Food Show Lesson Plans

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Just as our nation is experiencing a major fat attack millions of viewers are tuned into television shows focused on food. There may lurk some irony in this phenomenon. Think about it. There is actually a show called “Man Versus Food,” wherein a rather rotund individual seeks to eat all that he can at a variety of sites around the nation. This show plays even as the Centers for Disease Control issues a clarion call about the obesity epidemic and movies like Forks Over Knives present the scientific evidence that our diets are killing us. Alas, Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) has, in all probability, fewer fans than Adam Richman, the host of “Man Versus Food.” Not much is politically correct about food shows.

Teachers can turn the food craze into effective lesson plans with homework assignments that students will not object to doing. Students can learn something, exercise writing skills, and possibly develop some interests in terms of career while they are being entertained by shows such as “Iron Chef,” “Chopped,” “No Reservations,” “Restaurant Impossible,” or “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

I tried such an assignment on both a freshman and a senior class last year. The kid’s opinions about which shows are best are firm; their loyalties are deeply established and they have no problem following the story lines and the characterizations of various personalities. They are alert to the nature of the competition and grow adept at predicting which judge will appreciate a particular chef and which of the meals prepared will earn praise. They learn about spices, herbs, and how to select a particular ingredient for a particular recipe or how to substitute one for another when the occasion calls for some creativity.

Young people watching these food shows quickly become food critics themselves, even without the opportunity to taste the exotic meals prepared. They even become alert to the metaphorical value of what these shows call “presentation.” I’ve had kids talk about poor handwriting in terms of weak presentation and job interviews in terms of presenting the self as a worthy candidate for employment. Hmmmmmm. What could this mean?

It means teachers can use cooking shows as teaching tools in their ELA lesson plans. I created a worksheet that I distributed to my students asking them to identify elements similar to those found in literature, such as conflict, complication and resolution, and to evaluate the show for its pacing, drama, suspense, emotional appeal and themes. Extra credit, I said, when I first began to use the worksheet. Fairly soon, virtually all kids were writing essays, critiques and even formatting their own shows with their age-based themes. A few kids created a show based on veganism in which they suggested using live animals to increase the element of compassion that is so important to people who refuse to participate in the killing of animals for food. The assignment was no longer for extra credit, but a serious part of my effort to meet standards and exercise writing skills.

Some kids actually prepared their own shows. One was on the making of fry bread. The students were reading Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and they decided to produce a fry bread competition. Everyone loved it, even though some of the results were better used as Frisbees than food. The judges played their parts beautifully and the critiques written by the audience, their fellow classmates, were brilliant. With the right lesson plan, education, quite often, can be entertaining.

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Source by James Frieden

The Importance of Proper Food Storage

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Appropriately stored food is important and though, it is an easy task if the amount of food is less, but how exactly do you store food in larger quantities? Understanding proper storage techniques will not only aid in retaining freshness, but can also eliminate wastefulness, reduce the risk of contamination and unnecessary spending.

Before you can think about how to properly store your food, it is vital to ascertain that is in good condition. This is especially true, if you intend on storing foods for a long period of time. Packaging can be a great help in maintaining quality and freshness. Purchase canned or vacuum sealed goods when you can. For meats such as beef, chicken, seafood, turkey, poultry and game, use or freeze it before the specified date on the packaging.

If space is a problem, don’t purchase more than you can store. Make a list before heading to the store to avoid impulse buys or redundant food. Label and seal your loose food items – such as rice, cereals and pastas – in bags and air-tight containers. Store your canned goods in boxes or bins and keep them in an area that is cool and free of moisture. You can be ready to cook up some healthy, tasty meals just by following these basic steps.

Correct food storage is important to avoid spoiling. It will not only save you money, but it can keep food from becoming contaminated and thus making you or your loved ones seriously ill. Different foods have different storage requirements, always check the packaging for dates and storage instructions and be aware of the variety of food storage options available at your local market.

Perhaps the most common choice for food storage is plastic storage bags. Often freezer-proof, they can be simple sandwich bags without a seal or they could have a zipper- or press-seal to keep the air out. There are also specially designed bags for fruit and vegetable storage which allow some air into the bag. Fruits and vegetables can last for up to six weeks in such bags.

Another popular option is plastic storage containers. There are some that are designed to withstand extremes of heat and cold, and you should choose carefully according to your needs. There are various shapes and sizes, some with compartments which can be particularly helpful when preparing foods in advance for later consumption. They are made for both domestic and commercial use and typically made to be microwave and dishwasher safe. Some containers are made to be disposable after a few uses, this is important to note because some plastics can release chemicals into foods after a while. Again, read your labels carefully.

The arch enemy of healthy, fresh food is air. Air can quickly deteriorate your food, but there are options to combat this particular villain. Vacuum sealers remove air and leave an airtight seal. Your choices for food storage are numerous, however if you make informed choices about storing your goods, you’ll waste less food, spend less money and be a lot happier in the end.

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Source by Rob W. Colbourn

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review – Pros and Cons

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This Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review is inspired by the fact that the said product has now managed to become one of the bestselling pet provisions in the industry. It boasts a recipe that is completely free of artificial preservatives and additives. It uses rosemary to preserve the product. Another quality of the product is how it has evolved into an all organic food.

Review on Evolution

The Blue Buffalo Company has first formulated its brand of dog food based on American Nutrition standards. It used several artificial chemicals to preserve its product. But soon after, it was placed in a dire situation when one of its products tested positive for melamine contamination. Studies showed that the chemical preservatives were major contributors in the contamination. The event prompted the company to issue a nationwide recall on its contaminated product. The company then focused its attention on research and development of ways to product a pet provision without the use of synthetic chemicals and preservatives. They arrived at the discovery of rosemary as an organic preservative. That discovery marked the birth of the first 100% organic canine food.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review on Pros

The primary advantage of feeding your canine the Blue Buffalo Dog Food is its ingredients. It is made up entirely of organic ingredients aimed at helping your dog live a long, healthy and active life. It contains dried and fat-drained meals of fish, chicken and turkey. Other ingredients are whole barley, sweet potatoes and brown rice. The product also comes in different variations with each variety tailor fit for a specific type of dogs. It has for instance a formula particularly made for canines that have allergic reactions to regular types of dog provision.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review on Cons

The primary disadvantage of the Blue Buffalo Dog Food is its high price tag. It is significantly more expensive than your average brand of pet provision. Many consumers remain reluctant to switch to the all-natural product because of the added costs they will need to shoulder.

Review on Controversies

Protein and Vitamin D are the primary essentials contained in the product. But recently, several consumers have claimed that the product has too much Vitamin D it becomes hazardous to pets. The FDA however has disclaimed all allegations. The FDA says that canines only need a few days to adjust to the increases dosage of Vitamin D after which any symptoms will disappear.

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Source by Mert Ozge

Advantages Of Acid Foods And Alkaline Foods

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What You Need To Know About Acid Foods And Alkaline Foods

There are acid foods and alkaline foods present in your everyday diet. Both these types of food affect your body, its pH and the metabolism rate differently. You eat what you want to eat but you don’t know how it will affect your body. A balanced and good diet should be taken by you so that your body stays healthy and in a proper condition.

The food you eat is either acidic or alkaline depending on its pH value. pH value tells us whether anything is acidic or alkaline. pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. You have to maintain a pH of approximately between 7.35 and 7.45, which is mildly acidic, if you want your body system to work most efficiently. pH above or below this value will result in diseases and illness. This pH can be maintained by taking proper type of food. Highly acidic, example, pH1 to 5, or highly alkaline, i.e., pH 11 to 14, are all bad for your health and internal body system. Because it is the pH of your body that lets the enzymes work most efficiently.

A few examples of acidic foods are corn. Ketchup, pickle, meat, beans, fish, fowl, cigarettes, sugar, coffee, plums, distilled or e ionized water and most of the grains. There are many other meals as well that have acidic factor in them. By being acidic it means that this type of food has a high concentration of hydrogen ions in them. Increase in the acidic pH of your body will result in less absorption of minerals by your system, decreased ability to repair any damage of cells, increased fatigue and illness, and it an even result in diseases like tumor and coma. So, acidic pH of body is very dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible by taking proper diet and keeping yourself happy.

Alkaline foods are cabbage, carrot, eggplant, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peas, pepper, pumpkin, radishes, apple, apricot, almonds, chestnuts, sea salt and other types of salts and minerals. Citrus fruits like lemon also have an alkalinizing affect and are a great cure of acidity. Although, lemon itself is acidic but after digestion and assimilation it has an alkaline affect, which is very useful. Alkaline food is necessary in order to balance the acidic food that you eat and also to keep you body pH alkaline in the end. But high alkaline pH is also not good for your body so there should be a balance between the two which results in the required optimal pH of your body, which will keep your body healthy both externally and internally.

Thus, you eat both acid foods and alkaline foods but a balance is very important to be maintained between the two types so that your body Ph can be kept alkaline in order for it to work most optimally. You should have a clear idea of what to eat and what to avoid in order to live longer and a healthy life. You should consult a doctor or a nutritionist and get a balanced diet chart made. This chart will tell you what to eat and when so that you have a proper and healthy intake of both acidic and alkaline foods and that your body gets a balance of both, which is very essential.

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Source by Anthony S Sparks

Waiter Training – Teach Your Waitstaff Basic Food Knowledge & Preparation Methods

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As owner/operator of a restaurant, if you asked one of your waiters: “what is the difference between broiled chicken and roasted chicken?’ or “what is a ragout sauce?’ Would you be provided with the correct answer? If not, then I highly suggest that you start teaching basic food knowledge and food preparation methods in your waiter training programs. Otherwise, precious revenue and service reputation is being lost unnecessarily everyday in your restaurant’s dining room.

Most chefs work extremely hard and long hours to design and implement a food menu. But, if your waiters cannot follow through with proper dining room service that includes being able to explain, in detail, everything on that menu, then a lot of the chef’s valuable time and effort work is being wasted.

Restaurant customers always have questions about the menu whether it is a definition of a spring vegetable, a fruit that is not familiar to them or certain method that a dish is cooked such as braised, roasted, grilled etc. If a waiter cannot provide a quick and knowledgeable answer when asked, then customer confidence is lost and so are sales–not to mention dining room service reputation. A waiter’s actions and ability are a reflection upon the restaurant as a whole.

For example, if a customer is provided with an excellent answer to a menu question, it is immediately realized that the waiter has skill and experience. Then, there is a much better chance that proper restaurant service will be delivered. Logically, a customer knowing this fact will probably order more items (and more expensive items) from that menu. Nobody wants to risk spending a lot of money in a restaurant when there is the likelihood of poor service.

There is a very simple solution to ensuring that you will always have a knowledgeable waitstaff when it comes to food knowledge and food preparation methods. For proper waiter training, restaurant owners/operators and managers must always have:

#1) menu descriptions typed up and handed out to all waitstaff–keeping extras available for any new hires. (All ingredients for each dish must be explained in detail.)

#2) food knowledge and food preparation methods typed up and handed out to all waitstaff–keeping extras available for any new hires. (Simple definitions of braised, roasted, grilled etc. must be included on this handout.) These 2 information sheets must always be included in every waiter training course.

It is also a great idea to keep a food dictionary handy on this subject as well. Back in the day, I worked in a restaurant that had this type of dictionary available in the office. I would always peruse it in my spare time which helped increase my food knowledge and food preparation methods immensely. This way, I could impress customers in a big way when they asked me any kind of question about the menu. Hence, the upselling would commence quite easily.

The concept explained above is passed upon by so many restaurant owners/operators in waiter training programs for 3 reasons. The first reason is because of the extra time and effort that it takes to print up menu descriptions and basic food knowledge/preparation methods. The second reason is the false assumption that all waiters are highly experienced and know these menu facts to begin with. The third reason is that just because menu tasting meetings are held; it is assumed that all staff gets to sample each item on the menu. Well, this is a big mistake because many times not all of the staff attends these meetings. And, when there is staff turnover (which occurs in almost every restaurant), the newly hired staff has not attended the previous food tasting.

So, please take my advice, after many years of restaurant consulting. You must include menu descriptions and basic food knowledge/preparation methods in your waiter training programs. Get some help from your chef and managers if you must. It will reduce the amount of chef headaches, since there won’t be so many pestering waiter questions in the middle of the busiest shift of the week. More importantly, it will immediately improve restaurant dining room service which, in turn, enhances the reputation and the bottom line.

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Source by Richard Saporito

Top 10 Western Themed Party Food Ideas

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Are you hosting a western party and in search of some ideas for easy western party food? Then look no further! Below are some tasty, easy ideas for western themed party food for your upcoming event. Whether you are hosting a denim and diamonds affair or a low-key back yard barbeque, country and western foods are a sure crowd pleaser. Most of these recipes can be made a few days ahead of time to make your western party food planning a cinch!

Top 10 Western Themed Party Food Ideas:

1. BBQ Baby Back Ribs

No western party menu is complete without some great ribs. You can either slow cook these on a very low temperature (275 degrees) for about 4 hours on your grill or in your oven. Use a dry rub and finish with you favorite BBQ sauce for finger licking good western party food!

2. Home-Style Macaroni and Cheese

This mac-n-cheese isn’t just for kids and doesn’t come in the blue box! This is hearty, comfort food that is a crowd pleasure for guests of all ages! Use a generous amount of sharp cheddar and top with some fresh white bread crumbs and a drizzled of melted butter before baking. Country and western foods don’t get much tastier than this!

3. Country Fried Chicken

This is a classic western themed party food menu item and is perfect for guests who like to mingle while they munch. Use strips of white chicken breasts and I love the tasty buttermilk breading recipe in The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond cookbook!.

4. Fancy Baked Beans

Baked beans don’t need to come from a can. Jazz up you own homemade baked bean recipe by using different kinds of beans (navy, lima and kidney) mixed with dark brown sugar, bacon and onions. This makes a wonderful, hearty western party food side dish.

5. Grilled Corn on the Cob

Corn on the Cob is a definite for any country and western food menu. Brush peeled corn with a good grilling sauce like Wegman’s Basting Oil and grill for a few minutes until desired tenderness.

6. Grilled Steaks

Western themed party food has to include beef! Tender grilled steaks or London broil is a super-easy way to satisfy your guest. Sprinkle the meat with garlic seasoned sea salt or marinade it in your favorite marinade 3 hours prior to grilling. Simple, easy and delicious!

7. Cornbread and/or Garlic Butter Biscuits

Western themed food is not for the carb conscious but cornbread and biscuits will be irresistible to your guests. Place baskets lined with red and white napkins on tables around your party with some honey butter, and watch these hearty appetizers disappear fast!

8. Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

A fast and easy country and western party food include these super easy chicken and cheese quesadillas. Use burrito sized tortillas. You can use Perdue Shortcuts shredded into smaller pieces to make your job easier, mix equal parts of salsa and sour cream and add your favorite grated cheddar cheese. Grill in a grill pan or frying pan over medium heat until cheese is melted. Cut into thirds and serve with guacamole, salsa or your other favorite Mexican condiment. TIP: Quesadillas are easier to flip if you use one tortilla folded in half for each quesadilla.

9. Beverages with a Western Twist

You can’t go wrong with popular beer and wine, but if you want a true western themed party food menu, use special attention to your beverages by offering margaritas! Mason jars are a great added touch for serving beverages of all kinds.

10. Chili

This may be the easiest of all country and western party foods and can be used as a main course or an appetizer. Use your crock pot to make ahead and to keep warm during the duration of your party. If you are serving hot dogs, this makes a great condiment for the chili dog lovers at your party. Don’t forget the shredded cheddar cheese for serving on top.

Don’t Forget Dessert!

Western party food doesn’t have to end with the main course – your desserts can be western themed too. Choose a western style cake such as a horseshoe or cowboy boot, and wow your guests with your sweet ending! Another dessert option is to fill western themed glasses with an individual dessert like chocolate mousse, pudding or ice cream.

Use your imagination and think Western when planning your western themed party food menu. Accent your menu with western styles table ware and drink ware to accentuate your western theme. Country and western party food can be delicious AND easy, so no need to stress over your menu. Western party food typically appeals to all ages and personal tastes so your guest are sure to find a thing or two on your menu to please their palettes.

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Source by Katie Bierman

How Much Does it Cost to Use a Food Dehydrator?

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A common misconception is that it is expensive, electricity wise, to operate a food dehydrator. This is not true, even though dehydrators use electricity to operate their heating system and fans for longer periods of time, sometimes up to twelve and eighteen hours.

Food dehydrators are used to dry various foods by eliminating the water within the food. The water content of food is very high, typically between 80% to 95% for various fruits and vegetables and 50% to 75% for different meats. In order to minimize dehydration time, best dehydration practices to follow include slicing food into 1/4 inch or less strips and evenly spreading the food throughout the unit’s trays in order to maximize the amount of the food’s surface that is exposed to the unit’s heat and air flow.

However, even following best dehydration practices, a food drying process can take multiple hours. One temptation is to try and speed up the drying time by increasing the dehydrating temperature. This is not recommended and can result in case hardened food; that is, food that is dried and hard on the outside but moist and containing water on the inside. Case hardened food will spoil due to microbial growth.

So what do typical dehydrators cost to operate? Obviously the costs depend on the state and local area that you live in, however, within the U.S., on average, running a 750 watt unit for one hour would cost about 8 cents. Cost per state, per hour, for the same 750 watt unit varies from about 5 cents on the low end in North Dakota to almost 22 cents in Hawaii.

A typical dehydrator may run for twelve hours. As an example, assuming a dehydrator user lives in the state of California, a food dehydrator calculator can be used to estimate electricity costs required to run a 750 watt food drying appliance for, say, 12 hours straight. In this case the electricity cost would be about $1.21. In fact, most food drying units power on and off during the drying cycle so this would be a maximum electricity cost.

If the same Californian user bought about 3.7 pounds of apples at $1.29 per pound and dried those apples during that 12 hour time period, the user would have about 1 pound of dried apples and the cost of the dried apples would be $4.77. The total operating cost for one pound of homemade dried apples would thus be about $5.98. This homemade cost compares favorably to a well known national brand of dried apples that was recently selling at a major grocery store chain for $2.79 for a 5 ounce bag or a cost per pound of $8.93. Savings for homemade dried apples, made with a dehydrator, versus store bought – about $3.00.

Dehydrate your own dried fruit, dried vegetables and jerky at home using your food dehydrator. You’ll continuously save money versus store bought dried fruit and jerky and obtain a return on the cost of the food drying appliance. Further, you can control the ingredients that go into your food (most store bought dried fruit and jerky contain excess sugars and salts) and make great tasting food.

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Source by Rae Wilson

Cancer Is a Food Allergy Disease As Well As Environment

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Over many years of observation plus my limited knowledge of medical problems, having once been a medical student and more recently a student of genetics, the outstanding thing about cancer is the lifestyle of sufferers. While smoking contributes to onsets there is limited research into food allergies causation. My guess is that governments disallow facts to be known, as was the case with tobacco.

One incredible red flag for pancreatic and liver cancers is sugar, a major component of most foods. Alcohol is another and the two combined can be deadly. While sugar C12OH22O11), and alcohol (C2H5OH) differ in chemical make-up their effect on the digestion system is tha problem.

The function of the liver is to breakdown fats before they reach the pancreas. In simple terms this works in the small intestine in the presence of bile and digestive juices secreted by the pancreas. This is an essential part of maintaining good health.

In the presence of an overdose of sugar or alcohol the liver and associated organs are over whelmed. Fat slips through undigested and accumulates in both the liver and pancreas. It builds up contributing to obesity and leading to cancer of these vital organs and other issues.

Alcohol is a food and it is toxic to the liver, which then uses all its secretions to neutralise it. That allows fats to go untreated and thus the recognition that alcohol is fattening.

Along with these two substances there are many others that will take precedence over normal liver function. My observations show that preservatives are also toxic but less so than the other two. They contain nitrites and nitrates that exist in bacon, sausages, lunch meat, hot dogs, smoked fish, ham and also corned beef.

Sulfites exist in wine, shrimp, dried fruit and potato foods to preserve colour in food. If you are sensitive they can cause skin irritations, hypertension, abdominal pain and asthma symptoms.

Sodium benzoate, or benzoic acid when combined with vitamin C is linked to cancer and leukaemia and damage to heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, brain and adrenal glands.

This topic is huge but the bottom line is to eat fresh, prepare your own food, and avoid anything with preservatives and especially potato products, such as packet chips, etc. Consuming these things is also piling on the weight as people become addicted to the taste which is highlighted by a high degree of salt, which is bad for the heart and blood vessels.

The latter also contain high quantities of trans fats what are stored around the vital organs as they cannot be digested by the liver. In effect, they are as bad as smoking for long-term health.

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Source by Norma Holt

Fast Food Nutrition – The Silent Killer

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It’s recognized that fast food isn’t healthy or nutritious at all and as a matter of fact, it’s completely harmful to you. Therefore it is crucial for you to know about fast food nutrition details that will help you become more conscious of the unknown dangers of eating fast foods which can be even worse than you may ever have thought possible. Americans have for ages been familiar with consuming fast foods and recently, this problem has also spread to the rest of the globe.

Hence, becoming acquainted with junk food nutrition information is necessary for not just Americans and people residing in the western world, but in addition for people living in the third world countries where this fad has quickly caught on and is consequently affecting the more affluent in those parts of the world too. Fast food will make an individual fat and it is also the key cause for obesity in the USA with even kids not being spared.

You can easily understand from taking a look at junk food nutrition details that these foods are full of fat and are packed with calories. Although Americans have to eat not more than sixty-five grams of fat plus that their calorie count shouldn’t exceed two thousand, dependent of age and how much they exercise, when they consume fast foods, they would find themselves consuming much more than the suggested levels. Statistically, this is often 30 percent or more above the ideal level.

Hence, a meal that is made of a McDonalds Big Mac together with some french fries and a shake would cost you fifty-seven grams of fat in addition to twelve hundred calories, which will make sure that you will be unable to stay within the required limits. Often you might consume more than this mini-meal and should you go for a “super size” meal, you would certainly take in a lot more than you should. Whenever the unwanted fat and calories stay in your body, you’d just end up doing lots of damage to your body and it’s health. By doing this you pay a large price for having satisfied a short-term urge to please your taste buds.

Moreover, you can see out of available junk food nutrition specifics that fast foods do not contain sufficient basic fibers and nutrients and there are insufficient vitamins contained as well, all of which are crucial for a person’s health and well-being. After you have carefully learn about these fast food nutrition specifics, you’d probably realize that the threat to your health is usually hidden and therefore fast foods will act as some sort of silent killer which can even result in early death.

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Source by Terje Brooks

What Makes Our Food More Appetizing?

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Have you ever heard it said we eat with our eyes? Although the phrase may sound silly give it some thought. Our eyes tell us when we’re attracted to the opposite sex. You’re not going to get up close and personal with someone you don’t find physically appealing are you? It’s the same with food.

So it could be said we do eat with our eyes. If we don’t find it physically pleasing then it’s unlikely we’ll want to eat it. Ever wondered why restaurants serve up meals with a little garnish on the plate, some salad, etc. It’s to make the food seem more attractive. If it looks pleasant then chances are it probably tastes that way as well. A problem a lot of people have is not making their meals look good enough. When people start a diet they invariably make their meal look dull and boring. Extra effort is needed to make it seem exciting and appetising.

Do we perhaps make unhealthy meals seem more appealing? Dress them with trims and garnishes as we don’t like to think how bad they are for us. Is this perhaps true with some meal choices in restaurants? Maybe they don’t want us to think of all the unhealthy ingredients that make up the dish.

So how can we make our diet more attractive? Let’s discuss some important points.

Colour

As with all things in life we’re guided by our senses. We’re not attracted by things that give off an unappealing aroma or don’t look good on the eye. It’s the same with food. Make your meal look pleasant and enjoyable by adding lots of colour. Lemon or other acidic juices sprinkled over your food will help it keep its colour until ready to serve. A good tip to keep green veg from losing colour is to only cook it briefly.

It’s vital to add lots of colour to mealtimes. Be creative and make your food vibrant and appealing. If it’s overcooked, dull or soggy it’s not going to appear appetizing. Vegetables are a great way of adding appeal to food as they come in so many colours. Yellow peppers, red onions, green celery, all excellent additions to your plate and attracting the eye.

Next time you’re at a market or in the vegetable aisle at a store have a look around at the wide variety of colour available. Check out the freshness. Make food tempting to the nose and taste buds as well. Add lots of spices and herbs to give a rich aroma and flavour.

All too often healthy low fat food can seem tasteless but with a little know how it can be turned into a vibrant and delicious feast. A cheap and easy way of adding taste is by using peppers to make a meal hot and spicy. Tone it down a little and add sweetness by using a little sugar.

Texture

Unfortunately this is often missed in the cooking and preparation of meals. Just as important as taste and smell, if it isn’t feeling good to chew then you’re most likely going to want to spit it out! Don’t burn or over cook your food. Blanch your veg to keep it crisp – nothings worse than soggy vegetables! Don’t turn your meals into dull, tasteless experiences – keep everything as good on the eye and taste buds as they were before they were cooked.

Organise the food on your plate so it looks appealing and attractive as well. Make your meal look larger by using a smaller plate. Don’t just dump the food on your plate – arrange everything out nicely and spread it out well covering the whole plate. Add aroma to mealtimes by burning scented candles or incense while you eat. Be aware though that the fruit scented ones may increase your appetite! An appealing fragrance in the air will make you forget about your hunger.

Don’t forget to take in plenty of liquids with your meal. It’s not a good idea to wait until after eating to have your drink, take it whilst you eat as this makes your stomach feel fuller and aids digestion.

The key to a successful diet is not to have the brain thinking its being denied all the food it enjoys. Make all your meals exciting to the senses. Try new ideas and experiment with recipes. Achieving this will help your goal of a successful diet.

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Source by Jonathan Jenkins