It seems that healthy eating is everywhere these days. Walking to work in the morning we see billboards donning the latest campaign for a healthy lifestyle. Whether the promotion is for organic produce, or the newest nutritious, we are constantly reminded to watch what we put into our mouths. However, a much neglected aspect of this health food craze is cooking.

Nutrition is all about preparation. For example, chicken is an excellent source of lean protein. However, if you choose to douse it in oil and deep-fry it, you’re adding a lot of unnecessary fat to your family dinner. The true test of healthy and nutritious food lies in the cooking and preparation!

However, it seems that Americans don’t cook that much anymore. Even First Lady Michelle Obama was recently quoted as saying “I don’t miss cooking; I’m just fine with other people cooking.” The New York Times even quoted her as stating that cooking is not one of her “huge things.”

This statement shows precisely what most Americans are feeling when it comes to food: hurried. Gone are the days of the 1950’s housewife, who spent many hours laboring over family meals. These days, it’s common to have both mothers and fathers busy at work, so many people don’t have much time to prepare elaborate dinners. However, many people don’t realize that cooking at home saves time AND money. This is especially pertinent to the current recession because families just don’t have the money to eat out.

The moral of the story is that healthy cooking doesn’t have to be time-consuming or scary! We can tell from the huge number of people who watch the Food Network that Americans are genuinely interested in learning about cooking. So, if you want to help people eat healthier food, or just figure out how to do it yourself, there are lots of opportunities to excel in the culinary arts. In addition to working for a restaurant or a show on the Food Network, many healthy chefs get jobs in sports clubs and spas. Not only are these careers in high demand, but you will help the public learn how to make healthy choices about food!