Host on the Food Network channel

Sunny Anderson | Biography

Co-hosts the Cooking Talk Show, 'The Kitchen'

• By Anil Pradhan
• Original : November 24, 2021

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Sunny Anderson is an American chef and TV personality best known to her fans as the host of programs on the Food Network channel.

Who is Sunny Anderson?

Sunny Anderson is a professional chef, radio personality, TV host, and former Air Force veteran. She co-hosts the cooking talk show, The Kitchen, on Food Network Channel alongside Geoffrey Zakaria, Jeff Mauro, and Katie Lee. In addition, Sunny has also appeared as a celebrity guest chef on several TV programs such as The Wendy Williams Show, The Early Show, and The Rachel Ray Show. 

Sunny started working for the US Air Force in 1993 and worked for “AFKN (American Forces Korea Network) in Korea in Soul at a radio station.” After the stint, she returned to the United States and “did three years in San Antonia at Kelly AIr Force Base for the Arm Forces News Agency.” In June 1997, she was honorably discharged from the Air force. Thenafter, she traveled to many cities as a radio DJ. 

Later in 2001, she moved to New York commercial radio station HOT 97 to cover music—another passion of hers. There, she also started pursuing her love for cooking. She went on to open a catering business, Sunny’s Delicious Dishers, out of the hobby of cooking for the friends in the show business. She ran the company from 2003 to 2005. 

Anderson’s career had a big breakout when the Food Network channel hired her for How’d That Get On My Plate? in 2008. According to thelist magazine, she was shortlisted by an admirer from the FoodNetwork. The personnel had heard her show on Hot 97. Before getting hired, she also appeared on  Food Network’s Emeril Live! in 2005. Later, she would host her first Food Network show named Gotta Get It, a food gadget show, in 2007. After that, she would host Cooking For Real followed by How’d That Get On My Plate? and Home Made in America with Sunny Anderson.

“Someone from Food Network was a listener and knew that I cooked and that that I yap and talk like crazy, and they thought, well maybe the two together could work. There is some innate skill in talking and chopping at the same time and looking at the camera and telling a story and not forgetting that something is burning on the burner behind you,” shares Anderson.

In September 2013, she released her first book, ‘Sunny’s Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life (Clarkson Potter).’ It went on to be a New York Times best-seller. 

Early Age and Parents

Born on 9 April 1975, Sunny Anderson’s age as of 24 November 2021 is 46 years. She took birth to her parents Linda Anderson and Thomas Anderson in Lawton, Oklahoma. Her father, Thomas, was in the army. Thus, she grew up traveling and moving around with her parents as an army kid. 

According to her Instagram post, dating 3 June 2020, she revealed that she was bullied as a child by a group of “white kids hurling the N word” at her. She shared that the kids stopped bullying her after her strong and educated mother talked to them right after Anderson reached home, “screaming all the way.” Anderson says the event inspired her to be strong and changed her worldview.

Growing up, she got many opportunities to travel to different places worldwide and taste several delicious local cuisines. Adding to that, her parents were themselves foody and loved tasting new foods. These unique experiences made her passionate about cooking and eating while growing up.

She later graduated from Madison High School in Texas and then joined the US Air Force.

Is Sunny Anderson Married? Or Does She Have a Boyfriend?

In one of her 2016 Twitter posts in which she jested about meeting her partner’s mom just to master home “recipes,” she would disclose her approach to relationship and past “two serious boyfriends” to Twitter fans.  

After a Tweeter, Mandy replied to her stating her discontent with people linking “meeting the parents with the relationship progression,” Anderson said, “no, not at all...my parents know I am enjoying the single and dating life with no goals. They have met 2 serious boyfriends.”  

Previously, in 2009, she mentioned how she loved to cook for her boyfriend while speaking to Delish. When she was asked about her favorite people to whom she loved hosting at home, she replied, “My boyfriend, because cooking for someone you love is the tops. I got lucky and found a guy who loves everything I make and will always try something new.”

Is Sunny Anderson gay? Who is she dating?

Although the star has not revealed the identity of her past relationships, it is clear from her social media posts that she had been in relationships with men. In addition, she says she supports LGBTIQ + community despite not being a part of it. 

As of recent years, her relationship status remains undisclosed. However, if she ever were to get married, her future husband would reap the benefits of good foods along with her great sense of humor at home. 

Weight loss

Sunny Anderson is not only passionate about cooking but also loves tasting different cuisines. However, her love for food had made her obese in the past. As a result, at 5 feet 5 inches in height, she weighed more than 200 lbs, and her doctor diagnosed her as “obese.” 

Eventually, she decided to keep her weight in control and started her weight loss journey in January 2013. As per her interview in The Rachel Ray Show, Sunny stated that she was also going to the gym and following the famous Dr. Ian Smith’s Shred Diet program that helped her to reduce her size from 16 to 14 in just a few weeks.

In September 2015, she wrote a lengthy Facebook status explaining the reasons for her weight loss decision. She listed a few more reasons that led her to quit overeating, from getting diagnosed to developing a sense of discomfort wearing plus-size dresses. She also revealed that she had to adjust her moral compass from not ever throwing away the foods to sacrificing the meals for her health. She wrote, 

And that’s it. We all can find the fed up moment about over feeding. And then, I got honest. I told chefs no when they wanted to send me food. And if they insisted, I’d eat a bite and show them how food waste felt. I got ok with throwing away food too. That was an issue until I realized 2 things. Either I throw it away in my mouth, ew ... now it sounds like trash, OR throw it in the actual trash. My body ain’t lined with force flex lol. Plus, I waste money elsewhere; why not be ok with this kind of waste? I used to be slave to my fridge. But now I’m in charge. Don’t judge me, cuz I bet you waste money somewhere too. We all do. So ... yeah...a little over 2 years.

How Much is Sunny Anderon’s Worth?

Sunny Anderson’s net worth as of 2021 is $5 million, according to Celebritynetworth.