It has long been suggested that Britons work the longest hours in Europe. What’s more, while research has confirmed that countries such as Germany and France have seen a steady decline in the average number of hours worked in recent years, Britain’s businesses have not followed suit.
Unsurprisingly then, we appear to have less time for the things we love more than ever before. The Resolution Foundation says that we spend notably fewer hours on leisure activities and hobbies today than we did 40 years ago. That’s not just because of time spent at work of course; there are a countless number of other responsibilities that come along with busy modern lives, including childcare, spending time with parents and partners, cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with household chores.
So, what’s the solution? If you’re a family of keen foodies, have a busy lifestyle or simply want to free up time that’s dedicated to certain chores such as cooking for other things, hiring a personal chef could be the answer.
Why are personal chefs so popular today?
While having a private chef may once have been reserved for A-list celebrities, they are becoming increasingly popular additions to busy private households in London and beyond.
In fact, some reports suggest that the number of online searches for private chefs increased by over 170% in 2020 as more and more people began to embrace the idea of handing over the responsibility for shopping and cooking to a culinary expert.
There are lots of reasons why personal chefs are an increasingly popular addition to the modern lifestyle, but some of the key reasons that private chefs are in demand include:
The time factor: The pace of modern life can feel exhausting. Attempting to juggle work, family, friends and find time for other essentials can be an impossible task.
Having someone on hand to take on the responsibility for preparing delicious, nutritious meals for the whole family can be a huge advantage and free up several precious hours per week. Those extra hours can then be spent on other pressing life tasks – such as running a business, tackling the demands of an important career or spending more time together as a family.
Dietary requirements: With more of us living with food allergies and intolerances, it’s probable that one or two members of the household may have very specific dietary restrictions or requirements. This can be difficult for non-professionals to handle when it comes to sourcing ingredients and creating varied meals on a daily basis.
A private chef will have a wide repertoire of cuisines and techniques in their arsenal, meaning they can ensure that all dietary requirements are handled without sacrificing the sheer enjoyment that good food can bring. This also removes a lot of dinner-time stress in busy households, as there is no longer any need to take on the demanding task of preparing multiple meals at the end of a long day.
Convenience: Feeding a family can often seem like a full-time job, with children and partners wanting different foods and eating at different times of the day because of after school or after work commitments. In busy homes, this can create tension and increase stress levels. A private chef can alleviate that inconvenience while still ensuring everyone has access to delicious, nutritious meals and snacks that they’ll enjoy, no matter the time of the day they’re planning to eat.
A private chef will also ensure all ingredients required for the day’s meals are stocked, so there’s no last minute dashes to the supermarket or endless shopping lists to manage, either.
Quality: Not everyone who enjoys good food has the time, inclination or skill set to become a highly accomplished at-home chef. If you’ve found that you love to sit down to a delicious meal at the end of the day, but don’t love the hours of prep and training that goes into crafting perfectly cooked food, a private chef can help. They’ll ensure that your meals are of restaurant quality and prepared to a high standard from in-season ingredients.
Nutrition: Whether someone in your family has certain dietary requirements that make mealtimes a challenge, or you’re concerned that you’re too busy to prepare nutritious meals each day, a private chef can be your secret weapon. They can craft varied, balanced menus to give your family all the vitamins and nutrients needed to feel good, maintain energy levels and fuel their bodies. What’s more, they can align that philosophy with your dietary preferences and favourite foods to ensure mealtimes are a joy, rather than a chore.
If you’d like to learn more about how a personal chef could make your busy lifestyle more manageable, please get in touch.
