The Top 9 Reasons Why You Need A Personal Chef, and Didn’t Even Know It!

Having a personal chef may seem exorbitant and something that only the elite would do or even be able to do; however, do you know that it is not only very doable, but it is also something that could save you time and money?

First, what is a personal chef? A personal chef is exactly what it sounds like. A personal chef is someone that has chosen to share their love for food and cooking with you on a personal level. A personal chef works with you to design menus specifically according to your likes, desires and dietary needs. After a complete consultation, they will submit menus for your approval, and once those menus have been approved, a cook date is set. On the day of the cook date, the personal chef shops for everything they need to complete those menus, comes to your home, prepares those meals in your own kitchen, and then packages them for the refrigerator and/or freezer, and leaves you with complete reheating instructions. The personal chef then cleans up and leaves, leaving you with only the aroma of fresh cooked meal, and fresh cooked meals in the refrigerator or freezer as the only proof they were even there. This can sound expensive and possibly even exorbitant; something that only the “elite” would, or could do, but that is not the case. Let’s look at the logistics of having a personal chef.

It all boils down to money; or does it?

1) The cost of eating out…

Yes, there are all different types of price points when eating out. There are places that embrace their “dollar menus” and there are places that could easily cost you $100 per person, if not more, and everything in between. That being said, yes, if you are one that frequents the “dollar menu” places, you may save a few (or even a lot) of bucks by eating out, but are you truly? With so many different types of price points, it is hard to truly say whether or not you are saving money; however, there are some standard qualities that can be addressed regarding eating out, no matter where you are eating. The “Obesity Action Coalition” has stated that calories, fats, carbohydrate,s and sodium content, AND many other nutritional values are often compromised in the attempt to make a dish tasty or appealing with little regard to nutrition. In other words, you are leaving your health and wellness in the hands of either the manufacturers that are producing those dollar menu items, as well as the chef that is in charge of your dinner! Either way, you are going to be paying a lot over time, whether short term or long term in medical costs! Restaurant and other commercially prepared foods are notoriously high in fat, salt and sugar, so eventually, you are going to pay dearly!

2) Another cost factor… Unless you know how to plan menus, most likely, you are coming home from the grocery with either not enough food, or too much food. So, let’s talk about coming home with not enough food and/or wrong ingredients, and the money that involves. If you have come home with wrong ingredients or not enough ingredients, you will be going back to the grocery for more, and that ultimately comes to more money and time. Now, let’s talk about the cost of wasted ingredients. In 2015, CNBC reported that $165 billion of food is thrown away. That breaks down to $2,200 per household. So, as we discuss this idea of the having a personal chef, and the money spent for one, let’s keep that in mind also.

3) Time versus Money: How Valuable Is Your Time?

Let’s face facts, unless you have a natural talent, the time you spend on planning menus, preparing a grocery list, taking the time to shop, bringing it home, preparing it, and then cleaning it up takes a lot of time and effort. How much is that time worth to you? How valuable is your time worth to you? Could you spend that time and/or money in a more beneficial manner?

It is a known scientific fact that children benefit in so many ways when there is a ‘ritual’ of families eating meals together. Family meals provide the family members to share their day’s events, as well as creating a relaxing transition from the busy-ness of the day to a slower paced, relaxing evening. Also, statistically, it is known that children who grow up in households where meals are eaten and enjoyed together perform better academically and have less tendency towards risky behaviors.  It is also known that involving your children in food preparation is the best way to teach them healthy eating habits. Yes, I have to admit, for myself, growing up in the kitchen with my mom and the other matriarchs of the family were some of my best memories growing up, and I wish more children could have those experiences like I did; however, that is not the case for many. Some people do not have the same talents as my own mother and aunts, so having a personal chef prepare those meals for you could take care of some of the other situations. It could give you the time to spend with your family, not having to shop, cook, etc, AND it could also give you the ‘ritual’ of family meal time together that are nutritious and balanced.

And speaking of balanced meals…

4) Are Your Meals Truly Balanced?

I have already talked about the balance of meals while eating out… that the calories, fat, carbohydrate, and sodium content, AND many other nutritional values are often compromised in the attempt to make a dish tasty or appealing with little regard to nutrition, and besides that, is there a balance between proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables? Yes, with having a personal chef; besides their job to cook you a delicious meal, it is also their responsibility to keep that balance in mind while preparing your menu and your meals, and…

5) You Are Not Eating Prepackaged, Preprocessed Foods!

Prepackaged, preprocessed foods are higher in sodium, fat and full of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, etc., and you are taking all of that filth into your body! This truth could have easily been discussed in the section where I was discussing the price you pay for medical costs. Medical costs are sky rocketing, and the need for medical assistance is also growing. There are so many factors that are affecting this, but we cannot deny that eating that filth is a large part of it. I am a firm believer that food and meal time should not only be enjoyable, delicious and quality family time, but I also know that good food is also medicine. It can cure, heal, and it also is a preventative. When someone has a good diet, the need for medical care is greatly reduced. That being said, the cost of eating prepackage, preprocessed food is going to cost you more down the road, and that is a fact! Having a personal chef guarantees that you are going to eat healthy and delicious meals cooked specifically for you, and your family, their desires and dietary needs; which leads me to my next point.

6) You Truly Are The Master Of Your Domain!

As I said, your personal chef, after a full, preliminary consultation, prepares your menu and meals for your approval. They find out your desires, your likes, your dislikes, and your dietary needs, and then create your menu and meals accordingly. Not only are you in charge of the sodium and fat content, etc., but you are also in charge of the whole process. And let’s face facts, the personal chef works for you and your family, and for them to be a successful personal chef, they have to keep you happy! In other words, those meals not only have to be healthy but they also have to be delicious! Also, since you are paying for your own groceries (in many situations, you are just paying your personal chef for their services), you are in charge of whether or not you are eating groceries that are organic, non-GMO, no preservatives, etc. I am a firm believer that eating without those variables being added into your diet, you will remain healthier and happier (which leaves more money in your pocket, in the long run). When you are eating out, you have no control over any of these situations!

7) And What If You Have Food Allergies?

The science behind the increase of people having more food allergies are increasingly alarming. Is it because of what companies are doing to our food? Is it the pesticides? Is it because of the hormones? Or is it because of the genetic modifications that are occurring? It is in my opinion that all of this is why there is such an increase in food allergies.

Unlike going to a restaurant, and explaining to the waiter the issues regarding your food allergies, then hoping that all of that information gets relayed not only to the chef, but also the serving line, and then hoping for the best when your food arrives, you just have the conversation once with your personal chef. Again the personal chef wants to keep you happy, and as you are happy, the chef is happy and successful. Discuss your food allergies and dietary needs once, and it is taken care of forever. Actually, with many personal chefs, they use a recipe data base that not only a data base of recipes, but it also keeps a data base on each client with their allergies and dietary needs. From that point on, if the personal chef happens to forget, the data base will alert them if an ingredient is used that cannot be used for that specific client! As a person who has non-celiac gluten sensitivity, I have been “glutened” on more than one occasion, even after having the ‘gluten discussion’ with the waiter, and be assured that I was going to be served a gluten free meal. I have left the restaurant sick, and have been sick for days afterwards. It is horrible, and one thing that I guarantee to my clients is that if their kitchen is a gluten free kitchen, I can guarantee that they will have a delicious gluten free meal to heat up for themselves. If I were not a chef, but a client, that guarantee would be priceless for me!

And while I am on the subject of food allergies, I want to address something that has baffled me for years. I am a gluten free personal chef. I became a gluten free personal chef because of my own diagnosis. Like many that have a gluten/wheat allergy, I dealt with digestive issues for over 25 years. With that being said, I am amazed that people that have had chronic digestive issues, how or why, they would eat prepackaged, preprocessed gluten free foods. Yes, the gluten free industry has grown considerably; however, prepackaged, preprocessed gluten free food is still preprocessed, prepackaged food, and the same applies as the discussed earlier in this post! Ok, enough of that rant!

8) Take One Week And Price Compare

If this article isn’t enough to show you the light regarding the difference between eating out and having your own personal chef, I urge you to take one week and price compare. To be completely fair, compare every aspect. Tally up not only the price of your groceries, but also write down the time it takes you to plan, shop, bring it home, cook it, and then clean up afterwards. Also, don’t forget to add in those groceries items that spoiled in the refrigerator. Personally, I believe that those items should be charged twice in the price comparison simply because the value of those products or items was lost by the spoilage, and were not used, digested and there was no nutritional value to them at all; so shouldn’t that count for something? And then last but not least…

9) You Help The Economy By Supporting A Local Business!

Yes, a personal chef loves to cook or they would not have gone into this industry; however, it is business for them. That being said, in many situations, a local personal chef often will support a local farmer, etc. It is a win/win situation. You are getting organically grown food which supports you and your health. You are helping that farmer put his kids through college, etc, and you are helping the personal chef and their families. You are not only helping the local economy but you also know the people behind that product! This type of business mechanism keeps your community unique as well as you will often end up with better customer service because of it.

So for those that wondered whether or not they could afford a personal chef, in many situations, if you don’t like, don’t have the time, or have the talent to cook, you can’t afford to NOT have a personal chef.

Enter For A Chance To Win…

I am going to ask you to share this news! Share with anyone and everyone within your circles, and depending upon where you live, that will determine which contest you will be automatically entered in to win!

For those that live in and around Atlanta, GA. and/or Asheville, NC: Share my news and updates, and tag me as you share (this will be the only way I can track it). Every time you share (and tag me), your name will go into a drawing. There will be two (2) lucky winners (one in each geographical area) that will receive an intimate four course dinner for two, including appetizer, salad, entree with two sides, a bottle of wine and dessert. This will be cooked, served in your own home, and includes clean up afterwards.

And for those friends and followers that are not in either of these areas - share my news and updates, and tag me as you share (this will be the only way I can track it). Every time you share (and tag me), your name will go into a drawing. With every 50 shares, I will draw one (1) name, and that person will receive a free copy of Vedam’s Gluten Free & Fabulous! Recipes from A Southern Gay Househusband.

Chef Vedam Clementi is a Gluten Free Certified Personal Chef and the author of Vedam’s Gluten Free & Fabulous! Recipes From A Southern Gay Househusband.

After suffering for over two decades with digestive issues, Chef Vedam was diagnosed with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, and had to learn to cook completely gluten free. Staying true to his Southern heritage, Chef Vedam took his favorite down home comfort foods and converted his recipes to match his dietary needs. He created Vedam’s Gluten Free & Fabulous! Recipes From A Southern Gay Househusband a concise resource of those recipes.The cookbook not only covers Southern gluten free dishes, but also includes how to create your own flour blend, how to set up a gluten free kitchen and home, breakfasts, soups, side and main dishes, desserts and some of his and his husband’s favorite dishes and cuisines.

In 2016, Chef Vedam became a Gluten Free Certified Personal Chef with the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association) and serves North Georgia, Atlanta, Asheville, NC, Chattanooga, TN and the adjoining areas. Chef Vedam also teaches cooking classes and demonstrations in and around Atlanta, Asheville, and south Georgia all the way to Savannah.

Chef Vedam lives in the North Georgia Mountains with his husband Nirish and his elderly mother in law, and they live happily eating a gluten free and fabulous diet!

Chef Vedam and his recipes can be found at www.ChefVedam.com and can be found on many social media sites.

Have you ordered your copy of: “Vedam’s Gluten Free & Fabulous! Recipes From A Southern Gay Househusband”

Order Today 

Come out and see me this Saturday February 25, 2017 at Williams Sonoma, The Avenue at East Cobb for a gluten free desserts demonstration! More details here.