Secrets of a Skinny Chef

Q: We love the title of your cookbook “Secrets of a Skinny Chef.” Which, if any, of your secret tips applies best to our single readers?

Thank you!  My #1 tip for singles is to limit eating out.  When you live alone it’s all too tempting to grab dinner out, however it’s really tough to know how that food is prepared and how much sugar, fat, and salt might be hidden in it.  I have another tip for cooking equipment: it’s a slicer called the “Japanese Mandoline” and it’s the perfect way to slice and grate veggies for dinner for one, as my single girlfriends never get enough veggies and tend to eat out quite a bit. Also painless clean-up.

Q: What advice would you give to those who are trying to go from dining out or ordering-in to making meals at home?

Start simple – you might even start just by adding a home made veggie side dish to your take out for starters, like my sautéed spinach or garlic broccoli. Once your skills improve you can make a meal.  The recipes are easy to cut in half, and my neighbors who live alone sometimes share cooking duties and drop off meals to each other once a week


Q: Any portion control primers you can recommend for those eating for one?

Yes! To really know how you are doing on portions, eat from a bowl or soup plate.  First, simply pour water into the bowl or soup plate and then transfer the water into a glass measuring up to see how many cups of food it measures out to.  Once you really measure your food intake you’ll be able to eyeball even when eating out!  That why your eyes won’t be bigger than you stomach.

Q: How about tips for reducing recipe quantities to single-serve portions without compromising flavor and quality?

Most of my recipes are easy to cut in half, so that they serve two, one for lunch and then a lunch to take to work the next day!  Just as a guide 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon, that’s probably the one measurement that trips up people.  When it comes to things like citrus zest, chopped fresh herbs and lemon or lime juice, it’s ok to use extra since they are all extremely low in calories and fat free.

Q: Can you give us three food substitutions that can help make dishes lighter and healthier?

That’s easy! 2 egg whites for every whole egg, reduced fat sour cream for full fat, skim milk for whole or 2% milk (most people don’t realize that 2% milk is still fairly high in fat, close to whole milk in fact), and part skim mozzarella for full fat cheese.  Use zest, spices, and herbs to liven up your meals instead of loads of salt and fat.

Q: What’s your favorite time and space-saving gadget or appliance that Skinny Chef wannabes should keep in the kitchen?

I’m in love with the stick or immersion blender.  I use it for smoothies, salsas, and blending soup.  It’s a lot easier to clean compared to a blender or large food processor.You can find it here!

Q: Worst dieting mistake for individuals who are actively dating?

Depriving yourself of delicious food!  Skip those pills and stale diet shakes.  When you cook healthy at home you can easily restrict calories while enjoying tasty food.  Depriving yourself is the easiest way to become a yo-yo dieter, it only leads to bad or crazy binge eating later on.

Q: Care to share one of your decadent recipes with our readers?

Of course!  I’m nuts over the banana cream pie and it’s a perfect thing to serve after a romantic dinner for two served at home.

To Check out Jennifer's Book "Secrets of a Skinny Chef" click here.