TV Series to Get Kids to Try New Foods

It's not just the influence of a parent's shopping preference driving the next generation. But I have always been somewhat fascinated with my young nieces spending time watching various cooking shows and having a great time and driving the experience with their parents and grandparents to help prepare and choose the dinner meal.

We may eventually have a new generation of shoppers that actually know how to cook...now that will be a challenge for retailers and manufacturers.

Charlie Moro, President, CFS Consulting Group, LLC

As a parent of a soon-to-be 7 year old and very picky eater, I love the concept. As a shopper, I don't know that it will change our behavior any--though I will say that any show or product brand that actually got my son to TRY things (and by this I mean healthy things, unladen with trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, fillers, and/or preservatives)--that brand would have my undying loyalty.

My son already participates in preparing the dinner meal, though he treats it more like a science project, and the process is laden with "eeww" and "that's gross." I don't think a cooking show, even hosted by kids and a robot refrigerator, would change his mind.

Nikki Baird, Managing Partner, RSR Research

This is one of the best new opportunities for brands and food retailers to get involved in that we've seen in a while! We'll investigate for clients in Canada!

Anne Howe, Founder, Anne Howe Associates

Love the concept, can't wait to see an episode. With the promotion of stealth nutrition or hiding the food from the kids, this is a refreshing stance. And it will contribute to better habits as adults, I would imagine.

Suzy Badaracco, trends forecaster, Culinary Tides

Food brands marketing new items to kids? That's what Kellogg's, General Mills, Quaker, and Pepsico get criticized for. If there's a direct profit connection, it's not education, it's something ominous.

Marketing new tastes to kids might be easier for retailers, but there's no doubt it requires innovative thinking. The margins would be better for restaurants, compared to supermarkets. The latter have such low margins, it would be hard to prove any payback. Almost no grocer or restaurant would invest in kids without requiring an immediate measurable profit.

Mark Lilien, Consultant, Retail Technology Group

The pilot episode looks appealing for this young age group. Children must learn healthy eating habits early in life and here is a great opportunity to show them how. In those teachable moments, my guess is that many of the kids who watch the show or go to the website may learn more about cooking and new foods then they do at home.

The show could be tied to retailers who might feature the recipe that week on their website or in-store demo or circular. The idea could also be tied into name brand products (food and non-food) and even teach safe food handling (i.e. clean, separate, cook and chill) in a fun and interesting way.

Odonna Mathews, President, Odonna Mathews Consulting