The Meal Prep Chef Philosophy on Food

If you are reading this, chances are health has made it to the top of your list and you recognize that the only way to attain it is by nourishing your body with real food. You probably already know that nutrition is the foundation of health and are simply looking for ways to maximize it. Or perhaps, like me, your health has already suffered and you are fighting to regain it through nutrition.

Whatever your motives may be, you know you need to be eating healthier yet you still struggle to make it a happen. And like many of us today, you likely face the overwhelming challenge of balancing your nutrition with everything else going on in your life. That’s because our lives are busier than ever and we are surrounded by endless distractions constantly fighting for our attention. At the end of the day, we are left with no time and energy to tend to what matters the most, our health.

Sadly, this is the reality for many of us today and the consequences can be seen in the number of diet-related diseases killing us and making us sick; and the staggering rates at which they are doing so. I know this isn’t news for you, and there is definitely a collective awareness around the issue, but awareness alone will not solve it. And we certainly can’t expect the food industry to solve it for us. The solution lies in taking matters into our own hands. That means getting back in the kitchen and getting in touch with our food again.

But it’s not like we’ll suddenly have more time to cook wholesome, nutritious meals on a daily basis. The hustle and bustle of everyday life will continue leave us strapped for time. What we need to do is evolve the way we cook at home and become more efficient in the kitchen. That’s where The Meal Prep Chef comes in. My approach is to develop a smarter way of cooking that reduces the time we spend in the kitchen while allowing us to have the food we need always available to us. The objective is to make our nutrition a priority again and allowing it to fit into our busy lives by making it convenient.

Now I could tell you that you’ve come to the right place and that I have the solution you’ve been looking for. But I won’t. Instead, what I will do is tell you what you need to know to make that decision for yourself. I’ll start by sharing what the Meal Prep Chef stands for when it comes to food. My hope is that, by sharing my values, you’ll be able to determine if they align with your own. Then you’ll know if what The Meal Prep Chef has anything of value for you.

So here it goes, this is what the Meal Prep Chef stands for:

What does Food mean to me?

I see food as a precious gift from the earth that gives us health, vitality, and joy. Although it is a source of nourishment, it is meant to be enjoyed and shared with others. My fascination with it stems from the fact that a vast variety of raw, natural ingredients can be turned into a wide array of beautiful and delectable dishes that bring people together. Not to mention the fact that food is the best medicine there is. As Hippocrates put it, “Let thy food be thy medicine, let thy medicine be thy food”, because nutrition is the foundation of health and nature gives us absolutely everything our bodies need to thrive.

What is Real Food?

You’ll see me use the term “real food” extensively because it is important for me to distinguish it from the garbage labeled as “food” that surrounds us. Real food is whole, natural, nutrient-rich food that does not contain synthetic or artificial ingredients. It is minimally processed or not processed at all and is free of harmful additives, preservatives, and pesticides. It is produced and consumed mindfully, in ways that are good for the body, good for the earth, and good for the palate. Real food is food with integrity; the way nature intended it to be.

On Sustainable Production of Food

Think about this for a moment, if the Earth is the source of our food and food is the source of our health, then our survival as a species is directly dependent on the Earth and its resources. So if we deplete these resources, our self-preservation will be threatened. It’s that simple. The sad truth is that we don’t seem to get it and still produce excessive amounts of food using irresponsible practices with little regard to their environmental impact.

Sustainable food systems is a vast subject worthy of its own blog post, if not an entire book, but it’s important that I briefly state my stance on it. I am a strong proponent of sustainable food production practices that protect the Earth and ensure that future generations will have an abundant and healthy food supply; from sustainable food production, to processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management. The Meal Prep Chef support techniques that protect the environment, public health, local communities, and animal welfare.

On Mindful Consumption

Not only do we rarely know what’s in the food we put into our bodies, we often eat it mindlessly and just for the pleasure of it. I’m not saying there is something wrong with enjoying our food, but it is important to see it as more than just a source of immediate pleasure. Once you begin to see it as a precious gift and a source of nourishment and vitality, you’ll naturally become more appreciative of it and feel grateful for having it on your table. And as you give it the value and importance it deserves, you also learn to minimize waste and eat only what you need to satisfy your hunger. You’ll also notice that as you begin to shift your perspective, you actually savor it more which makes it taste even better.

Mindful consumption also means being a responsible consumer. It’s easy to demonize the food industry and blame it for our broken food system, but we also have a responsibility as consumers. The food industry will only satisfy the demands of consumers, so if we continue demanding highly processed foods that are produced using unsustainable methods that harm our health and the environment, that’s exactly what they’ll continue to produce. So instead of shifting the blame, let’s be responsible consumers and support sustainable and responsible food systems.

On Organic Foods

Oh what a buzzword it has become in recent years. I’m surprised we haven’t seen organic smartphones yet. The reason you are beginning to see the “Organic” label slapped on more and more items is because the food industry is well aware that we, as consumers, are becoming more conscious of the quality of our food and are demanding more natural options. But it’s very important to note that, while organic foods are more natural and free of artificial additives, they are NOT always healthier than their non-organic counterparts. You can, for example, have 100% organic ice cream loaded with natural sugar. The fact that it’s 100% natural doesn’t make it healthy. You should favor organic foods when you can, but be sure to examine the labels and make sure that what you are eating is not only natural, but actually good for you.

On GMOs

It is almost impossible to determine long-term implications that GMO foods will have on the human body and on the earth. For that reason alone, I am a firm opponent of Genetically Modified Organisms. Many will argue that GMO allow us to maximize food crop yields which will in turn help feed the world’s hungry. The thing is, there is no shortage of food. If you have ever walked into a buffet in Las Vegas, you’ll see our ability to produce food by the tons. You don’t even need to go that far to see it, just look around you and notice the vast amounts of food that surrounds us. We don’t need to be producing more food, we need to find more equitable ways of producing it and distributing it.

On Healthy Diets

The internet is inundated with contradicting theories as to what constitutes a healthy diet, making the topic highly controversial and very confusing for us consumers. The truth is, there is no one-size fits all approach to dieting so nobody can tell you what diet will work for you. It’s something that we all need to figure out for ourselves with the help of a qualified nutritionist or dietician.

I am no nutritionist myself but I have done plenty of research in recent years and I’ve found that any diet considered “healthy” will mostly consist of a wide variety of plant-based whole foods that are low in sugar, high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, minerals and vitamins.. Grains or no grains, meat or no meat, that’s up for debate, but if you want to eat healthy you gotta eat your fruits and veggies. Don’t just take my word for it, any expert with a trace of credibility will confirm this. It’s really not that complicated and I’d be surprised if this is news to you.

We all have different needs and restrictions. Unless you have food sensitivities or dietary restrictions prescribed by a licensed nutritionist or dietician, you can follow the following formula and your health will likely benefit from it. It’s IMPORTANT to note that I am not I am not a nutritionist but I have done years of research and this is what seems the consensus amongst the most credible sources out there. Unless you have been a certified dietician or nutritionist you should stick to a whole foods, plant-based diet with minimal to no animal protein.

Remember the winning formula 80% plant based whole foods and 20% or less of healthy animal products like lean meats, eggs, and unsweetened yogurt, like poultry and fish. Less red meats and poultry. Low in sugar, high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, minerals and vitamins. Eating is definitely an option but be sure to speak to a dietician before following.

On Eating Meat

Although there is overwhelming evidence suggesting that a diet high in plant-based foods is superior, I’ve yet to find strong evidence suggesting that a diet completely devoid of animal products is superior. On the contrary, a strict vegan diet (only plant-based foods) has been shown to have health implications as it is deficient in some very essential nutrients. And even though I respect veganism for its ideological and ethical principles, I cannot say that it is a healthier diet based on the research I’ve done over recent years

That’s not to say that being on the opposite side of the spectrum is any healthier. Eating copious amounts of meat has also been shown to have its set of drawbacks. I do believe that there is a happy medium and that animal-based foods do have a place in a healthy diet. However, I am a proponent of more responsible and sustainable ways of eating meat that favor quality over quantity.

Contrary to the typical American diet, we actually don’t need to eat meat as much as we’ve been led to believe. In fact, we did not evolve eating as much meat as we do today because we simply couldn’t afford it. Although meat consumption has been part of human evolution, we evolved having to hunt or painstakingly raise livestock if we wanted to consume it, which meant that animal-based foods were a precious scarcity.

As the production of animal-based products increased due to their commercialization in the past century, the quality of these products has inevitably declined. In order to maximize production while reducing cost, the livestock is often raised in deplorable and inhumane conditions. Are treated with hormones to promote growth and antibiotics to prevent disease. To satisfy the increasing demand, a lot of these products are highly processed and contain all kinds of harmful additives known to cause illness.

The good news is that Ethical farmers out there who raise their livestock in humane ways and pay respect We all need them varying ratios from person to person, Yes, eating meat of higher quality will be more expensive but remember that you actually don’t need as much

We have to do it in a way that pays respect to the animal lives that were sacrificed for our consumption and nourishment. Chances are, the animal you are consuming was raised humanely.

It will come up, my recipes. My recipes will reflect this philosophy. That being said, I do believe that there is a more responsible way of eating meat and it is. The quality of meat and the quantities we are producing in are detrimental to the environment.

• Increase the quality decrease the quantity: we didn’t of slaughtering 1 chicken a day and one cow per week. Tradirionally, we would pay respect to the life that was sacrificed so that we can eat. Today, we don’t have to rely on it so much so we can safely reduce the amount of it we eat and still get most of our nuttients from plants. It’s simple logic. have to respect the life that was sacrificed.
• Rather than eliminating, reduce the quantity and increase the quality.
• Never in history have we had so much meat readily available to us at all times.
• If my recipes call for animal protein, they will use the healthier options.
• Do it responsibly. Know where your raised humanely and with dignity. It will reflect in the quality and integrity of the meat. You will be eating whatever that animal was fed.
• Instead of buying. Go to your local butcher and ask him or her about where they source their meats. You will be paying but you’ll know exactly and that it was produced in a responsible way.

In many ways, the Meal Prep Chef philosophy is a reflection of my own values; after all I am the creative mind behind it. As you consume the content that I create, you’ll find that this philosophy is reflected everywhere, especially in my recipes and in the way I cook.

Perhaps you will not agree with all of my views, but it is still important that I share. You should consult with your doctor or nutritionist to determine if my recipes are suitable for you.

Although healthy has always been at the it was important to me, it did not have. Not until very recently. My focus changed after my diagnosi link to old Post Before it was all about convenience. Now my focus is on health. I believe in the power of food and I believe that it can heal me or at the very least improve my prognosis and give me a better quality of life.

Like you, health has always been important to me ak . It is a matter of values. Figuring out what is important.

Eating healthy nowadays is a matter of values, you have to decide how important it is for you and you have to make the time for it. Although my tips and techniques will save you time and make things easier for you in the kitchen, regaining control of your nutrition will require a commitment on your part. A commitment to yourself and your health.