1. What do you do every morning now that you didn’t do at 30?
My routine has been fairly consistent most of my adult life. I take a moment to be grateful, I journal. Incorporating 5 to 20 minutes of meditation, breathwork and stretching is something I didn’t do at 30 and it’s important to have that time to ground myself before I start the day, even if I have to forgo hitting the snooze button!
2. What are 5 things you’ve learned about wellness in your 50s?
I’ve learned it’s not about being perfect but that consistency matters. If I fall out of my rhythm, I just pick back up and don’t beat myself up. I’ve learned my approach to wellness is more tried and true. I like simple things like swimming, walking, mat Pilates and yoga. I’ve learned that to view wellness more as dedication to self-care rather than I have to be so disciplined or rigid. I’ve learned not to follow trends, keeping it simple is best. I’ve learned that it’s more about how wellness makes me feel internally, that is what radiates most. I’ve learned to laugh at myself more and not be so serious.
3. What do you eat in a day?
I eat foods that are nourishing. A lot of organic fruits and vegetables, clean proteins, all preferably from local farmers. I try to get in at least 4 fruits and a rainbow of 6 vegetables.
4. What does inside-out beauty mean to you?
Inside-out beauty is an awareness of nurturing the body, mind and spirit. That’s through food, exercise, meditation, a connection to a higher power, laughter, community, purpose and creativity.
5. What are your daily rituals?
Fresh air, exposure to sunshine, breathwork/meditation, exercise, journaling and eating whole food.
6. Do you have a favorite morning smoothie?
My favorite morning smoothie is coconut water, a half cup of Greek yogurt, True Plant Protein and True Greens, a tablespoon of True Vitamin C, 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds, berries, banana, avocado, pineapple and papaya.
7. What is in your wellness cabinet?
Everything Infinity Wellness but also NMN, vitamin D, cod liver oil, milk thistle, chamomile and passionflower tea, cherry juice, magnesium glycinate, and green tea.
8. How do you use True Greens?
True Greens is a favorite because it’s so nourishing, especially if I can’t meet my daily intake of vegetables and fruits. I have it first thing in the morning, either in my smoothie or on its own. I love the taste, it feels like a dose of goodness for my body!
9. What do you add when you need more protein?
I use True Plant Protein daily and carry the bars with me. The protein powder has 20 grams on its own but I also try to have other sources of protein at each meal like chicken, fish, meat and beans.
10. What do you take with you when you travel?
I take True Greens and True Vitamin C capsules with me, using compostable sandwich bags that I label. I carry True Plant Protein in a stainless steel cup and bring my whisk, and I take all of my Infinity Wellness bars to have on the go.
11. What is your go-to recipe when you don’t feel like cooking?
I love throwing a whole chicken in a pot, adding vegetables like carrots, celery, parsnips, and potatoes, and roasting it all. I usually add a side of brussels sprouts and throw it in the oven with the chicken for the last 30 minutes.
12. What is one Infinity Wellness product you use in three different ways?
True Greens powder in a smoothie, on its own or sprinkled on granola for a breakfast bowl.
13. Have you stopped doing anything that pertains to wellness?
I’ve stopped being so rigid or approaching wellness as discipline. I do it with more fun and compassion now. I see it less as a need to be perfect and more as a want and dedication to acts of self-love.
14. We know you loved your grandmother! Did she pass along any of her wisdom to you?
My grandmother taught me the importance of eating a whole-food and plant-forward diet, the connection in growing my own food, that eating fresh and as local as possible is more fun because you get to know the people who grew it, and that “beauty is as beauty does”- being kind to yourself and others.
15. What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
My perfect Sunday is sleeping in to whatever time I want, being slow, going to the farmers market with my daughter, getting fresh foods, fresh flowers, having friends over for an early Sunday supper and laughing, a lot.
16. We also know you love a good farmer’s market. What do you pick up when you’re there?
I love buying local, like pasture-raised eggs, a whole chicken, fresh local fish from the monger, delicious avocados and fruits, vibrant greens and veggies, fermented foods, and loads of fresh flowers.
17. What recipe do you and your daughter, Dylan, usually cook together?
We make baked salmon in an iron skillet with bok choy, chard and roasted sweet potato with fresh butter and sea salt.
18. What’s always in your fridge?
Yogurt, fresh eggs, fermented sauerkraut/kimchi, coconut water, fresh herbs, lemons, fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared turkey burgers and chicken breast to snack on or add to salads.
19. What does aging well mean to you?
Aging well is a privilege, it means to be grateful and to be proactive, but to not try and fight it or try to be perfect. Aging well is honoring yourself in every way possible, through self-care, self-love, community, passion and purpose.
20. What have you learned about rest?
Rest is key, especially in a world where we are all on overdrive and plugged in. Tuning out is sometimes the only way to tune back in.
21. What are you growing in your garden right now?
I’m still waiting for my dad to build my garden beds for my vegetables but in the meantime, I’m growing lemons, limes, herbs and sweet flowers!
