How Alton Brown Really Feels About Man V. Food
Alton Brown is one of the longest-tenured Food Network personalities. He has been part of the network for nearly 20 years, as his rise to fame came from hosting his whimsical food science-based show "Good Eats" for 14 years (via Food Network). Brown also hosted the wildly popular "Iron Chef America" and "Cutthroat Kitchen," also both on Food Network.
In recent years, Brown has been a prominent participant in conversations about healthy eating, especially with his fellow members of the food and restaurant industries. Brown lost a whopping 50 pounds and even coined his own signature Alton Brown Diet, VeryWell Fit reported. The TV host lists foods to eat every day, like fruit and vegetables, and food to only eat three times per week, once per week, and never. He reportedly drinks a superfood- and fruit-packed smoothie for breakfast every day. The once-per-week list includes things like red meat, dessert, and white starch, and the never list includes processed foods, soda, and fast food, according to Taste of Atlanta.
Meanwhile, another wildly popular food TV show with different eating values aired during the same time period — and Brown has strong opinions about it.
Alton Brown thought Man vs. Food was "disgusting"
On the Travel Channel, Adam Richman traversed the country from 2008 to 2012 to host "Man v. Food." The show, which still airs under current host Casey Webb, highlights outlandish eating challenges at restaurants, such as a 4-pound Reuben sandwich or a gallon-size ice cream sundae. Because of Brown's condemnation of red meat, some starches, and processed foods, combined with his preference for fresh fruits and vegetables, it's not surprising that he might have some strong opinions about the hit show.
In a 2010 interview with Zap2It, Brown said, "That show is about gluttony, and gluttony is wrong. It's wasteful...I think it's an embarrassment." Eater reports that Brown also called the show "disgusting." This doesn't come as a huge surprise when considering Richman ate a 5-pound cheesesteak that included 3 pounds of beef on the show. To put it in perspective, a serving size is 3 ounces (via North Dakota State University.) With Brown only eating red meat once per week, that one cheesesteak would represent 144 weeks of beef servings to Brown. Who wouldn't be a little put off thinking of eating almost three years worth of their beef intake in one sitting?
Richman felt differently, though. In response to Brown's comments, he posted on Twitter: "Alton Brown: MvF is about indulgence-NOT gluttony-& has brought loads of biz to Mom-n-Pop places. You were my hero, sir. No more."