Ellie Krieger Interview

Yesterday I had the opportunity to interview Ellie Krieger, a registered dietitian, cookbook author and host of The Food Network’s show “Healthy Appetite,” now airing on The Cooking Channel.

(You have the chance to win her cookbook at the end of this post!)

As I chatted with Ellie, I was able to watch her live on video which was super cool! You may see the video of Ellie chatting with me below.

• Ellie Krieger Interview

Isn’t she so warm and kind? I was a little star struck!

I was told I had 15 minutes to talk with Ellie about healthy eating and jotted down a bunch of the questions you guys submitted for me to ask her. You may see the questions I asked in the video below, along with a summary of her answers since I know that videos sometimes don’t show up the best, depending on your internet connection.

• What are your tips for great skin?

Ellie says that so many things go into having good skin, including sleeping and eating well. She says that the research is really strong saying that foods that are rich in antioxidants and healthy fats are great for your skin. She also tries to stay out of the sun.

• What are your thoughts on high-protein diets? Is getting enough protein a concern of yours?

Ellie said that protein is important, but emphasized that there are a lot of great non-meat sources for protein, including grains, nuts, dairy and beans. Ellie said that one cup of milk has as much protein as an egg, adding that people may be eating more protein-rich foods than they realize. She encourages people to look at all the ways to get protein into your diet, including those from non-meat sources.

• What is your go-to easy meal to prepare on a hot summer day?

Ellie said she loves putting out a spread of salads and different nibbles, including a bulgur salad, sliced tomato drizzled with olive oil, shrimp cocktail or anything cold or room-temperature.

She also mentioned a recipe for a pita pizza made in the toaster oven that sounded fantastic!

Start with a whole wheat pita and tear it in half, spreading the two halves with ricotta cheese. Add sliced grapes on top and place the pita pizzas in the toaster oven until the edges of the pita get a little crispy. Then drizzle honey and lemon juice over the cheese and grapes, adding a sprinkle of fresh basil at the very end.

• What does your workout regimen look like?

Ellie said she has a “minimum” in her head of doing something active three days a week and loves to take her workouts outside. She lifts weights, does yoga at least once a week, runs, and loves spinning as well as biking, walking and hiking outside.

• Do you have any tips for healthy eating while dining at a restaurant?

Ellie recommends picking a restaurant that specializes in preparing food with local produce or has a chef that leans toward healthy cooking. She often checks the menu of a restaurant she’s planning to visit online before she goes, so has an idea about what to order ahead of time. Ellie also tries not to dig into the bread basket right away, but says that if she really wants the bread, she waits to eat it until after her entrée is delivered.

• What is your favorite indulgent dish?

Ellie said she is more of a savory person than a sweet person and loves warm, crusty bread and butter. She also loves French fries!

• If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is just beginning their healthy living journey, what would it be?

Ellie said, “Don’t worry about being perfect.” She encourages people to stay as close to the healthy track as possible, but says not to get down on yourself if you slip up.

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My interview with Ellie was set up by the California Table Grapes Commission and they wanted me to pass along the word about the opportunity for one of you to win $5,000 simply by submitting your idea for a healthy snack made with grapes! No photo is necessary to enter the contest – just your healthy grape snack idea, which you may submit via the Grapes from California Facebook page.

And now for the giveaway!

Comfort Food Fix and Green Black Red Giveaway

One PBF reader will win the following two cookbooks:

• Comfort Food Fix, Ellie Krieger’s beautiful cookbook featuring 150 delicious comfort food recipes that are lower in calories and fat

• Green Black Red, California Table Grapes’ cookbook, featuring recipes ranging from fresh salads to rich desserts

To enter this giveaway, simply comment below, telling me why you’d like to win either one of these beautiful cookbooks.

I’ll randomly select a winner tomorrow.

Good luck!