Learn To Talk Like A Chef To Get Family And Friends To Eat Healthy Food

Eating healthy is easy to some, but for others, “healthy” and “good for you” are synonymous with “boring” and “taste-free”. Now, we know that’s not true at all, but if you’re looking to make a healthy change at your table, the best way to beat back resistance is to start talking like a chef when you describe what’s for lunch or dinner.

One of a chef’s first jobs is to build a mouth-watering menu — one that really sells the food he or she prepares. Over at Summer Tomato, Dr Pino explains that focusing on how delicious the food will be over how healthy it is will get your friends and family to the dinner table a bit easier.

After all, how we taste and enjoy our food is deeply rooted in how we perceive it, and it’s important to shape those perceptions long before dinner’s cooking. So build your menu using words that will get your diners’ attention, like “farm fresh” over just “local”, and “summer” or “autumn” over “seasonal”. When you’re describing how you’re cooking, use words that actually describe the cooking process, like “poached”, “sauteed” and “seared” instead of “boiled” or “fried”. There’s a whole list of adjectives like this at the link below. It may sound silly, but there’s a reason why restaurants use language like this to sell us food: it works.

When a friend drops by or family visits, you’re probably not going to print a paper menu (although it’s a fun idea for a dinner party). If you know they’ll turn up their nose if you explain how healthy the meal will be, using restaurant-speak to your advantage will encourage your friends to try your food, and when they enjoy it, then you can explain how healthy it is. Of course, you have to make sure the food is delicious too.

What do you think? How do you deal with friends or family who resist your healthy eats? Share your tips in the comments below.

How to Convince Family And Friends To Eat Healthier [Summer Tomato]