• Question: does being a food scientist affect the way you eat ? ;)

    Asked by chlooboo to Duncan, Grant, Julie, Nik, Rachel on 15 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Rachel Edwards-Stuart

      Rachel Edwards-Stuart answered on 15 Mar 2013:

      Probably. I think I eat quite more healthily because I am aware of nutrition. Being a food scientist definitely affects the way I cook – because I know about the structure and composition of foods, if ever I don’t have a particular ingredient in the fridge or cupboard, I know what I can substitute it with by applying scientific thinking. Also, because I spend all day with chefs I am a bit more creative in the kitchen. Having a lab in my kitchen also helps!

    • Photo: Grant Campbell

      Grant Campbell answered on 15 Mar 2013:

      Definitely. It affects what I choose to eat (in terms of health), and it increases my appreciation of what I eat. My wife is a better cook than I am, but occasionally when she has a kitchen disaster, I’m able to help out with rescuing it using my knowledge of food science. She always gets me to make sauces, because I’m better at it than her – my knowledge of heating and mixing helps me avoid lumpy sauces.
      Also, my son is diabetic, and my understanding of food composition and structure helps us choose foods that release their carbohydrates slowly or, if his blood sugars are low, provide him with glucose rapidly.

    • Photo: Julie Bland

      Julie Bland answered on 19 Mar 2013:

      Yes, even if I don’t study nutrition I am more aware of what I am eating due to the knowledge I get from my colleague so I eat more healthy. Also when I eat cheese, ice cream, butter or drink wine I can appreciate them differently because I understand the science behind.

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