Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Jasper, Fla. native Chef Art Smith made the most of his time of quarantine recently by hosting a series of video cooking shows. He also managed to drop 70 pounds with a combination of exercise and healthy eating.
Prior to the pandemic, Chef Smith spent time with his close friend, Lucas Cancelier, a professional rugby player from Argentina. Cancelier had come to visit Chef Smith and his family and was "stuck" during the pandemic. After confiding with Cancelier his struggles with weight, the two decided to do something about it. "Who would have thought that a pro rugby player would get stuck with me and change my whole life?" said Chef Smith in an interview with the Today Show. "He's more than a coach. He's a mentor."
Cancelier helped Smith alter some of his eating habits and put together a simple exercise routine that could easily be done at home. Cancelier suggested a balanced routine, cutting processed sugars and limiting sweet treats to a couple times a week, rather than every night. "If you want to enjoy eating, you have to enjoy training," said Cancelier during a Today Show interview. "You train 30 minutes in your house and you can enjoy it."
Smith's exercise routine includes a jog in the mornings and a quick workout later in the day. Smith has not only seen benefits physically, he sees advantages for his professional life as well. "When you go into a restaurant and see a chef that looks heavy or sloppy, what do you think? You'd maybe think that the food is going to be heavy and sloppy," said Smith. "I think this affects everything. You have to be good to yourself and take care of yourself to be a good businessperson."
During his transformation, Smith put together a series of cooking shows that were posted on Smith's Instagram site. The shows have also been posted on Smith's Facebook page. Titled "Chef Art Smith's Healthy Comfort Cooking," the short video segments feature demonstrations and recipes that are both healthy and flavorful. The videos can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/ChefArtSmith/.