Chef Spotlight - Jamie Chowns
Jamie Chowns i s a Red Seal Certified Chef and a proud member of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM). He currently serves as a Regional Account Manager, Purchasing Manager, and Corporate Chef for NMS Nutritional Management Services overseeing foodservice operations for senior living homes and educational institutions.
Throughout his career, he has managed kitchens within senior living settings, bringing a strong focus on nutrition, quality, and innovation. In addition to his hands-on experience, he has taught the food and nutrition program at the college level, where he developed course outlines for specialized diets, including therapeutic, cancersupportive, gluten-free, and low-sodium nutrition plans.
Recipes
W e asked Chef Jamie to try a new blend of vegetables being introduced to our Sysco Classic lineup through Nortera. Rather than simply adding them to the menu as another standard option, he took it a step further. He reached out to Kraft and spoke with their sales representative to learn more, specifically about their innovative new dressings.
Inspired to create something uniquely suited for healthcare and senior living, Chef Jamie focused on flavor, nutrition, and overall wellness. The result? A line of heart-healthy recipes that combine these vibrant vegetable blends with increased protein and fiber. He expertly paired them with the natural acids, herbs, and spices found in the dressings to enhance both taste and health benefits.
F or over 40 years, Nutritional Management Services has been a trusted name in delivering world-class foodservice management throughout Southwestern Ontario. We are a total food service management company, serving the healthcare, longterm care, educational, and business & industry sectors through our Purchasing, Menu, and Resident Profile software’s. NMS offers various levels of tailored support to meet our clients’ specific and operational needs for their foodservices to thrive effectively and efficiently. The focus of NMS is on our service, quality, and satisfaction for all our clients.
Miso Lime Santa Fe Salad
INGREDIENTS
• 2 kg Sysco Classic Santa Fe Blend
• 2 ea. red pepper, large, diced
• 1 bunch green onion, diced
• 2 ea. red onion, diced
• 3 ea. tomatoes, large, diced
• 2 ea. limes, zested & juiced
• 3 cups Kraft Pure Miso Lime Ginger Dressing
• 2 tbsp parsley, dried (for garnish)
• 1/4 cup Greek Spice Blend
• as needed White Sugar
PREPARATION
1. Steam the Sysco Classic Santa Fe Blend for approximately 3 minutes to get the chill out of the vegetable mixture. Add all other ingredients (except the Kraft Dressing) and mix well.
2. Add the Kraft Pure Miso Lime Ginger Dressing to taste.
3. You might need to add some of the listed sugar to sweeten your salad based on your clientele.
4. Serving suggestions: Place the salad in your serving dish, sprinkle more parsley on the top to garnish. You can also place a few corn tortilla chips on the side of the salad as a garnish to add some texture. These can then be used to scoop the salad when eating.
Note: This recipe is a guideline. You may need to adjust the recipe or add extra dressing, due to the vegetables absorbing the liquid as it sits before service.
This salad features a refreshing lime flavor and offers a variety of health benefits. Using Sysco’s Santa Fe Blend as the base, it’s enhanced with nutritious ingredients like tomatoes, which provide lycopene, an antioxidant known for supporting heart health; red bell peppers, rich in potassium for maintaining healthy blood pressure; and black beans, which add fiber and plant-based protein to support digestion and muscle function. The Kraft Pure Miso Lime Dressing adds a tangy, citrusy kick, delivering natural lime acidity that aids in digestion. Altogether, this salad is both flavorful and nourishing, made with ingredients that are easily absorbed and beneficial to the body.
Orange Poppyseed Rice & Vegetable Turmeric Salad
INGREDIENTS
• 2 kg Sysco Classic Corn & Vegetable Stir-Fry Blend
• 3 lbs. brown rice, cooked
• 2 ea. red pepper, large, diced
• 1 bunch green onion, diced
• 3 ea. tomatoes, large, diced
• 3 ea. orange, zested and juiced
• 1 cup chicken base, low sodium, powdered
• 4 cups Kraft Pure Orange Turmeric Poppyseed Dressing and Marinade
• 2 tbsp parsley, dried (as garnish)
PREPARATION
1. Steam the Sysco Classic Corn and Vegetable StirFry Blend for approximately 3 minutes to get the chill out of the vegetable mixture. Add all other ingredients (except Kraft Dressing) and mix well.
2. Add the Kraft Pure Orange Turmeric Poppyseed Dressing and Marinade to taste.
3. You might need to add some of the listed sugar to sweeten your salad based on preference.
4. Serving Suggestions: Place the salad in your serving dish, sprinkle more parsley on the top to garnish. You can also place a few toasted tortilla strips on the top of the salad as a garnish to add some texture.
Note: This recipe is a guideline. You may need to adjust the recipe by adding extra dressing due to the rice & vegetables absorbing the liquid as it sits before service.
This salad highlights its bright citrus flavor while delivering a variety of health benefits. Built around Sysco’s Corn and Vegetable Stir-Fry Blend, the recipe is elevated with the addition of whole grain brown rice and fresh vegetables, creating a nutrient-rich dish. Tomatoes provide lycopene, a powerful antioxidant; red peppers are packed with potassium to support heart and muscle function; and whole grains offer fiber for healthy digestion. The Kraft Pure Orange Turmeric Poppyseed Dressing and Marinade adds a zesty citrus note, along with turmeric’s natural anti-inflammatory properties and the digestive-friendly acidity of orange. Altogether, this salad is both flavorful and nourishing, made with ingredients the body can easily absorb.
Moroccan Lemon Chicken Minestrone Soup
INGREDIENTS
• 2 kg Sysco Classic Power Blend Frozen Vegetables
• 1 kg chicken, frozen, diced
• 2 ea. red pepper, diced
• 1 bunch green onion, diced
• 3 cups alphabet noodles, uncooked
• 3 ea. tomatoes, large, diced
• 8 L chicken stock
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 cups Kraft Pure Moroccan Lemon Dressing and Marinade
• 2 tbsp parsley, dried (as garnish)
PREPARATION
1. In a stock pot, bring to boil 7 L of the chicken stock, add the alphabet pasta and simmer for approximately 20 minutes.
2. Add the Kraft Pure Moroccan Lemon Dressing and Marinade to taste.
3. Due to the starches in the soup, add some of the 1 L of chicken stock to get desired thickness.
4. Serving Suggestions: You can place soup in your serving dish, sprinkle more parsley on top to garnish and seerve with tortilla corn chips on the side.
Note: This recipe is a guideline. You may need to adjust the recipe or add extra dressing or stock due to the grains, noodles and vegetables absorbing the liquid as it sits before service.
This salad features a refreshing lime flavor and offers a variety of health benefits. Using Sysco’s Santa Fe Blend as the base, it’s enhanced with nutritious ingredients like tomatoes, which provide lycopene, an antioxidant known for supporting heart health; red bell peppers, rich in potassium for maintaining healthy blood pressure; and black beans, which add fiber and plant-based protein to support digestion and muscle function. The Kraft Pure Miso Lime Dressing adds a tangy, citrusy kick, delivering natural lime acidity that aids in digestion. Altogether, this salad is both flavorful and nourishing, made with ingredients that are easily absorbed and beneficial to the body.