THE Trussell Trust has done a great deal to feed hungry people, but I hope that every church in the UK, the United States, and Australia will join in Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day next Friday, 16 May, and perhaps centre an event around it.

The aim is to get children excited about buying and cooking real food, because Jamie has realised that tackling food-poverty and ill-health is also a question of teaching young people vital skills.

I think it was the polymath Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) who addressed urban poverty by pointing out the value of teaching people to make nutritious soups for themselves. In fact, he thought no woman should be allowed to marry who did not know how to make soup.

Jamie puts a gloriousy Mediterranean gusto into his campaign to teach people to feed themselves cheaply and well. So, does that mean no more burgers? His booklet Get Kids Cooking, published for Food Revolution Day, suggests making them with children, who will enjoy squidging the mixture with their (clean) hands, and choosing their own accompaniments. This recipe makes eight small Beefburgers. (Substitute vegetarian protein for those who wish.)

olive oil
2 cream crackers, crushed in a bag
2 medium red onions
20g (½ oz) Parmesan cheese,  grated
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 egg, beaten
400g (14 oz) lean beef mince
8 mini wholewheat burger buns
potato wedges to serve (optional)
4 rashers of smoked streaky bacon  (optional), grilled
1 soft, round lettuce
2 ripe, firm tomatoes
1 red onion
1 ripe avocado
30g (1 oz) cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking tray, and set aside. Grate one onion and the Parmesan, and mix with the parsley. Add the beaten egg and mince, and mix well. Shape into eight patties, and place on the tray. Pat with a little oil, cover with cling film, and chill for 30 minutes.

Grill the bacon, slice the tomatoes and avocado, chop the other onion finely, and grate the cheddar. Bake the burgers for 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Cut the buns, and warm them for 2-3 minutes in the oven. Put a burger and some of the accompaniments into each bun, and serve with potato wedges.

The idea is to join the campaign - perhaps even becoming an ambassador, if you are confident - and accompany children in the great adventure of buying, cooking, and enjoying food. More details are available on the website food-revolutionday.com.

It has to begin with shopping, of course: finding local markets, choosing the best available food for the best price, making choices, considering animal welfare, budgeting, confronting raw ingredients, and considering available time, energy, and equipment.