The last few years have been a whirlwind for the Cookie Monster. From having to dispel tabloid rumors about his name being changed to the “Vegetable Monster,” to his recent run in the limelight, which centered on an aggressive campaign to host Saturday Night Live.
Although the cookie monster will not be changing the name on his birth certificate, the Sesame Street executives are trying to do their part when it comes to promoting healthy eating, with a specific aim to nourish those who don’t meet basic nutritional needs.Jeanette Betancourt, vice president of content design for the education, research and outreach department of Sesame Workshop, said:
We found there were really very few resources engaging young children and helping them engage not only in healthy habits but also in knowing that as a family they’re not alone in this.
The program provides families with an educational kit, including;
- A video featuring four new Muppets, the “Super foods” – Banana, cheese, whole-grain roll and broccoli.
- Elmo and friends, including real families, as they try new foods, learn about healthy snacks and discover the importance of sharing a meal together.
The superfoods (although not official Sesame Street cast members) sing and dance, encouraging children to try new healthy foods. The 400,000 kits will be distributed to lower income families and segments will air on the show this month (December 2010). You can watch the video segments here.
While this latest campaign is more focal and extensive, Sesame Street and specifically the oft-criticized cookie glutton have actually been promoting healthier eating for a while. To wit, in 1987, the Cookie Monster rapped about healthy food.
More recently, “Hoots” the owl waxed poetic to the Cookie Monster about cookies being a “sometimes food”.
The burning question remains, however, will campaigns like this have a noticeable impact on the foods children eat?
As a parent who recently began watching the show again once her child reached preschool stage, I have been impressed with the program’s frequent little “health marketing” inclusions. A regular “live” character talks about the importance of drinking water and how she enjoys the cool, refreshing drink. Mrs. Obama talks with Elmo about how she would rather walk around Sesame Street to get some exercise before sitting down. Those are just two regular spots inserted within the programming frequently that encourage healthy physical habits. The program itself includes healthy habits and choices/behaviors for the WHOLE child. These include more references vegetables than when I was watching as a child. You’re much more likely to be counting carrots or tomatoes in today’s Sesame Street where when I was young it was match cookies.
“I also noticed that most of the cookies that Cookie Monster “ate” ended up on the floor because he didn’t really have a mouth to swallow the cookies. ”
I did, too! Oh, that brings back memories.
I think marketing any bad food to children should be illegal.
Laura–did you see the post on here a few months ago about how much of each food group the “average” American eats per year. I was floored at the amount of dairy products (namely cheese) that is consumed by most people. I don’t even eat 1/20th of that much cheese in my diet.
I dunno–I grew up watching Sesame Street and seeing Cookie Monster devour platefuls of cookies every day. Did I look at it as an acceptable thing? No. I figured he was a monster (not a kid like me) and he just ate cookies because that’s all he liked. Being a pretty astute kiddo, I also noticed that most of the cookies that Cookie Monster “ate” ended up on the floor because he didn’t really have a mouth to swallow the cookies. I guess if Sesame Street wants to expand his diet to include other foods, that’s ok. As long as they don’t ban cookies from his diet entirely.
Duane, I have to agree with you! While I’m happy to see healthy eating getting a bit of positive coverage, I also watched Sesame Street as a child, and the Cookie Monster is certainly not to blame for my own love of cookies!!
Cheese? A super food? It may be dairy but it’s SUPER high in calories! No wonder so many Americans are overweight…
This is not going to make one bit of difference. For starters, it comes down to the parents plain and simple. If they don’t provide healthy foods and keep the junk out of the home, then its all for not.
Second, junk food and fast food advertising far outweighs the little bit of media attention healthy alternatives get so its a losing battle. Kids can watch a few minutes of healthy Sesame Street characters going on about carrots and broccoli but then will spend the rest of the day being bombarded with ads for McDonalds, Pizza Hut, sugar laden cereals, chips, candy, etc.
Third, many of us grew up watching Sesame Street and I’m sure the Cookie Monster’s cookie addiction didn’t turn us into cookie craving freaks. Just more hyperbole.
Bottom line, focus on the parents. They’re the ones who control the food.
wow nice