(You have the chance to win her cookbook at the end of this post!)
As I chatted with Ellie, I was able to watch her live on video which was super cool! You may see the video of Ellie chatting with me below.
Isn’t she so warm and kind? I was a little star struck!
I was told I had 15 minutes to talk with Ellie about healthy eating and jotted down a bunch of the questions you guys submitted for me to ask her. You may see the questions I asked in the video below, along with a summary of her answers since I know that videos sometimes don’t show up the best, depending on your internet connection.
- What are your tips for great skin?
Ellie says that so many things go into having good skin, including sleeping and eating well. She says that the research is really strong saying that foods that are rich in antioxidants and healthy fats are great for your skin. She also tries to stay out of the sun.
- What are your thoughts on high-protein diets? Is getting enough protein a concern of yours?
Ellie said that protein is important, but emphasized that there are a lot of great non-meat sources for protein, including grains, nuts, dairy and beans. Ellie said that one cup of milk has as much protein as an egg, adding that people may be eating more protein-rich foods than they realize. She encourages people to look at all the ways to get protein into your diet, including those from non-meat sources.
- What is your go-to easy meal to prepare on a hot summer day?
Ellie said she loves putting out a spread of salads and different nibbles, including a bulgur salad, sliced tomato drizzled with olive oil, shrimp cocktail or anything cold or room-temperature.
She also mentioned a recipe for a pita pizza made in the toaster oven that sounded fantastic!
Start with a whole wheat pita and tear it in half, spreading the two halves with ricotta cheese. Add sliced grapes on top and place the pita pizzas in the toaster oven until the edges of the pita get a little crispy. Then drizzle honey and lemon juice over the cheese and grapes, adding a sprinkle of fresh basil at the very end.
- What does your workout regimen look like?
Ellie said she has a “minimum” in her head of doing something active three days a week and loves to take her workouts outside. She lifts weights, does yoga at least once a week, runs, and loves spinning as well as biking, walking and hiking outside.
- Do you have any tips for healthy eating while dining at a restaurant?
Ellie recommends picking a restaurant that specializes in preparing food with local produce or has a chef that leans toward healthy cooking. She often checks the menu of a restaurant she’s planning to visit online before she goes, so has an idea about what to order ahead of time. Ellie also tries not to dig into the bread basket right away, but says that if she really wants the bread, she waits to eat it until after her entrée is delivered.
- What is your favorite indulgent dish?
Ellie said she is more of a savory person than a sweet person and loves warm, crusty bread and butter. She also loves French fries!
- If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is just beginning their healthy living journey, what would it be?
Ellie said, “Don’t worry about being perfect.” She encourages people to stay as close to the healthy track as possible, but says not to get down on yourself if you slip up.
***
My interview with Ellie was set up by the California Table Grapes Commission and they wanted me to pass along the word about the opportunity for one of you to win $5,000 simply by submitting your idea for a healthy snack made with grapes! No photo is necessary to enter the contest – just your healthy grape snack idea, which you may submit via the Grapes from California Facebook page.
And now for the giveaway!
Comfort Food Fix and Green Black Red Giveaway
One PBF reader will win the following two cookbooks:
- Comfort Food Fix, Ellie Krieger’s beautiful cookbook featuring 150 delicious comfort food recipes that are lower in calories and fat
- Green Black Red, California Table Grapes’ cookbook, featuring recipes ranging from fresh salads to rich desserts
To enter this giveaway, simply comment below, telling me why you’d like to win either one of these beautiful cookbooks.
I’ll randomly select a winner tomorrow.
Good luck!
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Love her and would love to try new, healthy recipes! : ) And rich deserts – yum! : )
I’m always on the look-out for fresh HEALTHY ideas for lunches and dinners.
I’m always looking for fresh healthy meals that I can make, because while I love eating healthy, I horrible at coming up with my own meal ideas.
Being a college student I am always looking for new HEALTHY recipes to stay fit and avoid all of the temptations that come with being surrounded by the typical cheap food that students tend to eat! I would love to have these recipes to help make “comfort food” a little healthier!
I love cooking new, healthy recipes and am always on the hunt for great cookbooks!
I love healthy alternatives for comfort food! Sometimes I crave certain comfort foods, but know if I devour in one, I’ll feel guilty afterwards.
I’m always looking for new healthy recipes! I’d love to win them!
I love to try out new recipes!! These would be perfect to test out for the summer!
I’m always on the lookout for healthy recipes to try and now that I’m 6 weeks pregnant it’s even more important to find fun, easy ways to eat healthy!
congratulations, karin!!!
I’d love to win either one of these cookbooks! I have been trying too hard to cook healthy dishes for my husband and I ever since we got married a few months ago and could definitely use some ideas!! I truly can’t do anything without a recipe haha
I love watching her on food network and with in graduate school, it’s hard to eat right. Some new inspiring recipes may help keep me on track!
I love new cookbooks and think this one would be a healthy one to add to anybody’s collection. It is always good to strive a little harder to eat well. It must have been exciting to interview Ellie.
I love cooking healthy dishes for me and my hubby!
As young fairly-newlyweds, it’s great to find recipes that are appealing to us, and inspire us to cook together. Also, some of the quickest meals are also the unhealthy ones– I’d like to start getting regular *healthy* dinners in our rotation!
I feel your pain, there! Wanted to reply to this comment because I read it and thought, “That’s so true!”
I’d love to win these cookbooks because keeping healthy food interesting is something I sometimes struggle with. Often, I find myself in the same ol’ salad-and-carrots rut, and it would be great to have guides as to how to make delicious, nutritious meals that keep me interested and on the right track.
In the past year I’ve really become passionate about cooking, and I love finding new recipes! Plus I’m moving into a new apartment soon with a nicer kitchen than what I’m used to and I can’t wait to cook in it 🙂
I am just starting an intense weight loos journey and I would love some healthy recipes to help me on my way!
I love trying new recipes! Especially when they are healthy ones! Winning one of these cookbooks would be amazing! Thanks for this giveaway! 🙂
cooking is my absolutely favorite hobby… even tho some might find it stressful, there is nothing i look forward to more after a long day of work than taking the time to prepare a delicious meal. to me, one of the best feelings is sitting to a delicious and healthy meal you took the time to make.
I’d love to see all the grape recipes … love love love grapes, and it would be really interesting to see what recipes they’ve come up with!
I am always looking for new recipes to try that are healthy or have a new ingredient to use!
I would love to have comfort food fix. I love comfort food but makin it low calorie is always tough. Thanks for the interview Julie!
I love comfort food and I’m always looking for a healthier version, this cookbook looks great!
I would love to win both cookbooks, but especially if the second one contains grape recipes as it looks to. I made this awesome chicken and grape dish once, and I’d love some more ways to incorporate the fruit into savory dishes!
I’ve always eaten healthy at home bit after recently graduating from college and moving out into my own apartment I’ve started cooking healthy meals for myself and I could use some recipes for ideas!
I would love to try some of the comfort food recipes! I am always trying to figure out healthier substitutions for my favorite comfort food recipes.
I would love to win because I am always looking for new cookbooks to try out! I think I might be a cookbook whore… 😉
I am always looking for yummy healthy recipes. How cool that you got to interview her!
Oh my goodness what a fun interview!! I so would love these books. Comfort foods are some of my favorites but how great that you can do a healthy spin on it. I will keep my fingers crossed.
I love trying new recipes! I loved this interview and would love to try one of Ellie’s recipes!
A book devoted to grapes!? I love grapes and would love to do different things with them other than eat them the minute I get home from the store.
I would love to win these to start getting more healthy meals into my diet!
I love watching Ellie’s show on TV, and have made lots of her recipes! They’re always pretty simple to make, delicious, and healthy! I’d really like to win!
I love Ellie!! I also love making healthy meals and I would really like to try her recipes! 🙂
I really enjoy Ellie’s show and would like to try her recipes.
I love Ellie! I feel like she represents RDs really well and is very realistic in choosing healthier recipes that actually taste good to people!
I’m always looking for books with healthy meal ideas!
I love making healthy meals and eating clean! I think The Cooking Channel made the right choice to bring on a “healthy” show!
I’m pretty start struck by Ellie as well.. especially as a fellow RD! I would love her cookbooks!
I love Ellie, so I would love to win her book because I would love to try out some of her recipes. Also, grapes are perfect for summer, so that book would be great too!
I LOVE comfort food and always trying to find ways to make it yummy – would love to have that cookbook!
I have always loved watching Ellie make delicious healthy meals. I always like trying to make some of my favorite indulgent meals or dishes into something I can feel better about eating. I hope to get even more healthy recipes from one of her books!
What a cool opportunity!
I’m always excited for new cookbooks! I’d love either to help me come up new and fun healthy dinners night after night!
I would love to win both of these. I bet the grape cookbook would have so many new ideas that I have never thought of!
Id love to win Ellie’s cookbook! I am really glad you were able to ask her. Aut her healthy skin because I am always telling my husband how her skin is beautiful. Maybe if I follow some of her cookbook recipes my skinill look better!
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WIN THE COOK BOOKS. BECAUSE I JUST STARTED TO MAKE DINNER AND IT WOULD FOR SURE BE A BIG HELP 🙂
I ADORE comfort food and would love to discover new ways to make them healthy!
I’d love to win either of these books because I’m always looking for new and delicious recipes to keep me on my healthy lifestyle track!
I would LOVE to win these cookbooks for so many reasons! Recently I found out I have uterine fibroids and am trying to reduce their growth through diet by eating lots of organic fruits and veggies. My doctor told me we should try to get pregnant within a year so they don’t interfere with pregnancy. Both of these cookbooks would help me create great meals but not have to give up the foods I love.
I’d love to win these cookbooks — I’m always on the lookout for healthy recipies and I like the idea of healthy recipies with grapes too!