Home Meal Kits Offer Benefits

For the novice chef, cooking at home can be a daunting process. There’s choosing a dish to prepare, shopping, measuring, preparing, and cleaning up. Even for experienced chefs, it is easy to fall into a cooking rut, preparing the same line-up of meals week after week.

A meal kit subscription service can be an effective way to learn new cooking techniques, and introduce a wider variety of dishes into rotation. Because many meal kits offer trials, even just a few weeks can be sufficient to motivate home chefs to prepare fresh, delicious meals.

One benefit of a meal kit is a reduction in kitchen waste. Imagine you’ve found a dish in a cookbook and have bought all the ingredients at the supermarket. The recipe calls for a spring onion, which you can only buy in a large bunch. After making your meal, the remaining spring onions wilt in the refrigerator’s produce drawer, only to be thrown out a few weeks later. Other recipes call for a new spice or condiment that you know you are unlikely to use again before its expiration date.

A home meal kit pre-measures ingredients and sends just the amount you will need, eliminating unused leftovers. This saves on immediate food waste and reduces the amount of food in landfills. A 2017 study estimated that meal kits reduce food waste by 27 percent compared to meals constructed through ingredients you buy directly at the grocery store. That's good for the environment and your refrigerator.

Meal kits also educate chefs about appropriate portion sizes. Home chefs must guess how much to serve each person, and Americans typically overestimate, leading to overeating and/or food waste. With portion-ready meal kits, plating becomes simple, and each contains nutritional information. Particularly for chefs interested in mastering portion control, meal kits are a handy resource.

Due to their increasing popularity, meal kits offer something for nearly everyone. Basic meal kits, such as Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, provide creative recipes at an accessible price point, with many options for choosing frequency and number of servings. If organic ingredients are a priority, Sun Basket sources organic produce, while vegans can choose Purple Carrot for delicious and hearty plant-based meals.

Whatever meal option they chose, chefs can simplify the process of preparing health-conscious meals. Unlike takeout, which typically contains large quantities of salt and other flavor enhancers, meal kits allow for total control of ingredients. Most meal kits have been created with input from expert nutritionists, prioritizing flavor from real, whole food ingredients.

In addition to saving on food waste and time, meal kits can provide substantial cost savings. While the per meal cost may appear high at first glance, chefs must consider the costs associated with shopping and wasting leftover ingredients. Further, meal kits help chefs of all skill levels expand their culinary horizons. Whether it is using an unusual spice or experimenting with a new technique, chefs benefit from clear, easy-to-follow instructions. When they find a recipe they like, they can replicate it on their own.

NRA KLW Promotes Healthy Menus

The largest foodservice trade organization globally, the National Restaurant Association promotes the interests of the more than 15 million Americans who work in the restaurant industry. The organization provides resources to help restaurants implement accurate labeling on menu items, including nutritional information complying with menu labeling regulations.

The National Restaurant Association works closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to educate operators about labeling requirements for menu items, foods on display, and food in self-serve areas. To further support restaurant owners in creating balanced, nutritious options for the whole family, the National Restaurant Association operates the Kids LiveWell (KLW) initiative. Launched in 2011, the campaign supports the restaurant industry in providing healthy options for parents and children dining out.

Restaurants that voluntarily participate in Kids LiveWell commit to offering healthy menu items for children, including options such as fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Additionally, Kids LiveWell restaurants aim to reduce the number of high fat and sugar items on their children’s menus.

Restaurants who join the program commit to offering meals, sides, and beverages that meet nutrition criteria established by registered dietitians who collaborate with consumer advocates and public health officials. The program incentivizes restaurants to promote healthier choices for children and parents, creating menu options that meet science-backed limits or calories, sugar, fat, and sodium.

Using current nutrition science outlined in the Children’sFood & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), Kids Live Well updated its requirements effective January 1, 2022. The new guidelines require menu items to meet a maximum threshold of 15 grams of added sugar for meals and five grams of added sugar for side dishes, and sodium limits of 700 milligrams for main dishes and 225 milligrams for sides. No artificial trans fats are allowed in Kids Livewell menu items.

In addition, the guidelines align with the recommendation for children to consume reduced-fat dairy products, requiring menu items to contain only one percent or no-fat dairy varieties. Fried foods are allowed as designated LiveWell menu items only if they meet all nutritional criteria.

Kids LiveWell also outlines requirements for beverages included in children’s menus. Default beverage choices must be water, either flavored or sparkling without added artificial sweeteners, flavored or unflavored non-fat or low-fat milk (dairy or non-dairy), or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. Any juice or milk beverage must have a maximum serving size of eight ounces.

To receive a Kids LiveWell designation, restaurants must offer two certified KLW meals and two sides options, in addition to adhering to the default beverage policy. The benefits to restaurants are multi-fold. First, accredited restaurants are included in the Kids LiveWell directory, which parents can use to seek healthy options in their local area.

Participating restaurants receive access to the KLW social media toolkit, which provides logos on menus, social media, and printed advertisements. In addition to receiving publicity from the National Restaurant Association, restaurants can share insights and experiences with other operators committed to providing healthier menu options for children. For more information about Kids LiveWell criteria or to browse participating restaurants, visit http://restaurant.org.

Photography Tips and Tricks for Food Bloggers

Anyone who has browsed a food blog realizes the power of food photography. As the chef’s adage goes, “You eat with your eyes first,” and the same holds true for reading a recipe online. A tantalizing photo that captures the colors and textures of a dish makes a recipe infinitely more appealing. Photographing a plate of food might seem easy, but truly elevating a blog post with outstanding photography takes a bit of practice.

As with most photography, lighting is arguably the most important element in creating a high-quality image. For the amateur, shooting in natural light will be easiest, as an in-camera flash or overhead lighting can distort colors. If the kitchen does not have optimal natural light, bloggers can shoot in other locations. For instance, if the living room has lovely afternoon light, take the dish there and experiment with different angles.

Depending on the dish, different angles may work better. For example, a birds’-eye view of a pizza is optimal, while a drink looks better shot from a 45-degree angle. Above all, choose an angle that best captures all the layers of the dish. Also experiment with how close you shoot. Get in close enough to show detail, but far enough back that the viewer can easily identify the food.

Next, consider the story you are trying to tell with each photo. Unlike a simple recipe, a food blog creates a food story by explaining the blogger’s personal connection to the dish, as well as the process of creating it. Along with a stunning shot of the finished product, tell a story that takes readers through the cooking process.

For example, shoot a chocolate cake coming out of the oven, then perhaps try for an action shot of a glaze being poured over the top. The more a reader connects to their own personal experience, the more likely they are to visit other recipes on the blog.

Just like a food blog itself, the photography should be consistent with your overall personal brand. This is an important concept to consider when styling a photo. Accessories are important, but avoid clutter. The food should be the highlight of the photo, so if a busy napkin or cutlery in the background distracts, leave it out. When shopping or collecting props, think of your personal wardrobe or home and choose items that feel aligned with your style.

To achieve technical consistency, creating a go-to photography set-up can save lots of time and editing. When you find a location in your home you like, take note of the time of day and season you are shooting. Measure your distance from the window so you can recreate the same set-up every time, and you will eventually develop a signature style that readers learn to recognize. If possible and practical, leave the space set up to ensure consistent results each time. Otherwise, taking a photo of the set-up can help preserve the details for next time.

While expensive equipment is not necessary to take good food photos, a few key items can elevate images. Instead of buying the latest and most expensive camera, invest in a few high-quality lenses, as they can greatly improve your images and will last for decades when cared for properly.

Additionally, a few professional backdrops make the difference between amateur and pro photos. Look for backdrops with texture and several different hues.

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A Look at Popular Cooking Competitions

Cooking competitions provide entertainment and inspiration, pitting amateur and professional chefs against each other in a wide range of cooking challenges. From friendly bake-offs to team competitions for large cash prizes, Netflix has something to offer home chefs and arm-chair critics alike.

The Great British Baking Show, known in the United Kingdom as the Great British Bake Off, has produced three different editions and a total of 14 seasons. The low-key competition invites amateur bakers to participate in 10 weeks of baking challenges. The wholesome competition is more supportive than cutthroat, with much of its appeal coming from the camaraderie the competitors develop over the course of the series.

Similarly, the Big Family Cooking Showdown’s two seasons invite entire families to participate in unscripted cooking challenges, aiming to elevate ordinary food into extraordinary dishes. Families compete in first-round challenges, such as the home visit challenge and the “impress the neighbors” challenge, before advancing to the semi-finals and finals. In each round, families must work together to impress the judge and avoid elimination. Ultimately, one family earns the crown.

Another UK-based option, the Million Dollar Menu, takes a Shark Tank approach to evaluating up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry. Contestants pitch their restaurant concepts to a panel of potential investors, who comment both on their business strategies and dishes. Contestants also practice their cooking skills on the public at their own pop-up eateries.

In addition to British imports, Netflix produces several of its own original cooking competitions. Presented by Bon Appétit editor-at-large Andrew Knowlton, the Final Table involves 12 pairs of chefs from around the world competing for a spot at the Final Table. Each episode highlights the cuisine of a particular country, and various celebrity critics and ambassadors make guest appearances. One team is eliminated each episode until only one team remains at the Final Table.

A fan favorite, Nailed It! swaps renowned professional chefs for amateurs. Utilizing a game-show format, the show features witty host Nicole Byer challenging contestants to recreate professional baked goods, typically with disastrous results. Viewers can watch four seasons of the show’s first iteration, as well as spin-offs such as Nailed It! Holiday and the latest version Double Trouble, where contestants compete in pairs.

Another popular option for viewers with a sweet tooth, Sugar Rush is a timed competition that requires baking pairs to craft impressive cupcakes, confections, and cakes. In each round, the panel of judges eliminates one couple, while the winning couples can bank extra time for the next round based on how quickly they complete the challenge. The winners of the final round take home $10,000.

Premiering in 2021, Bake Squad also presents talented bakers working together in a series of challenges. Presented by Christina Tosi, founder of the popular Milk Bar bakery, the show features next-level chefs crafting unbelievable treats, from cakes that look like life-size drum sets to a 260-piece, edible makeup collection. Each episode focuses on one special client-requested creation, which bakers must complete within 7 hours.