Friends there are always people a little head of you in life. They have walked a healthy path longer and more effectively. I try to study people who have followed a healthy path longer than myself.
My friend, Holly, is one of those people! I have asked her some questions and asked her to share with us part of her heatlhy journey. Please click on her name above or her link to the right and read about her journey.
Holly, The Healthy Everythingtarian
Tell us a little bit about you and what makes you eat so healthy?
To sum up my 24 years on earth thus far, I am a former emotional eater turned health nut who realized that ‘health’ is so much more than food and exercise. It is a general term, I think, for doing what is right for YOUR body. For so long, I ate not for enjoyment but to mask something deeper. Once I realized this, I began to deal with feelings, workout not for weight loss but to FEEL GOOD and starting eating things that helped keep me in a place of whole health. Knowing where I was helps keep me on track – although I was never severely overweight, I was unhappy with myself. Now, I know being healthy makes me feel GOOD.
Do you eat meat? How do you get your protein?
I went from meat eater to vegetarian to vegan to vegetarian to semi-meat eater. Now, I eat meat occasionally (around 1-3 times a month), but realize I don’t love it enough to need to make it an everyday staple. Also, meat is expensive! As a gal strapped with student loans, a can of beans is much cheaper than 1 lb. of organic chicken. When I do eat meat, I try to make it organic and grass-fed so that I am supporting eco-friendly farmers who grow their animals humanely. Eggs, yogurt, beans, nuts, milk, veggie burgers, tofu and tempeh are all great protein sources I happen to adore.
Your food looks amazing, do you enjoy the way you eat?
Of course! If food tastes bad, I could care less if its healthy. I won’t eat it. I need to be getting nutrients AND be satisfied when I am done eating!
Is eating healthy a burden?
A couple years ago, I may have said yes, Now, I do not think so at all. I am comfortable with my choices and have found that most people WANT to eat healthy. If you can set a good model/standard to help others, that is the icing on the cake!
For someone out there who is not a healthy eater how do you suggest they get started?
I think substitutions are a great way to start. Make it whole wheat bread instead of white; choose fruits, veggies and lowfat dairy for snacks; try new foods at the grocery store; experiment with recipes and start cooking. You have to like what you eat. So, get to know your palate, find healthy foods you enjoy and incorporate them more and more in your diet. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself…slowly but surely, things will get easier and easier to where you are eating healthy and not even realize it!
Do you have easy go to foods?
I am a big fan of yogurt and adding lots of goodies in them. It’s easy to transport and oh so delicious. Fruit, bars (Larabars, Clif Bars, KIND bars and ProBars are all good choices) and crudites are all easy to pack. Also, become a fan of leftovers. There is nothing easier than grabbing a Tupperware of leftovers on my way to work and having a delicious lunch!
Do you drink caffeine?
I do. I LOVE coffee. Not only the taste, but the warmth, feeling and ritual of it. I limit myself to a cup or two in the morning, and all is well the rest of the day. I have also been known to guzzle an afternoon Diet Coke or two 😉
Do you worry about calories?
I used to FREAK OUT about calories and obsessively count. But ya know what? It’s time-consuming, defeating and horrible. If I can focus on making all the calories I eat good, wholesome and nutritious calories, then I really don’t need to worry. There is so much more to life than food and exercise – it is an important part, but I always like to remember, it’s not the only part. There is always room for splurges because life is too short not to be enjoyed (and tasted!).
Holly is living a balanced life. She works hard, she eats healthy, and she moves. I want to be her when I grow up!
Holly is having a contest through Friday, check it out!
Have a wonderful day!
I bought my spiralizer from Amazon. Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer, MILCEA 5 Blades Zoodle Maker with Strong Hold Suction, Veggie Spiralizers Zucchini Spiral Noodle Spaghetti Maker for Low Carb / Gluten-Free Meals for $26.99. It is easy to use, clean and safe. (I may have sliced my finger, but that is not because it was not safe, it was because I was distracted.)
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