It’s not surprising that when we asked Heidi Kristoffer which healthy habit she wished she had more time for, she said, “SLEEP!!!”
Kristoffer is the creator of popular strength training-infused yoga class CrossFlowX, which she teaches at NEOU and YG Studios in New York City. She’s also a mother to twin girls and has a third child on the way. In other words, her life is about as go-go-go as it can get.
“Yoga can be practiced anywhere, any time, so no gym necessary,” she says. “And running after and picking up my twin two year olds keeps me active all day every day. ‘Mommy, UP!’ is their favorite phrase right now.”
RELATED: A 30-Minute Yoga Routine to Build Strength and Fight Stress
Kristoffer does it all while literally radiating warmth and positivity 24-7, so we asked her to spill her secrets. Here are the diet, kitchen, and de-stressing practices that help her—and her family—thrive.
How Does Heidi Kristoffer Live a Nutritious Life?
If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? Plant-Based Mom Fueling.
What’s your go-to breakfast? Overnight oats with flax seeds and nut butter.
RELATED: 3 Creative Ways to Make Delicious Overnight Oats
Your go-to workday lunch? Tofu salad on whole wheat pita and air-fryer sweet potato fries.
Your go-to workday dinner? Kale salad massaged with avocado or a nut or seed butter dressing, with plant-based protein.
What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Sugar snap peas.
The one food you’d never buy? Meat.
Your favorite food indulgence? Dark chocolate.
RELATED: 5 Healthy Reasons to Eat Chocolate (as if You Needed Them)
Other than water, what do you sip regularly? SOS Rehydrate!! It’s the first organic hydration formula, which mimics getting an IV hydration drip, and it makes me feel SO much more clear headed. It makes every workout feel easier, AND it’s delicious. I love it!
How often do you exercise, and what’s your workout of choice? Every day. CrossFlowX, yoga, or SoulCycle.
Which workout would you NEVER do? Barre class. It bores me to tears.
What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Japa Mala meditation. No thinking involved, and it zones me in every time.
RELATED: Try This Two-Minute Calming Meditation
How do you pamper yourself when you need it? Deep tissue massage or a bath with essential oils when I’m not pregnant. In pregnancy (like now), I just aim to get sleep at night and make my bi-monthly mani-pedi with foot and shoulder 10-minute massage.
Do you have a favorite health gadget? Does my Vitamix count?! I make EVERYTHING in it: smoothies, soups, dressings, even carrot cake!
How do you express and spread love? I tell my daughters I love them probably 100 times a day and hug and kiss them every chance I get. With my non-family members, I try to take the most kind action every time, compliment people whenever I can, and I smile at everyone I make eye contact with. I also try to express love in all of my teachings, in person or on the interwebs.
Lightning Round
Meditation or massage? Massage! You can meditate while you’re getting one!
A hot shower or a soothing bath? BATH!
Almond butter or peanut butter? Almond.
Coffee or tea? Non-pregnancy: COFFEE. Pregnancy: tea.
A long run outside or a dark spin class? SoulCycle every time.