Actually, it IS going on!! Food Network Canada, that is! Yes, the premiere of our new cooking show, Eat, Shrink and Be Merry, is slated for Tuesday, March 27th at 7:00 pm ET.
Over the last few months, we’ve had loads of faithful cookbook fans asking for details about the show and waiting patiently for its debut. All I can say is, if you really like our books, I guarantee you’re going to love this show. It’s our books come to life! It’s fast-paced, fun, zany, entertaining and very informative. We also guarantee you’ll burn 200 calories per episode just from the belly laughs. (You know what they say: More giggling leads to less jiggling!) My sister and I are SO excited about the show, we can hardly contain ourselves. In fact, others have found it necessary to contain us, and I’ve been untied and ungagged just now only so that I could write this blog. (Hence the reason we haven’t written a blog in so long.)
The premise of the show is a recipe makeover/taste-test challenge—an extreme makeover, recipe edition, of sorts. In each episode, we take on a challenger who has a recipe for a popular, hearty, high-calorie, gut-busting comfort food (such as chicken wings, burgers, pizza, ribs, and chocolate cheesecake) and we show you how to create a healthier, waist-friendlier version using creative substitutions. First, we meet the contender and learn his/her secret recipe, then Greta and I embark on a grocery store safari, showing you what we’ll be buying and using to create a sinfully delicious masterpiece that won’t go from your lips to your hips. Here you’ll get lots of valuable nutrition tips and tricks, food trivia, along with plenty of grocery-store antics. (Greta and I were actually kicked out of two different supermarkets during filming. Apparently we were “stirring things up” at little too much. You don’t want to miss it!)
Then we’re off to Greta’s healthy kitchen, where the magic transformation happens. Greta, the cooking genius, is in her element, while Janet, the domestically challenged sister, usually manages to get in her way. (You’ll watch in utter disbelief as Janet “attempts” to use a can opener.) Healthy concoction in hand, we then take both creations, ours and theirs, “out into the street” to let the public decide whose recipe is number one in taste-bud satisfaction. From a local fairground to a ball diamond to a vintage car rally to a women’s church group to a high school cafeteria to a bustling farmer’s market, our taste challenges were not only wild, but also wildly unpredictable. With so many different palates to please, is it even possible for a healthier rendition to beat out a calorie-and-fat—laden favourite? Suspenseful? Yes! Dramatic? You bet! The results may surprise you!
If you’ve been trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, but you just can’t fathom the thought of giving up your favourite foods, this show’s for you.
P.S. Oh girls, you’ll definitely want to check out our first episode where we take on the Hamilton Fire Department in a chili cook-off. It gets a little hot in the kitchen!
15 responses so far ↓
1 patty // Feb 11, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Is there a chance that the show would ever come to the US? I would seriously consider getting cable just to see your show. I am so jealous of the Canadian audiences!!
Patty
2 Peter funk // Feb 12, 2007 at 10:15 am
We have all 3 of your books and use them a lot. We are looking forward to the show.
Good Luck.
Peter
3 Crystal // Feb 14, 2007 at 9:59 pm
THIS IS AWESOME! I have the Looneyspoons cookbook and I saw Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry at the bookstore today and recognized the names of the authors! I got the Food Network for Christmas and I think this show will be a great break from the gourmet food that I can’t possibly try to make at home. I can’t wait to see it!
4 Leslie // Feb 15, 2007 at 3:16 pm
This is so exciting! I REEEEALLY wish I had digital cable so I could watch this. Congrats to you guys!!!!!!
http://definitelynotmartha.blogspot.com
5 Margo // Feb 16, 2007 at 12:59 am
I can hardly wait for your show! I’m not much of a tv watcher, but I’ll not be missing this, and I’m promoting it like crazy. By the way, you may be interested to know that this weekend a group of teenagers are making pizzas to raise money for an upcoming mission trip to Mexico which my son is going on. I offered to organize the making of mexican pizzas (a.k.a. Pie Caramba) because it is one of our family’s favorites, and after all, this is a trip to Mexico. We’ll be making no less than 16 of them all in one fell swoop… sort of. (This along with all the regular *boring* pizzas, but I’m positive those who ordered the Mexican ones will not be sorry!)
6 DeeDee // Mar 3, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Your own TV show??? I am SO excited!! I will definitely promote this to everyone I know!! I absolutely love your cookbook … in fact … I made no less than 3 — YES 3 — of your recipes from ESBM for dinner tonight!! You would have thought we were dining in a gourmet restaurant!! I made Hook Line & Simple, Mr. Bean & Merry Go Brown. Your recipes never cease to amaze me!! Now I can’t wait for your show!!
7 Ruth // Mar 4, 2007 at 10:47 am
Oh, this is great news! I have been using your cookbooks for years. My teenage daughter is using all three of your cookbooks to bake now! I am really looking forward to this and have the date marked on the calendar.
8 Lesley // Mar 7, 2007 at 1:23 pm
The premise of the show sounds fantastic! I can’t wait to see it…I love the Food Network, but there’s not enough ‘healthy eating’ shows. Eat, Shrink and Be Merry is definitely your best book yet!!!!!
Congrats on the show…I’m sure it’ll be a hit, you 2 are a blast!
9 Gail // Mar 15, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I have your 3 cookbooks and also saw you at the Food Festival in Toronto 2006. You mentioned you were going to have a show. I am so excited to learn that you are finally going to be on. We all love your recipes and find it so relaxing to read through your recipe books. You two girls should be so proud of yourselves. You both rock! Thank you for bringing more healthier recipes that are easy to cook and that are so delicious. Thanks for being down to earth and bringing such laughter to my days. Good luck Janet and Greta, not that you need any. I will be tuned in for every episode. If I am working it will be taped for sure. Congratulations to you both. Keep cookin!
10 Megan // Mar 17, 2007 at 7:33 pm
It’s about time!! Congratulations! I have all 3 of your books- the wait for the last one almost killed me. Have also been enjoying your segment in Reader’s Digest. Keep up the good work. I eagerly await your 4th book! Looking forward to watching the first episode.
11 Helen // Mar 19, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Whooo-hooo! I can’t wait to see the show! I am signing up for FOOD network especially to see it.
Way to go girls. I really admire your spirit and the fact that you are self-made. You have completely changed the way we eat around here. We don’t even go out to eat very often any more because we love our home-cooking so much!
I’m loving Eat Shrink and Be Merry. Could there be another book coming soon????
12 Dan // Mar 21, 2007 at 11:10 am
Best wishes on the launch of your program. Come back and visit us any time. I will be watching for the wings segment.
13 Rachel // Mar 27, 2007 at 10:12 am
Yahoo !
Tonight is THE NIGHT ! I can’t wait to see your new show ! 
Go GIRLS GO ! 
14 Margaret // Mar 27, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I just finished watching your show. I loved it! It was helpful and entertaining. And the chili, looked especially good. Can’t wait for next week’s episode. Keep up with the great work!
15 Helen // Mar 28, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Loved the show! My daughter taped it for me because she saw you and recognized you from my favorite cookbook cover. The firefighters were so cute…but c’mon guys, NO BEANS OR TOMATOES in chili?? I’m so confused:-)
I make your chili all the time so I knew which one was going to win! Can’t wait for the next episode and I’m planning to try the corn muffins with my next batch of chili. They looked delicious!
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