Genre: Childrens educational/Cooking
Length: Approx. 3-5 minutes
Network: Disney Channel
Age range: 2-8 years
Tasty Time with ZeFronk - Overview
The animated short form Disney Channel series Tasty Time with ZeFronk stars cooking extraordinaire ZeFronk, a French Dachshund who hosts the show and teaches kids how to make delicious and healthy snacks. Often with the help of his friend Sue the bird, ZeFronk reminds kids to wash their hands before cooking, and then he creates a simple snack that kids can easily make at home with a parent or guardian. Throughout the show, ZeFronk has to be on the lookout for his neighbor, Dom the cat, who loves to sneak ZeFronk's tasty treats and gobble them up. But, at least Dom shows kids at home that the nutritious food is also very tasty!
Photo © Disney Channel
Tasty Time with ZeFronk - Guide Review
With childhood obesity on the rise and the long term implications the problem creates, I love to see kids' media focus on healthy eating. The short series Tasty Time with ZeFronk attacks the issue by using a fun, animated cartoon to give kids healthy snacktime options. The snacks are easy to make and are healthy compared to the processed food or even junk food that children might otherwise choose.
The animated characters in the series are not super unique or exciting visually, but they are cute and their quirky personalities will keep kids' attention for the few minutes that the show airs. ZeFronk is especially fun with his French accent and his consternation over Dom's snack food thievery.
The food that ZeFronk makes is the part of the animation that stands out. The snacks look realistic, making it easy for kids to relate them to real food and see what the finished product will actually look like. The show also emphasizes that kids should enlist the help of a grownup before cooking and wash their hands before they start. Overall, the show packs a great recipe and clear examples of good habits into a few educational and entertaining minutes.
Tasty Time with ZeFronk - Expand Upon the Curriculum
- The official Tasty Time with ZeFronk website offers recipes and coloring pages, and kids can even craft their own recipe book.
- Cooking can be a great way to help kids learn not only about food and good health, but also about math, literacy and science. Allow kids to help you measure and count as you make recipes. Point out letters or words on the recipe book, and let them see how ingredients mix together or change when they cook.
