The Devil
Wears Gouda

The other afternoon I was presenting at a southtowns cooking class. I got the annoying comment, “My kids won’t eat fruits and veggies, what should I do?” What I wanted to say was “and whose fault is that?” However being my usual gentle, kind self… I made light of the comment and replied, “First find a time machine,” get your entire family in it, and travel back to when those little darlings of yours were nothing more than pollywogs.

Then start all over. First, detoxify your shopping cart. Out with the fried and in with the baked. Out with the white and in with the brown. Out with the artificial and in with the real. Out with fat in with the lean.

And whatever you do, stay away from those middle aisles. They are like quicksand. I’ve known shoppers to enter those aisles, never to be seen again! Soap and toilet paper not included. Eat fresh, highly colored fruits and veggies, Find snacks that work. And never, never shop HUNGRY!

Stick to your shopping list and beware – it’s a jungle out there. Did you know the bakery vents to the entrance for a reason? Pushing all your temptation buttons with those intoxifying aromas. Then you stumble upon the notorious sample lady.

I compare her to the Sirens in Greek mythology, singing their song that will draw you in so you crash and burn on those little fat-laden cubes of cheese she’s practically force-feeding you.

Then its buy-one, get-one – on sale $1 off today only. She is the Diet Devil! (the devil wears gouda)! Steer your cart away and say, “No thanks, I can live without that!” Or better yet have a little fun and speak in tongues to her that will rattle her cage and she should be off to her next victim. However, in the event she follows you –it is a known fact that if you sprinkle mineral water on her she’ll melt like the witch in “The Wizard Of OZ.” Hummm…..now that would make a great YouTube video!

Try to eat like your grandmother did (without the sausage and German potato salad, in my case). Now I said like your grandmother did. Not like she does now, with drawers full of condiments from fast food joints. A refrigerator full of who knows what. And in her freezer, with food dating back to the ice age. We love you, Grandma – but the great depression is over. So toss the out-dated stuff, please!

Begin to slowly change over to healthier choices, so your loving family won’t pitch a fit. After all, it’s for their own good. Main course meals are on the hot seat. “Pizza night” every Wednesday was a bad idea, so let everyone make their own, on whole wheat pita rounds. Liters of pop (sugar water) can be replaced with a large pitcher of ice water with lemon. And who said eating healthy costs a lot? I just saved you $30 a week, and thousands of saturated fat grams. Thank you, Chef Jim.

These are all doable. Try putting together a vegetarian soup, and then blend it to make a “creamy “soup. A great way to get kids to eat their veggies. And you will avoid that picky little darling of yours from picking out all the stuff he doesn’t like!

Blended fruit and yogurt “shakes” should replace the hi fat versions. Cut up apples with a low fat carmel dip, or flavored yogurt for dessert. Frozen yogurt pops. Kozy shack puddings – a healthy choice. Let’s take charge of our kids health and well- being, instead of crumbling to their demands.

Furthermore, when they beg for that junk, you can proudly say, “Sorry, I’ve learned that stuff wasn’t good for you, so instead I have…..” Take responsibly for your health and wellness. And stop with the tired old line, “ My kids don’t like fruits and veggies.” After all, when was the last time you saw a preschooler swipe his credit card and bring home the junk food?

Hey, gang I am honored to have been asked to present at Taste of Buffalo at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, Main Stage. Come on by to say hello and cheer me on! I’ll be making grilled vegetable baguettes, with goat cheese- they’re great! Tops Supermarket is sponsoring this event. Hope to see you there.

So until next month, remember to Laugh, Learn and Live Well! …..Chef Jim

Florida
Refereshers
• 2 c. buttermilk (lo-fat or regular)
• 2c. cut-up strawberries
fresh or frozen
• 1/2c. frozen orange juice
concentrate (do not thaw)
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla
Place all ingredients in a blender container; cover and blend until frothy. If desired, garnish with additional strawberries.
Great source of calcium, try with different fruits ,fresh or frozen…Kids love this ,and it’s a healthy replacement for hi-fat milkshakes!
Yields: 3 (12 oz.) servings

by Chef Jim Rebholz,
The Healthy Chef

Chef Jim Rebholz is a true culinary Renaissance man. He has served the Western New York community as a wellness instructor; corporate food service consultant; media chef personality; and wellness chef for food demonstrations at private, public and not-for profit sector organizations. Jim has a wealth of experience in the fields of food service and wellness. His professional career has included positions as maître d’hotel for Hilton Hotels, public food service director for Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, owner of a corporate catering service ,co-host of litenup healthy call-in radio show as well as wide range of wellness programs for children as well as adults throughout western New York. Chef Jim can be contacted at chefjimr@yahoo.com