Take the Tasty Quiz

Take this quiz to discover how you personally relate to food and cooking, and if you could use a little help from me:

When I am hungry and at home

a. Duh! I’m never out of ideas! I can whip up a meal from a turnip, eggs and milk. You name it, I can take the challenge to make it no matter how it turns out.

b. I look for takeout numbers- pizza, Chinese, sushi…

c. I hope my spouse, roommate or parent left something for me in the fridge

d. Whatever is easy- cereal or leftovers etc..

When I am hungry and on the run

a. I always have prepared food with me so I can have good food even on the run

b. I look for a quick bite, something I can walk with- a slice of pizza, an empanada, a sandwich

c. Something that will hold my appetite until I can sit down, a bag of chips, a diet coke, a chocolate bar or a coffee

d. I look for my friends’ house so I can raid their fridge!

When I cook

a. I like to make things up, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, it usually turns out delicious

b. I look at recipes, and buy exactly what the recipe calls for

c. I stick to salads and easy to make items

d. Me cook? Is that what the kitchen is for?

Healthy food for me means

a. Local, fresh and organic when possible

b. I made it myself at home

c. It doesn`t come from a can

d. Mom made it for me

When I am shopping for food

a. I try and buy new things once in a while, I will try a new vegetable, spice, or ingredient

b. I splurge! Organic, fresh, local- the best!

c. I look for the same things I always buy- and don’t venture into the unknown isles

d. I look for cheap on sale items and make with it what I can

When I eat

a. I eat very slowly and mindfully, ambiance is very important to me

b. I am usually in front of television, reading or otherwise distracted

c. I am usually rushing and, taking bites in between walking

I see food as…

a. Nourishment and pleasure, an experience of the senses meant for enjoyment and often a social experience.

b. Calories, Carbs or fat..I keep mental tabs of calorie content to control what I eat

c. Necessary for survival- I eat to live, rather than live to eat. If I could take a pill instead- id take it.

d. Good or bad- if I am eating `good`foods, I am doing well, and if I eat `bad`foods, I punish myself for it (mentally or physically hung up about it)

Answers:

If you chose mostly A`s

You view food as something to be enjoyed. You are fearless in the kitchen and enjoy the challenge of trying new foods and ingredients. You have a healthy attitude about food and your body. You are prepared for eating healthy on the run and being a slow eater gives you the added benefit of being able to assimilate and digest your food better. Keep experimenting!

If you chose mostly B`s

You like to be in control when it comes to food. Sometimes you are too scared to buy ingredients that are unfamiliar to you, unless you are closely following a recipe. Try to be bold sometimes and improvise some ingredients in a recipe, don`t let fear hold you back- try and relinquish some control. You can only grow and learn, this is a lesson in life, challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone!

If you chose mostly C`s

Slow down kiddo! You don`t really take the time to make food and cooking a priority for you. You prefer to let others prepare food for you, rather than taking the lead. Is this out of fear of burning the rice, or are you just being a little lazy? Ask yourself if there are other areas of your life where you are holding back and letting others do the work for you. What might happen if you took steps into taking care of yourself, and actually sit down with your food, slowly enjoying every bite. Challenge yourself to buy a new vegetable or ingredient, find a recipe first to build up your confidence and eventually you can experiment a little.

If you chose mostly D`s

You enjoy cereal for supper and occasionally prepare paninos if you are not dialling for takeout- I would consider you a virgin chef that needs to sew your wild oats. Be bold! Start small, food and cooking do not have to scare you out of the kitchen. You can invite friends over to cook with you and make it a fun social experience. Start stalking your pantry with easy items you can have on hand: canned beans for salads and frozen vegetables for stir frys. Skip the cereal, and try making your own oatmeal, with a little boiling water, some cut up bananas, nuts and dried fruits.

Don`t let fear hold you back, if you are what you eat- you don`t want to be know as Captain Crunch.

Try joining a cooking co-op in your city where people gather together to cook and share the meals in a communal way. Look for cooking classes, and buy books for the beginner chef. You can do it, and your efforts will go a long way, the more fresh home cooked meals you make, you will be filled with vitality, better sleep, clearer skin- and you might even lose a few pounds while you`re at it.