Kids and food

A recent article in the age about Junior Masterchef questioned if the show is good for kids or not. Whilst arguably it isn’t as many of the ingredients are high in fat and sugar, the article indicated that it was in fact doing more good than harm. Many of the kids seemed to understand that the food being prepared was for special occasions and not everyday fare. However what was notable in the article was that kids had been discussing cooking in the playground.

I know that my interest in food began as a child and initially it was all about the sugar. I spent years trying to master meringues. Why? Because I loved to eat them. However as I have grown older and become more health conscientious I have changed what I cook to reflect that. Moreover I now have a good understanding of ingredients and how they interact. So I am able to modify recipe’s to have less fat and sugar then what they would usually.

That’s why I think this article is important as it raises the point that kids now have a better understanding of raw ingredients and how they are used to create a dish. As these kids mature and make more informed decisions about what they ingest, they will be better equipped to cook the foods that reflect that.

Masterchef has indeed helped boost food from “a domestic chore to something quite exciting” (Goodyer 2011). This is true not just for kids but also for adults. It inspires a greater interest in food and cooking. It also teaches people about all the amazing things you can do with food. I think Masterchef has really paved the way for food to be perceived as a skilled art.

Furthermore the article mentions concerns about obesity as a result of the ingredients that are used on Masterchef. However there are many articles that indicate that fast food is a leading cause of obesity. As stated in my last post, the slow food movement (which inspires my cooking) is very much against fast food. Having a better understanding of how to make food and what goes into food encourages people to make more informed choices about what they eat. Therefore whilst the chosen ingredients on Masterchef may not be healthy, I feel that long term they do encourage healthier living.

References

Goodyer, P. (2011). Kids in the kitchen. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/kids-in-the-kitchen-20110929-1kxu8.html