Cookie Monster's tune changes from C is for Cookie to A Cookie is a Sometimes Food.

Healthy Habits for Life - PBS's Response to Children Obesity

For 36 years Sesame Street has been a real educator for kids and played an important part in children's preparation for school and life.

Since April, this year, the show contains, in addition to science related topics, issues on children's health. The program is part of a larger Sesame Workshop initiative, "Healthy Habits for Life". Such an initiative of the producers was very inspired, considering the growing problems that US is facing regarding child obesity and the great impact of the characters in the show on pre-school children. Moreover, this is an optimum age for establishing a foundation of healthy habits: healthy eating, active play, hygiene and rest.

Cookie Monster Is Threatened

No fear, it's not a real threat! It's about this event being badly criticized by many, especially when they learnt that the blue-furred Cookie Monster will change his diet. Cookie Monster has become a symbol, and it's simple why many disapprove: no cookies, no real Cookie Monster! So they say!

Yes, we all know Cookie Monster as the biggest cookie eater ever. His line C is for Cookie is precious to us all as we associate it with childhood-related memories. Changing it would mean spoiling our memories. From this point of view I don't judge too harsh those who took offence in changing the monster's diet, but this just as long as it's about fun and story. When it comes to real life, what we transmit to our children is more important.

Aren't we a little too attached to our old ways? Just because we are sentimentally attached to the cookie-eater image doesn't mean that we must protect our feelings and desires on such a degree as to overlook the importance of teaching healthy habits to children. For, speaking as a parent, when it comes to health and nutrition, I believe that we don't do enough in this direction, especially with little children, at an age when it is easier to build in their minds a basis from which to develop further a healthy eating behavior.

If this Cookie Monster change makes us say the (dreaded-by-many) expression Well, dear, it's not like it used to be in my time anymore!, then it should worry us as a sign of intolerance to change for the better, the same that creates generation conflicts.

Loosen up! For as long as it's for a good cause, there's nothing wrong with the Cookie Monster having an apple for a change and giving cookies a rest once in a while! He'll still be the Cookie Monster but he doesn't have to be the Cookie-Addict Monster!

Times are changing and maybe a change is not so bad even if it's about the sweet monster of cookies.