Luxury Life & Style

don’t hold me to that. While we all know that the fried sandwiches did not cause Mr. Presley’s early demise, it’s probably a better idea to have a chef who’s looking out for your health. I started my own career as a personal chef over ten years ago working for a doctor who wanted a healthy vegan diet of three meals a day. My first client had an unusual character and very particular food needs. Once he actually called for food that he didn’t have to chew. Let’s just say it was a great learning experience. For the last three years I have been preparing two meals a week for a delightful family, two practicing lawyers with two young children. I prepare vegetarian and fish-based meals, a menu that works well with the family’s desire to eat fewer saturated fats. Other days of the week they enjoy lean meats and poultry. Should the occasion call for larger gatherings, I prepare more traditional meals, but always made with fresh local ingredients. Working with a client, even a family as accommodating and cooperative as mine, is not without its challenges. Recently, when one member of the household was diagnosed with high cholesterol, I was able to use my nutrition knowledge to make the family’s favorite dishes with fewer saturated fats and increased healthy omega-3 fats. My relationship with the children has also proved important and educational. It’s not unusual to discover some foods, no matter how nutritional, will be uniformly rejected by the younger set. I’ve learned that introducing new foods in clever ways typically finds greater acceptance. Every family has special dietary needs and preferences, including yours. If you are beginning to entertain the idea of hiring a nutrition-educated personal chef, follow these helpful tips in finding the perfect match: • Look for your new best friend. Compatibility with your personal chef could be the most important aspect of the working relationship. This person is going to come into your home, go through your cabinets, hear about your health problems, and even become part of your family. Make sure you like the person and want him or her at your table, even if figuratively. • Look for a Registered Dietitian or student who is in the process of becoming one. A Registered Dietitian will have successfully obtained a Bachelors or Masters degree in Nutrition or Public Health from an accredited institution. Do not confuse this with a “Nutritionist” who does not need to have any specific qualifications to use this title. Just to give you an idea what the required education involves, a graduate will have completed a specific, tailored curriculum heavy in sciences. The person will have done one year of internships and passed an exam on the most up-to-date methods of nutrition care. The professional must also maintain knowledge of current research which allows for the use of the intials R.D. at the end of his or her name. Think of it as having a culinary scientist in your home, minus the lab coat. • Be clear about your family’s likes and dislikes. Don’t be shy about sharing your family’s list of “yucky foods”. You should pay for food that you like. A good chef will be able to work around even the longest of lists. • Request a schedule that works for you. Don’t make assumptions about what kind of schedule your chef will work. He or she may come by on a Sunday night to prepare three meals for the week, or at 6 a.m. to prepare your picnic for the beach. Chefs are used to working unusual hours. Some may even be willing to “live in” should your time needs be more extensive. • Think creatively. Your personal chef should be willing to prepare meals for all sorts of situations: meals to take on the plane, large portions to be frozen for when the extended family comes in from out of town, or even healthy baked goods for your child’s next bake sale. You may even want to share your personal chef with neighbors. Just make sure that he or she comes back. Now that you’ve compiled your “needs” list, it’s time to begin your search. This task need not be as daunting as you may think. First go directly to the source and visit the American Dietetics Association Website: eatright.org. Click on “Find a Nutritional Professional”. You can also check out local universities where R.D. students are studying. Hiring a nutritionally trained personal chef might be the best investment you can make for your family. While a skilled professional cooks your meals, you can sit down at the table with loved ones and enjoy quality time together. Then, as the plates are served, you can share in a delicious meal prepared with your health in mind. And remember, there’s always room for dessert. Bon Appetit! • September/October 2007 Luxury Life & Style 69 http://eatright.org

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