Chicken Nuggets, Anyone?

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to catch an episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on TLC (formerly Discovery Travel & Living). The show revolved around Jamie's mission to promote healthy eating habits among the residents of West Virginia, a state known for having one of the highest rates of obesity in the US.

During the episode, Jamie conducted an intriguing experiment involving local children. He believed that this experiment would have a profound impact on their food choices. Jamie's plan was to reveal how commercially-produced chicken nuggets were made, with the goal of making the children reluctant to consume them any longer.

To begin, Jamie showed the children a whole chicken, excluding the head, feet, and feathers, of course. He removed the commonly sold parts such as the legs, thighs, wings, and breasts. What remained were some bones, excess skin, and a few internal organs and blood. Jamie processed these ingredients in a blender until they formed a soggy and unappetizing mixture. He then strained the mixture to remove any remaining small bones. To this concoction, Jamie added stabilizers, flavorings, and breading, transforming it into the infamous chicken nugget mixture.

The pivotal moment arrived as Jamie proceeded to shape the mixture into different nugget forms and fry them. After completing the process, he asked the children if they still wished to eat the nuggets. Surprisingly, the experiment did not yield the desired outcome, as the children responded with an enthusiastic "yes."

Jamie Oliver was genuinely taken aback by the children's willingness to consume the chicken nuggets despite witnessing their unappetizing creation process. It made me ponder how he would react if he conducted a similar experiment here in the Philippines. In our local street food scene, you can find vendors selling every part of the chicken imaginable—from the neck, feet, and skin to the intestines, blood, and even the head. The only part of the chicken that goes to waste here is the feathers.

Nonetheless, I still admire Jamie's unwavering dedication to his cause. Promoting healthier eating habits is a commendable endeavor, and I wish him the best of luck in his mission.