Given the crap that Paula Deen has taken for her calorie-excessive TV programs, you would think that a Cooking Channel show devoted to making smarter choices would be in a prime-time setting.
Saturday mornings at 11 am Eastern on the Cooking Channel isn't prime-time but it's where you would find "Drop 5 lbs. with Good Housekeeping." The title is long, awful, with a short-sighted diet mentality, and a tie-in with a magazine whose median age is probably 52.
The format is quick hits of different types of way to lead a better life, whether that be healthier recipes, exercise tips, or helpful hints, such as portion control. The rhythm of the show reminds you of "Everyday Food" on PBS, although the "Drop" hosts are far less condescending.
Both shows try to do this in the ADD mentality of magazines with quick tips and then running away to the next page, er, segment. A bit harsh, but if you're used to the pace of music videos, you'll do just fine.
Unlike most weight-loss programs, food and nutrition are predominant. The fitness expert is the only noticeable personality on the program, but that is mostly because she is tall, quite short-haired and very top-heavy.
In the first episode, we got a recipe for grilled chicken with a sauce featuring apples, onion, and mango chutney sauce. The fettuccine alfredo alternative was more of a different creamy pasta dish. Trying to fake people out is one of those deceptive magazine tricks. This dish featured 1% milk with corn starch for the "cream" and used mushrooms, onions, ham, and frozen peas. The dish was more of a cross between mac and cheese and a stew, nothing like fettuccine alfredo.
In the second episode, we get a bunch of calorie-saving tips, but they were so basic and obvious that they were truly a "duh" moment. Switch from regular soda to diet soda. Gee, why didn't we think of that?
We get a revision of guacamole in the third episode that reduces the amount of avocado by adding cannellini beans. Our host points out that while avocado has good fats, "but that doesn't mean it's calorie-free." Why ever said avocados were calorie-free? What an odd thing to say.
While it's good to cut bad fats, getting good fats, such as avocado, is also good. Fats aren't bad in moderation, but in the mindset of this program, calories are what counts. You can be too obsessive about calories.
The first episode taught about portion control and the best ways to eat well in restaurants (research restaurant you're going to; don't dive into food right away, don't skip meals).
This is a show you can watch to get 1-2 decent tips per show, and wade through the rest. Kind of like reading Good Housekeeping, except you can fast-forward through the ads.
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