Wolfgang Puck Shares Personal Stories to Teach About Healthy Eating

Here at SOSMentor, we can't stop raving about the entertaining and inspiring speech Wolfgang Puck gave at our Poster Contest Awards Reception last week. Wolfgang delighted our audience with colorful personal stories, encouragement, and advice.

On Wednesday, we shared some of his tips for kid-friendly, healthy cooking. Today, we're getting even more up close and personal with Wolfgang, as we share some of the interesting childhood stories and life experiences he described to our audience.

Growing up in Austria, Wolfgang says, it was very easy for him to eat healthy, because his family had their own vegetable garden. They ate mostly fruits and vegetables because it was what they had -- and of course, it made economic sense!

He remembers that the first time he ate canned pineapple, he was amazed at this exotic fruit and thought it was the greatest thing ever. But canned foods were a luxury his parents could not afford -- so they stuck to mostly fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating well was a way of life.

Wolfgang's family also ate very little meat because they did not have a refrigerator to store it! His mother would pick up 2 pounds of meat from the market on Fridays, and that would feed the entire family of 6.

In contrast, a 2-pound porterhouse steak passes as an acceptable portion for one person in many restaurants today! Wolfgang says when he first moved to the U.S. and was living in Indianapolis (he's a big racing fan, by the way), he ordered roast beef at a restaurant. When the waiter brought it out, Wolfgang asked him, "Is this for 2 or 3?" The waiter responded, of course, "No, that's all for you," and Wolfgang couldn't believe one person could eat that much!

The recommended portion size for meat is
about the size of a deck of cards
Image credit: www.treehugger.com

He reminded our audience that our bodies and the planet would benefit if we ate less meat. Our overconsumption of meat is contributing to our nation's health problems, and if every American reduced the amount of meat they eat, we could raise fewer cattle and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wolfgang acknowledged that here in America, meat is our soul food. It's part of our tradition and our national identity. But, he advised, quality is more important than quantity. With meat, a little goes a long way.

The stories and advice Wolfgang Puck shared with us reinforce one of the most important lessons regarding healthy eating and nutrition: Enjoy your food, but eat less!