I recently had the pleasure to attend the Kroger’s Wellness Your Way Festival (WYWF). I had the opportunity of interviewing Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, one of the nation’s leading health authorities. She is the nutrition and healthy lifestyle expert for NBC’s TODAY show and the host of NBC’s Health + Happiness. Joy is also a monthly columnist for Woman’s Day magazine, the official nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and the creator of JoyBauer.com. Joy is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with 13 best-sellers to her credit, including Joy’s Simple Food Remedies. Her new children’s book, Yummy Yoga, communicates a true passion of Joy’s — encouraging young kids to try healthy new foods and energizing exercise in a playful and engaging format.
Thank you so much for joining us Joy. This festival is about “Wellness Your Way”. What does the term “Wellness Your Way” mean to you?
Wellness Your Way is this awesome event that Kroger has put together that just really helps to empower people. It exposes them to all sorts of new exercises, cooking techniques and products all in one place. People can mosey around in this huge space, learn and walk out feeling smarter and healthier.
Was there a story that inspired you to get involved with WYWF?
They asked and I came. I just immediately felt like it was such a beautiful message and a beautiful opportunity for me to help provide people with a skillset to live healthier and happier.
Can you tell me about a wellness challenge you’ve had and overcome?
My biggest ongoing wellness challenge is that I’m full speed ahead. I’m go, go, go, go. I joke that, I feel like when the alarm goes off in the morning, I’m shot out of a cannon! I run from one activity to the next to the next.
I have so many deadlines that I’m always juggling, whether it’s television segments or articles or meetings. I’m always working on a lot of projects so my biggest conundrum is zenning out and staying balanced. Incorporating meditation, stretching and yoga has been a game-changer for me. And I’m not gonna lie. It’s still work. I have to schedule it in to make sure that I get it done, but it makes me feel so good. And even if the remainder of the day I’m go, go, go. It’s so helpful and I look forward to it. It literally could be like five minutes. I always do five minutes of meditation during the day.
I also like think about what I’m grateful for, what I want to accomplish, what kind acts I can do. All of those things make me feel good. And I think it helps to calm the nuttiness that I normally have going on in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I love the nuttiness. That’s how I’m wired. But I think because I’m wired so frantic and like “go, go, go,” you know, super, super driven, it’s key for me to press the pause button and sort of decompress.
What’s your current wellness mantra or life quote?
Life is hard. Food should be easy and delicious.
I think that people automatically feel that eating healthy means compromise. And you know, I’ve tried to, my entire career, show people that no, you can prepare wholesome, healthy food in the most divine, delicious ways. So many flavor combos and textures. There’s a lot of deliciousness out there. So life is hard. Food should be easy. And I’m hoping to make it easy for everyone.
What’s one wellness product/routine you can’t live without right now?
I’m going to have to say my Apple watch. It almost feels like this is a commercial. I promise this was not planned. You just asked me this question and I happened to look at my Apple watch so let me tell you why I love it. My days can be a little haphazard but I always try to work out most days of the week, so when I can’t, I want to feel confident that I hit my 10,000 steps. My Apple Watch helps me keep track.
What projects are you currently working on?
The project that I am most excited about is Yummy Yoga. I love this book so much. I’ve always had this mission to help kids get excited and passionate about good health, eating well and trying new exercises. This is definitely my baby right now and I’m working on a television show for NBC too that I’m very excited about.
And new recipes, always! If you have any recipe requests, DM me, send them over to my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and I’m on it. I love taking indulgent decadent dishes that are typically unhealthy and lightening them up and inject superfoods. I love holiday foods. Anything goes, anything. So just you send me your request and I will be busy in my kitchen working on it for you!
Thank you for joining us, Joy! Your energy and mission is such an inspiration.
Keep up with Joy on Instagram @joybauer