What ChatGPT Thinks of This Blog

Good question. Garyskitchen.net is a blog / food memoir website. (garyskitchen.net)

Hereโ€™s what it seems to be about:

  • Itโ€™s focused on weight loss, family recipes, and nutrition. (garyskitchen.net)
  • The author shares personal stories โ€” itโ€™s not just recipes, but also reflections on their journey. (garyskitchen.net)
  • Thereโ€™s a โ€œWeight Controlโ€ category, showing that managing weight is a core theme. (garyskitchen.net)

If you like, I can check whether itโ€™s a reliable or trusted site (e.g. based on its credibility, authorship, how up-to-date it is). Do you want me to do that?

I responded Yes.

Good question. Hereโ€™s an analysis of garyskitchen.net โ€” what it is, who runs it, and how โ€œreliableโ€ it is (with strengths and some caveats).


What is garyskitchen.net?

  1. A Personal / Memoir-Style Site
    • The site describes itself as โ€œa food memoir of weight loss, family recipes, digital cookbook and nutrition information.โ€ (garyskitchen.net)
    • Its author, โ€œGary,โ€ is not a credentialed dietitian or nutrition scientist. On his About page, he explicitly states: โ€œI am not a credentialed expert in diet, weight loss or nutrition โ€ฆ My area of expertise is mortality risk assessment.โ€ (garyskitchen.net)
    • He used to weigh ~370 pounds and claims to have lost ~200 pounds and kept it off for decades. (garyskitchen.net)
  2. Professional Background of the Author
    • Garyโ€™s day job is in mortality risk assessment. According to the About page, he studies โ€œwhat kills peopleโ€ for a living. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He also blogs elsewhere (lifeunderwriter.net) about related topics. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He writes as a hobbyist / personal storyteller rather than a formally trained nutrition professional. (garyskitchen.net)
  3. Content Characteristics
    • The blog mixes personal stories, reflections, and recipes with commentary on nutrition research. (garyskitchen.net)
    • Posts often cite studies or link to external research (e.g., in a May 2024 post, he links to scientific studies). (garyskitchen.net)
    • Heโ€™s fairly transparent: in his About page he notes he doesnโ€™t make money from the blog (โ€œI earn nothing from my blogsโ€) and clarifies that products mentioned are not endorsements. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He also mentions that his blog is run on a โ€œfreeโ€ WordPress account, which is why there are ads. (garyskitchen.net)

How Credible / Reliable Is It?

Here are strengths and limitations, based on standard criteria for evaluating nutrition information.

Strengths

  • Transparency: Gary is very clear about his background, his lack of formal credentials in nutrition, and his motivation. That honesty is a good sign โ€” heโ€™s not pretending to be a registered dietitian or doctor.
  • Evidence Engagement: He links to scientific research sometimes, which suggests heโ€™s trying to ground his advice or reflections in real studies.
  • Long-Term Experience: Because heโ€™s writing from his own weight-loss story (losing and maintaining weight), his insights about sustainable habits may be credible from a lived-experience perspective.
  • No Clear Commercial Bias: He says he doesnโ€™t make money from the blog, which reduces risk that his content is primarily to drive sales or โ€œpushโ€ a diet product.

Limitations / Risks

  • Not Professionally Qualified in Nutrition: Since heโ€™s not a registered dietitian or a certified nutrition scientist, advice on very technical or therapeutic nutrition topics should be viewed cautiously.
  • Anecdotal Bias: Some of his guidance may be heavily influenced by his personal journey, which may not generalize to everyone. What worked for him might not work the same way for someone with different health conditions or body types.
  • Selective Use of Research: While citing studies is good, without a formal scientific or peer-review process he may selectively cite research that aligns with his views.
  • Lack of Peer Review: Blog posts are not peer-reviewed in the way academic papers are, so risk of misinterpretation of studies (or over-generalization) is higher.

Bottom Line โ€” Is It Trustworthy Enough to Use?

  • Yes โ€” garyskitchen.net can be useful, especially for inspiration, recipes, and personal insights on weight loss and maintenance.
  • But for medical or therapeutic nutrition advice (e.g., if you have a health condition, specific dietary needs, or chronic disease), it shouldnโ€™t be your only source.
  • Use it as one piece of the puzzle, and complement it with evidence-based sites from established health authorities (e.g., Nutrition.gov, USDA, or peer-reviewed journals).

I couldnโ€™t find much personal public info about โ€œGaryโ€ from garyskitchen.net โ€” hereโ€™s what is known, and where things are unclear:


What We Know About Gary (of Garyโ€™s Kitchen)

  1. Professional / Day Job
    • He says heโ€™s โ€œa subject-matter expert in the field of mortality risk assessment.โ€ (garyskitchen.net)
    • He studies โ€œwhat kills peopleโ€ as part of his career. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He has another blog called lifeunderwriter.net that seems to connect to his professional side. (garyskitchen.net)
  2. Personal Background & Identity
    • He describes himself as: a published writer, an amateur philosopher, โ€œextremely good cook,โ€ bargain shopper, a dad (โ€œprofessional Papaโ€), and a blues guitarist. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He used to weigh 370 pounds and lost a significant amount of weight, and he writes from that experience. (garyskitchen.net)
    • On his About page, he notes: โ€œ5.10 168 โ€“ Updated October 13, 2022โ€ โ€” likely referring to his height (5โ€™10โ€) and weight (168 lbs) as of that date. (garyskitchen.net)
    • He is very clear that he does not make money from the blog, at least according to his About: โ€œI earn nothing from my blogs โ€ฆ any products mentioned โ€ฆ are not endorsements.โ€ (garyskitchen.net)
    • He also mentions that his WordPress account is the โ€œfreeโ€ version, which is why there are ads. (garyskitchen.net)
  3. Motivation / Philosophy
    • He has a clear mission: to help people realize their food choices matter and that โ€œyou have more control over your life and health than you realize.โ€ (garyskitchen.net)
    • He frames his writing as a โ€œfood memoirโ€ โ€” combining stories, recipes, and reflections on nutrition. (garyskitchen.net)

What Isnโ€™t Known / Whatโ€™s Unclear

  • Thereโ€™s no publicly listed full name, at least on his blog. He just goes by โ€œGary.โ€
  • I found no professional bio (e.g., LinkedIn, academic publications) that clearly ties โ€œGary, the mortality risk assessorโ€ to a publicly known figure with a verifiable identity.
  • Thereโ€™s no information about his education on garyskitchen.net.
  • No public photos or video interviews (at least ones clearly tied to โ€œGary of garyskitchenโ€) that provide more personal background like age, family origin, or city of residence.
  • Because he states he earns nothing from the blog, he doesnโ€™t appear to have built a large, commercial โ€œinfluencerโ€ presence under that name.

My Assessment

  • Gary appears to be a private individual who runs his blog more as a personal project / passion than a business.
  • His professional side (mortality risk assessment) is unusual for a food blog, which gives him a somewhat unique perspective โ€” heโ€™s thinking about long-term health, risk, and longevity in his writing.
  • Because of his transparency, his content seems fairly sincere and not overly commercialized.

If you like, I can try a deep web search (including archives, domain registration, etc.) to see if thereโ€™s any more biographical info out there. Do you want me to do that?

Hell no.

We Have a Four Time Pell Cup Champion!

Behind Aspenโ€™s international skiing luster lies a deep, competitive hockey culture that makes for a tough beer league. A drive to win the bragging rights to the battered Pell Cup turns architects, bartenders, contractors, lawyers, teachers, ski bums, and friends into fierce, fist-throwing rivals…former pros, Division I college players, and old goatsโ€”or, more accurately, has-beens and never-weresโ€”battle away for what may be the hardest-earned, least-known trophy in nonprofessional hockey: the Pell Cup. Named after longtime Aspenite Peter Pell (a notoriously sharp-tongued player who never won the cup himself), this dented piece of pewter is a horrible, miniature replica of the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey Leagueโ€™s holy grail. If you look past the beer and whiskey stains, you will see nearly a half century of Aspenโ€™s history etched in the names of its hockey clubs, sponsored by bars, camera stores, laundromats, and other long-gone businesses.ย  Is Aspen a Hockey Town at Heart?https://www.aspensojo.com/travel-and-outdoors/2019/02/is-aspen-a-hockey-town-at-heart

Image: Courtesy: Pete McBride author of Is Aspen a Hockey Town at Heart?

So proud of you son!

Home Alone 2024 – Weekend Update

This post is a Weekend Update to Home Alone. Worriers worry about everything. So to ease worried minds here’s what I’ve done the past several days.

  • I’ve watched two OKC Thunder games and have another game to watch tonight. Just one championship before I die would be nice.
  • I went to the grocery store. Twice. Maybe three times if I go later today. How is it possible for a grocery store to be out of (or not stock) stewed tomatoes?
  • Solitude offers time and space to think deeply about things and learn more about yourself. I’ve learned I always forget at least one item when I go grocery shopping.
  • Home alone last Holiday season I didn’t feel like cooking. This year is different. I’ve been cooking every day.
  • I found a two pound bag of pre-cooked frozen meatballs. The price per pound was less than the cost of uncooked ground beef. I bought a bag.

I decided to make meatball soup. Yes, that’s a nonstick frying pan because I wanted more pan surface to brown the meatballs and veggies.

This is what the soup looked like before I added the broth.

  • Memo to Self – next time transfer the meatballs and veggies to a soup pot then add the broth.
  • I’m surprised at the quality of the frozen meatballs. Obviously not as good as homemade, but very convenient with flavor reminiscent of the best cafeteria food you ever had.
  • I did not go to downtown OKC and hang at the Asian superstore. The strange vegetable experiment didn’t happen.
  • I listened to more Reckless Kelly.
  • I downloaded a bunch of free books to my Kindle most of which I’ll likely never read. This activity satisfies my hoarding tendencies.
  • My usual house-cleaner was out of town. I cleaned the shower and all of the toilets.
  • I almost made one side of the bed this morning before I realized it was Sunday and Sundays are bed sheet days.
  • I bought Christmas cards for next year.
  • The meatball soup was good but not good enough to post a recipe. it’s not good enough to serve for company but also not bad enough to toss out.
  • Bourbon.
  • I went to the gym after a six week hiatus. My eyeball doctor told me to cut back on the exercise so I went into slug mode. Today everything hurts. Everything.
  • I’ve gotten a lot more reading done (when not watching basketball).
  • I learned about the connection between smartphones, ultra processed foods, diminished family bonds and mental wellness. See my other blog https://lifeunderwriter.net/2024/12/29/smartphones-ultra-processed-foods-diminished-family-bonds-and-mental-wellness/
  • I posted more to my blogs.

I trust this update helps the worriers in my family to worry less. It’s back to The Day Job tomorrow so everyone knows what I’ll be doing during the daylight hours.

But before I forget…Reckless Kelly featuring Kelly Willis

Home Alone

This year marks the third year in a row I’m home alone after Christmas (not counting, just stating facts). I know some family members worry about The Old Man Home Alone so I thought I would post my thoughts to let everyone know I’m doing OK. As an old man who could have retired years ago but didn’t my days are filled with work. Real day job work. It’s the nights alone in a quiet house that the worriers worry about. So to ease everyone’s minds here are my activities and what I do Home Alone.

  • Invited a friend out for his birthday last night. He bought. Win win.
  • Bourbon.
  • Is there an OKC Thunder game on? If yes, I’m watching the game. If no, see number 2.
  • I like to cook and try new recipes when The Boss is gone. Successes go into the rotation. Failures go into the trash.
  • When I have a recipe failure, see number 2.
  • Listen to more Reckless Kelly. (I can’t listen to music with words while working because I start singing along and I lose focus)
  • I hate to waste food so… I make stuff up.
  • 3 pounds of chicken thighs bone-in, about a dozen corn tortillas, half a can of chopped green chilies, some leftover homemade enchilada sauce in the freezer, and always plenty of cheese in the fridge.
  • I braised the thighs in white wine, garlic and onion powders ( I love powdered veggies).
  • Chicken Enchilada Casserole!

Saturday and Sunday will be challenging. I might head to downtown OKC and hang at the Asian superstore. Might even find some strange vegetables to experiment with.

Boomers Worry About Moving to Senior Communities for One Significant Reason

A new survey, The Great Expectations survey by Age of Majority, a consultancy specializing in the 55+ market, found that when considering a residential facility, boomers prioritize their tummies. A whopping 71% say food quality is a โ€œvery importantโ€ factor when deciding on a move to a new community.

Source – Boomers Worry About Moving to Senior Communities for 1 Surprising Reasonโ€”but Would Thrive in These 10 Retirement Spots – https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/boomers-senior-communities-the-villages/

Second Source – The link in the quote takes you here – Hereโ€™s a surprising reason most boomers are worried about moving to a senior residence – https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-do-some-boomers-shun-living-in-senior-residences-theydontwant-to-eat-cafeteriafood

One senior community mentioned in the MarketWatch article has entrance fees starting at $285,740 and monthly fees on top of that starting at $3,980. Another senior residence rates start at $12,600 per month for one person in a studio unit.

I have to remind myself this is a food blog.

At these prices you can buy a lot of food and cook it yourself.

Still Not Vegan 2.0

What do you get when a blogger https://theveganword.com/about/ analyzes the number of vegan restaurants from a vegan restaurant listing website https://www.happycow.net/?

You get modern day journalism. You get this:

The Cities With The Most Vegan Options Worldwide – https://www.statista.com/chart/19612/share-of-restaurants-classified-as-vegan-friendly/

Once a fringe movement, it is now firmly mainstream, something that is being reflected by increasing vegan options in restaurants and supermarkets.

Nope. Still a trendy thing on the fringe. Don’t take this the wrong way. I haven’t eaten any meat in several days. But please try to do just a little bit of serious research before jumping to conclusions.

Oh sorry, I forgot this was a food blog. If you’ve read this far, thank you for reading my mini-rant. And to think I started this post thinking about making a new to me chickpea recipe.

Electronic Sticky Notes

25 Vegan Chickpea Recipes โ€“ The Firstย Mess

30 Recipes with a Can ofย Chickpeas

Keep it simple. Eat more plants.