My brother in law is a professional chef, worked in some of the best restaurants in the country. He's not much for book learning, but I've watched him in restaurant kitchens a couple of times and he's mentally a programmer. He can keep track of the variables and ordering of steps to get multiple courses for multiple tables of 2/4/6 people out to be delivered simultaneously. These aren't grilled cheese sandwiches, some of these dishes are incredibly complex.

So, although we'd have to get used to working on our feet and sweating (aka doing "real work") I suspect many programmers have the mindsets to be professional cooks. They might not have the talent to invent new things as a chef does, but they could certainly become competent line cooks.