Television chef Jamie Oliver is gearing up for the launch of his very first Ministry of Food center in London. The two years of hard work put in by NHS Newham, Jamie Oliver Foundation and Leaside Regeneration Ltd. is just close to becoming a reality. The food center will offer cooking classes to the communities of Startford. The Ministry of Food center in London, which will be operating as a social business, will kick off its functioning as a mobile center and will deliver the culinary classes in schools, business establishments and community centers located across Newham, while the permanent centre is expected to be in place by the end of 2011.

Jamie Oliver who is very excited with this venture mentioned that the opening up of this food center had been his dream. According to Oliver, “Knowing how to cook nutritious and delicious food using fresh ingredients is an essential life-skill but because it hasn’t been taught in schools for many years, we’ve got a couple of generations of people who don’t have the knowledge.” And that is what exactly the goal of this venture is all about.

The MoF classes are much in demand in the North and studies have proved that people who have completed about 10 lessons of this MoF course have been able to successfully lose weight, while saving money.

People love these classes majorly because of the fun involved in it. People are not forced to do something, but they are nudged in such a way that they change their food habits in an involuntary fashion.

The classes at the Stratford MoF will kick off from May 2011 and will be run by the Leaside Regeneration Ltd.

Classes will begin in May 2011. Carlos Montes, who is with Leaside Regeneration, has expressed his delight to work with Jamie Oliver MoF. He also mentioned that the center will be “fun and entrepreneurial hub” that will aid in nourishing and enhancing the community.

Rosie Boycott, who is the Chair of London Food, mentioned that Jamie Oliver’s initiative is worth appreciation. Rosie also mentioned that this wonderful venture will be able to inspire the new generation to embrace “cooking and develop a healthy love of food.” This particular region of East London has numerous cases of obesity and various other diseases caused due to pathetic food consumption. She has expressed hope that the people will be able to “adopt a healthier lifestyle” with this initiative.  

Rachel Flowers, the Joint Director of Public Health for Newham, while appreciating the initiative has also expressed Newham’s delight in working with this venture. The co-author of 2007 Foresight Report ‘Tackling Obesities’, Susan Jebb has mentioned that people should make use of this opportunity to learn cooking habits and so that they can prepare healthy food for their family.

Best wishes to Jamie Oliver and the Ministry of Food center!