
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 15, 1993                   TAG: 9310150070
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

PRINCESS AND THE PEA: HILLARY'S TEENY HERESY

She once got herself into trouble by putting down the home-baked cookie, and now Hillary Rodham Clinton has dismissed another humble culinary staple - the pea.

"Hardly anyone likes peas," Clinton said Thursday as she visited the set of "Sesame Street" to record some health advice for the nation's preschoolers.

The television program's script called for Clinton to urge children to "eat your broccoli, string beans and green peas." But between takes Clinton suggested that the director substitute "apples" for "peas."

Her comment recalled former President Bush's remark that he hated broccoli, which became a minor scandal in the eyes of some nutritionists and all broccoli growers. It appeared this ad lib might produce a similar controversy.

Even Big Bird disagreed with the first lady, noting that peas were the only vegetable he DOES like. But the guest was the health care expert, and "apples" stuck.

Stiff at first, Clinton seemed to relax with Big Bird's encouragement, and soon was laughing and joking. Clinton's visit will be broadcast Nov. 22, the beginning of the program's 25th season on PBS.

by CNB