Oh No! Not Cookie Monster, Too...
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By Giselle Gerber
eDiets Content Manager
Last week, one of my co-workers, Mr. Blog-Champ-in-Training -- if you must know -- asked me a random question (he's full of those by the way.) The question was if the Cookie Monster is changing his name in an attempt to lead a healthier life.
The Veggie Monster? Could it really be true? Horrified, I quickly Googled this (a frequent procedure I have for answering random questions that come up). After doing some research, I learned that back in 2005, the folks at Sesame Street decided that my beloved Cookie Monster needed to clean up his act.
Apparently, the phrase "C" is for Cookie" has been replaced by "A Cookie is a Sometimes Food"... What? Scandalous, if you ask me.
Since then Sesame Street has kicked off the "Healthy Habits for Life" programming, which encourages young viewers to be more active and lead more nutritious lives. My favorite blue-furry friend also sings about fruits and vegetables and teaches kids about "sometimes" foods and "anytime" foods.
Growing up I always loved the gooogly-eyed Cookie Monster and was never influenced to mimic his sugar-indulging ways or pipe-eating antics. He was just a cool monster that had a slight weakness for cookies. Is that so bad? Does changing the Cookie Monster's image from cookie-lover to sometimes-cookie-lover help lower childhood obesity rates?
What do you think? Is
And just for old times sake, this blog post was brought to you by the letter "C" for Cookies!
Comment: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:17:00 PM - 
jazzgrrl said...
Wow - can you imagine! I think this is a little over the top although I appreciate the sentiment but please, leave Cookie Monster alone and create a new character. "V - is for Veggie!"
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 12:37:00 AM - said...
Things used to be so fun as a child, now things are so complex for 1 and 2 years olds. Leave classics alone and find some other character to do the healthy messages for kids!!!!11
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 5:47:00 AM - said...
This is crazy. Next thing you know Oscar is going to move into a condo & start being extra nice. Couldn't they just have a segment that has kids having fun while fixing healthy snacks, or looking for the brightest colored vegies & fruits? Cookie Monster is supposed to be crazy for cookies!
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 5:49:00 AM - said...
Its rediculous!! I've always been overweight, but I never ever recall Cookie Monster being an influence on what or how much I ate. It was my parents that urged me to always clean my plate. Cookie was just a funny lil fuzzy blue monster.
When will we ever quit trying to be so plitically correct??
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 7:14:00 AM - said...
This is sad. The Cookie Monster was my favorite growing up... I blame parents for obesity in children... not the Cookie Monster!
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 7:22:00 AM - said...
Oh give it up already! He is a MONSTER, not an angel. He is "bad" because he wolfs down all the cookies at once, with no concern for manners or etiquette. He serves as a stellar example of what NOT to do and I truly believe that kids are smart enough to discern that. Now come on and admit it - who hasn't tried the Cookie Monster routine just once for the fun of it, knowing all the while that it was just so wrong ...
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 7:33:00 AM - said...
cookie monster is a beloved character. both my son's loved him.they rarely eat sweets! come on.. are they going to take oscar out of his garbage can, because he promotes being crabby and untidy?? lighten up folks. besides, peter pumpkin eater's wife is still in her pumpkin shell!
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 8:05:00 AM - said...
Cookie Monster is a cookie monster. Has anyone ever seen a veggie monster? If your kid is fat it's the parent's fault, not a tv character's. Cookie Monster is harmless compared to what parents let their kids eat. Leave Cookie Monster alone!
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 8:06:00 AM - 
Invader_Zim said...
I loved Cookie Monster as a child. Watching him never caused me to want to go and eat a large amount of cookies. He was just part of the entertainment and fun of Sesame Street. I have never been overweight, in fact, I exercise regularly and eat healthy foods. Ultimately parents control what their children eat - not Cookie Monster. I agree with jazzgrrl - leave Cookie Monster alone.
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 8:55:00 AM - said...
If in the past people have been able to sue McDonald's for making them overweight, you know there's a group of people that would have no problem suing the producers of Sesame Street for their kid's weight problems. I bet it's to cover themselves. Sad, but true.
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:04:00 AM - said...
what about parents just saying "no you had enough sweets for the day tomorrow you can have a cookie?" Have people forgotten that simple two letter word?
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:53:00 AM - said...
Holy Cow----cookie, cookie, cookie starts with "C"--is a classic. I agree we have an obesity problem in our soceity, but *puleeeeease* must we change everything??
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 9:59:00 AM - zburbano said...
It's the "blame it on someone else" sindrome revisited. There is a whole lot more to look into for the answer to obesity. When I was a child it was encouraged, and safe, to go out and play all afternoon, but this days children with their computers, video games, ipods, etc. spend all their leisure time seating on a couch eating frozen food, because their Moms are at work. It's society as a whole that has changed and it takes a heck of a lot more effort and sacrifice to raise children with healthy habits than having cookie monster eat veggies.
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 11:07:00 AM - said...
Changing the Cookie Monster's liking of cookies is not going to influence children. When my own children watched the Cookie Monster and the only thing they picked up from him was his bad manners in asking for a cookie. The only way to start treating childhood obesity is to have more fruits and vegetables available for children to munch on when they are watching TV. My six-year-old granddaughter is already worrying about her tummy and she isn't obese and the baby fat IS coming off. The Cookie Monster should stress activties other than playing with the remote. I like the idea of "Vee for a new Veggie character".
Comment: Friday, May 16, 2008 12:46:00 PM - happy said...
my daughters grew up with cookie monster - they loved him - they did not grow up to be overwieght - It was my responsibility to make sure they ate healthy - LEAVE COOKIE MONSTER ALONE!!!!!!!!
Everyone is taking the fun out of being a kid - just to be politically correct - HOW SAD!!!!!!!
Comment: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:39:00 PM - said...
I don't think they should change Cookie Monster! I still sing the song to my kids and they love it! Hey Sesame Street: Cookies are ok-if eaten in moderation. How sad that the production company thinks that their little change will change the way a 2 yr old approaches a cookie. It's what these children are given to eat and how they are taught to eat that will make a difference, not a muppet on a show. Because I have taught my sons to eat healthy they often prefer an apple over a granola bar. I do not allow candy in my home or sugar-filled foods (ie. soda, candy bars, typical junk food) therefore those are not considered choices even when we are not home. Let these muppets be just what they are intended to be: fun and amusing. If parents are going to encourage or reiterate what these kids learn from Sesame Street then it is a fallen issue.
Comment: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:27:00 PM - Madeira Darling said...
I really think that's a bit silly. I mean, does any child *really* want to be cookie monster... I always kind of saw him as a pretty cool monster, but also kind of as... something to be avoided.
Comment: Monday, May 26, 2008 12:51:00 PM - Mr. Music said...
Right on! It's about time that kids learn that cookies are not a good food. Our society is insane that's why there are so many obese people in our country - There's no basic understanding of "sometime foods" vs. "anytime foods." I think it's a great thing that Sesame Street is doing this because so few parents are teaching their kids how to eat right.
Comment: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 3:19:00 PM - Hillary said...
Oh goodness! Poor cookie monster...or veggie monster or whatever he's called, because now he won't be nearly as entertaining!
Comment: Thursday, June 05, 2008 12:13:00 AM - said...
Can´t they just give him some whole grain cookies??? He can eat what he loves and still be healthy, don´t kill his essence please!!!
Comment: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 5:29:00 AM - said...
Gimme a break here, what's with all this PC crap anyways??? What's next??? Snuffleupagus and Big Bird on the endangered species list??? Oscar moving outta the 'hood??? Bert and Ernie coming outta the closet??? Just leave it all alone anyways. Cookie Monster is just that, a monster who loves cookies. Period.
Comment: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:54:00 AM - said...
I've been a 2nd grade teacher for 11 years. My observations are that obese kids are obese because of their genes and their diets at home. Sesame Street characters have little influence on these two factors. I love Cookie Monster and all his buddies. I think the producers must have been under a lot of PC pressure to consider changes like those you mentioned.
Comment: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:07:00 PM - mo said...
I've been a 2nd grade teacher for 11 years. My observation is that obese kids are obese because of their genes and/or their diet at home and lifestyle (lack of exercise). I don't think that Sesame Street characters have any effect on these factors. The show's producers must have had an enormous amount of PC pressure on them to consider the changes mentioned. I say leave Cookie alone! Besides, I really appreciate it when a 2nd grader arrives in my class and already knows that cookie starts with c, and not k.
Comment: Friday, June 13, 2008 9:46:00 AM - said...
Good Grief this is insane!! I grew up watching Sesame Street and was/am far from obese! It never occured to me that we should stuff cookies down our throats while we watched it either. Why don't the parents let their kids watch an hour of sesame street and then go (horror of horrors) play OUTSIDE instead of listening to Ipods and playing video games while scarfing down cookies? Wow, I wonder if that would help with obesity in kids these days...
Comment: Saturday, June 14, 2008 1:17:00 AM - said...
I can hardly imagine how a kid's show can have such a big influence on a kid's diet.
I can't say I grew up watching sesame st everyday, but I am familiar with the show. And I must say, I don't remember being influenced in the least with my food choices.
I'd say it has a lot more to do with parenting techniques. If parents/caretakers are not able to monitor their kid's food choices, or ensure they eat a balanced diet, then how can they expect a puppet to?
In reality, I think kids realise that a cartoon show or kids program is simply that - they do not endevour to imitate everything they see. Sure, kids programs may have a influence, but kids are not stupid, they don't blindly follow anything they see.
What the show has done is just ruin the element of 'cuteness' from an otherwise harmless show. Allow these kids to be just that - kids. Let them enjoy a show, they shouldn't have to be occupied with diets.
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