Customer Reviews

Baby Gourmet - Fall/Winter Harvest [VHS]

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is not a video for a child older than 3, I cannot imagine it holding their attention. My 2 yr old loved it. It is full of music and bright colors, not fast paced. This video is full of fresh fruit and vegetables, it would be a good to counter media images of cookies and candy- very visually appealing. It is also not a mommy and me cooking video- just something pretty and mellow to watch.

This video starts with a tower of chocolate truffles. Then once you think they might be moving on to something healthy (apples), they cover them in chocolate and M&Ms. They try to pass it off as teaching good health (they go through the food pyramid), but most of the food they show is candy and desserts. Chocolate covered pretzels, jordan almonds, gum drops. Even for the veggies, they choose cheese-laden onion soup, chicken pot pie with a couple of green beans sticking out, and sweet potato flan. They move on to cheese (macaroni & cheese). They feed their dogs what looks like chocolate cookies (which can kill a dog). None of this makes sense to be showing to kids.

Admittedly, it isn't ALL bad food. They squeeze oranges and pomegranates to make juice, and a couple of other healthy things. But overall, this video is worse than a McDonald's advertisement. At least McDonald's has good production values.

The only reason this video gets 1 star from me is because 0 stars is not an option. This was absolutely the worst video my now 14 month old has ever seen and very possibly the cheesiest and stupidest thing I have ever witnessed in my 27 years. A terrible imitation of the very clever Baby Einstein series. Don't waste your money (or more imporantly, TIME) on this product.

I picked up this tape at a friend's garage sale (her 2-year old was bored stiff by it). I'm glad I didn't waste any money on it, because my 2-year old didn't care for it either. The voiceover is smarmy and irritating. Chef Beary Good is just a run of the mill teddy bear, and my daughter found it confusing when it changed outfits. I also think the foods prepared with the fruits and vegetables featured are a bit high-brow for this audience. I mean how many 2-year olds are familiar with Shrimp in Orange Sauce. Maybe orange juice would have been more appropriate. I don't really understand why this has gotten such high ratings and received awards.

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery - well this video series is a very close immitation of Julie Aigner-Clarke's 'Baby Einstein' video series (Disney). Same theme (although with food), and music, etc.
Both my 16 month old son, and 2 1/2 year old daughter love the video and will watch transfixed for the full length. My son especially loves 'Chef Beary Good'.
We have managed to introduce some new foods to our kids, because they had seen them on these videos.