University student, Matthew “Matt” Kafker’s hobbies include reading, studying mathematics, and watching reality television. As a well-rounded student, Matt Kafker spends some of his free time watching Chopped, a reality television show competition about cooking.

1. The Value of Reality Cooking
Shows
Matt Kafker

2. Introduction
University student, Matthew “Matt” Kafker’s hobbies include reading, studying
mathematics, and watching reality television. As a well-rounded student, Matt Kafker
spends some of his free time watching Chopped, a reality television show competition about
cooking.
While most reality television leaves something to be desired, cooking shows are just the
opposite. First and foremost, cooking shows provide their audience with a way to improve
their kitchen technique. As far back as Julia Child and her incessant wine sipping, viewers
have been learning to dice, slice, bake, sauté, and grill, among other tasks. For example, now
Emeril Live teaches viewers that it is okay to embrace spices while also providing viewers
with new techniques.

3. However, there are some other benefits of watching cooking reality television shows. For
one, they allow audience members to travel to other parts of the country and the world to get
a glimpse of food culture. Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives take the viewer around
the country to see the many different incarnations of how food is prepared, and in every
location, whatever the ingredients, they are a reflection of regional tastes. Anthony
Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, not only treated viewers to an international culinary surprise,
but it also provided a little bit of local culture and history.

4. Then, there have been a few shows that teach viewers sensible, nutritious options for
enjoying comfort food. For example, Giada De Laurentiis’ program featured many
Mediterranean dishes that, under normal conditions, would be fat-laden. However, under
her instruction, the recipes are quite healthy.
Arguably, cooking reality television serves up something other than the standard fare
featured in other reality shows. If anything, viewers come away with from these programs
with knowledge about food, nutrition, and cooking in general.