Television Review: Mom's Cooking

By Melissa Camacho

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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this heartfelt cooking/reality series -- in which mothers teach their daughters to prepare family favorites -- looks at food and meal preparation as a way to keep generations connected and create strong bonds between mothers and daughters. That said, it also suppports gender stereotypes about cooking being a woman's responsbility. Some recipes contain alcohol, and some families drink wine at mealtime. Supermarket logos (like Kroger) and various food brands (like Martha White) are visible.

Families can talk about whether shows like this one can actually help people improve their cooking skills. Do you think the meals prepared on cooking shows are as difficult or simple to make as they seem on television? Are there any recipes and/or cooking techniques that have surprised you? Families can also discuss some of the their own favorite traditional meals. Are there foods you eat that are different from other families around you? Do you have specific meals that you eat on special occasions, like birthdays or holidays?

MOM’S COOKING is a heartwarming show in which mothers teach their daughters how to make some of their signature dishes and favorite holiday meals. In each episode, an unsuspecting mom is taken by surprise when her daughter, along with host Joe Corsano and a camera crew, arrives at her doorstep for a cooking lesson. After shopping for ingredients, the featured mom teaches her daughter to cook three different dishes. As they work, they exchange childhood memories and other stories connected to the food they're preparing. And when everything is ready, other family members are invited to dig in and savor the meal.

The series highlights cooking as a way for generations of family members to connect with one another. It also emphasizes the way that cooking can help mothers bond with their daughters -- even after they've reached adulthood and have children of their own. But by focusing just on mothers and daughters in the kitchen, Mom's Cooking suports the the idea that cooking is a "woman’s job." It also ignores the fact that sons can benefit from sharing a similar experience with their moms (or dads!), and that all kids can benefit from preparing meals with their parents, regardless of gender.

While these messages can be problematic, the show's overall messages about family and traditions are positive. Young tweens may not be particularly drawn to the show, but older tweens and teens may find the recipes, if not the stories, interesting.