Q & A with Lindsay Livingston: Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Communications Coordinator and Blogger
If you’re like most Americans, you may have resolved to eat healthier in 2015. But sometimes it can seem challenging to stick to a new goal when you’ve been accustomed to eating a certain way your whole life. For our January spotlight, we’ve brought in Lindsay Livingston, Registered Dietitian and the ingenious blogger behind The Lean Green Bean to share some tricks and tips on how to stay motivated and eat better in the New Year.
1. As a registered dietitian, new mom and athlete, you have a lot on your plate! Do you have any tips for our readers about how to keep themselves motivated and healthy in 2015?
I think it’s important to think about how good eating healthy and exercising can make you feel. As a busy new mom, I need all the energy I can get. When I eat whole, nutritious, balanced meals and snacks, I find myself feeling less sluggish. Fueling my body properly gives me the energy to workout, which makes me happy and in turn makes me a better mom! It’s all tied together and although it can be easy to get overwhelmed (especially when you have all sorts of new resolutions) just remember that small steps can add up to big changes. So those little things you are doing will pay off in the future!
2. We love your blog’s motto, “Balanced. Simple. Real.” Can you give some advice to our readers on how to live a balanced life when it comes to health?
Always remember that one meal will not make or break things for you! I’m not a fan of “cheat” days because I think it makes a lot of people feel like certain foods are bad. Instead, I focus on moderation and balance. Is it the best idea to eat ice cream every single day? Probably not. But is it ok to have every so often? Absolutely. I’ve found that for most people, restricting certain foods just makes them crave them more. Instead, let yourself have the foods you’re craving, but be smart about it. Enjoy them every so often, or try just eating a few bites and really savoring them.
3. How do you fit pasta into a healthy diet?
Pasta has always been one of my favorite foods. As a picky child who lived on mac and cheese, it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. What I like best about it is that it makes the perfect base for a one pot meal. By using the pasta to get your healthy carbs, adding vegetables and a source of lean protein, you can get a balanced meal all in one dish!
4. We love your “food prep” tips which make it easier to eat healthy by having pre-made meals available. Can you share some of your favorite healthy foods to prep ahead with us?
I try to do at least a little bit of food prep every week. I make a batch of breakfast bars for my husband so he can have a grab and go breakfast as he heads to work. I also pre-chop a lot of veggies like lettuce so it’s easy to make salads and carrots, cucumbers and peppers for an easy snack when paired with hummus. Sometimes I prep full meals ahead of time like casserole, other times I bake or grill proteins like salmon, chicken etc so that I can just pair them with a few sides and serve them for a quick meal! You can get lots of ideas and food prep tips here!
5. We love pasta because it’s so versatile and can be combined with other ingredients to make a tasty, full meal. What ingredients do you like to pair with your pasta? Can you share your favorite recipe with us?
I love adding vegetables to pasta. Most people (kids and husbands included) enjoy pasta by using it as a vehicle to serve vegetables. It’s an easy way to serve nutritious meals that everyone loves. Also, in my opinion, pasta is always better with cheese! This Lentil Veggie Mac & Cheese is one of my favorites. If you’re not a fan of lentils you can easily replace them with another protein source like chicken!
About Lindsay:
Lindsay is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, OH. She specializes in Nutrition Communications and is the Nutrition Communications Coordinator for ReganMillerJones, Inc. — the parent company of HealthyAperture.com and TheRecipeReDux.com. In this role, Lindsay manages daily social media strategy for Healthy Aperture and is the primary content manager of sponsored contests for both Healthy Aperture and The Recipe ReDux. She also assists in the company’s overall marketing support for various food brands and commodities. Lindsay is the author behind the healthy living blog, The Lean Green Bean, where she shares healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and more! She is also a freelance recipe developer and writer. In her free time, she enjoys Crossfit, experimenting in the kitchen and spending time with her husband and their new baby.