Is A Career In The Food Industry The Right Choice For You?

 Are you thinking about switching careers? If so, then you might want to consider entering the food industry. The food industry can be a strong choice if you love working with food and you are passionate about spending time cooking. However, there are some things that you need to consider before you go down this path. 

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Have You Researched The Industry?

First, you need to make sure that you research the industry. It’s important that you understand the trends and facts that are shaping the food services industry right now. This can help you understand what type of restaurant you should be opening or what type of business model you should be focusing on. Remember, the majority of new businesses will fail in their first year. By completing the right level of research and understanding the different variables, you should be able to save your path into this industry from that particular fate. 

Do You Have Thick Skin?

Next, you need to make sure that you have thick skin and that you can handle criticism. There are certain careers and roles that attract criticism and the food world is certainly a clear example of this. There are lots of people who will want to critique the products that you create or the restaurant that you open. It’s important to make sure that you are prepared for this. If you can’t handle criticism you are always going to struggle in a career like this. But it’s not just about shrugging it off. You need to make sure that you can learn from any criticism as well. 

Do You Love Preparing Meals?

You could also think about whether you enjoy preparing meals. Remember, there are lots of different elements to preparing a meal. For instance, you have to make sure that you can plate the meal the right way. It needs to look fantastic as well as tasting delicious. There are courses that you can explore that will allow you to learn skills such as plating food the right way. Remember, even if you are not opening a restaurant, you will still need to understand how to present your food dishes correctly. 

Can You Work To A Deadline?

Finally, you need to make sure that you can work to a deadline. In the food industry, things are always moving at a rapid pace. You need to make sure that you can keep up. Working to a deadline is a skill that comes naturally to some people. But it’s also a skill that you can learn and develop over time. However, it’s important to make sure that you do gain the ability to work faster, particularly if you are planning on setting up your own restaurant. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key points to consider so that you can determine whether a future in the food industry is the right choice for you. If you take the key steps here, you will be able to make sure that you are well suited for this particular professional future. 

How To Give Your Favourite Unhealthy Foods a Makeover

 We all have those comfort foods we love, from cheesy chips to hot fudge brownies, but the issue is that often these comfort foods just aren’t good for us. It can be exceedingly difficult eating healthily when your favourite foods are so unhealthy, especially when you’re feeling in need of a little comfort food. When your day has gone badly, there’s no greater comfort than a steaming hot plate of mac and cheese, is there? 

The good news is that you can continue to enjoy your favourite comfort foods by giving them a healthy makeover. Believe it or not, you can overhaul most of your go-to comfort foods to give them a healthier twist, and without compromising on flavour. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s not, it’s just a case of knowing how to go about it, that’s all. 

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Bearing that in mind, below is a guide to some simple ideas for how you can give your favourite unhealthy meals an overhaul. Read on for all of the best healthy hacks! 

Treat yourself to an air fryer

First things first, if you want to make cooking some of your favourite meals easier and healthier, you need an air fryer. These bad boys are a fantastic investment to make, as they make cooking ‘fakeaway’ versions of your go-to meals far simpler and easier, and they don’t compromise on the taste. Whether you’re a fried chip addict or you’re keen to try out air fryer mushrooms, you will be amazed at just how versatile an air fryer can be as a kitchen tool. 

Source recipes online 

For any food that you love, but that’s a little on the unhealthy side, it’s important that you take the time to have a look online at recipe alternatives. You can often find simple hacks to change a recipe and make it more healthy, it’s just a case of taking the time to have a look, that’s all. 

Take mac and cheese as an example; you can swap out the butter and cream for low fat creme fraiche and use that as the base of your sauce, along with reduced fat cheddar cheese. This removes a load of calories from the dish and a high percentage of fat, turning your favourite dish into a more health-conscious meal. 

Be creative when it comes to sweet treats

Again, there are plenty of healthy swaps that you can make to your favourite sweet dishes. It’s just a case of being willing to get creative, that’s all. Let’s take apple crumble as an example; you can make the dish yourself, sweeten the apples with honey instead of sugar and make a crumble topping without butter to reduce the calories of the dish. 

There are lots of recipes online for healthier dessert alternatives, from brownies made from mashed banana, cocoa powder, and peanut butter to cakes made with applesauce and greek yogurt. It’s worth taking the time to try these dishes out, as you might be surprised by just how nice they actually taste. 

There you have it, a guide to some simple ways you can make your favourite unhealthy meals a little healthier. 

How To Get Creative In The Kitchen

 

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It’s not uncommon for many people to get a little bored in the kitchen. Between work and family life, it can be challenging to get a little creative in the kitchen. As a result, you could end up making the same dishes day after day.

While it’s not a bad thing to have certain dishes that you do well, you might want to spice things up a little. Figuring out how could be tricky, however. If you’re sick of the same meals constantly, then there are a few things that you could try.

Your stomach and your taste buds will thank you.

3 Ways To Get Creative In The Kitchen

Try Different Recipes

Trying different recipes in the kitchen is perhaps the most obvious thing you can do. That’s easier said than done, however, as you’ll need to find recipes that are relatively easy to make. Thankfully, there are quite a few to find, such as a delicious boiled chicken recipe at Whole Lotta Yum.

You don’t need to go too wild with your experimenting. Instead, you could start by following one or two simple recipes before taking it up a notch. Who knows what dishes you could make?

Create New Salad Dressings

Salad dressings aren’t something people put a lot of time and effort into. Instead, they’ll rely on the same staples they’ve had for years. Taking the time to experiment with new ones, however, could be a nice way to get creative in the kitchen.

Doing this is much easier than you think. It could be as simple as mixing some of your favorite spices with some lemon juice and some other ingredients. That could be enough to take your salad to the next level.

Try A Crockpot

Crockpots have been around for decades, although they don’t seem to be as popular as they used to be. A staple of older generations’ kitchens, these can be one of the more versatile cooking accessories that you can get.

One of their main attractions, aside from great-tasting food, is that they don’t need much effort. Instead, you can prepare your food, put it into the crockpot at the right setting, and leave it to cook.

The only negative to this is that dishes will take quite a while to cook. You can counteract that by putting your dinner on a low to medium heat in the morning, and it’ll be ready just as you get home from work.

With how versatile a crockpot is, you can try almost any recipe you can think of.

Wrapping Up

Nobody should be bored in the kitchen, although it’s easy to see why they would be. Trying out all of the above could help spice things up. While they might seem small, they can often make a dramatic difference. That’s especially true if you try all three of them.

Even if you have a tight budget, you’ll still be able to try them. Take your time and see what you like. Once you’ve experimented a little bit, you should be much more confident in your cooking abilities. Who knows what kind of dishes that leads to?

Be Picture Perfect Venturing Back Out Into The World

 It’s been a crazy year to say the least. Since March 2020, all many of us have known is the safety of the four walls at home and the odd trip out for essentials. However, now the vaccine is rolling out, many of us are gearing up to begin enjoying a social life again - and that’s amazing! You can look forward to seeing friends, partying together, and taking photos that will last a lifetime. But are you picture ready? After over a year of not having to worry about posing for a picture unexpectedly, we thought we’d put together some tips so that you’re picture perfect when venturing back out into the world.

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Tighten the lumps and bumps

We've all got them: little parts of our body where we don't feel at ease. Whether you want to perk up your bottom or smooth out your tummy, there are simple techniques to tighten these lumps and bumps so that you feel secure enough to pose for a photo when the time comes.

• Wear shapewear to highlight your greatest features while smoothing over and lifting your problem areas.

• Treat yourself to a cleanse to clear your body of toxins and shed a few pounds before the holiday season begins.

• Consider putting a corset underneath your clothes if you truly want to make your waistline seem flawless.

Work on your smile

It's no secret that smiling instantly improves the appearance of your face, regardless of who you are, what make-up you're wearing, or your age. However, with the media constantly telling us what a "perfect smile" should look like, it's natural if you're self-conscious about yours. Here are some fantastic methods to brighten up your smile in preparation for the holidays:

• To make your lips seem enticing, use a lip plumping lipgloss.

• Consider teeth whitening to get rid of the stains left behind by years of coffee and other substances.
  
  

• Consider cosmetic dentistry to brighten your smile. You can visit websites like this https://www.omidsouthgatedental.com/ if you’re bothered about crooked or missing teeth to speak to someone about rectifying that.
  
  

• Find your most attractive smile. Of course, a natural smile is preferable, but if you're self-conscious about yours, spend some time in the mirror practicing the ideal picture smile. This will help you to choose whether you should have a big open grin or a little one to complement your face the best.
  
  

Be conscious about what you’re putting into your body

Finally, one of the most prevalent causes of self-consciousness in women and men is that their skin isn't in good condition or that their weight is greater than they believe it should be. This could make someone self-conscious about their looks. Consider looking at your eating patterns to see if there is anything you can do to improve. Consuming a healthy diet and enough water will help you sustain your skin's radiance while also preventing weight gain. Soon, you'll have a lot more confidence in your looks and start to feel a lot better.

3 Reasons Why You Are Not Perfecting Your Healthy Lifestyle

 Healthy living is a staple in modern lifestyles. There is a greater emphasis on leading a healthy lifestyle that will promote good health and wealth; therefore, more people join in the quest. Having a solid purpose and goal when choosing this lifestyle is crucial in achieving your goals. 

It would help if you had the right reasons for committing. Even though there are many elements that you will need to understand and decide on, if you take it one day at a time, it will be simpler for you to get to your destination. 

It is a delicate journey where you will need proper guidance to learn and unlearn many things in life. You will have to shed off some parts of your life that will be contributing to your regression and poor lifestyle habits. In turn, you will learn and practice healthy habits that will boost your overall health (physical, mental, and emotional). 

Here are some of the reasons that may be holding you back from perfecting your healthy lifestyle:

Lack of Proper Follow-Ups in Your Program

You need to have a working program that will help you settle into your new healthy lifestyle. Complete lifestyle changes require consistency and discipline to follow through with the given instructions. Effecting these changes will usually require the will and zeal to achieve your goals. 

Sometimes it may be challenging to take on these instructions as they may seem impossible at the time. But you should be bold and take it one challenge at a time. Embrace the changes and give your body time to make these adjustments. It will take time, but you are sure that it will yield positive results. 

Lack of Creativity in Your Diet

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Most people associate healthy eating with dull and unattractive, making it challenging for people to realize their lifestyle goals. You need to be creative enough to think of better ways of preparing your food into delicious meals. Look into various fruits and vegetables that are in season to make your meals bright and delicious. 

Having favorite types of foods will also help in making your dishes more inviting. You can look up some new techniques on the internet to have different meals to make your diet more appealing. You can also choose to store these fruits and vegetables through freeze-drying or standard food drying to use them later when they are out of season. Freezing food for storage will keep you motivated and excited about the numerous possibilities that it can present. 

Lack of an Accountability Partner

It is essential for you to carefully consider getting an accountability partner who will keep you in check when you feel like giving up or going astray. While you will have your health and workout instructor to report to and offer advice, once you part ways, it is easy for you to fall off the wagon by not eating right or skipping workout sessions. You need to have a friendly yet strict partner who will call you out on such mannerisms. It will help you remain focused on your lifestyle goals. 

When you are working towards achieving that healthy lifestyle, you will encounter many challenges that will put you down and make you give up your goals. But it is crucial to stay strong-willed and focused on the course. Be wary of these three factors as they may be the reason for your partial lifestyle achievements. 

6 Important Tips for Your Dieting Journey

 Dieting is managing food consumption to try to cut down body weight and prevent chronic illnesses. Dieting as a first-timer can be challenging; therefore, you need to practice self-control and discipline.

Before starting your dieting journey, you should pay a visit to your doctor for an examination. This is because you may have underlying illnesses that can get worse by dieting. In this article, you will find some essential tips to help you when practicing dieting.

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Prepare Yourself

Remember, a diet is a lifestyle change. If you were used to consuming a certain amount of food, chances are, you may have to adjust to new eating habits. Always ensure you are carrying out safe dieting.

Many people may have the temptation to go into extreme diets to lose weight quickly. Yes, you might shed some weight, but your body may lack essential nutrients. Later on, when you resolve to go back to regular meals, you stand a chance of gaining the weight lost.

You should first seek advice from the experts before trying out any new diets. It would be a great idea to try out meal kit companies. For example, Blue Apron Alternatives provide you with ready-made meals prepared with healthy and fresh ingredients. 

Stay Hydrated

People tend to confuse thirst with hunger.  At such times, you should drink water instead of consuming unnecessary calories. Some people may be irritated by the tastelessness of water; feel free to add some lemon or try out calorie-free drinks.

There are multiple benefits of water. Water improves the health of your skin, affects energy levels, and aids your weight loss journey. It would be best if you practice the healthy habit of drinking water as you diet.

Enjoy Your Favorite Meals

Even though dieting is mainly about focusing on healthier choices of meals, you may still eat your favorite meals. The key thing is you should take these foods in moderation.

Completely cutting off these meals may result in cravings and a high possibility of backtracking to unhealthy habits. Start by gradually lowering their consumption, and after some time, you should completely abandon them.

Reduce Sugar Intake

Although sugar tastes good, it is not suitable for your health. Consuming too much processed sugar may cause headaches and inflammation. When you lower your sugar intake, your energy levels increase, and you're able to focus more.

Cutting out added sugar also helps to lose weight. You’ll also decrease the risk of getting diabetes and avoid any other health complications.

Consume More Protein

You should invest more in foods with protein. Protein helps reduce hunger, and as a result, you learn to control your food intake. It also helps to build more muscle mass and strength.

Furthermore, protein is good for your bones. It boosts your metabolism and increases the process of burning fat. Some good examples of protein are eggs, milk, and meat.

Eat All Your Meals

Avoid skipping meals or starving yourself as this is an unhealthy habit. Many people believe that starving themselves is a method of losing weight. Even though you may cut down a few pounds, there are high chances that several health risks may accompany this. 

Bottom Line

Dieting is a huge lifestyle change that requires discipline. You should practice consistency if you want to see tremendous results in the end. Hopefully, the above tips will aid you in your dieting journey.

Canape Ideas For Summer

 

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The summer season is almost here and that means we can get to the beach for some sun, sea and sand, or meet up in backyard garden parties for food  cocktails and lots of laughs. These events are only made more enjoyable and memorable with some choice canape to go around. Here's some you don't want to miss out on this summer. 

Avocado and Prawn Crostini

It's Summer. The sun is shining and you're at a big event. It could be a wedding or an outdoor social gathering. You stand chatting when someone comes round with an avocado and prawn crostini. Your taste buds explode. 

You decide you will have the same canapes at your own event. These are made by smashing avocado and adding some lemon juice. Splash extra virgin olive oil on the toasted French bread and crack on some sea salt and black pepper. Easy. 

Watermelon, Cured Ham and Feta Mini-Skewers

If you like a canapé with some meat on it then you'll love the watermelon, Cured Ham and Feta mini skewers. These give you a mixture of flavour and texture your guests will love. To create the perfect canape meat visit The Aging Room. 

To make watermelon, Cured Ham and Feta mini skewers dice some watermelon melon like you would a chunk of meat. Skewer it with a cocktail stick and add the feta and cured ham. Once again sprinkle this with Salt and pepper. 

Roquefort and Peach Bruschetta

If you're down at the beach with friends all day enjoying the water and the sun you'll want something tasty to start your evening with as it starts to get cooler and light the fire for bbq. Remember to bring some of these canaps in your cooler. 

The roquefort and peach bruschetta is made with lightly toasted slices of bread. These have a splash of extra virgin olive oil over them. Serve with some roquefort and a slice of ripe peach for a tangy beach favourite. 

Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Bites

If your gathering is less formal, let's say a BBQ with friends or a Garden party, you might want a canape that's a bit simpler to make and serve. That's where the mozzarella, sun dried tomato and basil Bites come into their own. They're both easy and tasty. 

This one is also good for the veggies among you, although it still has cheese, so no good for vegans. Simply skewer the mozzarella ball along with the sun dried tomato and basil. It tastes like pizza on a stick. 

Courgette Curls with Salmon & Cream Cheese

Summer is a great season for eating fish and this canape uses one of the tastiest and most seasonal fish, salmon. You will love the intermingling flavours of the salmon, the cream cheese, and the courgette. Don't miss out. 

Use a potato peeler to strip off some of the courgette skin into curls. Put these onto a skewer, then add a scoop of cream cheese and some salmon. This is a posh canape that works well at informal events too.