Jamie's food miracle

TV chef Jamie Oliver turned a junk-food family into the example of healthy eating in just one week - and they can't thank him enough.

14:25 14 March 2005

TV chef Jamie Oliver turned a junk-food family into the example of healthy eating in just one week - and they can't thank him enough.

The Measor family have told how their lives have been changed after the celebrity cook visited them as part of Jamie's School Dinners, his televised campaign to improve pupils' diets.

He ditched their high-fat foods and made them eat more vegetables and fruit - with spectacular results, the Daily Star reports.

They have since lost four stone between them and mum Janice said her nine offspring are better behaved and actually quite willing to sit down and do their homework.

"At first the children hated the dinners and refused to finish them," said the 45-year-old, who runs a tanning shop with husband Les.

But the children soon came on board and have since stopped fighting with each other so much and are more able to concentrate on their schoolwork.

"Jamie is amazing. He transformed our lives. I can't thank him enough," the enthusiastic mum added.

Jamie stayed with the family while filming at Eden school in Peterlee, County Durham, where Janice is a governor.