Glutton for Punishment

Sometimes I am such a glutton for punishment and all I can do is shake my head at myself and just keep on doing what I do.  See, I was working 3 jobs there for a while and it just became too much since I was getting only 1-2 days off a month. Sure, some of the shifts I was working were only 4-5 hours but always having to schedule your every single day around being at a job was something I was getting fed up with doing. So I ended up quitting my job at the Culinary Institute, which was so hard since I loved working there and adored my boss and each and every person that I worked with. The breathing room (or one day off a week!) has been enjoyable even though I miss my Culinary people.

The week when Rachelle was away in Toronto was the week that I saw every client, including a local woman who runs 5 (yes 5!) separate businesses. She's been in the program for a while now but has had a really hard time getting the weight off because she never has the time to cook and isn't eating the way that she wants to. In her words, "I hate eating!" which is something you don't hear often in this office, but in her case, getting the right foods at the right time of day is such a challenge because she is all over the place all of the time. And forget about snacks. No time for snacks!

Rachelle's program includes hundred of healthy recipes and every week each client gets a new set of recipes to test out and fit into their daily routine if enjoyed. When I sat down with this business woman nearly 2 weeks ago, we brought up the topic of her extremely busy schedule and I mentioned that what she needs is a personal cook to come in once a week and prepare a bunch of the recipes which could be frozen and portions then thawed out during the week at the client's convenience. I think you see where this is heading. Me, the girl who just quit a job in hopes of having more spare time, offered her services to go to this woman's home once a week to cook for her so that she actually eats. We found a large list of recipes that she has tried and likes, plus ones that she's been wanting to make but never has gotten around to making. Then we narrowed down a 1/2 dozen to make this first week, made a shopping list and planned a date to get cooking!

The list of items I am preparing tonight are as follows:
- Morning Glory Muffins
- Healthy Granola
- Minestrone Soup
- Salsa and Bean Casserole
- Italian Bean Pasta Salad
- Cheesy Broccoli and Tofu Manicotti (I promise no one will taste tofu)
 - Hummus

Honestly, the more I think about this, the more excited I get at the idea of this being a success and being able to provide a service that will help people increase their health. Now if this trial client is a success, my mind has been racing at the idea of this becoming some kind of business idea that I can build on and improve upon. Plus it's the kind of thing that is right up my alley. Lots of planning, preparation, creativity and cooking are all things that I love to do! With my cooking history, education and weight loss counseling, I can alter recipes for people with food allergies, intolerances, lifestyle preferences, likes/dislikes and so forth.

Stay tuned to see how it all turns out. Wish me luck!