Often my roommates will turn on the television and see that the last person manning the remote was watching the Food Network channel. Immediately they’ll know the culprit. Guilty as charged! I’m a HUGE fan of the Food Network. Who doesn’t love watching Bobby Flay grill or Alton Brown narrating the Iron Chef challenge?
While certain Food Network shows would probably not qualify as nutritionally focused programs, many of the programs do offer healthy recipe options. Today’s Tune-In Tuesday post offers some EYC-approved Food Network shows. Check out my opinions of these programs, including links to a couple recipe options:
30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray
Unlike other shows that fast forward through steps and make an elaborate meal seem deceivingly simple, the real-time nature of 30 Minutes with Rachael Ray proves that her dishes truly never take more than a half hour to make. While some of her recipes seem more focused on filling up a family, she does offer many healthy ideas, even suggesting how to turn certain meat dishes into vegetarian ones. I have to ask though, has anyone else noticed that she rarely leaves time to taste her meals at the end? Where’s the dramatic “MMM so good!” trademark of cooking shows? J
Tune In: Sundays at 11:30 AM, Saturdays at 10 AM, Weekdays at 1, 6 & 6:30 PM EST
5 Ingredient Fix
Often I will be scared away from a recipe when I see the list of ingredients required. I like Claire Robinson’s 5 Ingredient Fix program because it shows that you can make delicious dishes with only five ingredients or fewer. Claire enhances the natural flavors of carefully selected, fresh ingredients to create healthy, seasonal meals.
Tune In: Thursdays at 9:30 AM and Saturdays at 10:30 AM EST
Giada at Home
You should watch this show if for nothing else than to hear Giada’s distinct way of pronouncing ricotta (“rih-coh-tuh,” although that hardly does it justice). On Giada at Home, Giada De Laurentiis puts together fresh, unique meals in her own kitchen, then serves them to her friends and family (cue clip of laughter and conversation at a dinner table). This show is definitely one of my favorites on the food channel. While she does present recipes for more decadent desserts, Giada also offers a variety of light, healthy dishes.
Recipes: Israeli Couscous with Apples, Cranberries and Herbs & White Bean and Roasted Eggplant Hummus
Tune In: Saturdays at 1 PM and Mondays at 4:30 PM EST
The Food Network website also offers a Healthy Eating section, offering recipe collections like Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Low Calorie, Gluten-Free, Meal Makeover, Vegetarian, and more.
I certainly love watching sugary, tummy-pleasing desserts being prepared on Cupcake Wars and Ace of Cakes, but it’s good to know that there are healthier options offered as well!
Are you a Food Network fan? Do you feel that the network presents a good variety of healthy recipes?
Today's Recommended Read: Daily Exercise Helps Keep the Sniffles Away (CNN Health)
You highlighted all of my favorite shows ;) What I love about them is that they're not overly healthy, but not overly un-healthy either - you could really go either way with the majority of the recipes on these programs, ad they don't use tons of bizarre, hard to find ingredients, either. I like Alton Brown's "experiments," too.
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