WESTERN SKIES - June 4, 2005

*** COOKIE MONSTER ON THE WAGON ***

ERIC WHITNEY: The best way to keep high school kids from having to deal with weight problems in the first place is to instill healthy eating habits early. The folks over at Sesame Street have enlisted an unlikely ally: Cookie Monster.

COOKIE MONSTER: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, cookie! Me so hungry.

WHITNEY: That's right, the Cookie Monster. That furry, blue, sugar-driven maniac so popular with the little ones is being tought to change his tune. No more "all cookie all the time."

[sound of "Cooke is A Sometimes Food" song]

WHITNEY: Anita Miller checked in with some Sesame Street fans, and says they seem to be buying the message that fruits and vegetables are usually a better snack than cookies.

MILLER: Why do you think it's a good idea?

CHILD 1: Because it makes you get strong bones and grow.

CHILD 2: It makes you healthy and grow strong.

CHILD 3: Uh, because it will make you grow.

MILLER: And, if I were Cookie Monster, what would you tell me so that I would get a stronger body?

CHILD 4: I would tell you to eat fruits and vegetables.

CHILD 1: Um, oranges and strawberries. And broccoli.

CHILD 2: I think he should be eating cantaloupe.

CHILD 4: I like to eat carrots and apples and bananas, and anything.

WHITNEY: Voices from Holy Apostles Preschool, in Colorado Springs. The song "Cookie is A Sometimes Food," was provided by Sesame Street.

And that wraps up this edition of Western Skies. Stephen Raher is our associate producer, Delaney Utterback runs our website. I'm Eric Whitney, thanks for tuning in.