We had a chance to catch up with Chef Robyn Almodovar, a competitor on several Food Network shows, to learn more about her new role as Corporate Chef of PAOW! and learn a bit more about what eating sustainably really means.
A Le Cordon Bleu graduate, Almodovar served as the Corporate Chef for The Stanley Hotel and The Palm Hotel & Resort before hitting the South Florida Streets with her award-winning 24-foot food truck “Palate Party.”
Now she is at PAOW!, an acronym for People And Our World. PAOW! is a new plant-based protein and meat substitute and they are the title sponsor of the upcoming SEED Food and Wine Festival. PAOW! proteins were created to appeal to everyone from vegans to meat eaters and are made of three simple all-natural ingredients - non-GMO soy, water, and salt.
“We aren’t telling people to not eat meat, we are just challenging them to not limit their culinary creativity to just meat,” explains Almodovar. “PAOW! offers an infinite number of plant-based possibilities so you can make all your favorite dishes with delicious plant-based proteins which are healthier for you and the planet.”
Almodovar answered some questions for us about eating more sustainably!
What does sustainable eating mean?
"Sustainable eating means considering the effects of what you eat on our planet and making the necessary changes to protect humankind and our ecosystem by preserving natural resources for future generations."
Why is it important? What should people know about sustainable eating?
"According to the United Nations, more than three billion people are malnourished today and many of our planet’s 7 billion inhabitants are forced to eat a low-quality diet. At the same time, the world’s population is rapidly expanding, and it is estimated there will be close to 10 billion people on our planet by 2050. Achieving a healthy and sustainable food future is an urgent matter. The goal is to ensure a future when this expanded population has both enough food available to eat and access to high quality, nutritious foods."
What is the easiest way for someone to start eating sustainably?
"It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! The first thing you can do is support, buy and eat local. Become a patron of your farmer’s market. The second thing you can do is eat foods that are in season. The third thing you can do is eat less meat, especially red meat. Gradually adopt a diet that derives “most” of its protein from plants. When a recipe calls for meat, incorporate plant-based protein alternatives such as PAOW!.
PAOW! offers selections such as Chef Style, Pieces, Burger Patties, Veggie Bites, Mini Bites and even Dark, Light, Italian Sausage, and Pepperoni Flavored Pieces. With zero compromise on texture or flavor profiles, the ingredients can be modified to make virtually anything including sautéed, grilled, baked, sous-vide, boiled, and fried foods with a consistency ranging from sushi to crispy fried chicken."
What are your top 5 tips for eating more sustainably?
- "Be mindful of what you eat – consider where it came from and how it arrived to your plate"
- "Practice “mindful meat-eating” by eating less animal product and more plants"
- "Reduce food waste by creating a weekly food plan and strategically utilizing leftovers and freeze what you can’t eat while it’s still fresh"
- "Eat local & seasonal"
- "Grow your own food"
