My husband Thom and I have watched Chopped for several years now. Even though we are not big fans of reality TV, there is something about the mix of tasty food, cooking, creativity, and drama that caught our attention. If you haven’t seen it, Chopped is a weekly program on the Food Network that showcases four different chefs each week as they compete to create the most artistic and flavorful dishes in a set amount of time. After watching dozens of episodes, it occurred to me that many of the things we witness week after week is similar to what we all face on a regular basis. That’s when I came up with seven life lessons contained in every episode of Chopped.
#1 We all get a mystery basket every day. Those of you who watch the show know that each of the four contestants receive a mystery basket containing four unique food products. The Chefs must then utilize those four ingredients to make something both visually appealing and tasty for the three celebrity judges. To make the challenge more interesting, the competing contestants must provide an appetizer course, followed by a main course, and finish up with a dessert. Even more difficult is that they only have 20 minutes for the appetizer, 30 for the main, and another 30 for dessert. Following each course the plates are judged and one of the Chefs is “chopped” until in the end, only one Chef remains. The experience is likely more stressful than we can know.
But in so many ways that is what happens metaphorically to each of us every day. We are all handed a set of mystery ingredients and it is up to us what we will create out of it. Some Chefs do it with amazing creativity and grace—winning or losing. Others race around like maniacs barely managing to throw something edible on the plate before the buzzer goes off. Others flat out forget the requirement of using one of the essential ingredients and pay the penalty. Life Lesson: Regardless of what your mystery basket contains each day, you can always create something interesting, savory and uniquely you.
#2 Don’t let the judges intimidate you. Judges are everywhere. It doesn’t matter if you are on a reality television show, writing a blog post or merrily going about your business. What matters is how much we do or don’t let them intimidate and wreck our dreams, desires and inspiration. Most of the Chefs that manage to win on Chopped seem to posses the confidence in their own abilities to weather the storm. Life Lesson: Never let a judge or judgment break your spirit.
#3 Don’t be fooled by appearances. Some Chefs create the most beautiful plates imaginable. Like a work of art you can tell when the judges are clearly impressed. Yet every now and then the judges will cut into a piece of meat that is half raw or something tart and bitter that catches them by surprise. Even worse are when bits of bone or other foreign material are hiding inside. Nearly without exception, the plates with the worst taste are chopped regardless of how beautiful they might look. Life Lesson: What’s inside is always more important than what’s outside.
#4 We can play it safe or we can be adventurous. Each plate prepared by the Chefs is judged on taste, creativity and presentation. Yet in spite of that directive, many of the Chefs put out something they have cooked dozens of times or sometimes something you or I could make in a squeeze. Repeatedly the Chefs who succeed at the biggest challenges often win the show. Life Lesson: Be Bold—don’t be afraid to fail.
#5 Use everything. In every episode each competing Chef must make a plate using the mystery ingredients. Strange and often conflicting tastes like watermelon, canned sardines, pepper jack cheese and zucchini are relatively normal for the show. A winning Chef always creatively uses every item along with a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator. Yet every now and then a Chef will simply forget to include one of the essential ingredients or forget to check the pantry for other items. This reminds me that we often have more options to create a winning recipe than we remember. And sometimes, even those things we think are huge stumbling blocks (like mystery basket ingredients!) can lead to something amazing. We just need to use everything. Life Lesson: Stay awake, aware and use what you’ve got.
#6 Even if you don’t win doesn’t mean you can’t be nice. It’s obvious that no matter how talented some Chefs are, sometimes circumstances work against you and you are chopped. Some chefs are very gracious and manage to depart the show wishing everyone else well despite the obvious disappointment. Others rant and rave throughout the show and if they do manage to be the last Chef standing, do it in such an obnoxious way that viewers are left with a nasty taste in our mouths. This is a great reminder that while winning is nice, being a person that others like to be around is likely a bigger reward. Life Lesson: Respect for others and kindness makes us a winner no matter what.
#7 Never forget we only have so much time. One of the biggest challenges the Chefs face on Chopped is racing against the clock. Not only must they prepare a tasty and attractive dish to stay in the competition, they must use some really strange ingredients at the same time. Not easy. Yet when you think about it we are all on a time clock of sorts, and with the right purpose and intention we all hope to leave something that is “tasty and attractive” for ourselves and others. Let’s never forget that while it might seem we have plenty of time to do what we want with our mystery baskets, our time on Earth is finite. Life Lesson: Use our time wisely and never take it for granted.
While you may not have ever thought of Chopped as an example of a wise and thought provoking television show, I think whenever we are paying attention we can find life lessons all around us. No matter what the program, it’s SMART to remember that watching how others successfully navigate life with grace, wit, humor and wisdom we can learn something and live a more happy and rewarding life.
Photo credit: http://blog.foodnetwork.com Press Photo
Each life lesson you’ve listed is a wonderful gem, Kathy! I know people tend to minimize reality shows but in a way, they can teach us some valuable life lessons. It is so true that we all receive opportunities on a daily basis and it is up to us to make the most of them, utilizing our time in a way that makes us happy–perhaps not always productive. And yes, being nice is so important. I really enjoyed reading this post! Thank you!
Hi Vidya! So nice to hear from you. I actually wrote this ages ago so I’m glad you still think it is relevant! Let’s be sure and make the most of today. ~Kathy
Kathy, This is a brilliant post! I want to share it with everyone I can for it has many lessons we can all learn from.
Hi Nora! Glad you liked it. I think when we look around most of us can come up with life lessons just about everywhere if we take the time. ~Kathy
Haven’t seen the show yet but I love the life lessons you have shared!
Thanks Kathy! Not only did you give me a new show to watch but also great
life lessons to remember!
Hi Georgette! Welcome to SMART Living. If you like to cook or watch other cooking I definitely recommend the show. And I’m glad you enjoyed the “lessons” too! Thanks for your comment. ~Kathy
Thanks Kathy!
Glad to find your blog…
I enjoy Masterchef, Hell Kitchen and even Great British bake-off
so I’m guessing I would love this too.
Thanks again and will be checking on your latest posts 🙂
Hi Georgette! Yes if you enjoy those other shows I’ll be you would love this one too. Thanks for stopping by and I please jump in the conversation as much as you like! ~Kathy
Hey Kathy, I hope all is well.
I don’t have cable, but have seen Chopped on occasion over at a friend’s house and I thoroughly agree with your 7 life lessons culled from the experiences of this show. In fact, I find that food is a great metaphor for life in general and you have given me an idea or two for a future post…so thank you for that 🙂
Take care and my best to all.
Lyle
Hi Lyle! Nice to hear from you. And yes, I think us writers can probably come up with a “life lesson” from just about anything we observe if we are paying attention. Of course food does seem to make it a bit easier though, right? ~Kathy
Hey Kathy.
” Of course food does seem to make it a bit easier though, right? ” – Indeed it does, since most everyone can relate to food in one way or another.
Take care and all the best.
Lyle
What a fun post! Don’t let the judges break your spirit. I like it.
Hi Suzi! Glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by. ~Kathy
I have not watched Chopped but now I will. Life and food are so intertwined. I enjoy your lessons learned!
Hi Haralee! Oh it’s definitely worth checking out if you watch ANY TV. We’ve watched so many episodes that we don’t watch it quite as much any more but they are usually fun and interesting…and yes, we can make a blog post out of anything if we’re paying attention right? ~Kathy
Love the show, Kathy. Great job on pulling out the applicable life lessons. One could even say this is a case of life imitating art. 🙂
Hi Nancy! How are you doing? Feeling better? You can’t always count on CHOPPED! being something you can watch when under the weather. Hope that is LONG past and now you’re back to your usually energetic self. ~Kathy
Love Chopped! Love your post Kathy!! I think the one that speaks to me the most today is: #5 – Use everything!
Hi Sunny! Yes it is a great show isn’t it, and “almost” inspires me to be more creative in the kitchen! ~Kathy
Never watched the show, but you are so right, life is like a bowl of cherries it’s what you add to it to make an amazing journey! (mixed metaphors but you know what I mean) Awesome article, thanks!
Hi Lydia! Yes, if we are paying attention we can find life lessons everywhere. Glad you liked it! ~Kathy
I love everything about this post. I’m just getting over pneumonia so I’ve been a whiny little baby lately and really needed to gain some perspective. Thanks!
Hey Lizzie! Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. I wondered because I haven’t seen you ANYWHERE! Hope you are feeling better and better because I’d love to see you again before you head north for the summer! ~Kathy
We love Chopped too! Funny, I never thought of it as a reality show (I don’t like them either), but I guess it is.
#7 should be tattooed to our foreheads.
Hi Janis! Not surprised you like it to. It is a fun show (most of the time). We sort of go through phases with watching it nowadays but it is always a good filler when there is nothing else on! And YES! to #7…it’s just too easy to forget! ~Kathy
So fun! I love looking for life lessons in quirky ways. I’ve never watched Chopped, but I think my time has come.
Hi Barbara! Yes, this was an easy one to write exactly because it is a fun idea! And do give Chopped a chance and let me know if you see anything else we should apply. ~Kathy