“More than just physical nourishment, dinner can be time to feed your family’s soul. Family and food go hand in hand.”
— Chef Robert IrvinePhoto: Ian Spanier
Many people struggle with motivation to stay fit and eat well. What keeps you motivated to stay in shape?
I always make it a priority to get to the gym for an hour a day, and at this point, it doesn’t even feel like a choice. If I want to continue pursuing opportunities in the culinary world, in TV—and keeping my foundation running at a high level—well, I can’t do any of that if I’m sick or out of shape. It’s not “working out,” it’s training for a high-performance lifestyle. Everything I’m able to
accomplish stems from being physically able.
What are your three favorite things to eat? Any “cheat” meals or snacks?
One of my favorite meals is a perfectly roasted chicken with mashed potatoes—it is a simple and comfortable meal, but much harder to perfect than many realize. On the cheat side, I love pub food like ribs, fish and chips, and I love desserts; virtually any dessert would make my guilty pleasures lists. Another guilty pleasure is Skittles (except the green ones!). The good news here is that I can enjoy my guilty pleasure, as can anyone that understands the concept of moderation.
What items would we find in your fridge most of the time?
Grape seed oil! It’s great because it has omega-3 fatty acids, a higher smoke point and no flavor, so it’s the
perfect all-purpose cooking oil. It also needs to be stored in a cool location, so I actually recommend keeping it in the refrigerator for best results. A Sunday roast is one of my favorite meals, so if I’m not traveling, I often have a whole chicken, Brussels sprouts and butternut squash in there. When I’m traveling, I always have demi-glace, white wine vinegar and juices. I can make anything from that. Add in some grape seed oil and you can make a delicious salad dressing, then all you have to do is chop up your salad ingredients and you’re done!
What’s your favorite workout music?
I like a lot of different music, including a lot of things people wouldn’t expect. I love ABBA when I work out, Celine Dion and Pink. “The Winner Takes It All” is my favorite song. I also love Queen Latifah ... she’s so genuine and gives so much.
Does your family share your same passion for working out and eating healthy?
Yes, we all share the idea that balance is key. My wife is probably more of a stickler for eating a clean diet than I am. She’s incredibly disciplined. When I cook for my family, we do a lot of fish, particularly salmon. My wife also loves pot stickers, so we eat a lot of vegetarian pot stickers.
Photos: Matt Tuthill
