Gold Star Chart: iCarly Contest Promotes Creative Kids’ Vegetable Recipes

I have been involved in the online parenting space enough years to be following along (and writing about) the developments in food marketing to children. Back in 2007 (yes, five years ago!) I wrote about companies, like General Mills, limiting the use of licensed characters to healthier food options for kids. Nickelodeon followed suit by only allowing its licensed characters (like Dora and SpongeBob) to be used on healthier food as well, also in 2007. These were moves that I applauded, citing that parents have enough shin kicking to contend with on a daily basis and could use a reprieve when in the processed food aisles of the supermarket too.

But today, I need to go ahead and give out some gold stars to Birds Eye and Nickelodeon.

They have launched a collaboration/contest encouraging young viewers of their popular iCarly show to submit original recipes and photos of fun and wacky vegetable food creations. Think veggie sundae. The recipe contest was called “iCarly iCook with Birds Eye.” You can read more about the history of this contest and collaboration on the iCarly Fandom Wiki site.

If you’re not familiar, iCarly was the popular Nickelodeon serial comedy which features incredibly creative fictional characters. The show unwittingly even launched a popular food, the Spaghetti Taco. I know! Genius, right?

Honestly, this recipe contest was a brilliant pairing of branding and viewer engagement. The winner of the recipe contest appeared on iCarly, which is totally fab. Even Mrs. Obama made an appearance earlier this year and her performance was just terrific.

Also, when all is said and done, I guess everyone (myself included) is hoping that we’ll get another instant crowd pleaser like Spaghetti Tacos. This one vegetable-based though, thankyouverymuch.

My son can nag me all day about vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner.