V is for Veggies, Is Good Enough For Me!

I know, I know, I'm behind the times. But what can I say? I don't have children, and, like the rest of my generation, I tend to get my news almost solely from the internet and/or The Daily Show. Therefore, I didn't hear about this new Cookie Monster phenomena until I read a post about Cookie Monster making an appearance on The Colbert Report, so-- shame on me. 

There seems to be much protest from the masses surrounding this nostalgic icon's movement away from childhood obesity. Everywhere you look (once you know to search for it, that is), another person seems to be protesting that Cookie Monster is "selling out." In fact, the tagline on the very same picture I have posted above read: "What is this crap?!" Popular theory seems to hold that this icon, and his obsession, were a symbol of our childhoods, and now his hydrogenated ideals are going the way of Strawberry Shortcake, who has become a big girl, and  traded in gumdrops for actual strawberries. Wait... is that supposed to be a bad thing?

Stephen Colbert addressed this whiny refrain from the children of the 80's satirically, naturally. He shouted out loud that "fruit is un-American!" Obviously mocking as this statement may appear, it actually seems to be the popular web opinion! Food Sites, thankfully, seem to retain their sanity and stand above the norm, supporting Sesame Street's desire to halt childhood obesity. The above link will lead you to "Serious Eats," where you can actually watch Stephen Colbert interview Cookie Monster, if you so desire.

 The British also seem to be in agreement with Sesame Street's new policy, the BBC\'s article on the matter actually points out that "almost one in 3 children in the US is overweight, as opposed to one in 25 in the UK," something that people clinging to nostalgia seem to overlook. 

I say, nostalgia be damned in this case. Sure Cookie Monster was great, but isn't proper education better? Wasn't it Cookie Monster's driving personality that attracted us to him in the first place? Whatever he ate, he ate with vehemence and spirit, and who's to say that his googly-eyed devouring of pineapples and bananas won't be as delighting to children as projectile chocolate chips were to us? Wasn't it Cookie Monster's love and interest in his nourishment, and his sadness when it was gone what made him a role model to be adored? 

Cookie Monster's new refrain is that he still loves cookies as much as ever, but that cookies are a "sometimes food," to be enjoyed after you have eaten your healthy meal. What's not to love in that? 

The sugary, substance-driven shouts of the carefree 80's have been laid to rest, for the good of the future. However, I too have nostalgic weaknesses, so here is an awesome poem I found when I was looking all of this information up. Thank you, Andy Bryan.