Since 1969, Big Bird, Elmo and the whole gang of “Sesame Street” have been teaching the world that learning can be fun. The iconic puppets and their human friends were the first, on such a scale, to bring the magic of the alphabet and other elementary facets of education out of the classroom and into our living rooms. Now, a new clique of colorful puppets, called Super Sprowtz, are on the scene with a similar but more specific mission: To make vegetables cool.
Colby Carrot, Brian Broccoli, Erica Eggplant and a bundle of other veggie characters host the web series “Super Sprowtz Raw,” which, as it self-declares, is more than just a cooking show. Along with a Brooklynite human named Roger, the vibrant characters teach their young viewers they can “eat their superpowers,” and develop virtues like super strength, super smarts and super sight. A new episode, each of which run between nine and 11 minutes, airs every Thursday on YouTube.
–
First Lady Michelle Obama, who has advocated healthier eating for kids since moving into the White House, is a fan of the heroic vegetables. In 2014 Obama joined the Super Sprowtz team for a live show at a Maryland preschool, and danced along with Erica Eggplant and the crew.
Even without government funding, schools and families across the world have the opportunity to incorporate food education in their classrooms and homes with the web series. “The millennial mom and her children are watching more and more programs online,” Agrawal said, explaining that the future of children’s entertainment is on the web. “It gives teachers the support they need,” Agrawal said. “They can feel good about inspiring and educating them with a show while entertaining them at the same time.” Plus, when the kids are revved up, they can go back home and watch their mighty vegetables at home with their parents all over again.
