Like so many of us, I love to plan meals, and I love to cook. Spoiling my husband and friends is part of who I am. Cooking is my way out after a long workday; I leave my frustrations on the cutting board when I chop off heads of carrots and other willing victims.
And then you came along. A TV station just for cooking and food -how brilliant! I watched your shows and got so many wonderful ideas from them. Some of the chefs are great and are fun to watch. Competitive cooking! Who would have thought that could be a THING.
There are fakers and bakers, cooks and cons, master chefs and their apprentices. From the worst cook to the best, they all show us how it’s done, and the calories are thrown into the pots and pans left and right. Half a pound of butter or a pint of heavy cream, the gloves are off when it comes to the preparation of delicious meals.
The only thing that seems to matter is the taste, and that’s where you are WRONG.
Dear Food Network! I am not sure if you have noticed, but I have news for you. Many of the American people are overweight, and they need to live a different lifestyle -many have health issues. Some call it diet, I prefer to call it food awareness, but regardless of what we name it, the goal is the same -we try to get our weight into a healthy range to have a better and, hopefully, longer life.
This nation has an obesity problem, and sadly that involves children and young adults.
Many of us have to watch out what we eat -but we still want to eat well. What good is comfort food, if it doesn’t give us any comfort, but leaves us feeling guilty?
Finding the right ingredients to create lighter versions of the dishes we love so dearly, that seems to be the real challenge for the most of us, and we could use some help.
So, if you don’t mind me asking, why aren’t there cooking shows and competitions showcasing healthier meals? Give cooks in your shows a maximum amount of calories that they can use for their meals, and crown the master who is going up in taste, but down in calories.
Why don’t you do that? Is that because you think healthy food doesn’t taste or look good. Again, I have news for you, it’s not true. I cook great meals. They are fun to look at, and they taste good, and they ARE NOT smothered with gravy or a truckload of melted cheese.
Many of the meals I prepare require advance planning and preparation, and I am OK with that, knowing that it is an investment in my health and well-being.
Perhaps, it might be harder to cook a good meal if you have dietary restrictions, but hey, if I can do it, then all your chefs should be able to handle the challenge as well.
Just thinking.
The Happy Quitter
Love this!!!
A great post, Bridget. I don’t watch the Food Network … but then you already know about my ambivalence towards cooking. I think, in general, people have lost touch with making and eating real food as opposed to processed convenience food. Vegetables are often a sorry after-thought of a “side” rather than the core of a meal.
As I think of my many food flaws (yes, chocolate and liquorice, I’m talking about you!) I’m thankful that gravy or cream-laden dishes are not one of them.
Change in plan! We will drink a bottle of Sambuca (the black one) when we meet because I LOVE licorice and Sambuca is the ultimate treat.
You are so spot on with your “side” remark. I grew up eating meat dishes at the weekend, they were a special treat. Nowadays, we have (and demand it) almost every day. I bought me Vegetarian cookbook and it widened my horizon (food-wise.)
After my whining about being overrun by vegetarians this Christmas, I found a vegetarian lasagna for Christmas Eve that looks AMAZING. I can hardly wait to give it a try. Lasagna is not one of my favourite foods, but this one looks wonderful.
… and I’m still trying to find black Sambuca. The liquor stores here don’t seem to carry it 😕
Well, we will have to meet in Italy one day, preferably in Naples. We will leave our husbands in the hotel and we girls will get shit faced drinking black Sambuca. 🙂
As for vegetarian lasagna. I refused to try it and regretted my stubborn behavior when I tried for the first time. I am glad you found something that will work for all your guests.
I think meeting in Italy is a brilliant plan. I’ll start packing …
“I leave my frustrations on the cutting board when I chop off heads of carrots and other willing victims.” Hah! Never thought of it that way!! What you say is exactly what the medical field needs to embrace! I guess it’s all about those in America who believe “Freedom” means being able to eat whatever you want! Regardless of the consequences. Nice Job!
http://www.meinthemiddlewrites.com
The supersizing has to stop. Smothering everything in cheese and gravy, all this unhealthy behavior should be addressed.
As for the chopping board….what can I say. I need victims 🙂
Great post and great quote. I think food is an issue in the uk too. People make bad choices
You are SO right. What would be so wrong with making food on this channel that is delicious and healthy? Food that addresses the issues of two much sugar and too much fat which are generally the two biggest issues when it comes to obesity …. I must say that in Britain I think they have got better and there are two or three chefs that spring to mind who have had programmes promoting ‘food awareness’ (excellent sound bite, by the way) …. I imagine one of the issues with the food channel is advertisers – I wonder what the commercials that are paying for the programme are pedaling?
I love your post – I am vegan and follow many vegan food sites. If I ate 90% of what I see in these recipes, I would be overweight in no time. Simple good whole foods are the best option by far.
Totally agree. Sometimes you can get ideas but for the most part the recipes have no relationship to how I choose to eat and cook. Great post Bridget
I stopped watching food network. Most of the programs are annoying and sometimes painful to watch. I recall stumbling on a 3 layer glazed donuts (krispy Kreme styled) stuffed with onions and pulled pork while channel surfing. What was that?! I just can’t….😑
I too have learned that cooking healthy takes more planning and extra prep time. Most of it is worth it, though I’ve had some failures…but I had failures when I cooked before too…so it all evens out and maybe we’ll get to live longer.
Excellent post.
Thank you
I agree completely as I too watch the Food Network. All the food those chefs make on the shows, though no doubt delicious, I cannot eat any of that. I too wish there are food shows devoted to healthy alternative cooking. Good thought.
Alton Brown started doing this towards the end of “Good Eats”, but alas and alack, his show is no longer on the air.
Oh Willow. 🙂
Indeed food for thought. Being diabetic and loving food (a whole lot) I agree heartily with you. Why don’t they offer us a show that gives us tips on how to make vegetables (healthy vegetables like cabbage and squash and kale) tasty or even palatable? I’d settle for that, because I don’t much like ‘healthy veggies’. Something that became a problem for me personally was the fact that the person I cooked for (hubby) died. Trying to learn to cook for one (and do it in a healthy way) is a trial and a chore and I admit to giving up. I know a dozen others like me who did too. While you’re at it, suggest to those people that they also start offering a show that offers tasty healthy meals for ONE. Great post here sweetie! I’m so glad you started blogging again! <3
A biopsy this year confirmed that I have Celiac disease and I am living a gluten free lifestyle every since. Boy, oh boy, talk about a challenge.
I have RA and I have to stay away from dairy products, chicken and eggs. I was devastated. The world as I knew it came to an end -or at least so I thought.
Then I went out and bought a Vegetarian cookbook, full with side dished I have never heard of. Also, I bought an Asian cookbook.
There are food creations out there that I had never heard of and I like so many of them.
I have been on a GF diet since 1995 and that sure my eating habits. Hospital talk good but don’t serve food. I went 15 years before I was able to eat pizza again. Good luck with your diet. I still remember the time I walk into a GF store it was like a child coming into a toy store.