Episode Overview: Shaq brings in a celebrity chef to give kids a healthy lunch alternative at school and James holds his team back from reaching their goal.


Shaq calls on celebrity chef Tyler Florence to offer healthy alternatives to the children’s daily menu. Tyler says that when he was in school, the food was so bad that he started a petition to change the menu to a healthier one, showing that one person can make a difference. He convinces Ariel to start a petition herself, bringing out the rebel in her. The other kids jump on board to try to make a difference in their own school.
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No nonsense trainer, Tarik Tyler, tries to turn up the heat on the kids during the workout but seems to be losing control. Has Mr. Tyler gone soft? He gives Shaq a heads up, who goes to the gym to take them on in a merciless game of dodgeball. Walter’s butt ends up being his demise, a “dodgeball magnet” as he calls it, and doesn’t last too long in the game. Of course, the kids have more fun with him than Mr. Tyler, but who wouldn’t?

Shaq asks Mr. Tyler to put a little more fun in their workouts. You know what fun is, Mr. Tyler, don’t you? Because James has slacked off, he doesn’t get to participate in the Fun Friday workout, instead having to do assignments. Mr. Tyler doesn’t think James is living up to his potential, despite being a gifted student and being used to working to his potential and beyond … unless we’re in a gym. Kevin steps up to motivate James to make it through the program.

To better understand how a school cafeteria runs, Tyler Florence spends the day with the workers, learning how things run. He then brings Shaq’s kids to a test kitchen to see what their classmates will enjoy on a school menu. The mini chefs pick what they feel will go over well in their school. The new healthy alternative is offered in the school the next day and goes over fair with the students and is very time consuming. No dice on that one.

Mr. Tyler weighs in the children to see if they’ve made their goal and win their reward, which is to go to a Miami Heat game to see Shaq play. Walter is the first to meet goal, dropping 20 pounds. Walter has been the dark horse of this show. Ariel and Kit go next, meeting their goal, as well as Kevin and Chris. Holding the kids back is James, who was supposed to get down to 162 pounds but only makes it to 167 pounds.

Concerned with James, Shaq brings back nutritionist Joy Bauer to talk to James. The first food that gets cut out is white bread, and is replaced with green veggies (broccoli, green beans, etc). He isn’t motivated to change as the other kids bash him for not meeting his goal weight. Everyone decides to band together to motivate James to lose the last five pounds and James rises to the challenge!

The kids get to go to the Miami Heat game to see Shaq play live. A Hummer limo picks them up to ride in style. The kids get the royal treatment, getting to meet the other players and sitting in great seats. They meet the dancers and visit the skybox. It’s safe to say they’re motivated to continue the program and keep shedding pounds.

Do you have a picky eater at home? Do you have trouble motivating your kids? Get tips at shaq.abc.com!


-Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)