COOKING AND GAINING WEIGHT

Hi,I would really like to learn how to cook, but am afraid that I will gain weight. What are your ideas about this?

[UniChef]

Contrary to popular stereotypes, chefs and cooks are no more overweight than the rest of the population. If you're really working in the kitchen, you're too busy to stop and eat. It's hard work and long hours.

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Mike Bersell, CEC
www.unichef.com

[Nicko]

I agree with that, in the kitchen you are always moving, so it is a little easier to stay in shape than if you work a desk job. I think were people get into trouble is that in the kitchen you get so busy that you don't take time to eat right.

As a fellow woman let me tell you the first six months on any kitchen you will deffinately gain weight because you will want to taste everything to see how it tastes when it is "right" but after that the weight will just fall off believe me ....working 80 hours a week will really dampen any appetite.

THANK YOU FOR THE SPELL CHECK

[Nicko]

I agree with you Aubergine, I was tasting everything, but I was working so much that I dropped the wait pretty quickly. Don't be afraid to taste, but also make a point to eat right. So many times I just ate junk to get me through the rush.

[Nick.Shu]

heheh, you do gain weight, but that is usually due to drinking to get over the stress of service, not the food itself. Trust me, after many months and years of service, you cannot bear to look at some types of foods.

[cookM]

First of all, I had a hard time finding time to eat during the shift. I think what you might have to look out for is the timing of your meals. I used to eat late (11:00), and how can I turn down delicious duck leg or a big plate of Nathan's curry? Yes, I'm an admitted hog, but in retrospect, I wish I didn't eat my biggest meal so dang late.

[layjo]

Well in my situation, I would usually work the night shift (plus being short-staffed) and not be able to get a break to eat anything. I would just taste things i needed to before before service and spot-taste test when i felt it was needed. I usually get a pretty good workout on the hot line to balence out my intake of food. But one of the things i end up doing, which I probaly shouldn't do is eat a bigger meal to make up for the meals I missed earlier in the day. But I always try to balence out what I eat as far as nutrition goes!

hey,
I can say that when I was a dishwasher I gained weight because I didn't actually handle food all day, but was able to taste a lot. Even when I became a cook, I didn't gain weight from the tasting, I gained weight from all the drinking I did. When your around food that much, you lose your appetite really quikly

[chefjohnpaul]

Originally posted by kate:
Hi,I would really like to learn how to cook, but am afraid that I will gain weight. What are your ideas about this?

You don't gain weight from cooking, you gain it from eating, especially high fat foods. There is also a difference between tasting something and stuffing your face. I think the biggest challenge is that when it is busy the easiest things to gulp down are not usually the healthiest or lowest in calories(we got these incredible crispy onions just there on the line all night, er.....)So you have to exercise self control and yes it is a work out but don't get into the It's a work out I can eat anything I want routine, you will gain weight at that point.

Learn to cook healthy foods. Watch what you eat. Exercise. There are other ways to keep your weight down besides letting go of something you really want to do because you are afraid your appearance may diminish.

Isabel

after being in the kitchen all day, me personally I don't even want to eat you can only cook so much liver.