I had a lovely exchange recently with one of my followers, a UC Berkeley alum (Go bears!), who asked me why I didn’t include the calorie count, or any form of nutritional analysis for that matter, on Cuisinicity. It was an excellent question and one I would like to spell out here.
As a trained scientist, and wife of a nutrition expert, I like to know the nutritional analysis of my recipes. In fact, a few years ago, when I co-wrote a couple books with my husband, I did just that. Everyone of my recipes was analyzed in detail, including calories, protein, sodium, fiber, healthy fat, cholesterol etc. to meet David’s high nutritional standard.
So, indeed, I have been there, done that! But as I was thinking about creating Cuisinicity, in accord with David, I deliberately decided not to bring that “to the table”, quite literally! I decided to focus instead on the way we, as a family, made it work for us all these years.
The formula is simple: “just eat good food” and the rest will take care of itself (get regular physical activity is crucial to this equation but not addressed here). By good food, I mean not only nutritious but also delicious. These two attributes have to go hand in hand so that a person, a family, can sustain eating well without needing to obsess over it.
Choose wholesome Foods over nutrients!
We know (and actually can all agree on) this very simple premise: The diet that will help us over a lifetime consists of vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and wholegrains – with or without seafood, lean meat, dairy or eggs. THAT’S what you’ll find in my recipes. You can decide how to combine the dishes to fit your own preference, be it vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or omnivorous (you won’t find red meat here because we just don’t eat it in the Katz family–a topic for another day, but grass-fed organic meat is also OK in moderation).
The emphasis in Cuisinicity is about wholesome foods that I put together intentionally to control satiety–using lots of fiber, volume, non-competing flavors stimulating the appetite center in the brain (I elaborated on this in one of my blogs, entitled “Simplify”) so that the end point is feeling full on fewer calories, without having to worry about counting calories per se.
In other words, I want the emphasis in Cuisinicity to be about the unencumbered pleasure of good food that one will love AND will love one back!
I am updating this post to include a presentation I just did at the 2016 22nd Annual Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference at UMass, Amherst where the theme was FOOD IS MEDICINE, FOOD IS LOVE!
I have so much more to say on this topic, so here are some posts of mine that I think will also be helpful:
Bon Appétit!
WendyB says
December 14, 2015 at 1:06 pmI wanted to say that not including the calories was one of the many reasons that won me over to your website. Except for really basic awareness/education/understanding of the food that we eat, ‘counting’ calories is such a joyless way to experience our food. It promotes the wrong kind of obsession.
I always appreciate little nutritional tidbits about a specific food item, but I never need the micro on the number of fat/carb molecules are in any given homemade recipe. For packaged food however, I want all of the information I can get.
thanks again and again!
Catherine Katz says
December 14, 2015 at 5:34 pmYes Wendy!!! I am with you 100%!
Beth Davis says
October 26, 2014 at 3:48 pmHi Catherine! So lovely to meet you over dinner! Snapper with kumara mash was delish!
Catherine Katz says
October 26, 2014 at 11:04 pmIndeed it was Beth! What a delightful evening! Looking forward to seeing you at the symposium!
John Breeden says
October 11, 2014 at 1:43 pmThank you, Catherine, for deciding to bring us to the table – without bringing “that to the table,” so fast. There is art in science too (I think). I believe it creates the curiosity that opens doors (for me), leading us around corners to see more of the possibilities. I see the details more clearly when I am engaged this way. The picture of your Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup is so appetizing that it has literally “launched” me into such considerations like using it as one of my dishes for Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend.
If, for example, I think too much before going on my a run along my circuit course, I can easily dissuade myself from going out and encountering the (healthful) benevolence of nature. Instead I get pre-occupied with the looming 18 chin-ups (full extension in one set) I plan to do along the way….
Bravo, Catherine, for adding this perspective to your vision!
John
Catherine Katz says
October 13, 2014 at 10:30 amThank you, as always John!
Greg says
September 26, 2014 at 4:20 pmI would love to hear more thoughts on this as many would say to keep a food diary for long term weight control – never very good at that… off for a hike in the back pasture!
Catherine Katz says
September 26, 2014 at 6:11 pmI am thinking to have a google chat room set up, once a month for my husband to answer all these health-related questions that he is best suited to answer. It’s a nice way to get access to him directly and he generously offered, so I am thrilled! I will let everyone know when we set it up!
Nila Whitfield says
November 16, 2014 at 4:49 pmGreat idea. Thanks for all you and David do to help us focus on eating healthy. Love the recipes and Sunday emails. I have been enjoying the apple butternut squash soup with friends and we all have enjoyed it. So great for you to share what you have learned over the years. Welcome back from New Zealand!
Catherine Katz says
November 16, 2014 at 5:36 pmSo happy that you are enjoying my recipes, that always makes me so happy! I love that soup too! Tonight I just made my creamy red lentil squash soup, yum! I think you may enjoy that one too!
Melisa says
September 15, 2014 at 12:33 pmKathryn – Love it! Such a wonderful and healthy approach. Your Blog is a much needed reminder to embrace food for its health benefits and the pleasure it brings. Merci!
Catherine Katz says
September 15, 2014 at 1:05 pmMelisa, right on! You said it so well! Thank you!!
David says
September 11, 2014 at 5:34 pmIt is so true, it really doesn’t have to be complicated…”just eat good food” really sums it up.
Greg says
September 10, 2014 at 5:52 pmSounds like some of the French (European) philosophy I have read – perhaps this takes longer to train oneself but more sustainable long-term and more pleasurable – to find balance – which is somewhat unique for each of us… I am making the Tilapia tonight!
Catherine Katz says
September 10, 2014 at 11:43 amThank you Denise! it’s so true isn’t it!
Denise Campbell says
September 10, 2014 at 11:13 amI love your comment, “just eat good food” and the rest will take care of itself.”
Catherine Katz says
September 9, 2014 at 7:40 pmAbsolutely!
Tara says
September 9, 2014 at 4:17 pmWonderful philosophy!! The key to good health