NBC News features reporter Mike Leonard doesn’t consider a grocery store the most interesting place.

“I could eat cardboard every day and be fine with it,” he said Thursday evening as he strolled the aisles at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St., with Lawrence cook Jayni Carey.

Leonard made the trip to Lawrence from New York with his son, Matt, to film a story about Carey for “Today” on NBC. He will also appear on a future episode of Carey’s show, “Jayni’s Kitchen,” which airs on Sunflower Broadband Cable Channel 6.

Carey’s challenge is to cook for Leonard, who describes himself as a “plain eater.” He is happy with a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast, a tortilla wrapped around ham and cheese for lunch and a made-for-television dinner.

No tomatoes, onions, Mexican, Greek or Thai food. Nothing fancy, please.

“That’s blasphemy as far as she’s concerned,” Leonard said about Carey.

He says his dietary habits date back to his days as a child when his mother never cooked much. Leonard has carried that plain appetite into his days as a successful reporter and story teller.

Leonard’s parents may also become household names soon. He has written a book, “The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family,” set for release in April.

The book chronicles the story of a cross-country road trip during 2004 of Leonard and his now-retired parents. He says it is also his memoir about life lessons taught by ordinary people and how small events can affect a person’s life.

After 25 years with NBC, Leonard has become known for his humorous stories about ordinary people.

Something along those lines brought him to Lawrence to experience Carey’s show.

“She has a show in her hometown. She sort of made it happen,” he said.

Leonard said he was unsure when his story that will include Carey will air. The episode when he appears on “Jayni’s Kitchen” will likely air sometime this month, Carey said.

Carey’s food-shopping mission on Thursday was to find ways to add a few extra ingredients to one of his favorite recipes: a ham-and-cheese wrap. She also plans to cook him a steak.

Leonard said he restricted Carey’s cookbook when he started turning down some more fancy dishes she suggested.

“I won’t eat half of the stuff she makes. It’s a challenge for her to cook for me,” he said.

But Carey hopes she will leave his taste buds starving for more and says she enjoys preparing meals for picky eaters.

“It gives them a chance to look for something new. It will give them some options,” she said.