We’re happy to welcome Chef Robert Lewis, also known as the “Happy Diabetic,” to the TCOYD team this season. He’ll be sharing recipes and healthy eating tips on the show and the blog, so we thought we’d let him introduce himself and offer up a little insight into why he is, indeed, the Happy Diabetic.
Growing up in California offered to me a culinary experience I will always cherish. I come from a long line of wonderful cooks. Family food artists and guests in my home were experts in preparing ethnic and traditional dishes, which gave me a love for food and the creative outlet it provided. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York in 1976, my personal and professional cooking journey began.
In 1998 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. At that time I was sure my days of good eating were over. What I “heard” in those early days was only the list of food that were prohibited. As I worked through my ups and downs, I came to realize that the selection of foods I could and should eat was vast and included many fabulous favorites, Thus began my motivation to create great tasting dishes that are easy to prepare.
Requests to share tips and recipes resulted in the publication of two cookbooks, Get Happy, Get Healthy, Recipes from the Kitchen of Robert Lewis the Happy Diabetic and Simply Desserts. I speak to audiences at hospitals and health fairs across the country delivering a message of hope and encouragement. My recipes celebrate great tasting food that both diabetics and non-diabetics can enjoy.
My wish is that you will have fun as you follow my healthy cooking and eating plan. So…wield your French knife with the confidence of Zorro!
Happy cooking!
Chef Robert Lewis the Happy Diabetic
Learn more about Chef Robert Lewis at Happy Diabetic and watch him on the season premiere of TCOYD!