Chef Susan Teton Press Recommended Products FAQ
1) I really want to eat healthier. How do I get started with Essential Cuisine?
I recommend reading the articles on the website first. The articles will inspire you and help you to understand the reasons for using the foods I do in Essential Cuisine. Then I recommend getting the entire Essential Cuisine DVD series and learn how to work with these new foods, and have fun doing it.
2) Is Essential Cuisine a vegetarian diet?
All the foods used in the DVD series are vegetarian. The Raw Food Series is vegan, and in the Sauces & Dressings I use some dairy and eggs. Although I have my own personal preferences, I do not advocate a specific ‘type’ diet. But I do advocate eating an abundant amount of plant foods, and eating from the Earth and not the factory. I found that most people want to learn how to eat more whole foods and want to learn how to put these foods into their dietary lifestyle easily. The Essential Cuisine series focuses on plant foods because that is where most people need help and creativity. If you love fish, chicken and/or beef make sure it is organic and you can enjoy it along with your veggies.
2) There is a lot of viewing time in the entire set of DVD’s. It seems like a lot!
A picture is worth a thousand words. It is a well known fact that Americans need to learn how to get back in the kitchen. So, either you are a self starter and great student of cookbooks or you need to hire a coach. Essential Cuisine DVD series is your new coach! It’s like a cooking school you can view at home at your own pace.
I created the series so that everyone could learn how to make their own healthy food, at home, the office or on the road. It is comprehensive, and contains vital things you need to know about creating high quality nourishment. The series teaches how to live a new food lifestyle, so to speak. It was created to for those who:
Want to eat more whole foods and vegetables, but don’t know how.
Are confused about fats and oils.
- Want to eat more whole foods and vegetables, but don’t know how.
- Are confused about fats and oils.
- Want to enjoy rich food, but don’t want to eat bad fats.
- Want to put more fresh whole foods into your life simply
- Want to replace sugary desserts with desserts that are delicious, sensual and fulfilling.
- Want to replace processed foods with whole fresh foods.
Today, with the high consumption of fast and processed foods, most people need to learn a whole new culinary system while understanding the quality and origin of their food. This series was created for those who really want to learn how to eat to live, and live to eat.
3. Which DVD set do you recommend viewing first?
If you are just getting started in learning how to eat whole foods, or you are already eating fairly healthy, but want to nourish yourself more thoroughly I recommend starting with the Sauces & Dressings DVD Series. This will get you started on using healthier fats and oils for ‘simple’ sauces and dressings for vegetables, squash, potatoes, and salads. Using the right fats to compliment whole foods make them so much more tasty and satisfying. This series also has convenient methods to insure excellent mineral consumption, and it’s all about simple.
Once you start putting excellent fats into your diet along with more whole foods, I then recommend venturing into the Raw Food Series. This is a cuisine with an art all it’s own. It is challenging to learn from a book, and takes some practice working with the nuts and seeds. That being said, once you learn it and start putting some of these ‘living’ foods into your life, you will love it! I guarantee it. Raw Food Cuisine is a great way to get optimal nourishment and receive healing benefits from foods. The methods are really easy, once you become acquainted. I highly recommend it for children as well because they will get a chance to learn about germinating, sprouting and growing. The desserts are a great way to break the sugar habits.
If you are already familiar with Raw Food Cuisine you may still get a lot out of this series.
As for the Cultured Foods DVD, I recommend you begin putting Kefir and Cultured Vegetables into your daily diet as soon as possible. The Article on Cultured Vegetables and Kefir should inspire you to understand why. And, the DVD will teach you how to make your own. It is simple, rewarding and cost effective. If you are new to the kitchen, you might want to purchase these products from you local whole foods grocers first, and then start making your own later.
4. How do you recommend viewing the DVDs?
I recommend chunking them down so to speak in sections. Depending on the time you have available I recommend at least one DVD per week. One DVD is the same amount of time as a movie – and it could be just as much fun!
Print out the shopping list and recipes and have them handy. While viewing, make a note of what you want to try and the ingredients you will need.
Get organized and schedule the time when you will make the recipes. You can replay the segment while you make them. Once you feel you have mastered certain segments then go on to the next.
Another way would be to watch them a few days or nights in a row – and get a feel for them, making notes as to what you want to try. Again, make your purchases (be sure to visit our “recommended products” page as there may be discounts available), and schedule the time to make it. Turn on your DVD and we can do it together.
5. Isn’t eating healthy more expensive?
Many people often think that eating healthy is more expensive. The truth is, depending on your current food budget and what you are consuming, it could save you lots of $$. First of all, if you are letting go of unnecessary junk food you will have extra money for good food. Secondly, a lot of items can be purchased in bulk, and local produce at farmers markets.
I have found that commercial grocery stores are actually higher on many items including produce. For instance, let’s take oatmeal. In most grocery stores oatmeal is about $3.00 to 4.00 for a 16 oz container. To purchase it in bulk is usually less than $1.00 per pound. A sugary cola is usually over $1.00. Drop the processed food for fresh food and you will save money.
There might be some items that cost you more at point of purchase. Let’s take flax oil, for example. Yes, a high quality flax oil costs more than a canola oil or a cheaper olive oil in a grocery store, but all you will be getting with a canola oil is “fat”. It does not have the Essential Fatty Acid (Omega 3) content that a high quality flax oil will have, nor will it have the same incredible flavor. You will get so much more mileage out of the Barlean’s Flax oil. And, you will feel fed after a salad or steamed veggies with an Omega 3 rich dressing on it. Most likely, your skin and hair will improve along with enhanced digestion and joint health. In addition there are studies that show that kids test scores improve while supplementing with Omega 3’s (flax oil). Purchase HERE for a 20% discount on Barlean’s Organic Oils (shipped fresh straight to your door)
Think about it this way; why purchase a supplement like flax oil, for instance, to take it in a tablespoon like medicine, and then put cheap salad dressing on your greens – or worse yet – no dressing at all? Yuk, I would not like the taste of it either, and I would still be hungry. Enjoy this incredible food as the nourishing condiment that it is. You may even save money depending on your current grocery budget.