and

b) if you do not adopt a healthy eating habit now, it'll totally catch up with you in adulthood - if not sooner, then later.

this never happened in our house. oatmeal, cereal, eggs. toast. oj, etc. were always on the menu for breakfast. my son was so breakfast orientated that he would complain to us if he was served donuts at a friends' sleepover. fortunately, my sons' family has continued this healthy breakfast tradition. people wonder why so many people in the west are getting fatter and more unhealthy. a similar, but oft ignored issue is the emphasis on "thinness" as a life style for teen girls and women. similar bad eating habits are encouraged to achieve and maintain the ability to wear skinny jeans.

I'm an american, I eat pizza for breakfast, I don't know many vegetables, and I'm a strong healthy young women.

Did they also tell you that almost all american children and teens participate in athletics? 5 times a week! In high school I played volleyball, basketball, soccer, and I ran track, I ate fast food about 4-5 times a week and I am almost 19, weigh 105 lbs and am pretty muscular. Even children who don't play sports are required to take gym classes in school.

Its culture. I'm sure the students knew quite a few vegetables btw. Over exaggerate?

Don't judge all Americans by what you see on a tabloid TV show. The show is designed to shock - it's like Jeremy Kyle for food. If you're an Oliver fan, then you know very well from his UK shows that there are plenty of people in Britain who know as little about food as those he found in the US.

Just because they're showing some of the less educated people, doesn't mean everyone is like that.

It's true that American public schools have horrendous foods, but I find it hard to believe that kids didn't know the names of vegetables -- try to be discerning when it comes watching programs that edit to make a point.

Some of them are athletes... But does that mean they ALL are? All children? Adults? Teens? There are still tons of overweight americans there even if you think they are all athletes.

I know! I watched that too and could not believe they do not use knifes and forks either. Not to know what a tomato or potato is was shocking.

i watched that programe as well and it made me want pizza haha but for breakfast that is to much, i actaully wasn't suprized though...