Lessons from the set of 'It Takes Two'
I bet you clicked on this post thinking to yourself, “Wow, Self, Splendorous was on the set of my favourite Olsen twins movie. So exciting!” Now that I’ve got you here, I have a confession to make…I may have told a lie.
If you’ve ever been to the District of Muskoka, which is in Southern Ontario, you’ll know why the area was chosen to film the 1995 family comedy. The picturesque landscape is covered in greenery and various bodies of water, making the area prime cottage country. It’s also great for camping, which is what brought me to the area. In a summer during my undergrad, I got a job working in the kitchen at Camp Mini-Yo-We.
I was immediately enamoured with the campsite and took dozens upon dozens of pictures while I was there. When I posted them on social media, my sister commented on one of the photos, saying the camp looked just like the one from ‘It Takes Two’. The next day I mentioned the funny coincidence to a co-worker who told me that, actually, those scenes from the movie were filmed at Camp Mini-Yo-We.
So there you go, I didn’t really lie. Or at the very least, I told a partial truth. I technically did work on the set, it was just a couple decades after the movie was shot. In an effort to make up for my fib, here’s a photo of the view I had at work for your viewing pleasure:
My view from the porch of the mess hall at Camp Mini-Yo-We.
My official job title at the camp was Special Diet Coordinator. Many kids have food allergies (wheat, soy, eggs, dairy, etc) and there are also children who are part of families who practice vegetarianism or veganism. Those of you who have been to sleep-away camp know that the menu features many allergens and animal products.
That’s where I came in. I kept track of the special diets of the campers and counsellors. At every meal and snack I made sure there were safe, nutritious alternatives available. I made gluten-free, vegetarian pasta dishes. I served dairy-free, vegan Caesar salad. And I did a whole lot of baking, all of which I sampled - for quality control. My gluten-free, vegan brownies were all the rage.
Black bean brownies: popular among campers and counsellors.
If you’re interested in trying out this dessert, here’s the recipe (feel free to make it your own):
Black Bean Brownies
Yield: 12
Ingredients
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 flax eggs *One flax egg = 1 tbsp ground flax seed + 3 tbsp water
3 tbsp canola oil
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
Toppings
chocolate chips
shredded coconut
Directions
Prep flax egg: mix flax meal and water in a separate small bowl. Let sit for approximately 15 minutes to thicken.
Combine all ingredients (including flax egg) in a food processor/blender and mix.
Place muffin liners into a muffin tin and pour batter into the wells.
Add your toppings.
Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes.
Today I’ve been thinking about what all that cooking and baking taught me. I realize that 3 major lessons have been following me since that summer.
1) Creative problem-solving
People want good food regardless of their dietary restrictions. Providing dishes that were interesting, appetizing, and free from multiple allergens took some out-of-the-box thinking. I had to use my knowledge about cooking and nutrition and put a creative spin on it. I used sweet potatoes for mini crusts to make pizza. And I made a hedge hog out of melon. Strengthening my creative muscle has helped me to solve many conundrums and issues ever since.
Melon hedge hog.
2) Patience
Patience is a virtue that I am sorely lacking. But, jobs like this have helped me to improve. Everyone has different ideas about what makes a good meal and some children are not afraid to give feedback! Working this job taught me that sometimes, even though I’ve tried my best, I might miss the mark. It took patience with my young clients and myself to find the right solution.
3) Self-care is important
Anyone who’s worked in a kitchen knows that it is a physical job, with long hours. Halfway through the summer I got very sick and had to take a week and a half off work. After that I realized that I needed to take care of myself if I hoped to do a good job for the rest of the summer. I started doing yoga most days and I was writing in my journal every day. Taking time to relax, re-charge, and reflect is something that I now try to do daily.
Perhaps the self-care lesson is the most important of them all, since it led to me consistently keeping a journal. Taking time out of my day for reflection helps me to gain perspective on whatever it is I’m going through. I think self-reflection has made me a better dietitian. A better romantic partner. A better friend.
Now that I’ve shared some of my life lessons, I’d like to hear from you:
What’s an experience you have had that, in hindsight, you realize it contributed in some way to who you are or where you’re at today?