Dieting? How About Healthy Recipes for Pampered Chef Future

[gingertannery]

I agree with you Becky, about not pushing our eating styles on our hosts. I agree that our recipes are not the healthiest, although over the past year (my first as PC Consultant) I have enjoyed many of the recipes, that is why I had to join Weight Watchers this week! :cry: But I know that not everyone has the same problem. For myself and my family I will still probably cook some PC recipes, but I will adapt them to my new healthier eating lifestyle. And, I may, at my shows, explain to the guests how they can skinny up the recipe or make it healthier, depending on their priorities in life. But I can't imagine telling a host that they have to go to Trader Joe's and get the special dough because I have a problem with the more convenient cheap one. As a past PC host, I would have been very upset with my consultant if she had told me that she refused to cook a PC recipe because of her personal taste. I don't think that's what we're here for. In the end, the recipe is a means to sell the product, and you should make a recipe (within reason) that you and your host agrees on... JMO.

I have never told a host what to get... we go with the recipe as is.. But I must point out that there are many that people that eat healthier than what PC provides. I started PC about 15 yrs ago.. maybe 20. I quit because the food choices were so fat filled and unhealthy. They are better now, but still very fat filled by my book. But having said that... I have NEVER shown this preference to a host. I go with what they want.
What I hear on this strand is the same thing from others. We are not saying to take away the recipes.. there are many recipes that are very tasty.. just to ALSO offer some healthy options. We are in the business of helping others in the kitchen. Healthy eating is huge and growing area. I do feel bad offering unhealthy choices for my hosts. Health is very big to me and I just think it would be great for PC to get onboard and offer a "Healthier" line of recipes. How about a simple section in a cookbook. Food allergies are rampant.. Parents are stumped on how to prepare say "gluten free" foods. And MOST major illness i.e. heart disease, cancers, strokes ARE diet related. What do they tell you when you get cancer.. Low fat foods, no preservatives, whole grains, fresh veges and fruits.
Yes, there are so many levels of awareness for healthy choices. But, I hear smart caring consultants willing to go the extra mile, time and effort to assure great healthy recipes for their families.... and there are many others out there wanting to do the same for their families. I was at a church bazaar this fall.. and of course was drumming up business. I asked a lady if she would like to host a show in her home for free products.. she said quote " No, I can't see serving that kind of crap to my friends. I can't eat that crap .. no thanks" And after talking to her further, she agreed to hold a show with healthier choices. I asked why she felt the way she did, she said she went to one of those parties and it was all "Fat" foods. She was disgusted.
We haven't had her cooking show yet ( we were hit by a hurricane) but I will very much enjoy sharing some of my tasty recipes that are healthy.
Now I understand I may be on the extreme health side from working at a health food store for 12 years and researching health issues those years for myself and customers.. and also surviving cancer 2 times. I must eat healthy.. I just think PC is behind times to ignore this aspect of our business that is so important. It may not be important to you.. that is ok. but it is important to some. Now.. PC has come a long way. They are creating great recipes... I am not trying to be negative.. They just need a section to go that extra step. They are missing out on a whole ever growing group of healthier eaters. I don't like to showing something to a host and her guests that will promote them having to go to weight watchers.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I have never told a host what to get... we go with the recipe as is.. But I must point out that there are many that people that eat healthier than what PC provides. I started PC about 15 yrs ago.. maybe 20. I quit because the food choices were so fat filled and unhealthy. They are better now, but still very fat filled by my book. But having said that... I have NEVER shown this preference to a host. I go with what they want.
What I hear on this strand is the same thing from others. We are not saying to take away the recipes.. there are many recipes that are very tasty.. just to ALSO offer some healthy options. We are in the business of helping others in the kitchen. Healthy eating is huge and growing area. I do feel bad offering unhealthy choices for my hosts. Health is very big to me and I just think it would be great for PC to get onboard and offer a "Healthier" line of recipes. How about a simple section in a cookbook. Food allergies are rampant.. Parents are stumped on how to prepare say "gluten free" foods. And MOST major illness i.e. heart disease, cancers, strokes ARE diet related. What do they tell you when you get cancer.. Low fat foods, no preservatives, whole grains, fresh veges and fruits.
Yes, there are so many levels of awareness for healthy choices. But, I hear smart caring consultants willing to go the extra mile, time and effort to assure great healthy recipes for their families.... and there are many others out there wanting to do the same for their families. I was at a church bazaar this fall.. and of course was drumming up business. I asked a lady if she would like to host a show in her home for free products.. she said quote " No, I can't see serving that kind of crap to my friends. I can't eat that crap .. no thanks" And after talking to her further, she agreed to hold a show with healthier choices. I asked why she felt the way she did, she said she went to one of those parties and it was all "Fat" foods. She was disgusted.
We haven't had her cooking show yet ( we were hit by a hurricane) but I will very much enjoy sharing some of my tasty recipes that are healthy.
Now I understand I may be on the extreme health side from working at a health food store for 12 years and researching health issues those years for myself and customers.. and also surviving cancer 2 times. I must eat healthy.. I just think PC is behind times to ignore this aspect of our business that is so important. It may not be important to you.. that is ok. but it is important to some. Now.. PC has come a long way. They are creating great recipes... I am not trying to be negative.. They just need a section to go that extra step. They are missing out on a whole ever growing group of healthier eaters. I don't like to showing something to a host and her guests that will promote them having to go to weight watchers.

I didn't mean to offend :blushing: (and honestly before I hit submit, I nearly deleted my post, fearing that I would offend), it was just my personal opinion... I completely agree that you should follow your host's lead, if they want to go towards something healthier then I do. I am still fairly new, just finishing up my first year in Feb., and I have yet to get on a real schedule (like 2 shows a week every week) mine are quite sporadic, and I haven't developed the 2 menu options per month, I kind of talk to the host and help her decide what kind of dish she wants to cook first of all, dessert, appetizer, main dish, and then we go from there, and in the process I find out if they are health conscious or fat eaters or vegetarians or weight watchers or whatever, and that is how we choose the demo. I totally agree that it would be great if PC came out with some healthier versions, and in my post I believe that I mentioned that I would talk about how you could make it healthier or skinnier. My point was that it sounded like a couple people were refusing to cook things that they wouldn't eat, and I think that isn't what we are here for. This is their party, and their home and their friends, and if they want to serve something that is full of fat, even after you've offered all of the other maybe healthier choices, than that is their prerogative. That is all that I was saying, I am certainly not putting down anyone who is eating healthy and naturally or any other way. I myself am trying to eat healthier and feed my family healthier, we all just do it in different extremes and manners. And we have that prerogative too, just like our hosts.... That's all I meant to say, again, sorry if it came off a different way.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I have never told a host what to get... we go with the recipe as is.. But I must point out that there are many that people that eat healthier than what PC provides. I started PC about 15 yrs ago.. maybe 20. I quit because the food choices were so fat filled and unhealthy. They are better now, but still very fat filled by my book. But having said that... I have NEVER shown this preference to a host. I go with what they want.
What I hear on this strand is the same thing from others. We are not saying to take away the recipes.. there are many recipes that are very tasty.. just to ALSO offer some healthy options. We are in the business of helping others in the kitchen. Healthy eating is huge and growing area. I do feel bad offering unhealthy choices for my hosts. Health is very big to me and I just think it would be great for PC to get onboard and offer a "Healthier" line of recipes. How about a simple section in a cookbook. Food allergies are rampant.. Parents are stumped on how to prepare say "gluten free" foods. And MOST major illness i.e. heart disease, cancers, strokes ARE diet related. What do they tell you when you get cancer.. Low fat foods, no preservatives, whole grains, fresh veges and fruits.
Yes, there are so many levels of awareness for healthy choices. But, I hear smart caring consultants willing to go the extra mile, time and effort to assure great healthy recipes for their families.... and there are many others out there wanting to do the same for their families. I was at a church bazaar this fall.. and of course was drumming up business. I asked a lady if she would like to host a show in her home for free products.. she said quote " No, I can't see serving that kind of crap to my friends. I can't eat that crap .. no thanks" And after talking to her further, she agreed to hold a show with healthier choices. I asked why she felt the way she did, she said she went to one of those parties and it was all "Fat" foods. She was disgusted.
We haven't had her cooking show yet ( we were hit by a hurricane) but I will very much enjoy sharing some of my tasty recipes that are healthy.
Now I understand I may be on the extreme health side from working at a health food store for 12 years and researching health issues those years for myself and customers.. and also surviving cancer 2 times. I must eat healthy.. I just think PC is behind times to ignore this aspect of our business that is so important. It may not be important to you.. that is ok. but it is important to some. Now.. PC has come a long way. They are creating great recipes... I am not trying to be negative.. They just need a section to go that extra step. They are missing out on a whole ever growing group of healthier eaters. I don't like to showing something to a host and her guests that will promote them having to go to weight watchers.

This just proves that everyone has a different idea of what "healthy" is.

I don't judge my food as healthy or unhealthy by the amount of fat in it - more by the type of fat. Fat in and of itself doesn't concern me nearly as much as HFCS, Artificial ingredients and colorings, and Hydrogenated oils.


This is probably a big reason why PC offers such a wide variety of recipes. I really do not see why people complain that it is all so unhealthy. Sure, if you are making braids and wreaths for all of your shows, then, it's going to be unhealthy. But almost all of my shows feature healthy recipes FROM PC, and many of them are vegetarian just because they are - not because it's intentional on my part.

During this past summer, I did alot of Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad - often using lean ground turkey or beef. I also do alot of the Strawberry Spinach Salad (vegetarian), and Seven Layer Southwestern Salad (vegetarian).

I do the Fast Fajitas all the time - another healthy recipe full of veggies - and naturally lowfat.

I love to show people how to make Salsa in 5 minutes with the salad choppers - and serve it with baked chips. Add some guacamole to that, and you are serving something that has some of the best fat & nutrients for your body!

I consider the Jerk Chicken Nachos to be a complete, healthy meal.

I love to make Smashed Potato Soup(vegetarian if you use veg. broth), or White Chicken Chili in the DCB - both are meals full of vegetables (I add more to the potato soup though) - and low in fat naturally.

I think PC is doing an excellent job of trying to reach all groups of people. The 29 Minutes To Dinner Cookbook has a Vegetarian Section in it - and I think that is great. More people will buy a cookbook with vegetarian recipes in it then will buy a Vegetarian Cookbook, because that's more the way the majority eats - some vegetarian, but not all.

I believe that PC is trying to address this issue in a way that is good for business. The latest Seasons Best has many great recipes in it - as well as the new Latin Cookbook, and the 29 Minutes to Dinner Cookbook.

 

[gingertannery]

I really didn't take it negative. I did read that you were trying to make it healthy!! Just wanted to let you know I don't make the choices for my hosts. But some consultants who are vegetarians that do not eat meat, do not want meat on their products. And I can understand that. I just cook what the host wants. I do cook meat for my family members at times. So it is not so offensive to me. LOL But with that said.. if someone refuses to cook something.. I'm sure they just "offer" what they cook. Give a list of choices that only include what they are willing to demo. Not necessarily a negative thing. But the beauty of it all is that is their choice. We are there to sell product. but to also make a difference in the kitchen. Whether it is a gooey yummy dessert..or a healthy low fat meal. You did not offend at all. Thanks for sharing your prespective. It is much harder to be healthy.. I am very proud of the consultants here who go the extra mile for their families!! And you too as strive to eat healthier.
Working at the health food store, customers would come in and complain about the cost of supplements and organic foods. I would always ask them "What does Cancer, heart disease cost??" Taking care of yourself is so much cheaper and less nerve wracking in the long run. I know.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

We eat in a very healthful way. For many years now I have avoided buy products with HFCS, or hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oil. I also try to avoid most preservatives, and also food colorings (other than natural ones) and artificial sweetners.
BUT - I realize that it is a lifestyle choice, and so I have never tried to foist it onto my hosts. People have such different ideas about what is healthy and good for them. If my host thinks buying a lowfat brownie mix, and sugar free pudding w/ sugar free cool whip is what is healthy, than that is her choice, and I am not going to give her a hard time about it or make her use ingredients she doesn't want. I am not her conscience, or her Dr., or health advisor.
I can practice the recipes at home using my own cooking techniques, and do them as written for shows.
I have tried many times to offer a "Healthy Eating" class - and have never had any takers - so I guess that says to me that most people aren't interested in eating the way that we eat at our house. In fact, sometimes someone will ask me about how we eat, and when I tell them they say "Oh, I could never eat like that".

Also - keep in mind that depending on where you live, healthier options are more available to some than others. I have no Trader Joes, or Whole Foods Market, or anything even remotely like them within a 100 mile radius of my home. I have a choice of 1 regional and 2 local grocery store chains, plus a Super Walmart if I want to drive 25 miles(and wouldn't shop there anyway). Oh - and Costco! Thank God for Costco! They have begun offering more organic and natural products, but pickings are still slim. So, for people in my area, there is not as much awareness of healthful foods, because there just isn't the same exposure to them.

Most of how we eat is now 2nd nature - I don't even think about it being different anymore. I just make better choices now. For instance:

I always buy eggs that are cage-free/organic. This makes them higher in vitamin E and Omega-3 oils.
I buy only whole grain pastas, and bread.
I use only brown rice.
I buy organic milk - I'd like for all of my dairy to be organic, but it's too cost prohibitive.
I make sure that I buy fresh organic fruits and veggies as much as possible - but often, especially during the winter, there isn't much choice, unless we want to limit ourselves to lettuce, carrots, celery, and apples. I was thrilled this week when I was able to buy a bag of organic potatoes (on sale no less!) and a bag of organic sweet onions!:thumbup:
I have a garden during the summer where I grow my own veggies - without the help of chemicals.

When someone asks me now about eating healthier - I give them these ideas.

Start by buying cage free eggs and switch to a whole grain bread. (Those are simple things that anyone can do.)
I also encourage people to read the following books:
Eating Well For Optimum Health
Eight Weeks To Optimum Health both by Dr. Andrew Weil.

Also Ultra-Metabolism by By Dr. Mark Hyman

I love you Becky!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I love you Becky!

Well, I love you too!:love:


(not sure what in my post elicited this burst of love - but I'll take it!)