Oh! Watch out! There’s sassy gals about! They’re fun… but they mean business! Oh! Oh! OH! ARGH! Any woman who watched Cook Yourself Thin (Channel 4, Tuesday, 8.30pm) and didn’t feel patronised should take a long hard look at themselves. Cook Yourself Thin is one of the most backward programmes ever aired. From the title alone, you should be angry. It should be called Cook Yourself Happy or something… just don’t include the word thinner!!!
What’s the problem with the word ‘thinner’ then? Well, to understand, you need to look at the show as a whole. We need to scratch the surface, look at what this show is promising, what it is saying from the outset and most importantly, what it should be doing.
From the off, this show was filled with knowing winks. It wouldn’t have surprised me if the original script read ‘Girls! Eh? Eh? Aaay? Chocolate? Eh? We girls? Eh? Can’t resist a bit of chocolate eh? Eh? We just can’t resist it eh? Know what I mean girls? Eh? Choccie-choc-choc? Eh?’ as that’s exactly what they were getting at. Featured in this horrendous show was a woman who simply couldn’t refuse chocolate. To paraphrase, the lady in question said that her relationship with chocolate was a unhealthy one. We all know what that’s like eh girls? Eh? Eh? *wink*
My problem with this, is that no-one can really refuse chocolate. Chocolate makes people happy. However, most people with a brain know that chocolate can also make you grotesquely lardy. The advice that should have been given to the participant of this show goes something like this; Don’t buy as much chocolate. End. However, implied but not stated was that you women are so weak, feeble and needy, that you couldn’t possibly escape the allure of chocolate. Women, according to this show, are the more pathetic sex. Of course, this simply isn’t true.
We, the viewer, are then shown how to make a chocolate dessert which is full of the good things (high cocoa content choc’, sugar, butter etc) but miraculously helps you become thinner. Cue ‘only as a part of a calorie controlled diet’. ALARM BELLS! ALARM BELLS! Sorry? What was that? Eat healthier and you can have a blow out every so often? Who would have guessed that? If this show is to be believed, a woman could never grasp such a notion.
After showing us all various tasty treats (they were probably referred to as ‘naughty’), the small print at the foot of the screen consistently told us of the real secret to slimming. Essentially, the presenters showed us how to cook stuff whilst the screen encouraged us to take regular exercise and to have a balanced diet. These messages were in the small-print at the foot of the screen. Also, making a mockery of the show, a tiny message was inserted saying ‘does not constitute a clinical trial’. In essence, the whistle-blowers won out. They may as well have written ‘THIS SHOW IS A LOAD OF CODSWALLOP – EAT HEALTHILY AND GET OFF YOUR FAT ARSE IF YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT’.
The four presenters, Harry Eastwood, Gizzi Erskine, Sal Henley and Sophie Michell, all want to convince the world that crash dieting isn’t the way forward… but sass is. Well, sass only gets you so far… and that is winning the minds of morons. Of all the girls, the one who drove me to confused and angry tears was Harry Eastwood. Dressed like a rectangular Nikki Grahame (the ‘who is she?‘ one from Big Brother), Harry looked like she’d just come back from a party. I could smell the white wine, gin and stale fag-ends on her… and I don’t even own Smell-O-Vision yet.
The whole show, because of its partonising nature, felt like it had been written by a man. A man who lived in the seventies. A man who likes women… women who know their place. What makes this show so frustrating is that is could have been great. It makes me want to shout. If the girls had just dropped the knowing winks and faux-sass, they would’ve got a lot further with their message.
There is a stupefying amount of pressure put on women to look a certain way in the current climate. These ladies are obviously trying to kick against the trend of waif-like aspirations and clearly want to let people know that it’s alright to be a size 14 or whatever. However, the girls go for the lowest common denominator and wink their way through cliché after cliché, and instead of looking like the friendly girls they want to be, they resemble the harridans from Sex And The City (without doubt THE most patronising show ever made).
Instead of showing women to be learned, cultured and strong, they go straight for the weaknesses. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them isn’t on next week because they’re crying about some bloke, or they’re gorging themselves on cake due to period pains. See? Look! This is what happens! You dip your toe into this programme and the next thing you know, you’re wheeling out all the clichés about womenfolk. This show is no doubt aimed at real women… however, it completely misses the mark, and as a result, makes women look like a rather silly breed indeed. Drop the pretense, wise-up and let’s actually make a decent cookery show aimed at women who want to eat well and be merry… eh girls? [Mof Gimmers]
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Hi I think the review was a little unfair, Maybe i should take a long look in the mirror, But what I see is a sucessfull strong young Lady. I don’t really care much for promoting myself as super woman I have weaknesses and yes high fat food is one of them. I sucessfully managed to stop smoking and lose over 3 stone, But after my Wedding I fell totaly off the rails and couldnt get back on. I know all about healthy eating and exercise but knowing and doing are two totaly different things. The show although telling me things I already know gave me new ideas and inspired me to get back into healthy eating ( and that cant be a bad thing)
I can see your point that some may find it patronising but I am able to accept my weakneses and take help if it is offered. It doesnt make you stupid or a lesser person for having a weakness or being portrayed as a typical woman. Im quite happy to be a girl. But my husband still respects me and shares the household chors.
Hi
I also think this is unfair. So yes maybe the girls are a bit annoying but apart from that I think this show is a good idea. There is nothing wrong with being shown how to make low fat versions of favourite foods. I did not find it patronising at all, I found it to be a bit of fun.
If someone has no interest in learning new ideas on how to make lower fat meals then they don’t have to watch the programme,but people who may be a little overweight and therefore unhealthy, might find it to be beneficial. Surely it is better to be able to eats the foods you enjoy without feeling too guilty, rather than having to eat foods you don’t enjoy!
And as for Sex and the City, this show was not patronising, it actually was hopeful, if that’s the right word. I think that whoever wrote this review should think more about the viewers than trying to push their opinion, which I think is bit high and mighty, on others!
Well I thought the programme tonight looked great!
The recipes were really imaginative and I didn’t feel patronised; in fact I just logged on to find the recipes and came across this!
Most women love food, I’m a size 10 but have to work at it and any help is gratefully received as I would like to eat normally!?
You can eat real food with desserts if you don’t snack in between !!
Ive really enjoyed the series so far and am using the recipes and enjoying them!like one of the other comments,if you dont enjoy the programe,don’t watch it!I think the girls have some really good ideas and as long as the food is a good alternative to what you would normally eat who cares how the program comes across!!
would like the recipes on last weeks program and this weeks have not seen them on website thank you yvonne potter.
I find the program full of useful tips that enable me to fine tune the way I eat and have that special indulgence! ~ great for the moral and motivation!
Another useful hint is to visualise how you want to look. To see yourself in your favourite outfit looking gorgeous. Believe and don’t let any other negative thought creep into the mind ~ be and act how you want to be seen and feel. ~ where the mind goes the energy follows. It works but you can’t have second thoughts! And if you do stray, don’t beat yourself up over it, just keep that positive thought in mind and move on with even more determination!
I was really taken with the lemon cake and can’t find the recipe!
I also liked the look of the recipes and can not seem to find them. could someone email me the website. Thanks
I loved the programme!
I think the review is more patronising than the programme itself
I judge a programme like this by its recipes, and THEY work!
Great programme and some fab receipes which I would like to attempt my self, could you please let me know where I can find the receipes of past programmes and especially the Lasagne which was made in last nights programme.
Look forward to your reply.
I quite like this show but as someone who has more than a single dress size to drop I also find it slightly irritating at times. The recipes however are bloody brill. (try the lamb tagine!!!)
You can find the recipes on the channel 4 website. They come on after every program. Don’t expect a glut of recipes from them though as I think they’ll reserve them for the book/monthly paid website.
I think the show is great. I think the girls are talented cooks and have great flair. They are offering practical suggestions on how to re-think how we cook and what ingredients we buy. They are showing us realistic alternatives without compromising on great taste and are also pointing out interesting tips when in the supermarket.
These girls are passionate about what they are doing and having fun at the same time, and why not?
I will certainly be taking on board some of their tips and I think their ‘have fun’ approach is a refreshing change.
The point of the programme seemed to be that you should learn to enjoy cooking rather than scoffing take aways and ready meals. The girls made interesting and tasty food and pointed out good ways to substitute high calorie ingredients for ones with less fat and/or sugar. Where is the problem. OK the giggling gets a little wearing but still infinitely preferable to the wizened witch telling fatties the way to lose weight is to buy her overpriced rubbish.
I have just watched the last part of this programme and the lady in question was a size 16 and lost eight and a half pounds but dropped two dress sizes! I think this is commercialism at its worst, check how many pounds you have to gain to go up two dress sizes and I do not think it is 8 1/2 pounds. I have given up smoking and gained 5 pounds and gained a dress size, I lost the same amount by going to a gym last year for 6 months at twice a week. Somehow the math does not work. These type of programmes are preying on the gullible/vunerable and unfortunately I used to be one of them until I put these claims to the test. I work in an office full of girls hooked on this…..
please could you email me the recipe for the healthy chips that were cooked on tues nights programme
I’ve just seen this whilst searching for the recipes on the show and I’m a little offended at the reviewers opinion. She’s obviously one of these women who shout at men that offer her a seat, forgetting that that just shows bad manners not that your strong! I think she has missed the point completely and is herself patronising women. I consider myself to be strong (people constantly tell me I am), I’m fairly intelligent and I’m certainly capable of watching a TV show and taking out of it what I need without having to feel patronised by it. As a few people have said, the main thing is that they are giving us ideas on how to eat our favourite foods in a low cal way, which I’m definitely all for. My ears pricked up no end at the alternative to Lemon Meringue pie, to which I’m thoroughly addicted and now v.grateful to have an healthier option. So keep the series going please as there is clearly enough of us out there that aren’t being patronised and do actually benefit from the show.
i have to watch this show now because it’s one of the few things that i can bitch about something new every two seconds and nobody tells me to shut up. because they know I’m right. =P
the worst thing about it is that they try to cook healthier versions of the foods the women love, but just replace them with something completely different. as if deep fried chicken from the Chinese is the same as home boiled rice! grrr and they claim that their recipes are why the people slim down, only mentioning breifly in small print that the recipes were accompanied by an exercise plain and eating less!
and as for the title, cook yourself thin? none of the women on the show are thin, they are a healthy size. they shouldn’t encourage people who want to be thin because that’s just as unhealthy as being obese.
Girls – Girls – Girls! We men can need to lose some weight too! Never mind a dress size what about my trouser size? It all translates really well across the gender divide.
The show is brill, its humourous and full of good recipes, the herby chicken roast is just the business and the fried coated chicken is yummy.
Just try some of the recipes out? Thats what the viewer is supposed to do isn’t it? so dash off and pick up a pan, I did!
Bring it on girls (the presenters), waiting here for some more great new recipes and choices.
Re Cook Your Self Thin
I enjoyed the cookery programe last night very much but could not find the recipes used.
Linda
How do i get the recipes from the programmes so far?