Monday, March 09, 2009
Healthy cuisine vs Spa Cuisine [is there a difference]
Frank Terranova M.C.F.E.
Healthy Cuisine vs. Spa Cuisine
Contrary to what it is called, healthy cuisine vs. spa cuisine, there is not much difference between the two. Think of it as a marketing tactic; which of these sounds more catchy? “We serve healthy cuisine” or “check out our new spa cuisine”? Okay, let’s get down to the facts, especially since we are entering the spring/summer season. Forget all the Fritos and dips, all the ice cream and the junk food. Can we fit into that swim suit or those shorts? I didn’t think so. There is no better time to start to figure out the simple difference between healthy cuisine and spa cuisine.
Let’s start with health. It simply means eating a variety of foods that give you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, make you feel good, and give you energy. These nutrients include protein, carbs, fat, and water. Simply put, as a person who eats a healthy diet, you must understand the food groups, balance your diet, and know what a normal portion is (guess they haven’t eaten in any RI restaurants!).
Spa food is highly misunderstood. It has a bad reputation of being flavorless, unfulfilling, and boring. The reality is that spa cuisine can be quite delicious. There are a few reasons not to dismiss the facts from reality. Spa cuisine uses no processed or refined food products; they use all natural and fresh ingredients that are good for you. Most importantly, this type of cuisine uses produce grown locally, and that insures that the products are as fresh as possible. All recipes consist of colorful foods. Remember: the more color on a plate, the more nutrients and vitamins to be consumed.
As far as taste and flavor, spas often create recipes that use spices and ingredients that are a bit nontraditional. When it comes to desserts, they usually come up with a creative array of sweets to satisfy that urge without causing major impact to your waistline or sacrificing taste.
So, enjoy eating a healthy/spa lifestyle. Instead of telling your partner, “We are having a healthy breast of chicken”, how about using your new terminology: “We are having a wonderful spa breast of chicken with salsa fresca and EVOO drizzle.”
What’s in a name anyway?
Now that’s Cooking with Class!
