Skinny Chef, Healthy Chef

Years ago, while I was in Culinary school an instructor once told be "Don't trust a skinny Chef!". This was easy to say, when it is coming from a 300+ pound Chef. To me, this is saying that a Chef needs to be over-weight in order for the food to taste great. Does this mean that his food is superior? Or that his techniques and procedures are so honed in, to the most minuscule detail? Or maybe the food that is being prepared is full of saturated fats and oils, making it high in calories with low nutritional value. Maybe there just isn't enough time in the day for exercise. My guess is probably the latter two. Although, I believe that one can create amazing food, have time to exercise and eat in a healthy, non-detrimental way.

There is an article in the Time magazine this week about Chefs in the industry that have realized that they need to lose some weight. Many Chefs are under constant stress and work long hours. And many use food as a stress reliever and others just each badly. Alton Brown says "I decided there were foods I was just not going to have. I've probably had three tons of French fries in my life. I don't need any more French fries." Brown has lost 50# and is thinking about writing a book. Great, just what we need, another "diet" book. I know it is not easy to lose weight, but I also know that eating a balanced, low fat, no oil diet and exercise is possible. Eating fresh whole foods are a great way to start eating right and combine that with an easy walk around the block, and you will be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

I would like to tell my Culinary Instructor this, "It shouldn't be "Don't trust a skinny Chef", but rather "Trust a Healthy Chef!"

Enjoy.

Vegan Chef Period.

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