Obesity, America’s Chefs, The Food Network

So I was having this discussion about chefs recently; a discussion I’ve had before. When I saw this post on #Facebook, it inspired me to have one more ‘discussion’ here.

American chefs. I’m always drawn to these very relatable folks; many chefs are working class-rooted and when they’re not working, they like to have fun. Back in the O.C., for years I wrote a column in Coast Magazine called Cooks Corner; short interviews with Orange County notable chefs plus one yummy (easy, relatively speaking) recipe for the home cook/reader.

So I love chefs; I come from a family of short order cooks. Several uncles on the Italian side of our family were cooks during WW11 (too old to fight) and a few opened restaurants.

So I love chefs.That now established, it’s really time for them to take some responsibility here. #‎FoodNetwork‬, can you hear me? If a chef is obese, you can be dang sure the food he/she feeds you will not be low calorie. It just won’t. ‪#‎InaGarten‬, I adore you and implement SEVERAL of your recipes (or versions of) BUT when you turn your attention on your own health, you will also help your patrons/fans.‪#‎MarioBartali‬, your shows have been like ‘going home’ for me BUT the recipes you are feeding us aren’t wearing well on you, either. I could go on because the list of overweight/obese American chefs is quite long.

Folks, this is about our collective national health. Everyone’s got to own up, including our celebrity chefs and the #FoodNetwork many of us so love to watch. Cooking tasty dishes using copious amounts of fat is easier than we all think.

Chefs, my challenge to you all: Cook using much less fat. Hook American diners on those dishes. It’s time. We have a major national health crisis here and you all need to pitch in and help us out of it.