Cooking shows serve healthy message all can digest

Editorial
Even a small change in attitudes to home cooking can make a significant difference. It's like the old joke: I have some good news, and I have some bad news.
First, the bad news. Burger chain McDonalds announced a 5 per cent increase in their profit last year. This, of course, is good news for Maccas, but not great news for New Zealanders generally who apparently made 57 million transactions at the fast food giant last year. Our fascination with burgers and fries (or pizzas and fries, or chicken and fries) seems never-ending.
But now for the good news.
McDonald's managing director, in an interview on the Stuff website, said there was actually a drop in people eating out of home, and that New Zealanders had developed an obsession with TV cooking shows.
Which is great news.
Cooking shows might well be the new growth industry, and in the main they are aspirational, feel-good programmes which teach skills and encourage largely healthy habits. Even abusive five-f-words-a-minute Gordon Ramsay espouses discipline, cleanliness, healthy, fresh ingredients in his shows.
So if New Zealanders are paying more attention to the skills which make great cooks, all power to them. If it teaches them that cooking at home is rewarding, healthy and better overall for their lifestyles, then bring on more cooking shows.
Fast food franchises are here to stay. We choose to frequent them, by and large, because they are quick, easy and convenient.
But even a small change in attitudes to home cooking can make a significant difference to the health of individuals.
Free cooking classes for those who want them we say!