top of page
Start Now

LIVE HEALTHY
EAT HEALTHY
THINK HEALTHY
The Skinny Chef

DISCOVER THE ART OF HEALTHY LIVING THROUGH THE EYES OF A SKINNY CHEF NAMED ROD


Seacuterie & Smart Cooking: How Skinny Foodies Are Eating Fancy without the Fuss
At Skinny HQ, we believe in eating beautifully, not eating less. And lately, two major foodie trends are proving that flavour, creativity, and smart cooking can absolutely coexist: Seacuterie boards (aka seafood’s glow-up moment) Method-specific cooking using modern tools like air fryers and Instant Pots Together, they’re changing how skinny foodies snack, entertain, and cook without spending all day in the kitchen or drowning meals in heavy sauces. Welcome to the future of

Chef Rod
6 days ago3 min read


Class of ’96: Rise of a Nation — When Football, Memory, and Identity Share the Same Plate
This week has been absolutely smashing. I had the privilege of attending the premiere of Class of ’96: Rise of a Nation, produced by Known Associates Entertainment in partnership with A Barking Rat Film. After watching the first episode, I can confidently say: this documentary doesn’t just tell a football story it serves a full cultural feast.

Chef Rod
Jan 234 min read


When Fashion Eats First: 6 Food Evolutions the Fashion Industry Is Feeding on in 2026
Hey Skinnies! I hope you all had an awesome week. It honestly feels like the days are flying by and by the way, the Skinny Chef still likes to stay fly 😉. Fashion has always been a big part of my brand and my personal style. I am the product, and I’ve learned that the key is to keep the product evolving. 2026 is my fashion evolution , and that brings me to this week’s blog. Food is no longer a fashion side dish it’s the main course . Photo:Vogue In 2026, the fashion indust

Chef Rod
Jan 163 min read


Let’s Do Dry Ke JanYouWorry the Skinny Chef Way: Sober, Social & Still Delicious
Hey Skinnies happy first week of Ke JanYouWorry!
I know what most of us are feeling: sluggish, tired, and exhausted from all the Decembering. If you’re reading this, don’t worry the Skinny Chef has some dope tips to get you through Ke Jan You Worry in style.
If you’ve decided to try or it’s just! Dry Ke Jan You Worry, welcome not to a strict reset, a personality change, or a month of saying “no” to everything fun but to a quieter, more intentional shift. One that doesn’t nee

Chef Rod
Jan 95 min read


2026 – So Much Will Be in the Mix for the Skinny Chef
To the readers, supporters, believers, kitchen warriors, health seekers, dream chasers, and everyday heroes who have walked this journey with me this year has been a rich mix of lessons, growth, setbacks, wins, flavour explosions, mindset shifts, and purpose-driven moments. None of it would mean anything without you.

Chef Rod
Jan 22 min read


Grace for Christmas -It’s Not About the Skinny Chef It’s About Grace
Hello Skinnies,
I trust you all had a blessed Christmas, filled with love, laughter, and loved ones.
Before The Skinny Chef Diaries had a name before the hacks, before the lighter twists and clever swaps there was Grace.
Grace was a young, aspiring chef living with sickle cell anemia.
Brilliant. Curious. Stubborn in the best way.
Cooking wasn’t just her passion it was her declaration that her body did not get to define her dreams.
Food, for Grace, was never casual.
It matte

Chef Rod
Dec 26, 20254 min read


Olive & Co Tattoo: The Skinny Chef Gets Inked This Festive Season
Skinnies, 2025 has been a massive year for self-expression in Mzansi, and as we wrap up the year, Shadre surprised me with an early Christmas gift: a session at the incredible Olive & Co. Tattoo Studio.

Chef Rod
Dec 19, 20255 min read


Title: Catching Skinny Chef Lucky Syndrome (Mastering Alpha–Beta Brain States For Success)
Today, we’re serving you another hot dish from the Skinny HQ. It’s a recipe for your mindset and trust me skinnies, this one deserves a Michelin star!

Chef Rod
Dec 12, 20254 min read


The Skinny Chef’s Cooking Kitchen (A Journey of Skills, Innovation & Culinary Dreams)
But on a serious note, you need the skills and knowledge… enough to actually become a teacher! So let’s dive into this week’s blog and give you the Skinny Chef 101 on becoming a world-class chef!

Chef Rod
Dec 5, 20254 min read


Champagne Problems: A Skinny Chef’s Take on the Future of Sustainable Packaging!
This week, if you’re a chef like me, you’ll agree we’re facing a real struggle: we love gorgeous ingredients, artisanal snacks, imported treats, and restaurant-worthy leftovers… but the “DILEMMA” is that all of it comes wrapped in something! From cling wrap on your fancy cured salmon to the glossy box holding your macaroons packaging quietly shapes the way we eat.

Chef Rod
Nov 28, 20253 min read


The Food Tech Digest: A Sparkling Skinny Chef Guide to Edible Tech
This week, I want to take you into a whole new world where food isn’t just about flavour anymore it’s about innovation, sustainability, and science. From 3D printers whipping up customised meals to nanotechnology keeping food fresher for longer, the culinary world is stepping boldly into a dazzling new era.

Chef Rod
Nov 21, 20253 min read


The Lighter Side of Life: Laughing Through Diabetes This Festive Season
The festive season is rolling in with glittering lights, endless playlists, and food temptations at every corner. And for those managing diabetes, it can feel like you’re stuck between a fruitcake and a hard place. But here’s the Skinny Hack: joy doesn’t have to spike your blood sugar. In fact, laughter might just be the healthiest indulgence of all!

Chef Rod
Nov 14, 20253 min read


Bittersweet, But Make It Delicious: Festive Cooking Hacks for Foodies
It’s that stretch of the year we all look forward to, but secretly dread. There’s joy in every bite, but also pressure hiding behind every to-do list. I said it, Skinnies this season is BITTERSWEET: sweet with love and laughter, but sprinkled with a little stress and fatigue.
So this year, we’re flipping the recipe and making it delicious and enjoyable. This week’s blog is all about how to survive the festive chaos with flair, like a true champ.

Chef Rod
Nov 7, 20254 min read


Mocktails, Bomas & Bushveld: A Foodie’s Escape into the Wild
Hey Skinny readers! This week, I’ve seen tempers flare, claws come out, and horns raised high — yoh! It’s safe to say that some people are acting like the Big Five of South Africa. I caught myself daydreaming about my escape, wondering what’s happening as the year winds down and the city lights blur into tinsel and traffic.

Chef Rod
Oct 24, 20253 min read


Finding Your Zen: Bonsai and Bites – A Culinary Journey through Symbolism & Flavour
This week, we’re pairing the symbolic meanings of popular Bonsai trees with dishes that echo their essence creating a sensory experience that feeds both body and soul.Welcome to Bonsai and Bites, where food isn’t just sustenance its meditation.

Chef Rod
Oct 17, 20253 min read


Love is Blind & So is Life: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) – Overcoming the Fear of Change in Life, Love & in the Kitchen
Season 9 hit differently. Watching Madison Maidemberg connect, take risks, and ultimately find love — without even seeing the person on the other side of the wall — reminded me just how blind and bold life really is. We don’t always see what’s coming. Whether it’s a career change, a big move, falling in or out of love, or waking up one day feeling like you want more from life — it all takes courage, Skinnies.

Chef Rod
Oct 10, 20257 min read


Yamikani at Sea: Cruising to the Next Level (Food, Music & Luxury Lifestyle)
But while we’re globetrotting through flavours, let me ask you something: when you think of luxury cruises, what comes to mind? Sparkling waters, gourmet dining, and sunsets melting into the horizon? For Yamikani, it’s that plus jazz chords, spotlighted stages, and midnight bites between performances.

Chef Rod
Oct 3, 20253 min read


Plant-Based Longevity: How Nature Holds the Secret to a Longer Life
Now, let’s switch gears: what if the secret to living a longer, healthier life wasn’t hidden in a pill, but growing right in your garden? 🌱 Longevity experts around the world are zeroing in on plants. Not just any plants but nutrient dense varieties linked to reduced disease risk, improved cellular health, and even longer lifespans.

Chef Rod
Sep 26, 20256 min read


‘The Fast Lane: The Snake Diet for the Brave’
The Snake Diet is an extreme fasting protocol created by Cole Robinson, a self-proclaimed “fasting coach” with a flair for shock value wellness. He claims to have lost 45.3 kg in five months that’s roughly 5 kg a month, Skinnies! Inspired by snake eating patterns, he promotes large meals followed by long fasting periods.

Chef Rod
Sep 19, 20254 min read


The Walking Recipe to Health: How a Daily Walk Can Transform Your Life (It takes Years to become an Overnight Success. “Keep Walking”
Walking, Skinnies, is that humble act of putting one foot in front of the other. It may sound simple, but it’s scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to transform your health. And guess what? No gym membership required ha ha! Whether you’re a seasoned step-counter or lacing up your sneakers after a long break, walking can be one of the most enjoyable ways to boost your fitness, lift your mood, and reconnect with your body.

Chef Rod
Sep 12, 20254 min read
bottom of page