Dinner Made Simple

Austin Business Journal  - January 13, 2006

Eating healthy made to order with help of personal chefs

by Belva McCann

    Increasing numbers of Austin's busy professionals face the daily reality that the cost of doing business -- the cost of success -- is personal. After long hours spent running a business, executives often miss out on eating nutritious meals.

    Long hours at the office are taking a toll on the working population's health. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that more than 61 percent of Texas adults are considered overweight or obese.

Add to a working professional's daily schedule soccer practices, PTA meetings and preparing the agenda for tomorrow's 7 a.m. staff meeting, and many find themselves living on fast food and guilt.

    While Austin is considered one of the fittest cities in the nation, it's also a haven for people who know and love great food. Austin's farmers' markets, organic food stores and world-class restaurants make this the ideal place to be well-fed -- without necessarily having to cook. 

    Personal chef services are growing in popularity in Austin and nationwide. According to the United States Personal Chef Association, the industry boasts more than 5,000 personal chefs in operation.

    Toni Scott, owner of Austin-based Dinner Made Simple, is among those chefs answering the call of the city's health-conscious and hungry professionals.

    Scott consults with clients to determine their menu preferences and creates a cooking schedule. She then shops for groceries, sets up in the customer's kitchen, whips up a meal consisting of an entree, salad, bread and side dishes. Meals are packaged, frozen and left with thawing and heating instructions.

    Stacee Bell, owner of Bellina Stone Co., is one of Scott's clients. "When looking for a personal chef, it's important to know exactly what you want," Bell says. "I was particularly interested in variety, freshness and entire meals that are ready to eat at my family's dinnertime."

    When shopping around for a chef, look for one who has culinary training, good references, flexibility, dependability and excellent cooking skills.

    And be prepared to factor a chef's services into your financial budget. How much you pay will depend upon what you're paying for -- food shopping, cooking, delivery and kitchen cleanup.