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Healthy Decadence With Devin Alexander (Discovery Health Channel)

common sense media says

Learn to eat well -- without losing the flavor.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the host of this cooking show emphasizes a healthy diet and lifestyle -- specifically, by making small adjustments to cut down on calories and fat in the foods you prepare. As a weight-loss veteran (she lost 55 pounds and has kept them off for 15 years), Alexander knows the importance of making "diet" food appealing, so all of her recipes are guaranteed to tickle the taste buds. In addition to the preparation process, the show also includes educational information about food content (vitamins, sodium levels, etc.) and a wealth of cooking tips. Tweens and teens who enjoy the culinary arts will like this fun, fast-paced series.

Positive messages: Alexander demonstrates simple ways to cut fat and calories and increase the protein, fiber, and vitamin content of the foods you eat.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: As a cookbook author, Alexander's work gets publicity from the show.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Recipes occasionally call for wine.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Healthy Decadence With Devin Alexander

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the media's role in diet, nutrition, and health. Do shows like this make up for all of the TV ads for fast food, snacks, and soda? How much influence does what you watch have over what you eat? What do the current high rates of obesity and disease say about our society's overall health? How can awareness be raised about the importance of good diet and exercise? And why is it important to have a balanced diet, anyway? What can result from a deficiency in vitamins, protein, or calcium? How would it affect your ability to study, work, and play? How does exercise improve your overall health?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In HEALTHY DECADENCE WITH DEVIN ALEXANDER, the chef/author demonstrates how easy it is to prepare mouth-watering foods like meatloaf, chicken parmesan, and even chocolate brownies with significantly less fat and calories than their traditional counterparts. She also suggests subtle ways to add fiber and nutrients to your diet -- substituting oats for bread crumbs in meatloaf or tossing sliced fresh vegetables into a noodle dish, for example. In each 30-minute episode, Alexander prepares three themed recipes, explaining how and why she's altered certain recipes to create her own flavorful-but-healthy concoctions; pop-up "footnotes" expand on the nutritional content of the foods she uses. When she's finished, she gives a side-by-side comparison of the fat grams and calorie count in the traditional dish and the one prepared the "Devin" way -- often with surprising results. In a segment about healthy pot luck dishes, for example, her versions of Thai peanut noodle salad with grilled chicken, imitation crab California rolls, and strawberry angel trifle saved a total of 608 calories and 53 grams of fat.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Alexander's super-peppy demeanor and obvious enthusiasm for the culinary arts is infectious, and viewers will enjoy and learn from the time they spend in her kitchen. But if you're inclined to take notes on the recipes, be warned that the show's quick pace calls for top-notch stenography skills -- or a visit to the show's Web site.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-G
Network: Discovery Health Channel
Cast: Devin Alexander
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Discovery Health Channel
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

LilyLovesFood
adult
 
Best Cooking Show EVER!
Devin Alexander has the spunk of Rachel Ray, the sex appeal of Giada DiLaurentis and Nigella Lawson and recipes like no other! If someone served the dishes from Healthy Decadence at dinner parties, you would NEVER know they are healthy--I know because I have...I've also served lots of Devin's other recipes from her books. I was dying for this show to come out for the recipes, but was curious to see if Devin could be as entertaining as Paula Deen and Oprah...and she is and it totally delivered! Everyone should watch this show and cook the recipes...then we wouldn't have such a terrible obesity problem!
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reikimaster
adult
5
 
I love it
Since i started watching this channel, i love her show im into healthy eating, but i wish she would be more creative with her hairstyles.. keep up the good work.
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was this review useful?
helped me decide (7) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (5)

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