Robbie Jester isn’t shy about posting his fitness journey on social media. The son of a chef grew up watching his father keep grueling hours without taking time for self-care. “He was a large guy who didn’t exercise—he just worked,” Jester recalls. Bob Jester died in 2016 of lung cancer.
But his son—who owns Pizzeria Mariana in Newark and In Jest Events—has other reasons to pursue a healthy lifestyle. He and his wife, Katelyn, are the proud parents of a baby girl. “There’s a lot I want to do, and many people are counting on me,” he explains.
The celebrity chef need only apply his competitive spirit to the task. He is the grand prize winner of the Netflix show “Pressure Cooker,” and appeared on the Food Network programs “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.” He recently competed in “Chopped: Battle Italiano.”
A believer in leading by example—both professionally and personally—Jester teamed up with Nemours Children’s Health to create the “Face the Taste” campaign to promote kids’ well-being. A series of YouTube shorts and social media content is designed to help parents make vegetables more appealing.
“Nemours is acutely aware of the childhood obesity problem…so, they are on a mission to expose kids to more healthy foods and a variety of foods,” Jester says. “We’re trying to get kids to eat their vegetables.”
Geared toward parents, the easy-to-make recipes include Brussels sprouts chips with low-fat ranch dressing, cheesy spinach casserole, honey-glazed peas, and grapefruit ice pops. Jester does a high-energy demonstration on camera.
The videos are available online at nemours.org. As for Jester, he learned to “keep showing up” at the gym until he discovered he enjoyed it. “It took a lot of discipline and realizing that ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect,’” he notes.
Cheesy Spinach Casserole
Course: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium15
minutes25
minutes40
minutesThis casserole sounds indulgent, but chef Robbie Jester swaps in healthy ingredients like low-fat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make it good for you.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and chopped
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: pinch of nutmeg for extra flavor
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If using nutmeg, add a pinch now for extra flavor. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, grated Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Add the cooked spinach mixture to the cheese mixture and stir until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Related: Influencer Alexis Harris Models Good Health in Delaware
