Reasons to use this tool kit:

Purpose Deliver a nutrition & health message through culinary education & demonstration Research shows people, now more than ever, are seeking credible sources of information about healthy cooking for their families. In your role as a food and nutrition expert, you can lead the way. This tool kit will help you lead audiences on a nutrition journey that pairs practical cooking techniques with delicious, easy recipes that can solve the healthy family meal dilemma. This tool kit will also provide a startto-finish guide on how to prepare and present a cooking demonstration that inspires a healthy lifestyle. Objectives Learn key components of planning a successful culinary demonstration. Understand the basics of preparing and presenting a concise, informative culinary demonstration. Craft interesting educational sound bites that engage and motivate your audience. Become a health and wellness advocate through culinary education. Reasons to use this tool kit: Capitalize on an increased interest in health-inspired cooking. Provide audience with quick, easy meal solutions that strike the right balance between taste and nutrition. Inspire clients/audience to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Did You Know? 78% of shoppers believe it s important to have protein when cooking dinner. 89% of shoppers believe it s important to have protein when cooking for children. Source: 2014 HealthFocus Trend Study 2

Getting Started Plan your demonstration Planning is key! There are several important details that should guide planning for your demonstration. Use this tool kit and checklists to help direct your first steps in creating the perfectly planned culinary demonstration. Location: Get the scoop about your location. Inquire ahead about details like cooking equipment availability, on-site cold storage options, food safety requirements, facility permit requirements, etc. See the Site Checklist on page 4. Audience: Ask how many people will be in your audience and who will be present at your culinary demonstration. Recipes for busy moms are likely much different than recipes suitable for single men in their 20s. Be sure to know your audience and customize your demonstration and talking points to meet their needs. Equipment: Use the provided equipment lists with each recipe as a planning tool. A great tip is to use a suitcase with wheels for packing. This is an organized way to safely and easily transport your equipment to your demonstration location. Handouts: Prepare and print any handouts, recipe cards and/or any other materials that you d like to provide to your audience. This is a good time to be sure you have business cards, nutrition information and culinary tips available for your audience to take home. See the Resources section for handout ideas. Visit www.texasbeef.info/resources to order hard copies of materials or to download printable versions. Ingredients: Use the provided grocery lists to make shopping for your culinary demonstration simple. Be sure when preparing for your demonstration that you bring clear ramekins and bowls for each ingredient. This allows your audience to see the ingredients from where they are sitting and makes your demonstration much more interesting. Staging: Set up your demonstration in columns from left to right. The left column will be the first items you ll use in your demonstration and you ll work your way to the right with the last items you ll use. Did you know? At 4:30 p.m. tonight: Only half of Americans will know what they re having for dinner. Source: Beef Checkoff Google Survey, October 2013 Q&A: Save time at the end of your demonstration for questions from your audience. If you experience a lull in your demonstration, it is also a good time to incorporate Q & A from your audience. Practice: Complete at least one full walkthrough of your demonstration prior to your presentation. Familiarize yourself with the recipe ingredients and instructions so you are not reading from a paper. Think about where you will insert your key messages and talking points and if you have any stories or anecdotes. Can you pronounce all the ingredients correctly? Are you comfortable talking through the recipe steps or the nutrition facts? 3

Site Checklist Determine logistics for a smoothly executed demonstration Audience demographics: Number of participants: Site objectives: Budget: Location setting (kitchen, classroom, auditorium): Electricity availability at demo site: Cold storage availability: Equipment availability (tables, tablecloths, cooking elements, water, etc.): Fire hazard concerns (open flames, propane fueled burners, electric skillets, etc.): Recipe sample requirements: Duration of presentation: Space availability for set up and clean up: Hand sink availability: Outside food regulations: Food Handler permit requirements: Additional Items to consider: If providing samples for an audience, be sure to bring all necessary serving items including: napkins, forks, plates and/or bowls. Be sure to have both email and cell phone information for your on-site contact should questions or issues arise the day of your demonstration. Tip No cooking allowed or no electricity available? That s OK! Consider using one of the No Cook recipes provided in this tool kit OR bring prepared samples in a slow cooker. 4

Master Supply List For Set Up 6-8 ft. table (if not provided by facility) Tablecloth that covers front and sides of table (if not provided by facility) Extension cord Power strip with on/off switch Small cooler with ice to store cold items Hand sanitizer Aluminum foil Plastic wrap Ziptop Bags, quart and gallon Bubble wrap for packing Hot pads 3 dish towels (at a minimum) For Prep/Cooking/Demo Electric skillet or burner (if not provided by facility) Skillet, Grill pan, Indoor grill Measuring cups/spoons if needed Latex gloves Cutting boards Recipe Ingredients (see individual recipe grocery lists for ideas) Demo Materials (see individual recipe materials list for ideas) Presentation plate for hero shot (see individual recipe materials list for ideas) For Serving (if sampling) Paper plates, bowls Plastic flatware Cocktail napkins For Clean Up Disinfectant wipes Trash bags Paper towels Detailed supply lists available for each recipe in Recipe section. 5

Recommended Set Up Set up tips will make organizing your demonstration a breeze After learning more about facility accommodations, your audience and the recipe, you can work on your demonstration set up. Place demonstration table close to an electric outlet, if possible. If the facility set up doesn t allow for easy access to electricity, use an extension cord. Run it safely so that no one can trip over it. Tape the cord down with duct tape if necessary. Use a power strip if you are plugging in multiple electric items. It s also convenient to use a power strip to have easy access to an on/off power switch. Cover table with a tablecloth, if appropriate. Use clear glass ramekins and bowls to display your ingredients. This allows the audience to see your ingredients making your set up interesting. Arrange ingredients in columns from left to right (see photo below) in the order you plan to use them in your demonstration. See instructional videos for each recipe online at www.texasbeef.info/resources. Avoid accidents by placing hot skillets, cutting boards and knives safely away from audience members. Place any additional supplies or packaging under the demonstration table or safely out of sight. Place spatulas, tongs or other demo equipment with ingredients to serve as a reminder of each step or talking point. For example: place a spatula next to the ground beef to remind yourself that after placing the ground beef in the skillet, you should stir in spices and talk about the nutritional benefits of lean ground beef. Display your hero plate or your final recipe plate in front of your demo area or to the right side of your set up. Always use a white plate to show off your delicious recipe creation. 6

Presenting Tie it all together with an inspiring, interesting presentation Introduction Establishing credibility and building rapport starts with introducing yourself to the audience. However, it is equally important to discuss with your audience why and how your presentation is going to help them achieve their goals. Relate your demonstration to your audience. For example, if you have an audience of moms, choose a fast and easy recipe that includes a few (ideally kid-friendly) ingredients. Help them understand that the recipe fits into their busy lifestyle. Inspire healthy eating through flavor After choosing a recipe, determine the three most important messages you want your audience to take away from your demonstration. This tool kit provides both key messages and secondary talking points for each recipe. See the Recipe section for talking point ideas. Incorporate resource materials where appropriate. See the Resources section. Visit www.texasbeef.info/resources to order additional materials or to download printable materials. Use each ingredient and each cooking step to inspire healthy eating As you prepare for your demonstration, identify a talking point for each ingredient that explains what it offers from a flavor/nutrition/texture/pairing standpoint. For example, in the Smoky Chipotle Pot Roast recipe, the chipotle chili powder provides a deep smoky flavor, but if you re making this recipe for kids, you may want to adjust the spice level or substitute regular chili powder. This tool kit provides talking points for several demonstration-friendly recipes. See the Recipe section for talking point ideas. Provide substitutions or alternatives where appropriate. In most recipes, there is lots of room to experiment and substitute. For example, in the Savory Beef and Cheese Roll-Ups recipe, the roast beef could be substituted for leftover pot roast or steak. You could also suggest your audience include vegetables their family likes in place of the vegetables listed in the recipe. This helps your audience envision how this recipe would work within their own homes. Take time to explain your cooking method Many people are intimidated in the kitchen, so it s your job to show them how easy the healthy recipe is to recreate at home. Break down the cooking method in a few simple steps. For example, demonstrate how easy it is to stir-fry beef by using high heat and thin strips that have been cut against the grain. Share short cut ideas if you have them. See the Recipe section for talking point ideas. Also refer to the instructional videos available online at www.texasbeef.info/resources. Provide a few simple tips that will resonate with your audience and make the recipe more appealing. For example, it s often less expensive to purchase a larger cut of beef like Sirloin or Top Round and slice it into stir-fry strips at home. It s easier to slice if you place it into the freezer for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Closing Wrap up your demonstration by plating a final hero plate (or showing off a hero plate that you prepared before your demonstration). Your audience eats with their eyes, so inspire them to cook this recipe at home with a delicious-looking final dish. Use a white dish to better showcase your recipe. Wipe the edges of your plate to remove any splashes, smudges or stray food. 7

Tips on adding in the WOW Factor You ve mastered the basics, but there s always room for improvement. Wow your audience by highlighting points that meet their needs. The great thing is that beef is a versatile, high-quality protein source that naturally provides a variety of exciting angles that will leave your audience wanting more. This tool kit is filled with ideas to give your demonstration the wow factor. Some sample demonstration themes Facing the Facts on Fat Focus your demonstration on incorporating healthy fats into your diet and explaining the role that a balance of fat plays in an active, healthy lifestyle. Highlight facts from the BOLD Study Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet. Study provided in the Resources section. Lean Matters Highlight the numerous options for lean beef cuts at the grocery store. Lean cuts handout provided in the Resources section. Quick and Easy Week Night Meals Demonstrate recipes that have fewer ingredients and quicker cook times to inspire week night meal solutions. Recipe ideas are provided in the Recipe section, like the Asian Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry. Solve the Lunchtime Dilemma Use one of the easy, no-cook recipes provided in the Recipe section to give your audience lunchtime meal solutions. Beef for Breakfast Highlight the benefits of protein-rich breakfasts Research on protein at breakfast and breakfast recipes provided in the Resources and Recipe sections respectively. Warm Meals for Cool Nights Provide inspiration for comforting, healthy meals in the cold, winter months. Recipe ideas are provided in the Recipe section. Summer Suppers Capitalize on in-season fruits and vegetables. Recipe ideas are provided in the Recipe section. Cook Once, Eat Twice Provide time-saving solutions by demonstrating recipes that incorporate leftovers. For example, begin with the Smoky Chipotle Pot Roast and demonstrate how the leftovers can be used to make the Beefy Sweet Potato Hash. Recipes ideas are provided in the Recipe section. Side Note How are you connecting with your audience? Blogs: Have audience sign waivers to use photos & comments on your blog. V-Log: Film quick 10-second testimonials to create a video blog. Social Media: Include links to all of your social properties so your audience knows where to find you. Newsletters: Encourage your audience to sign up on-site to capture new readers. 8

Resources Helpful Resources Refer to these helpful websites for more information on Beef Nutrition Facts, Cooking Tips, Fact sheets, Recipes, Printable Resource Materials, and Videos. www.txbeef.org www.texasbeef.info/resources www.beefnutrition.org www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com Quinoa Peanut Butter Black Beans Edamame Lean Beef 58