Joy Bauer’s personality embodies her first name so perfectly it feels like a fluke.
You can find her dishing out effusive happiness as the official nutrition and health expert for the TODAY Show, the founder of Nourish Snacks, and the author of 12 best-selling books, including the most recent From Junk Food to Joy Food.
She’s also the host of the brand-new NBC show Health + Happiness with Mayo Clinic. On the first episode, she covered topics that included puppies, peppers that taste like pizza, and the benefits of smiling. Who wouldn’t want to live a healthy life with this approach?!
We caught up with the inimitable nutritionist to find out more about how she lives such an inspiring Nutritious Life.
How Does Joy Bauer Live a Nutritious Life?
If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? The Joyful Diet…what you get when a foodie and health nut collide (and my name just happens to be Joy!).
What’s your go-to breakfast? Protein pancakes (4 egg whites + ½ cup oats + chopped fruit + ½ teaspoon vanilla extract + dash of cinnamon).
Your go-to workday lunch? A huge salad with the works: grilled chicken, romaine, chickpeas, bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, cukes, and walnuts with balsamic vinaigrette.
Your go-to workday dinner? Anything goes. I loooove to cook, so I experiment with different healthy recipes from hoisin-glazed salmon to savory chicken meatballs to scrumptious vegetarian curries. Unpredictable and delicious!
RELATED: 5 Simple Salmon Recipes You’ll Use Over and Over
(Photo Credit: Lucy Schaeffer)
What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Hot sauce.
The one food you’d never buy? Soda.
The snack you always have with you when traveling? My own Nourish Snacks (most often, the coconut vanilla granola bites and white cheddar ancient grain crisps). Shameless self-promotion, but totally true!
Your favorite food indulgence? Tie: Ice cream and pizza.
Other than water, what do you sip regularly? Seltzer water and red wine. 🙂
How often do you exercise, and what’s your workout of choice? I walk for an hour a day. On weekends when I have more time, I love trying new things—from hikes to kickboxing to snowboarding.
RELATED: The Important Difference Between Exercise and Movement
What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Watching guilty pleasures like Billions or reruns of Friday Night Lights and Law and Order. Also cuddling with my pup, Gatsby!
How do you pamper yourself when you need it? Spending time with family. If you can believe it, 22 of us live within a three-block radius. I feel so lucky!
How do you express and spread love? I give great big hugs. I’m a big believer in the power of a hug.
What’s your weirdest healthy habit? I invented the ingenuous and wacky “plate cheese,” which I’m completely addicted to. I take an extra large handful of shredded cheese (usually a Mexican blend), spread it out over a plate, and microwave it for about a minute until the middle is melty and gooey and the edges are browned and crispy. Then, I dig in with a fork. It’s like having a pizza without all the starchy carbs underneath. I know it sounds crazy, but don’t knock it until you try it. You’ll be hooked! (P.S. Add some crushed red pepper flakes if you like to kick up the heat.)
Lightning Round
Meditation or massage? Massage.
A hot shower or a soothing bath? Hot shower.
Almond butter or peanut butter? That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child. Why choose? I love them both!
Coffee or tea? Coffee.
A long run outside or a dark spin class? Long run outside.
(Featured Photo: NBC’s Health + Happiness with Mayo Clinic)
