What's Gail Simmons' Junk Food Weakness?
The 'Top Chef' judge can't avoid the deliciousness of one salty-tart snack.
Everyone has at least one food weakness for something that you know is flat-out bad for you, yet the yummy factor of it overcomes any waistline worries. For some, it's sweets like cake and chocolate. For Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, it's salt and vinegar potato chips.
In an interview with FOX 40, Simmons -- who recently released a book titled Talking With My Mouth Full -- says that her job of traveling constantly and attending food-based events makes keeping her figure in check a tough task. That, plus being a food lover is one lethal combo. Says Simmons: "I'm tempted by everything. My husband makes fun of me because every day it's a new food that I love. I have a weakness for butterscotch pudding, ice cream in any flavor and dark chocolate, although that's one thing I do keep in my house — 70% dark chocolate. I just have a couple little squares during the day. Salt and vinegar chips are my one processed-food weakness — I try not to eat processed food, but it's not easy when you're on the go."
To counter that on-the-go lifestyle, Gail says that she hits the veggies hard when she's home. "When I'm cooking for myself, I find that I eat almost completely vegetarian, although I'm not vegetarian. So I make a lot of vegetable soups and stews, and a lot of whole grains like barley, quinoa and brown rice."
When asked about how being on television can affect one's perception of their own weight, Gail says that for the most part, she's totally comfortable in her skin.
"I'm a healthy weight for my height, and I like how I look on most days. There are few women in America that don't want to lose 5 pounds, but I refuse to let that thought dominate my life. And there are too many other real problems in the world — real obesity problems and real hunger problems — to worry that much about a few pounds that I'd like to lose."
Chef might be between seasons right now, but you can currently fill your foodie craving with Bravo's new chef competition, Around the World in 80 Plates, on Wednesdays at 10/9c. Watch a preview for this week's episode below:
