2 November 2009
Profile of a Healthy Eater: Alison
This week, read about Alison. Find out how she stays dairy-free, and how she makes water taste a little more glamorous. Want to share your healthy eating habits? Send me your responses to the following 10 questions, and I’ll use them on an upcoming Monday!
- What’s the best thing about healthy eating?
My favorite part of eating healthy is the increased awareness of my body. When I avoid greasy, heavy, and chemical laden foods, I feel stronger, less bloated, and I stand taller. - Do you give your eating a label (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, high raw, etc.)?
I am allergic to cow’s milk so I don’t eat dairy. I have done the vegetarian thing many times but have settled on a non-dairy diet consisting of mostly white meat, fish, whole grains, fruits, and veggies with a fairly limited amount of red meat. - Favorite method of cooking and why?
Because I don’t eat dairy, I have developed the habit of recreating dishes to make them healthier, lighter, and dairy free. My mother taught me how to cook with soy from an early age, as well as other milk substitutes such as hemp, almond, and rice milk. Some of my favorite non-dairy moves in the kitchen include using one sunny-side up egg to give savory dishes a creamy consistency (I throw it on a serving of whole grain pasta with olive oil herbs and veggies, or over a little couscous). I also make a pesto sauce without cheese and use rice milk to bake with. Birthday cakes made with rice milk come out slightly denser and sweeter, more like a sweet bread…which leads to a richer taste and smaller portions. - Favorite versatile herb/spice?
I am a huge fan or parsley and basil. I bounce between the two and put them both on everything - obviously the fresher the better. I also love to throw a rosemary sprig in my water jug and serve with ice - smelling rosemary all day while staying hydrated feels indulgent. - Best healthy sweet treat?
pears and plums…anything mixed into low fat yogurt (I like to add nuts, fruit, and a touch of raw honey…so sweet, so good). - Your go-to five-minute meal?
An egg with deli turkey meat on a whole wheat pita. - “Healthy” food you avoid like the plague?
There really isn’t one. I try everything at least once or twice. I try a lot of meat substitutes in order to recreate meat dishes into lighter meals, and one that I absolutely hate is veggie ham. It tastes too processed and spongy. - Who’s the person in your life that is the most baffled by how you eat?
My best friend. He is from the south and can’t imagine not eating cheese and cream. - What’s your healthy power/comfort food (the one food you know will get you through the day)?
Yogurt with fruit, cereal, nuts, and maybe some honey. - If you could change anything about your diet, what would it be?
Lately I really crave something sweet at the end of each meal. I wish I didn’t have this craving so consistently.
