Have you taken a good look at yourself recently? Have you allowed yourself to be in the public eye? Apparently doing so has had a profound impact on some chefs. Time Magazine recently published an article about chefs who have changed their personal habits and how they teach others to cook after seeing themselves appear on television.
Alton Brown, Mario Batali, Michael Psilakis, Alex Stratta, Rocco DiSpirito (of Dancing with the Stars and Biggest Loser), Tyler Florence, Michael Lomonaco, and Jacques Torres are all mentioned in the article. Each has made a change in weight and eating habits. Even spending several hours each day surrounded by amazing food creations, being required to taste said creations, and having to think about food and flavor all day, they were all able to make some notable changes. That’s determination and inspiration!
The ideas that they shared in the Time article include changing their eating habits, changing their cooking habits (like cutting back on oil and refined sugar), cutting out certain foods (french fries), portioning indulgent foods, and even finding ways to keep some of their favorites.
As a result of his changes, Rocco DiSpirito has written a new book entitled Now Eat This: 150 of America’s Favorite Comfort Foods All Under 350 Calories, which is to be released March 2024 and includes recipes for macaroni and cheese, brownies, and fried chicken!
Perhaps vanity can be a positive thing, at least in this case. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the busy-ness of life and pursuing business and career goals, that we forget to take care of ourselves. Your ‘mirror’ could be a TV screen, a caring friend, an opportunity to appear before others, or an item of clothing no longer fitting. These professional chefs are taking seriously their position as role models and educators. Taking responsibility for themselves and how they influence others shows me that these are chefs from whom I would like to learn.