Chef Bobby Flay’s innovative cooking techniques have definitely turned him into an entrepreneur, but it is his raw passion for food that has rewarded him the success and celebrity status that he has today.
Bobby Flay’s love for food developed when he was seventeen years old while working as a cook at a family friend’s restaurant. Flay’s passion and talent was not overlooked by his boss who rewarded him by paying his tuition to attend The French Culinary Institute. After graduating, Flay worked among great chefs and developed a love for southwestern cuisine. Flay began exploring all of the facets involved with southwestern cuisine and opened many restaurants based on the discoveries he made in this area. After receiving so much praise for his restaurant work, Flay decided to write a cookbook compiling some of the recipes he used throughout his many restaurant menus. The cookbook was very successful and launched opportunities for Flay to write more cookbooks, as well as to star in cooking programs on the Food Network. Since debuting on the Food Network, Bobby Flay has won the title of the Iron Chef and stars in many Emmy-winning programs including FoodNation with Bobby Flay, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and Boy Meets Grill.
Flay’s energy and enthusiasm for cooking is contagious and has proved to earn him the success that he continues to passionately work so hard to gain.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Eating In Never Felt This Good
The economic downturn may be helping America’s obesity problem. Due to citizens’ budgets decreasing, more and more people are cooking meals at home instead of going out to eat. Meals made at home are generally healthier than those served at restaurants and fast food services because you have control over what ingredients you put into your meal and you tend to eat less when you eat at home. Not only are people eating at home, but they are even making their meals from scratch because it is generally less expensive overall than buying mixes. This adds to the healthy factor.
This phenomenon has been repeated at though out American history during times of economic crises (the Great Depression) as well as times of war (World War II). Not only does it help people save money, but it may be just the thing that America needs to help the rising obesity issue.
While dining at home has a lot of beneficial aspects, dining at home depends on the person who is making the food. Generally, the person making the food is also the person in the household who pays the bills or has access to the bills and therefore, makes changes to meals according to the budget. When the budget decreases, there is the option of making their food; however, there is also the option of eating cheap fast food or buying cheap, unhealthy food to eat. This person, also referred to as the “gatekeeper” makes the choice for their family to benefit or suffer from this situation. While it appears that most people are choosing option one at this point, there are still those who are settling with option two which is only adding to the horrible obesity problem in our country. In order to help this, awareness and help needs to be given to all Americans including easy recipes, easy access to ingredients, and a general knowledge of the benefits of eating healthy. At low points it is so easy to be lazy and eat easy “comfort” food; however, we must realize that this is not helping anyone or any situation.
This phenomenon has been repeated at though out American history during times of economic crises (the Great Depression) as well as times of war (World War II). Not only does it help people save money, but it may be just the thing that America needs to help the rising obesity issue.
While dining at home has a lot of beneficial aspects, dining at home depends on the person who is making the food. Generally, the person making the food is also the person in the household who pays the bills or has access to the bills and therefore, makes changes to meals according to the budget. When the budget decreases, there is the option of making their food; however, there is also the option of eating cheap fast food or buying cheap, unhealthy food to eat. This person, also referred to as the “gatekeeper” makes the choice for their family to benefit or suffer from this situation. While it appears that most people are choosing option one at this point, there are still those who are settling with option two which is only adding to the horrible obesity problem in our country. In order to help this, awareness and help needs to be given to all Americans including easy recipes, easy access to ingredients, and a general knowledge of the benefits of eating healthy. At low points it is so easy to be lazy and eat easy “comfort” food; however, we must realize that this is not helping anyone or any situation.
Real Sugar or Fake Sugar: Take Your Pick
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the effects of artificial sweeteners among health experts and the companies that produce artificial sweeteners. While the companies producing these artificial sweeteners declare they are beneficial to people’s health and diet, health experts are finding that the effects of these sweeteners are actually more harmful than just using sugar instead.
Artificial sweeteners claim to help weight-loss and sweeten foods without raising blood pressure; however, they also cause cancer, skin conditions, diarrhea, liver, and kidney problems. While these side effects are said to occur with regular use of these artificial sweeteners, most people who are using them are using them on a regular basis to compensate for the sugar craze that is occurring throughout America. People think that drinking their daily cup of coffee made with Splenda and “fat-free” half and half (made with artificial sweetener) is better than drinking a cup of coffee with regular sugar and regular half and half; however, what they do not realize is they are setting themselves up for disaster. Although they may think that they are making a healthy choice at the time and do not see any side effects right away, they will eventually begin to see them and when they do, it will be too late. While sugar does have its own set of side effects (obesity, hyperactivity, high blood pressure), they can be managed by watching your sugar intake.
Since learning the effects of artificial sweeteners many food companies including Coke and Jason’s Deli are beginning to make their products using regular sugar instead of artificial sweeteners. If these large brands are making a switch that will most likely end up costing them a lot of money, we should take the hint that we should probably switch to sugar too.
Artificial sweeteners claim to help weight-loss and sweeten foods without raising blood pressure; however, they also cause cancer, skin conditions, diarrhea, liver, and kidney problems. While these side effects are said to occur with regular use of these artificial sweeteners, most people who are using them are using them on a regular basis to compensate for the sugar craze that is occurring throughout America. People think that drinking their daily cup of coffee made with Splenda and “fat-free” half and half (made with artificial sweetener) is better than drinking a cup of coffee with regular sugar and regular half and half; however, what they do not realize is they are setting themselves up for disaster. Although they may think that they are making a healthy choice at the time and do not see any side effects right away, they will eventually begin to see them and when they do, it will be too late. While sugar does have its own set of side effects (obesity, hyperactivity, high blood pressure), they can be managed by watching your sugar intake.
Since learning the effects of artificial sweeteners many food companies including Coke and Jason’s Deli are beginning to make their products using regular sugar instead of artificial sweeteners. If these large brands are making a switch that will most likely end up costing them a lot of money, we should take the hint that we should probably switch to sugar too.
"Going Green"-Scam or Not?
“Going Green” has recently become a huge trend in American society with the help of advertising. Advertisers have spread the idea of “going green” with slogans warning us about the world being in danger and showing pictures of celebs and politicians buying organic food and driving hybrid cars. Of course, when average citizens see their favorite celebs driving hybrid cars and eating organic foods, they too want to drive hybrid cars and eat organic food.
Even though advertisers claim they want to help our environment, some Americans are still skeptic about the truth of their motives; after all, there have been many trends throughout our history that were promoted to be beneficial to us at the time, but have ended up only to be a scam for them to make money.
Although citizens have the right to be skeptical of advertisers taking advantage of the global situation to make a profit, the underlying message of this movement is actually a good one. Even if citizens do not buy all of their food from an organic market, or drive a hybrid car, the message is one that needs to be taken seriously. The obesity and diabetes rates throughout America are at an all time high and something needs to be done to prevent our society from becoming sick and lazy. Americans need to shape up their lives and start being healthy, even if they do not want to consider themselves “going green.” This can be done simply by exercising, as well as purchasing and eating healthier foods. By doing this, Americans are not only helping themselves, but they are helping our society as a whole.
Even though advertisers claim they want to help our environment, some Americans are still skeptic about the truth of their motives; after all, there have been many trends throughout our history that were promoted to be beneficial to us at the time, but have ended up only to be a scam for them to make money.
Although citizens have the right to be skeptical of advertisers taking advantage of the global situation to make a profit, the underlying message of this movement is actually a good one. Even if citizens do not buy all of their food from an organic market, or drive a hybrid car, the message is one that needs to be taken seriously. The obesity and diabetes rates throughout America are at an all time high and something needs to be done to prevent our society from becoming sick and lazy. Americans need to shape up their lives and start being healthy, even if they do not want to consider themselves “going green.” This can be done simply by exercising, as well as purchasing and eating healthier foods. By doing this, Americans are not only helping themselves, but they are helping our society as a whole.
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