Kid-Friendly Shows on the Food Network: Watching with Kids is a Safe Bet

Let's be honest; I am not a great cook. I do not even aspire to be a great cook, but I do fantasize about creating exciting, nutritious dishes in under 30 minutes that my whole family will enjoy with groceries I already have on hand. Like I said, it's a fantasy. The truth is, like many modern moms, I rely too heavily on prepackaged dinners and my family eats out more often than we should. But I persist in trying to find better, more creative (and easier!) ways to prepare meals.

Fortunately, there is Food Network, a cable network devoted entirely to the preparation and consumption of food. Many Food Network stars have become household names, such as Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse. When pretty Italian-born Giada De Laurentiis announced she was pregnant, it made the crawl on all the news networks. Larry King gave rags-to-riches entrepreneur and Southern diva, Paula Deen, an entire hour to discuss her success. Americans not only love eating food, but we love watching people make it and we even enjoy watching other people eat it! Kids are no exception and many Food Network programs appeal to children. The question is, should parents allow their children to watch?

As with anything else, parents need to monitor what their children are consuming, which is a good metaphor for this discussion as many Food Network programs can influence a child's eating habits. For example, many children may enjoy watching the show "Unwrapped" because it shows how many popular food products are made. However, the program spends most of its time covering the production of processed, prepackaged foods. Face it, watching broccoli growing in a field just isn't very exciting, but seeing how candy that tastes like stomach acid is made kind of is, at least to a seven-year-old. I found that my son would often crave the items that he would see being made or discussed on the show, but many times these foods were not what I would want him to eat on a regular basis.

Similarly, many programs that emphasize home-made cooking don't fare much better when it comes to making healthy food choices. Although the dishes on many shows may be prepared at home using wholesome ingredients, this does not mean they are "healthy." Paula Deen may single-handedly keep the dairy industry afloat with her prodigious use of butter, but she is not the only repeat offender. Many other cooks frequently demonstrate recipes that, though tasty, are high in sugar, fat, and sodium.

While the images and dialogue of most Food Network programs are as squeaky clean as Kitchen Stadium before the Chairman shouts "allez cuisine!", some programs require a bit more monitoring. For example, the popular program "Ace of Cakes" is a reality show centered around the day-to-day happenings at a Baltimore bakery that specializes in highly-artistic and often extreme cakes. (Think "Miami Ink" with frosting instead of tattoo ink and pastry instead of skin!) As with any reality show, reality happens. People get stressed out and frustrated. Tempers flare. Swear words fly. These are, of course, "bleeped" out, but older children will probably know what was said and younger ones may be curious as to what they are. This program, however, can have a positive influence on kids, inspiring their creativity by demonstrating the relationship between cooking and art and by showing the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

Another program that your kids might enjoy is "Good Eats" starring Alton Brown. Two good qualities of this show are Brown's can-do, make-it-yourself attitude and the science lessons that are incorporated into nearly every episode. Yeast cells in the form of sock puppets and chemical processes illustrated by dancing teenagers clearly make Brown the "science guy" of the cooking world. This show is a lot of fun and can get kids excited about cooking foods they would ordinarily buy like marshmallows and tortilla chips. Some episodes are intentionally kid-friendly as Brown has a recurring character that is supposed to be his nephew (played by an actor) and occasionally there is an appearance by his real-life daughter. Primarily, however, the show is geared toward adults, and, once in a while, a slightly suggestive double-entendre may be used or the theme of the show may be focused on preparing alcoholic beverages.

For now, most parents would be comfortable leaving Food Network on the "unblocked" setting. If you allow your children to watch, be sure to watch with them. Many of the programs offer great opportunities to discuss nutrition, food science, and where food comes from. Since nearly all the recipes you see demonstrated on air are available on Food Network's website, the programs also offer you and your children an opportunity to experiment with fresh recipes, new types of food, and innovative cooking techniques. The ability to cook and entertain is a valuable life skill that will benefit you and your children for life, so pay attention to what your kids watch and bon appétit!