Cooking competition shows have become increasingly popular over the past few years, especially Food Network’s Chopped. Hosted by Ted Allen, the reality-based cooking show pits four chefs against one another in three different rounds.
They have to make an appetizer, entree, and dessert, and they must utilize the most random and unusual mystery basket ingredients that the series decides to throw at them. A panel of three judges eliminates one contestant at the end of each course, and the winner receives $10,000 as well as Chopped champion bragging rights.
Unsurprisingly, Chopped champions are often just as successful off-screen as they are on. And if you’re a fan of the show, you probably think about certain winners from time to time and wonder what they’re up to now. Here are 18 of the most memorable Chopped champions that are still crushin’ it in real life.
Watch a Principal Tell a Student Working a Drive-Thru She’s the Class Valedictorian
For Michelle Floering, the secondary principal at Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City, MI, milestones are still worth celebrating despite the fact that schools are closed and everyone is practicing social distancing. In a heartwarming video making its rounds on social media, Michelle visited 18-year-old Kaitlyn Watson at her job working a Culver’s drive-thru to share some big news: Kaitlyn is officially the class valedictorian.
Proud of the teen’s hard work, Michelle wanted to tell Kaitlyn of her achievement in-person, even if it had to be from six feet away. “Hi Kaitlyn. So, I got you on camera because I want to announce something to you today,” Michelle says in the video. “You are GTA’s 2020 class valedictorian! ”
Clearly shocked to see a school administrator in the drive-thru and to get this exciting news while at work, Kaitlyn replied, “I am? Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. ” Although Michelle was super excited for Kaitlyn, she knew better than to embrace the teen. “You’re welcome,” she said. “And I know we have to stay six feet away so I can’t give you a hug, but congratulations. Well deserved! ”
The 7 Most Common Myths About Plant-Based Diets
You may have noticed – much to the delight of any vegan or vegan-curious – plant-based eating seems to be on everyone’s mind. Earlier this year, the Golden Globes served its first-ever vegan menu, while the Netflix documentary Game Changers touted the benefits of plant-based diets for elite athletes. Add the fact that you can find or make a cauliflower version of pretty much every dish, and even eat a meatless Impossible Whopper at Burger King, and it’s clear that it’s never been easier to up your veggie intake.
But what exactly is plant-based eating? According to Maggie Moon, MS, RD, and best-selling author of The MIND Diet, “There’s no official definition of a plant-based diet, but every nutrition expert I’ve spoken to about it agrees that it is based on plants. It includes vegans and vegetarians, but it also includes flexitarians, those following the MIND diet, and anyone trying to eat mostly plants with smaller amounts of animal foods. Though I don’t speak for all dietitians, I know many of us encourage a discussion around plant-based eating to shift the ratios of plants on the plate. So, there are no foods that are off-limits in that sense. You have to meet people where there are. If I’m getting someone to give leafy greens a few more inches of real estate on the plate in the name of plant-based eating, that’s a win. ”
Despite benefits like being more environmentally sustainable and decreasing your risk of heart disease, there are still many myths and misconceptions surrounding eating plant-based (Will I get enough protein? But. . . can I still eat cheese? ) We talked to several nutritionists to get the real dish on plant-based diets.
