Find Your Inner Chef

You went to school for nutrition and if your education was anything like mine, it lacked constructive information about how to prepare the great foods we, as dietitians, are always recommending. A disservice? Absolutely! Because how are you supposed to effectively communicate to your patients and clients the proper way to cook these foods if you aren’t comfortable preparing them yourself? Is all hope lost? Of course not! That’s why I’m here, to challenge you to find your inner chef!

Yes, it’s inside you! Are you the next Bobby Flay or Julia Child? Perhaps not, but that’s ok, because it’s not about how many sauces or terrines you know how to make, it’s about the basic skills you need to know. Most chefs start at the bottom of the kitchen hierarchy, and they’ve learned a lot from being there. They learned the most important skills – how to use a knife properly, how to be organized, and how to honor food by cooking and seasoning it just right.

And for those of us who want more training in this area, these three skills are great ones to focus on first:

Chef Skill Worth Mastering: Using a Knife (the big one, aka Chef’s knife)

Intimidated by that big knife? It’s ok to be scared, but once you learn how to use a Chef’s knife, it will be your best friend in the kitchen. Google “how to use a chef’s knife” and you’ll find millions of videos on the best way to hold and use the knife. I like this one from The Kitchn. Then – practice, practice, practice.

Chef Skill Worth Mastering: Organization

If you aren’t organized in your kitchen, your recipes will fail. Preparation and “mis en place,” the fancy French phrase for “everything in its place,” will help you successfully execute recipes, without anxiety or anguish. My recommendation for organization is to always read recipes thoroughly before starting and prep as many ingredients ahead of time as possible.

Chef Skill Worth Mastering: How to Cook & Season Food

This is a big one and one that many people fear. The kitchen has become foreign territory, filled with appliances and devices that no one seems to know how to use. My advice? Start watching cooking videos and reading food publications. Then just get in the kitchen. What’s the worst that can happen? Your food doesn’t taste good? Well, so what. That’s what life is all about, learning and then applying what you’ve learned. The more you try, the better you’ll become!

Now, what are you waiting for? Get in your kitchen and find your inner chef!

Sara Haas RDN, LDN, Incoming Director of Awards and Networking