Chef Jernard Wells Reveals How He Lost 60 Pounds - Exclusive
Johnny Louis/Getty Images By Jorie Mark/Oct. 27, 2021 9:19 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you’ve tuned into his show “New Soul Kitchen,” you know that chef Jernard Wells has thrown down some pretty decadent interpretations of soul food classics — whether it’s his drool-worthy smoked gouda grits, or a buttery, gooey grilled cheese sandwich that has just the right pull (via Cleo TV). So how did Wells recently lose 60 pounds while preparing his signature soul food favorites? Does this chef no longer taste what he creates?
In an exclusive interview with Mashed, Wells explained that while he still enjoys his favorite foods — like his famous lobster macaroni and cheese — he does modify some of the recipes somewhat. Sometimes, it just takes a few ingredient swap-outs, as Wells shares in his cookbook, “Southern Modified.” Plus, he stays aware of his portions. “I know what I love. I know what I like to eat,” Wells said. “I do believe that we can have our cake and eat it too, but it’s about eating in moderation and the key is not to overeat. You have to garner or gain some form of discipline, where I want to eat what I enjoy, but I need to know where to stop,” Wells explained, adding as an example that if he eats lighter in the morning, “I can ‘fluff’ a little bit during the daytime.”
Chef Jernard Wells Reveals How He Lost 60 Pounds - Exclusive
Johnny Louis/Getty Images
By Jorie Mark/Oct. 27, 2021 9:19 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you’ve tuned into his show “New Soul Kitchen,” you know that chef Jernard Wells has thrown down some pretty decadent interpretations of soul food classics — whether it’s his drool-worthy smoked gouda grits, or a buttery, gooey grilled cheese sandwich that has just the right pull (via Cleo TV). So how did Wells recently lose 60 pounds while preparing his signature soul food favorites? Does this chef no longer taste what he creates?
In an exclusive interview with Mashed, Wells explained that while he still enjoys his favorite foods — like his famous lobster macaroni and cheese — he does modify some of the recipes somewhat. Sometimes, it just takes a few ingredient swap-outs, as Wells shares in his cookbook, “Southern Modified.” Plus, he stays aware of his portions. “I know what I love. I know what I like to eat,” Wells said. “I do believe that we can have our cake and eat it too, but it’s about eating in moderation and the key is not to overeat. You have to garner or gain some form of discipline, where I want to eat what I enjoy, but I need to know where to stop,” Wells explained, adding as an example that if he eats lighter in the morning, “I can ‘fluff’ a little bit during the daytime.”
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
In an exclusive interview with Mashed, Wells explained that while he still enjoys his favorite foods — like his famous lobster macaroni and cheese — he does modify some of the recipes somewhat. Sometimes, it just takes a few ingredient swap-outs, as Wells shares in his cookbook, “Southern Modified.” Plus, he stays aware of his portions. “I know what I love. I know what I like to eat,” Wells said. “I do believe that we can have our cake and eat it too, but it’s about eating in moderation and the key is not to overeat. You have to garner or gain some form of discipline, where I want to eat what I enjoy, but I need to know where to stop,” Wells explained, adding as an example that if he eats lighter in the morning, “I can ‘fluff’ a little bit during the daytime.”
Wells’ career made him reconsider his diet
While Wells has lost weight by modifying recipes and watching portions, he doesn’t like to think of this change in his approach to eating as a “diet,” or a quick fix that he’ll stop doing once he reaches a specific number on the scale. “Weight can fluctuate, go up and down. When you’re on a lifestyle journey, what you do is you change your whole lifestyle,” Wells explained. “You change everything that’s around you. Even change the way you grocery shop, the foods that you bring in, the stuff that you eat, how it’s breaking down in your body.”
