Yes Chef October - Michael Killip

YES CHEF
By: Michael Killip, Owner of the Renown Twisted Fork Restaurant in Oakville and CITY and CHTV's Guest Chef
www.twistedfork.ca

You Are What You Eat!

The one thing in life that we are all responsible for, but sometimes have little control over, is what we eat! What type of fuel do you put in your tank? The day-to-day care of who we are, and the maintenance of our body’s daily intake, reflect on our performance and our physical make up.

Are you adventurous when you eat? Do you shop for organic foods at the grocery store? Do you “Biggie Size” every chance you get? Are you a vegetarian or vegan? When you dine out, is it Indian, Chinese or Italian cuisine that you look for first?

Our moods, likes and dislikes play a huge role in our eating habits. We tend to eat when we are hungry, depressed, happy, and bored. Peer pressure plays a role in our eating habits too. It’s no longer “cool” to eat anything high in fat, or to order too many carbohydrates when dining out with friends.

There was a time when families ate together. During those meal times, the family caught up on the day’s events and interacted as a unit. They were in touch with each other. These days, we have become a society of immediate gratification. This means having everything right now and fast, taking no time to pause. Convenience foods have become the most predominant force in the food industry. A lot of these foods are high in sugar and saturated fats; creating a community that is over-sized. This unhealthy population is the highest ever recorded and the statistics are everywhere and growing. As North Americans, we are the biggest generation ever.

The current television show “The Biggest Loser” is a high profile reality show. If someone had suggested a television show like this 20 years ago; spotlighting overweight people trying to regain their lives through exercise and diet, you would have fielded the question, “Why?” and, “Who would watch?”

Take a moment to pause and reflect on your personal eating habits, and what influences your food choices. Personal lifestyle plays a large role in what we buy and what we place in our refrigerators - Never mind our bellies!

Do we ultimately eat out of impulse or is there a planned strategy to what we consume? I truly believe that in today’s world, we really have become a society that is what it eats!