Natick resident Mona Doglov has always had a passion for food. With a background in nutrition, Doglov has used her ideas to cultivate a successful career in marketing brands and products in a way that satisfies consumers’ needs. Doglov’s achievements include leading creating more than 75 products and developing three product patents—all pertaining to food.
Most recently, Doglov has partnered with Bob Warden, a housewares executive and TV personality whose background includes writing and publishing cookbooks. Together, Doglov and Warden created the publishing firm Partners In Publishing. Their most recent project is a collaboration with actor and director Anson Williams on The Perfect Portion Cookbook, which transforms traditional comfort food recipes into 100-calorie portions. Here, Doglov discusses the inspiration behind the book, and her motivation to promote wellness.
Can you describe your
background in nutrition and what sparked your interest in the subject?
I have a degree from Cornell University in nutrition, with an emphasis in nutritional biochemistry, and an MBA from NYU. I have spent the past 25+ years working with food, delving into new food and product development, and understanding consumer behavior and their relationship with food. I have a personal interest in food and cooking, too—it really is a universal way to bring people of all cultures together. I have an expertise in culinary chemistry. It’s fun to do what you love . . . to me, it’s not work!
What was the inspiration behind The Perfect Portion Cookbook?
Anson Williams came to my business partner, Bob Warden, and me with an idea—he had an issue in the past with overeating, and he had seen the 100 calorie packs in the supermarket. He challenged us to see if we could create a cookbook where consumers could see what a 100 calorie portion would be for all of his favorite comfort foods.
How did it all come to fruition?
We took this idea and expanded it further; we wanted to create a comfort food cookbook where each recipe was divisible by 100, so consumers could see what the 100 calorie would look like. We then teach how much food should be consumed for a given meal—it may be 300 calories for an entree, 100 calories for each side dish. Comfort food recipes were designed to be “better-for-you,” yet still taste as delicious, or even more delicious! We made sure all of the ingredients were clean, and we designed the architecture of each recipe to make it simple to understand. In addition, we wanted to teach how to create perfect meals with the correct portions. All of the recipes suggest servings that are all satisfying, delicious—there is no feeling of skimping. We also have a week meal plan and show a variety of 100 calorie snacks and 100 calorie portions for all kinds of foods.
Who is this cookbook for? Can anyone make these recipes?
This cookbook is for anyone looking for an easy way to still eat the foods they love without overeating. Knowledge is power—if you are mindful of how much you eat, and you eat foods that are better for you, it makes it easy to have a healthier lifestyle.
What are some of the
misconceptions people have about portion size?
People don’t realize how much they eat in a given day. Portion size, especially at restaurants, has nearly tripled over the past 30 years. You may be eating healthier, but you can be overeating. This book teaches what the correct portions are and how to manage your day.
Why is it important to be able to eat the foods you enjoy while also trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
You want to enjoy food. It is one of the most amazing joys in life! And you want to view food as a positive experience, not as a crutch, inconvenience or the reason for weight gain. If you learn to eat the right amount, and the right foods, you will feel great both inside and out.
In what way can restrictive diets be counterproductive?
Restrictive diets don’t work—you won’t stay with them for the long term, and you don’t want to feel deprived. You want to eat in a way that is easy and you can enjoy, and not view eating as a negative experience. If you learn to eat the right portions, and know how to prepare them with better, healthier ingredients, it’s win-win.
What are some of your
favorite recipes in the book?
Wow! There are so many great recipes . . . my favorites are Bob’s chicken pot pie, my chili, the tomato basil soup, the honey mustard salmon, and the 100 calorie cheesecakes.
What would you like to tell the reader who is about to pick up this book?
You can eat what you love, without overeating. This book is not a diet plan. It’s a guide filled with 150 great recipes and tips that will empower you to eat and live a better lifestyle. We make it easy for you, too.
Anything else you’d like to add?
This book has been a personal passion for all of us. Knowledge is power—by being mindful, you are taking the first step. Our mission is to make it easy for you to eat healthier, feel great, and to enjoy.
Issue Date:
April, 2016
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