Personal Chef Services Are a Luxury Within Your Reach

Most people are busy. Add to that caring for a family, work and school commutes, and any additional commitments you take on, and you may feel a bit frustrated or overwhelmed navigating mealtime at the end of each day.

You aren't alone, and there's an answer: personal chef services.

If you just rolled your eyes or muttered, "Personal chefs are for rich and famous people with scads of money.", this article is for you.

Let's do the math, shall we?

While it's true, hiring a personal chef isn't cheap. It's also true that they are affordable.

Your time is valuable; we won't waste it here. Immediately below, you'll find a cost range for our personal chef services. If you want to chew on it some more, the rest of this post will outline some of the nitty-gritty of why personal chef services aren't cheap but are doable for most budgets.

Here at La Bonne Vie, the difference between our smallest and largest plan is only $100 per week. 

To give you more detail:

• Our 5-day plans for four adults range from $250 to $350 per week. 

• There is plenty for leftovers, 

• and you can double the number of servings for just $25 per week.

Groceries are separate (we knew you'd ask), and they range from $45 to $300 per week (depending on the meals you request and whether you want 100% organic).

Are you tallying that math in your head right now? We get it. We were too.

While you're busy with the calculator, make a separate column to compare how much you spend in a typical week on:

• Eating out at restaurants (which cost between $13 and $19/person, depending on where you live and your food selection).

• Tips and parking

• Fast-food drive-thrus

• "Quick fix" grocery runs

• Weekly grocery trip

• Spoiled food in your fridge (because you didn't have time or were too tired to prepare it).

For a family of 4, that typical weekly expense (conservatively) looks a bit like this:

• One “nicer” restaurant visit = $85

• Three fast food trips = $125

• Quick fix grocery runs = $75

• Weekly grocery trip = $250

• Spoiled food = $15

That comes to $550 per week.

Maybe your totals were less or maybe more. The purpose of this exercise is to get an accurate evaluation of what you're spending.

Once you have that data, also consider your time and stress with:

• Meal planning and preparing a grocery list

• Grocery shopping (and time on the road to and from)

• Prepping, cooking, and cleaning up dishes

And this is why we can reiterate that personal chef services aren't cheap but are doable for most budgets.

In fact, we like to say that personal chefs aren't cheap because they're not cheap. 

Here are 5 factors that determine your personal chef's costs:

#1: Servings - This is pretty straightforward. If you order more, you pay more. It's no different than a restaurant. If you order an appetizer, entree, and a dessert for two, it costs more than if you order for one. There are more ingredients, more equipment needed, more kitchen staff, and more prepping and cooking time.

#2: Location - Where do you live? How expensive is it to live there? What does it cost you to fill your gas tank or drop in at the grocery store? Those exact costs apply to your personal chef's bottom line too.

#3: Years of Experience - Is your personal chef a newbie, or have they been at this for many years? Just as with any other position, more experience earns a higher price tag. It also means they have a more extensive database of recipes and more knowledge of navigating different allergies, food sensitivities, picky eaters, likes, and dislikes. An experienced personal chef will suggest ingredients and dishes you might not have considered. They also are versed in what is available and fresh from season to season at the market.  

#3: Kitchen Space & Delivery -  Since a personal chef will work from an owned or rented commercial kitchen space, their costs may vary depending on real estate costs and the proximity of grocery stores and markets for sourcing your ingredients. And because they deliver your food straight to your door, the kitchen's location to you plays a part too.

#4: Your Dietary Needs - Do you need a gluten-free diet? Are you Paleo, Keto, allergic to some particular ingredients? Your dietary restrictions play a part in your costs. The cost of buying gluten-free, vegan, organic, or locally sourced ingredients will drive up the bottom line. Again, personal chefs aren't cheap because they're not cheap. Quality food costs money.

#5. Food Storage - All of those cute and convenient containers your food arrives in? They cost money too. Some personal chefs will charge an onboarding fee that covers these costs. Whether it's reusable glass containers or recyclable BPA-free containers, they are part of the cost of your services.

Having a personal chef is a luxury, AND it's within your reach.

You're working and raising a family. 

Or maybe you're a single professional, working to advance your career or chase after some passions in your life.

Taking time to shop and prepare healthy options for you or you and a family has probably been put on the back burner too long.

And if not, we bet you put your self-care on the back burner. Keeping yourself and your family from always eating "on the go" is a considerable commitment of your time and energy.

Wherever you live, there are personal chef services near you that can help you meet your needs. We want to encourage you to reach out because your time and stress are not worth the trade-off.

Why Busy Families Like Yours Should Hire a Personal Chef

As a parent, you nestle many roles under your umbrella of responsibility. Sometimes it can be somewhat daunting. You're chief mess-cleaner,  launderer, cook, nurse, chauffeur, playmate, storyteller, professional snuggler - and the list goes on.

As a parent or guardian, you do a lot to help your family thrive, like managing the balancing act between your full-time job and your family's needs.

And no one will argue that this balancing act is a stressful one - even without the added pressure of making sure your family gets the nutrition they need from multiple meals every day. 

With all you do each day inside and outside the home, many parents like you tell us they do not have the time to manage meal planning, shopping, and preparing fresh, wholesome food each day. 

Prioritizing whole-body nutrition becomes a daily guilt factor for some of our clients. Even the early morning (or late night) drill of pulling together lunches for you and your kids (a bagged salad and simple sandwiches, respectively) can feel like a circus act. 

This article is for those of you who are tired of stress-juggling a full schedule, work requests, family responsibilities, meals, and personal time (what's that?). Because the truth is, hiring a personal chef is a great way to alleviate an enormous daily pressure, regain lost time, and reclaim your home as a harbor of rest and connection for your family.

What other possibilities could taking advantage of personal chef services open up for your family?

Your Family Gets Back to a Solid Routine

Remember those blissful days when you put your kids to book with storytime? Get that half-hour back by hiring a personal chef to reduce your evening load and taking several tasks off your list and supporting your family while you ease into the new school year schedule. 

Children and families thrive on routine. Unfortunately, the past couple of years upended many of the patterns that anchored our days. When you allow a personal chef to prepare and deliver meals for your family, you ensure a few things:

• A nutritious, delicious, restaurant-quality meal waits for your family when you walk in the door each evening. 

• More time to focus on navigating your family's dynamic schedule, homework, and extracurricular activities. 

• A reliable daily structure, complete with some necessary "down" time for everyone to reconnect and recover for the next day.

Your Family Gets a More Relaxed Home

While many families worked from home and employed distance learning through the past two years, we've unintentionally invited more external stressors into our homes. 

Home, in turn, has lost its most crucial function - being a safe space to rest, connect and decompress together as a family. Personal chef services can help you create more space to connect, play and rest while you enjoy a meal together without the stress of planning, prepping, purchasing, and preparing. 

Imagine putting those beeping phones and laptops away, ignoring the notifications for even just a half-hour every evening - all while enjoying the 100% customized, nutrient-rich family dinner your personal chef delivered straight to your door earlier in the week.

Your Family Gets More "You" Time

The average American mother spends nearly an hour every day prepping and serving meals for her family. Add grocery shopping, pantry organizing, and kitchen cleaning to that list, and that number starts to soar. 

Whether you're cooking for two or ten, feeding a family is no small feat, and a personal chef can carry that responsibility for you. You know your time is valuable, and you shouldn't have to choose between evening storytime and prepping and preparing your family's meal. 

With personal chef services, you remove the age-old "What's for dinner?" dilemma that seems to haunt you every day of the workweek. When you hire a personal chef, you eliminate so many steps that steal brain calories, family time, and your personal care needs. Heck, you could even request some extra goodies for a date night with you and your significant other from time to time!

Your Family Gets What They Need

Most personal chefs know how to prepare meals for individuals, families, busy professionals, people on special diets, and especially families who don't have the time or interest in meal planning or cooking.

Or maybe the interest is there, but let's be honest - the time is not. Whatever your reason for hiring a personal chef, you can rest assured that your family will receive a meal plan customized to your unique dietary and nutritional needs. 

Your Family Gets More While Saving More

If you're thinking personal chef services sounds like a luxury, it is! But, who said luxury has to cost your family a small fortune? 

According to the USDA, families of four with a moderate budget can expect to spend upwards of $260 per week on groceries and meals - and that's just a baseline.

Suppose you're spending $300 weekly on groceries and meals to feed your crew. That comes to an average of $1,200 per month! And let's get real, how often do you find fresh food spoiled in your fridge at the month's end because you were too tired - or too busy - to pull together a meal when the workday ended? Evaluating how much you're spending (and potentially wasting) on groceries is a solid first step to discovering if you could reasonably hire a personal chef.

Trade the trusty drive-thru lane with a trusted personal chef, and your family's budget might breathe a sigh of relief. 

Your Family Can Enjoy Dinner - Together - Again

You know that no matter how hectic your schedule is, your family needs and craves nutritious meals to help fuel the go-go-go of the school year's pace. More than that, you crave a quality meal together.

When you hire a personal chef, you know you'll get a fully prepared, tasty, and approachable meal guaranteed to fulfill that craving while bringing your family closer together around the table. All you have to do at the end of the day is sit down with your family and ask, "Tell me about your day!"

5 Realistic Tips for Eating Healthy When You Don’t Have the Time or Energy

With all of the information, recipes, articles, and podcasts on eating healthy today, it can be overwhelming to figure out what will work for you and your family when you don't have ample time or energy. 

Generally, we all know the basics - drink more water, eat lean protein, and up your greens - but the real challenge arises when it's time to put it all into action and stay consistent.

Any simple search on the internet will point those vying for a healthy lifestyle toward practices like meal prepping, and maybe you've tried that before. Perhaps you've bought a full meal-prepping suite of storage bags and containers, fully intending to spend your Sundays in the kitchen to save yourself a bit of time through the week.

But I bet you know what happens next, right?

You either don't have time - or energy - over the weekend to devote the hours necessary in the kitchen to get it going. Or, once you've successfully meal-prepped a suite of identical entrees, you open the refrigerator door midweek, discouraged to find yet another taco bowl waiting for you.

So what do you so often? Toss the remaining meal prep containers and head to grab a fast food meal in town, vowing to plan a better menu the following week.

You know that there has to be a better, more realistic way for modern families to stay consistent in their healthy eating goals. And, you're right. 

Today, outside of our own personal chef services, we're sharing five of our favorite tips to eat healthy, especially when you don't have time or energy to spare!

Tip #1: Add-in new foods slowly. Don't overhaul!

Research shows it's far easier to add in new habits by attaching them to currently held practices, and the same goes for your diet! 

If your goal is to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, set it next to your bed and drink it as soon as you get up. If your goal is to eat more greens, buy a bag of frozen spinach and add a small helping to your morning eggs rather than revolutionizing your entire lunch or dinner menu in one day. 

Add in nutrition and commit to small changes in bite-size pieces - don't overhaul!

Tip #2: Prep with your capacity in mind.

Time and energy are precious commodities, and if you're in short supply of both - which you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't - don't devise a weekly plan of intricate meals. 

Instead, plan around your time and energetic capacity. For example, stock your freezer with basic staples like chicken and vegetables and your pantry with spices you love, so when you do find the energy or a hidden pocket of time, you can make a dump-meal in the crockpot without needing to thaw or prep anything! 

Tip #3. Store snacks you love.

Keep a stash of non-perishable, healthy food items handy in places you frequent like your car, living room, and kitchen. Keep a pouch in your car or a basket on your kitchen counter for easy grab-and-go snacks. Load your new snack station with fresh fruit, lean beef jerky, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc.

Tip #4. Make a bit extra.

Make the most of the dinners you do whip up by preparing extra and storing the rest in meal prep containers. It's easy enough to plan to meal prep, but following through gets tricky when faced with dedicating your Sunday afternoon to chopping, slicing, and stir-frying in the kitchen. 

Meal prepping may save time through the week, but Sunday rest is much more precious for those of us low on time and energy. So, cook double portions for the meals you do make when you have time to make them!

Tip #5. Plan ahead (or don't!).

The first step to staying committed and consistent to a healthy eating lifestyle is equipping yourself with a strong strategy. 

For instance, plan to spend your lunch break on Friday devising your next week's meals. Or, take a break from the planning and use our personal chef services. We have endless menus and recipes - and we customize specifically to each client's needs, which means you don't have to sacrifice any of your extra down-time to plan or prep your or your family's meals. 

Instead, spend it reading that new mystery novel you keep having to put down mid-chapter. Spend it calling a friend you haven't seen in a while. Spend it going for a walk with your family. Don't spend it meal prepping.

low on energy and time? who isn't?

Our personal chef services plan, prep, cook and deliver the meals you need and crave so you can make the most of the time you have together as a family. 

We stock your refrigerator with meals that are both nutritious and delicious because we don't cut corners or make compromises when it comes to your taste buds. Like you, we know family meals are opportunities to connect, build memories, and share quality time during a busy week. That's why we create nutritionally whole and deliciously memorable meals that live up to that belief.

Healthy Food Doesn’t Have to Be Boring Food

Many modern families meet the goal of eating at home with a rotation of three go-to chicken dishes, a chili night, and a fend-for-yourself "taco bowl night." And that's fine if it hits the spot for your family. That said, eating nutritious and exciting home-cooked meals doesn't have to be an oxymoron. 

Food boredom is real and understandable. Today's families don't have the time they'd like to explore and try new foods. When they find a dish their family enjoys that provides ample nutrition, they add it to their routine, and it sticks. In fact, one study shows that the average family only has about nine meals in their dinner night rotation. 

So, if you find yourself reluctantly writing "baked chicken and steamed broccoli" on your meal planning list for yet another week, here are some ways to fight off food boredom and keep your family dinners fresh, exciting and healthy!

Pair a protein with one complex carbohydrate and a vegetable. 

You may not believe it, but this formula makes for endless possibilities. Rotate grilled chicken breast, turkey, chicken sausage, or steak. Add potato or pasta and then, toss in your choice of roasted veggie or salad. You'll have dozens of simple, fresh pairings to add to your dinner night rotation to mix things up!

Try new flavor profiles. 

If you find yourself opting for black pepper and garlic salt yet again, give brand-new and unique spice blends like this Asian-inspired profile with garlic, coriander, ginger, and soy sauce a try. Or, go Thai-inspired with spices like lemongrass, garlic powder, cardamom, and basil! Be sure to have various spice blends on hand and try them out on foods you'd like to spice up a bit.

View food as an experience not an end-goal. 

Schedules may be chaotic, but reserving time in the evenings to connect with your family and invite them into the meal-prepping process can change your day. If you have younger children, allow them to use these plastic salad and vegetable knives to help prepare the fresh ingredients. Older children and teens can take the lead in prepping fresh vegetables and mixing spice blends while preparing the meal's meat portion.

Make time to create and explore one food item at a time. 

If you're getting bored with your go-to meals, overhauling your recipe repertoire in one week can feel overwhelming and nearly impossible. Instead, make it your goal to try one new food item a week. When shopping at the grocery store, peruse the produce section and select something new you'd like to try.

Experimenting allows you to engage your entire family in the mealtime process. If you have multiple children, let one pick a new food to try each week on a special night! By doing this, you are more likely to nurture adventurous eaters and create fond, lifetime memories with your family.

Make room for new foods, delivered to you! 

Invite the creativity of a professional chef to your dinnertime experience with our personal chef services. We offer personalized, custom meal plans and deliver freshly prepared meals straight to your fridge. You can hardly find a better option to release the constant pressure of preparing inventive, delicious meals yourself. It also frees up more time to spend with your family.

Let us serve as your family's gateway to new, fresh, and healthy meal ideas - check out a sample menu or get started today.

Feel like trying new recipes this week? Give these superfoods a taste test, or try making one of our favorite corn salsa recipes during your weekly taco or burrito night! 

Focus on adding, not overhauling!

Stepping out of your routine and livening up your menu doesn't have to be stressful. Add a new vegetable to your plate, a new spice, or a new side item to your baked chicken breast. And? When you're eager to add even more ingenuity to your table, try adding personal chef services to your list too!

9 Superfoods to Add a Little Hygge in Your Life

As seasons cycle, so does our body's nutritional needs. It's no coincidence why we crave juicy cantaloupe for summer picnics and savory, warm soups through winter.

We select fruit in the summer for its high water content, our bodies using its many nutrients to replenish us when we sweat. But once the cold temps blow in, we find ourselves tucked indoors more, and we need denser nutrition with richer blends of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

So blend up a batch of aromatic carrot ginger soup and settle in as we explore a variety of Jack Frost's favorite superfoods that'll add a little hygge to your life.

What is hygge? And what does it have to do with superfoods?

Pronounced "hyoo-guh," hygge is the Danish word for "the art of living cozily." In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.

As we dip out of summer into the heart of autumn, the days grow darker for longer, and you may begin feeling the winter blues. The Danes fight this off with hygge, an intentional effort towards gathering coziness, happiness, and warmth. Our personal chef services will help you infuse these feelings of warmth and joy by adding the right nutrients to your family's meals.

Here's how to serve some hygge on your plate!

Here are nine superfoods and their vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that beat the "winter blues" and boost our coziness factor, aka, serve up some hygge.

Turmeric 

This orange but subtle spice adds a sweetness to lattes and stir-fry while packing an immunity punch. A cousin to ginger, turmeric has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties that boost your immune system. Pair it with black pepper for extra immunity, or stir a teaspoon of it into a small glass of warm milk.

Ghee

Ghee is basically butter hygge-fied. It's clarified butter, which means you slightly caramelize, simmer, and strain it to remove excess water. An ayurvedic superstar, ghee has essential fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties that nurture the immune system. Additionally, it's easily digestible and is a quick source of energy for your body. Add ghee to your morning eggs or even blended in your coffee for an energetic and warming boost. Bonus points if you mix a small spoonful in your turmeric latte!

Brussels Sprouts 

Tossed in ghee and steamed, sauteed, or roasted, brussels sprouts are praised for their protective properties against cancer. These little guys pack a punch with Vitamins C, K, and folate. Folate helps maintain happy, balanced white and red blood cell count (Just what the doctor ordered!). Vitamin C is more than an immunity booster. It also links arms with Vitamin K to help our bodies absorb and use iron, which, when low, contributes to low energy, tiredness, and a lack of concentration. Bye, bye, winter blues, and hello focused energy all winter long.

Turkey

Who said only veggies could be superfoods? With high B vitamins like B6 and B12, turkey helps you turn food into energy efficiently. Add in some lean protein and the amino acid tryptophan, which tells the brain to make the "happy hormone" serotonin, and you have a dinner item that doubles as a warm blanket for your wellness.

Cinnamon 

Hygge is all about balance - in contentment, happiness, coziness, and friendliness. In a way, cinnamon is, too! This beloved spice does more than add pep to our applesauce; it helps stabilize blood sugar levels - which can balance your mood. It is also full of calcium and iron, giving your immunity and blood cell balance a helping hand. 

Kale

We couldn't write a post about superfoods without including something green, now could we? In all seriousness, if your goal is to thrive while indoors this winter, this leafy green should be your new best friend. Kale is full of calcium, various antioxidants, and minerals like iron and magnesium. Magnesium helps regulate nerve and muscle function and can help with relaxation, headaches, and muscle cramps. Be sure to add this Mexican Kale Salad to your lunchtime rotation!

Root Vegetables 

Carrots, beets, turnips, and potatoes all have something in common - they grow underground. In the soil, root vegetables absorb minerals like magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus. They also contain plenty of vitamins B6, A, and C. Chop a variety of these root vegetables, then toss in salt, pepper, and melted ghee to roast for a warming, rich and savory side dish for your turkey dinner!

Bone Broth

Bone broth is one of the most recently recognized additions to the superfood lineup, though we've used it for centuries for its medicinal value. Bone broth is made from simmering bones, marrow, and connective tissue of animals, creating a light but savory liquid you can sip as a beverage or use in soups. Bone broth contains collagen and gelatin, which support gut health, reduce inflammation, boost energy levels, and promote great sleep. Talk about a hug in a cup! Warm-up some of our gut-healing bone broth and stir in a small spoonful of turmeric for an early morning drink that may serve you even better than coffee!

Dark Chocolate

You can't have hygge without dark chocolate (That's a rule, right?), and you're in luck because dark chocolate is a superfood! It's a pretty powerful one, too, with mood-stabilizing flavonoids containing more antioxidants than green tea! Flavonoids are phytonutrients that remove oxidative stress, helping you feel more relaxed and increasing your well-being over time.

As you wrap yourself up in a blanket, snuggled into your favorite armchair or corner of the couch, remember to utilize some of these superfoods to practice the art of hygge. And while you're at it, be sure to enjoy a plate of our dark chocolate and cherry scones.

And when you're ready to share the art of hygge with some friends or family, our personal chef services are here to help you plan a menu of whole foods and seasonal ingredients from local farmer's markets to create a healthy, high-end dining experience right in your home.