(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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I would love to use some of her recipes this summer!!
Who doesn’t want a new healthy cookbook? Count me in!
I would love to get one of theses. I just moved out of my parents house and my cooking skills are not what i thought they were. I burned toast for crying out loud! Im also trying to be healthy so since i cant cook and dont know how and want to be helathy im living off oatmeal and salad and im bored.
I would love to win this because I’m always looking for new cookbooks. I love healthy cooking and I just love a cookbook – they are always so pretty and inspiring.
Julie:
I would love to win one of the cookbooks. I am eating very healthy these days and could use some new receipes. thank you
I would love the comfort food book because I am pregnant and craving comfort foods, and I’d love to give the grapes one to my dad because my parents grow grapes in their yard.
I love cookbooks and I love her and would love to have her cookbooks to add to my collection
I would love some new cookbooks! Comfort food is always a great cookbook to have, especially if its low cal. Plus, I’ve been in a rut lately foodwise and some new cookbooks would really help out!
I love her other cookbooks and would love these!
I am on the healthy eating bandwagon and have heard so many great things about her! I would love to incorporate her recipes into my diet!
I Love her! She is so sweet! I am definitely in need of some new cookbooks!
It hard to find comfort foods that are low in fat, I’d love some new ideas!
I have an extremely stict diet and I’m always looking for new healthy recipes to make up so I’m never bored with what I’m eating! 🙂
i love ellie’s recipes and would love to have her book!
Your interview was great! I’d love the grape cookbook, because I never really eat grapes unless I’m just snacking on them whole. It would be fun to learn a little more about cooking with them!
I’d love to win the Comfort Food cookbook, as I have a boyfriend and family members who enjoy big, hearty meals that tend to be not so healthy. I’d love to find ways to make those “comfort food” recipes with a healthier spin 🙂 Thanks, Julie!
I’m always looking for new, healthy recipes – I love Ellie Krieger!
I love to cook with healthy ingredients. One of these cookbooks would add new choices to my healthy recipe collection!
I love the challenge of taking a not-so-healthy dish and turning it into a nutritious (or at least semi-nutritious) meal. Ellie Krieger’s cookbooks would definitely make it a little easier 🙂
Great interview Julie! That must have been very exciting for you.
I love to take risks and try new things, but I still find myself needing a recipe as I am relatively new to spending a lot of time in the kitchen. These cookbooks would offer me new challenges and chances to try new things!
Those cookbooks look delicious. Making the not-so-healthy into healthy always makes me feel so proud of myself!
I have Ellie’s So Easy cookbook and would love to add to my collection! 🙂
Oh I’d love to win the comfort food cookbook! Comfort food is one of my all time favorites and to be able to make it a bit healthier would be great!
I love watching her!!! How lucky are you to get an interview with her…. i would love to check out her cookbook……
Ellie seems like a very wholesome, genuine woman with a well-balanced lifestyle! Would love to use her cookbooks!!
I live in the deep south where fried chicken buttery biscuits areserved daily. I try to live a healthy lifestyle, so Ellie’s cookbook would bee a great way to continue eating foods I love without worrying so much about the health concerns associated with most comfort foods.
I’m always looking for new healthy recipes. I’d love to win her cookbooks!
I LOVE Ellie Krieger! I have her cookbook The Food You Crave and it is awesome! I’m always looking for healthy recipe ideas so these books would definitely help in making some delicious meals!
I lost 70lbs regained 20 of them…got back on track lost another 10…but found out I am pregnant. I would love to have her cookbooks because I have tried a few of her recipes online and they are all good.. I want to have a really healthy pregnancy.
Wow what an honor to get to interview her! Ellie is AWESOME!
I would love to win the cookbook because I have recently been attempting to expand my ability & would love to do so with healthy, fresh recipes.
I would love to win Ellies cookbook! I need some help creating healthy dishes for my family as I am NOT creative with food!
I’d love some new healthy recipes for summer. When it’s hot out, I only want to eat healthy!
I love how Ellie making foods healthier while still maintaining great flavor – that’s why I’d love to win her cookbooks!
I would love these cookbooks. I am currently 7 months pregnant and need some healthy recipes during this time and after I have the baby.
I really try hard to make every dinner in our house a healthy one. I can always use fresh ideas!
I’m responsible for most of the cooking in our house and I’m struggling to find healthy recipes that aren’t “health food” in the husband’s eyes.
Easy.. Because I adore her show on the foodnetwork!
I love Ellie’s healthy recipes!
Healthy Eating Cookbooks are the new Coffee Table books. I don’t think you could ever have too many. She is precious- I would love to have her cookbooks!
These would be a great way to kickoff a summer of healthy, fresh cooking!
I would love to win these cookbooks. I need all the help I can get in the kitchen! =)
I love cookbooks! Especially healthy eating cookbooks!
I have a passion for cooking, and I love to try different recipes from all different sorts of places (cookbooks, blogs etc), so this would be perfect!
I like meals that are quick and refreshing.
I just started focusing on a healthier diet and am constantly looking for more recipe ideas (that the boyfriend will eat)! These cookbooks would be a great resource.
I used to watch Ellie when she was on Food Network and I would love to win her cookbook. So cool you had the opportunity to interview her.
I am always on the lookout for new and healthy meals and this would definitely help me out in a big way!
I recently just moved to a small local town with my boyfriend. Im eager to try new things and new recipes with him. Hopefully to transform his bad eating habits to better ones. I love watching Ellie on TV. I would love to win her cookbooks.
I’m trying to find ways of making comfort food healthier, and to learn to cook for myself and new husband! This book would be fab for that!
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! Thanks!!!!!!!!