food network addict: Michael Chiarello Promotes Braces-Friendly Halloween Treats; Kids Without Braces Laugh While Eating Snickers

Wednesday, October 22

Even though Michael Chiarello and his Food Network show Easy Entertaining is slowly fading into that region of very early morning programming -- sandwiched between an infomerical for Debbie Myers' green bags and an 8 year old rerun of Molto Mario -- the NapaStyle maven isn't slowing down.

Chi-Chi has teamed up with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) to provide braces-friendly Halloween recipes for the more than five million children and adults in North America who currently wear braces.

"My family and I love to create special meals together, but when my
daughter recently got braces, we had to modify some of our favorite recipes,"
says Chiarello. The braces-friendly recipes we've come up with -- like Green
Goo Slimedoo and Black and Orange Bon Bons -- allow my daughter to enjoy the
holiday without causing harm to her braces. Plus, they are fun to make
together."

I never had braces as a kid, so I luckily never had to worry about these things. I also wasn't that big on candy, so my bag of sweets sat mostly untouched in a drawer all year long.

Still, look at all the things the AAO says kids with braces need to stear clear of:

- All hard candies
- All chewy candies
- Caramel
- Nuts
- Licorice
- Taffy
- Jelly beans
- Hard pretzels
- Bubblegum
- Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
- Taco chips
- Ice

I'm fine without the licorice (yuck!) and jelly beans... and who is giving out ice on halloween!?! I guess in these tough economic times, that's what it's come down to.

"Alright kids, everybody gets one cube. You need help popping it out of the tray and into your candy bag? Have a happy Halloween now!"

I think I may try to give out ice just to see what the kiddies do.

Labels: food network, Michael Chiarello

16 Comments:

At 10/22/2008 11:09 AM , ishouldbesolucke said...: I remember when I had braces I was told to stay clear of chewy candies like caramels and taffy because they could pull the braces out. The warning about ice is because crunching on ice, smallish cubes in particular, does something to braces. I don't remember what, though.
At 10/22/2008 11:12 AM , JordanBaker said...: I can't think of many things that sound less tempting than "Green Goo Slimedoo."
At 10/22/2008 1:51 PM , Anonymous said...: I wish FN would keep Michael's show! It's one of the few good ones they have left! His recipes are amazing!
~A
At 10/22/2008 1:56 PM , Alec Smart said...: Yeah I liked watching Chiarello.
His recipes, his demeanor, his delivery, his themes, all were quite solid.

Is this game over for Mike ? I would hope not.

MAybe Tuschbaum thinks Fee-eddy's California style is more to our liking.
At 10/22/2008 4:10 PM , Anonymous said...: ok i have braces and eat all of those things...now who really NEVER eats any of those foods when they have braces on? i can't name one of my braces-wearing friends(those are all of my friends)
At 10/22/2008 5:15 PM , Court said...: I had braces for about 5 years. The list of things you're not supposed to eat is insane. They even said no ice cream which I never understood. I ate whatever I wanted! No harm done.
At 10/22/2008 5:31 PM , Anonymous said...: so my bag of sweets sat mostly untouched in a drawer all year long
--

Dude, gross. Did you open your drawer six months later and have a pool of melted chocolate with a pile of sugar-crazed ants? (Since we've yet to invent a sarcasm font, I'll note that yeah, I'm kidding.)
At 10/22/2008 9:52 PM , Turtle said...: "Chi-Chi"...that's too funny. Cheers.
At 10/23/2008 3:28 AM , Anonymous said...: ole mikey needs to step outta the closet......
At 10/23/2008 9:13 AM , John from Raleigh said...: I hope Mike C. is not done also. It might come across was more upbeat and entertaining during the first viewing of these new hosts but in the long run it becomes grating.

I watched a Down Home the other day for the spicy chicken recipe. Recipe was great but Gina bless her heart is just too over the top for me to watch the whole show.
At 10/23/2008 1:24 PM , Anonymous said...: "ole mikey needs to step outta the closet......"

LOL! He's married - to a girl! :D
At 10/23/2008 4:51 PM , Minima said...: {Why don't we have a sarcasm font? I totally need that.]

Never had braces but I totally appreciated the economy/ice joke. My first laugh out loud of the day. And it brought me out from lurking for the first time in the year or so that I've been reading your blog. Thanks!
At 10/23/2008 7:20 PM , Anonymous said...: i got news for ya anon at 1:24....
he's married....to a girl.....

you obviously have NO idea about the huge closet a lot of guys live in.
especially the married to a girl ones.....

not that i have one darn thing against gay men who own their true selves in the least!!
At 10/23/2008 10:47 PM , Charles said...: Very true anon @ 7:20pm....it's so funny when women particularly make the statement that anon @ 1:24pm said. Marriage is just a front for a lot of DL men for them to ease the minds of their families and friends who alredy suspect something is up.

With regards to the article, Michael was classy. His show could be a little boring at times but he knew what he was doing and his recipes were appealing.
At 10/26/2008 5:21 PM , Lorelei said...: It's called "living on the down low". If you google it you will find more info on men that do live "in" the closet.
At 10/27/2008 6:03 PM , Anonymous said...: Just because he has feminine attributes and loves the culinary arts, doesnt mean he is a closet gay. Sure I can see why some think he is queer. Not exactly Mr machismo straight dude.

He has been with the same woman forever. You can see they are into each other. Cameras don't lie.

Many people think I am a gay man as I have 2 great sets of matching china and great flatware and drinkware. I live in fine surroundings with nice appointments. I am an expert cook. I can be sort of faggy in a way. But gay I'm not. I love woman.Every inch of them. No desire to be with a man whatsoever.