Sushi. Eggplant. Ostrich.

Just the sound of these foods would make any six-year-old scrunch up his nose in disgust.

Television producers Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg hope to change that.

The co-owners of production company marblemedia (they are the executive producers of kids' shows This Is Daniel Cook and This Is Emily Yeung) have developed Taste Buds, a kids' cooking show aimed at engaging children with food: finding out where food comes from and opening their minds to exploring new -- and healthier -- fare.

All children are reluctant to try new foods, said Bishop, 31. "If you try (a new food) once and get over the fear of trying it, then you can really expand your mind and not be afraid."

The show, which airs next week, stars teen hosts Avery and Lily, their older friend Matt, a chef (played by actor Matt Austin), and, of course, Chillbot, a high-tech fridge where Avery and Lily get all their recipes.

Geared for kids six to 10 years old, the episode follows the two hosts as they learn about different foods, go into the field to find where the ingredients come from and then cook a dish using the products they have investigated that day.

"The thing that's really great about this show is the kids do the cooking," said co-host Matt Austin, 30. "Kids that want to learn how to cook should watch the show."

Taste Buds was filmed around Ontario and in a studio in Toronto.

It debuts Monday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. on TVOKids and will also run Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Recipes are available online at www.tastebudstv.com along with blogs, photos and episodes.

cwhitwell@thespec.com

905-526-2452