Intent

When discussing the intent of my cookbook project, the biggest thing I took into consideration is thinking about how this book can change the way people live their life and go about their own fitness journey. Too many times have I witnessed people start a weightloss journey and micro-manage their calorie intake to the point where they feel in over their heads and give up. With this cookbook, I aim to destigmatize what it means to be on a  “diet,” to show people that eating healthy can be fun, and that you do not have to sacrifice the foods you love to get the results you want. In addition, with the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube, there are many content creators on the web who have an opinion about the way to eat or train. Because there are so many people giving so many opinions about how to diet properly, this can over complicate things and make dieting seem overwhelming. I want to convey the message that the concept of dieting for weight loss or weight gain is actually very simple. It’s not easy, but it’s simple, and there’s certainly a difference between the two.

Impact

Overall, I’m looking to positively impact my audience and hoping they take the recipes I give and apply it to their own meal plans. When they start to cook the recipes, I hope it starts to bring joy into their lives as they indulge in these fun tasting and healthy meals. I hope they listen to my advice and gain a more flexible approach to their diet and lifestyle. As this cookbook is executed and lived in the real world and actual communities, it might allow people to become less intimidated by the concept of dieting and may encourage them to start eating healthier alternative foods. Lastly, and most importantly, I hope that this cookbook will help others achieve their fitness goals whether that be to lose weight or gain weight.

Best Case Scenario

I am able to effectively communicate the message that living a healthy lifestyle can be fun and that it all comes down to balance and moderation. My audience reads my opinions about diet and nutrition and learns that it’s a lot simpler than it’s made out to be. They start to cook the recipes I give in the book and it makes them feel like they’re not dieting at all, rather they’re looking forward to each meal and gain enjoyment from eating the food. They start to learn that dieting is simply calories in versus calories out in its simplest form and they drop the stigma of what it means to be on a diet. 

Worst Case Scenario

Maya Adam on Youtube: The Importance of Moderation to Your Health

I do not effectively communicate the concept of flexible dieting and my theme of moderation and balance is not made clear. My audience is confused by the concept that you can eat fun tasting foods and still achieve your fitness goals. I do not explain the cooking procedures clearly and my audience has a hard time following the recipes. Some of the people within my audience cannot cook the foods I provide because they cannot afford the ingredients listed. I make the concept of dieting confusing to the reader and it deters them from taking my advice or starting their wellness journey altogether. My self portraits are perceived as narcissistic and intimidating.

Personal Identity

This cookbook is a very personal project of mine since I have been training and dieting properly for over six years now. It’s going to be a project that conveys everything I have learned about dieting and nutrition over the years. It took much trial and error to get where I am today, and now I feel comfortable enough sharing to the public what exactly has worked for me from a nutritional perspective. I also understand that I come from a privileged background. I’m fortunate enough to have parents that support my hobbies, cooking being one of them, and I wouldn’t be able to have as much fun with my diet if it wasn’t for them. I understand that not everyone is in the same situation as I am, so that is something I must keep in mind when designing the cookbook. 

Pinterest – Disclaimer: Not a Doctor

I also must make it clear to the reader that I am NOT a doctor, nutritionist, or certified dietitian. I am, however, a certified personal trainer, and when studying for that exam, we talked about diet and nutrition in a general and broad sense. I have to make it clear to the reader that the book is intended for entertainment and artistic purposes only and that I am not an expert in any way. The information in the cookbook is NOT intended or implied to be a substitution for professional medical advice. You should always consult with a doctor before embarking on any type of meal or exercise program. The reader should consider me simply as a recreational gym goer who is passing on information about what has worked for me. 

The self portraits are also a huge form of personal identity that I want to incorporate into the project. I hope that the audience is inspired by my portraits as I want to set a positive example and use them to establish credibility. I want the reader to know that I have eaten these foods for years and have managed to build an impressive physique in conjunction with a proper training program, and they can do the same. I hope the message is not misinterpreted and I hope the self portraits are not perceived as self centered and intimidating.

Missing Perspectives

The self portrait aspect of the project is probably where I will run into the issue of missing certain perspectives and it will be difficult to navigate through that due to the nature of self portraiture. That’s not to say it can’t be done, but will require extra attention. 

Perspectives I need to consider when creating the cookbook are socioeconomic status and meeting the needs of varying ethnicities or cultures. A lot of the foods I eat are in fact soul food inspired, and that’s not by design, but more of a personal choice. I personally enjoy eating foods that are comforting and that are a bit more hearty. People coming from different cultures may not have the same taste in food as I do. Thus, I must be selective with the recipes I choose to put in the cookbook and ensure that I cover foods that stem from varying cultures. 

Remington James on Youtube: ANABOLIC CHIPOTLE BURRITO MEAL PREP

Emphasizing Inclusivity

In an effort to be as inclusive as I can be with my cookbook, I plan on talking to other personal trainers who come from a different background than mine. I will ask them about the particular foods they enjoy and which foods are most prevalent within their culture. I will also survey other fellow gym goers of different ethnic backgrounds and gain intel about what foods they enjoy eating and which foods are common in their culture. I also will be asking in a general sense about their socioeconomic status, hopefully answering the question of “has eating healthier been an issue for you financially and have you seen other people within your culture struggle with this?” In the end, I plan on making a cookbook that is inclusive and diverse so that everyone can become healthier no matter the circumstances.