How can you keep your nutrition goals on track? A Panthers personal chef tells us.
Charlotte chef Micheal Taylor — who spends his days preparing meals for celebrity clients — has some healthy tips to share with CharlotteFive readers (and a recipe!) just in time for your health-focused 2022 goals.
As a former intern at Asheville’s Omni Resort-Grove Park Inn and chef at Omni Hotel Charlotte, Taylor used his seven years of hospitality and catering experience to start Luxury Foods Catering in 2020. The journey that started with a direct message to a few athletes has evolved into a company that specializes in gourmet meals, private dining and events and meal prep for professional athletes.
Taylor has cooked for multiple Panthers players — he said his roster includes DJ Moore, Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horne, Terrance Marshall and Keith Kirkwood. What do NFL players eat? During football season, these Panthers players request simple, healthy options, Taylor said — such as salmon, green beans, yellow rice, blackened chicken and spinach.
And in the off-season? Chicken wings, ribs and mac and cheese are popular.
Tips to meet health and nutrition goals
Since new goals usually come with the start of the new year, Taylor offers some insight into how to meet your 2022 health and nutrition goals.
START MEAL PREPPING:
If you’re active and you’re not seeing desired results, healthy meal prep is the key to reaching your personal fitness goals.
If you exercise often, consuming healthy foods that you have ready to go ensures your body is receiving proper nutrients.
Track your calorie intake. If you don’t have a trainer or nutritionist, you can use a tracking method to track how many calories you’re eating each day (Try apps like My FitnessPal or Noom, or use a food journal).
STAY ON TRACK:
At the start of a new year, many people have health and wellness goals. But consistency — beyond January and February — is essential to meeting those goals.
CAN I HAVE CHEAT DAYS?
Cheat days are welcomed. It’s OK to treat yourself, but try not to go overboard.
Even during a cheat meal, avoiding greasy foods is important.
Use your cheat day as a reward. Knowing you put the work in should remain a priority.
TIPS, WHEN COOKING HEALTHY FOODS:
When in doubt, bake or pan-sear proteins. Baking your food instead of deep frying it can make all the difference.
The kind of oil you use matters. Use olive oil instead of vegetable oil or butter for cooking.
With these tips in mind, Taylor’s recipe for Honey Buttered Pan-Seared Salmon will not only keep you on track with your nutrition goals, but it could be used for your next meal prep. It’s simple and it can mostly be prepared with items that are already in your kitchen.
Taylor’s Honey Buttered Pan-Seared Salmon
Ingredients
2.5 oz salmon filet
garlic powder (to taste)
onion powder (to taste)
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
paprika (to taste)
1 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. honey
1 tbs. butter
Method of preparation
Coat the salmon with olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Make sure the salmon is evenly coated.
Place salmon in the fridge for 25 minutes to marinate.
A good quality nonstick or cast iron pan will help with getting a nice sear on the salmon. Heat the pan until hot. Once the pan is heated, add more oil if needed — but the oil used for the salmon marinade should be enough.
Sear salmon for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until it reaches 125° Fahrenheit internally. The salmon should be crispy golden brown on the outside. Set salmon aside off the heat while you work on the honey glaze.
In the same pan on low heat, melt the butter, then add the honey. Once they are well combined, turn off the heat and set aside. Plate your salmon with your choice of sides, and then brush or drizzle the glaze on the salmon (a pastry brush is recommended for even distribution).
Luxury Foods Catering
Instagram: @luxury.foods_
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
