For Masterchef contestant and mother of three – (as well as foster mum to 32 children) Jules Allen despairs about what parents feed their children saying just the thought of it makes her sad.
Processed junk. Food in packets. Pre-prepared sugary meals that leave a child feeling, as Jules Allen says, unloved.
The 40-year-old from NSW says she wants to see more families use food to connect rather than take the easy way out through processed meals and junk food.
Far from condemning busy parents Jules says she understands (and with 32 foster kids over 12 years its hard to compare schedules without feeling a little bit outdone) but that families need to realise with a little more effort they all can benefit.
Jules Allen was on Masterchef in 2013. Image supplied.
The award-winning youth advocate and inspirational speaker has used her time in the spotlight as a contestant on Masterchef to promote causes that she feels passionate about – food, family and helping others.
“I find it so heartbreaking that people have forgotten that food is the fundamental thing that keeps us connected in a household.”
Jules Allen appeared on Australian Story and talked about the difficulties adjusting to life after Masterchef. Post continues after video.
Top Comments
Lol well i failed from the start
Formula fed from birth, loved the jar food
Simply if i removed all packets from the house missy would hate me, so much food would get wasted, which i cant afford amd id feel even worse about my cooking when she refused every single meal.
Why spend an hour making a spaghetti sauce when it takes half a second to open a jar and is liked and tastes great
Plus, home baking isnt always healthy, especially if your using regualr flour and sugar. Fancy smancy wholegrain flour and sweetners make a pack of tim tams look cheaper than they already are
Good try on the guilt trip, not buying your book, sounds like it would be a look how awesome i am, you can be just like me. Really dont like her tone in general, very naive of peoples positions financially, emotionally, time constraints and naive on abilities of many.
No way could i get up at 530 and remain sain if all i did was cook cook, clean clean cook cook.
Plus we connect much more over a happy meal than me stressing while cooking
People can be so judgemental over lunch boxes. I use to do school lunch drop offs and remember the staff saying "oh lovely a home lunch, some parents give their kids fast food" I said, "I do both". Sometimes we do what we have to do. Feed them good most of the time and let go of the lunchbox police.