Is Obesity a Liability for Chefs?


By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom, Senior Advisor, Health Management

It’s been all over the news. Paula Deen – Southern food chef, restaurateur, and Food Network star – has type 2 diabetes; she’s also medically obese. Her recipes focus on sugar, fat, and salt laden comfort foods of all types. While this story has several complicated dimensions, I’d like to focus on one which applies to us “regular folks.” If you love to cook and eat, are you destined to be overweight or obese?

The answer is a resounding NO! There are loads of examples of professional chefs who prepare all kinds of indulgent dishes – and many maintain a healthy weight. They can enjoy their own food in moderation. And you can also easily do it in your own life.

Here are a few of my favorite easy tips to help you continue to enjoy food preparation and eating – without the feelings of deprivation many people feel when eating a “healthy diet.”

1. Chew gum, or sip on herbal tea when you’re cooking. Hundreds of calories can be mindlessly consumed way before the meal, by constant tasting. Avoid frequent tastings, and when you do taste, skip the tablespoon and stick with a baby (or espresso) spoon.

2. Lighten up your dairy choices. When recipes call for heavy cream or half-and-half, lower the total fat (and calories) by substituting whole milk. Feel free to switch to skim milk, but taste is often compromised by total fat removal – a big minus for many people.

3. Cut the sugar in recipes by 25%. You can readily trim the sugar without changing taste or texture. If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use ¾ cup.

4. Downsize your portions. Portion control is tough when you really love a dish – so mix and match portion sizes. Limit the serving size of a high-calorie dish, and bulk up on fruits and vegetables for additional volume to help you feel fuller.

Other tips to share? I’d love to know! 

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