I think it can. I love Paula Deen-she has that great laugh...But sometime I watch & can get hungry. Everytime I want to reach for something bad-I remind myself that my goal is not to be Paulas dress size.

Emeril gets applause from his audience when he adds butter and wine and everything else rich and delicious.

Nigella and Emeril both have sly smiles that tell you they know exactly what they're doing--making you hungry for the good stuff. Doesn't influence eating habits so much as wanting to eat habits.

Just like most animals we are "products of our environment" so we will most likely "do" whatever it is that currently popular, cool or overwhelming pushed in front of us.

If you work at a fast-food joint then you will most likely eat more fast-food than someone that doesn't. You can take this example into most aspects of your life (i.e. shopping with girlfriends as a past time, political views same as close friends, etc.)

So in short - only if you watch it :)

Carlin
truetraining@yahoo.com

It really doesn't influence my habits, but it absolutely influences my appetite! A frosting "cake" .. yes please!

I think that's possible. It's hard to meet someone who doesn't know of the Food Network or have a favorite they like to watch like Nigella or Rachel Ray. I enjoy watching/listening on the weekends in the morning. Sometimes it will inspire me to go shopping and cook something more unusual for dinner.

If you cook like Paula you won't be getting into shape any time soon. She uses lots of butter. I saw her make her famous white chocolate hot chocolate. She started by melting white chocolate in heavy cream and then she made the hot chocolate itself with half and half...