(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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Being a college student, I feel like I eat my fair share of comfort food…healthy is always better!
I really enjoy finding new healthy recipes to make for my husband and me! It has proved hard to satisfy my need for healthier options and my husbands “pickiness” when it comes to dinner-time. Ellie’s books would be a major help!! Her advice was great, thanks for doing the interview!:)
My dad has a few vines in his backyard and grows the tastiest concord grapes. I’d love these books to share and try new recipes.
I agree, the cold salads are a must-have in the Summer months!
How awesome that you had the opportunity to interview her…does this mean Juile is considering a cookbook, too?? I hope so!!
I would love to win this cookbook. Lately I have been getting into healthy eating as I have just had a baby and want to model a healthy lifestyle for her as she grows up (plus lose the extra baby weight!!)
I am currently living in a dorm room with only a toaster oven and a mini fridge, I need some ideas for healthy eating!
I loved her first cookbook so I bet this one is wonderful as well:)
Oooh cookbooks! I would love to win cookbooks because, well, let’s face it…I am a lousy cook! Ellie’s books would hopefully inspire me to change that! 🙂
BTW awesome interview!! Keep up the good work Julie!
I love anything Ellie. She is my favorite cook on the food network! I look through cookbooks like they are magazines 🙂
I love cooking and including healthy variations of your favourite foods is something I always look forward to. I love love grapes, so having a couple of recipes specific to grapes in my anvil would be an added plus 🙂
I am looking for some culinary inspiration – this would be perfect!
Very cool! I love the piece of advice she gave. Such an important thing to keep in mind 🙂
Great video! Always looking for new, easy, healthy recipes that are easy to make for one person!
I would love either one of these cookbooks because I tend to get into a rut in the kitchen and can use all the help I can get!
Cookbooks and recipes are my absolute favourite! Such and Ellie fan and would love to add some Ellie comfort foods to my collection!!!
That was an awesome interview.
I would love to win the cookbooks because I am trying to cook HEALTHY meals! The recipes in her books so delicious.
As a Mom of 4 I’ve started a big shift towards clean, healthy eating that is fun and good for us! Would love some new recipes!
I used to watch Ellie in the food network all the time, I love how get dishes were healthy but still had so much flavor! I can always use some help getting new healthy recipes in the mix, it’s so easy to eat the same things over and over.
I collect cookbooks!! The more the better. I have a wide range of different topics in my collection and would love to add something by Ellie – I love her show
I’d love to win this cookbook because I’m a huge Ellie Krieger fan. I watch her show on the cooking channel and love her approach to healthy living (AKA, eat delicious nutritious food).
I would love some new healthy cookbooks. I love cooking at home, but have gone through all of my recipes to date.
LOVE Ellie and the Food Network–sounds like a win win to me 🙂
i would love to win these cookbooks because i love making healthy food and am looking for better and easier ways to do it! i am studying dietetics so they are very interesting to me!
Love her show and recipes so I’m sure these cookbooks are great!
I love cooking creative dishes and sometimes tweak recipes to make them more nutritious. I think this cookbook would give me better ideas if not just tell me exactly what to do by following the recipe to make more nutritious foods.
I would love to win one of these cookbooks because I am just starting out on changing my lifestyle and including more workouts into my routine and eating healthier. I would love a cookbook that included healthier meals.
I’d love a healthy cookbook to add to the few I have. I love cooking and baking!
I love Ellie and am always looking for new healthy recipes to try!
i am looking for new healthy recipes
I’d love to win a cookbook – I’m always looking for new, healthy dishes to try!
I’d love to win one of these books bc Ellie’s recipes are delicious, healthy, and the food is stuff my fiancé would definitely enjoy, even though its healthy!!
Ellie was the first Food Network personality to consistently advocate for healthy eating & I’ve always wanted to see more of her ideas!
I would love to win these cookbooks because since being in Paris I have fallen head over heals for cooking and can’t wait to really start preparing meals when I get back to the States. These cookbooks would be a great start!
I love Ellie and her healthy living philosophy! She really does glow!
I LOVE to win these two cookbooks because I struggle with healthy eating. My boyfriend will cook for me, but he doesn’t know how to cook healthy either. So I’d love a cookbook that I can use to cook us healthy meals!
I would love to win her cookbook because she is so inspiring and i love all of her recipes!
I love Ellie! I love that she finds healthier ways to cook meals instead of limiting you. I would love yummy recipes that could be cook a little healthier and still taste great!
I would love these books because I’m always trying to find new and healthy recipes for my husband and I to try. Pinterest is great but I still love looking through pictures of cookbooks!
That was one awesome interview!
I’d like to win the cookbooks because I feel like I’m in a healthy eating rut and I know that those cookbooks could really help.
I’d love to win those cookbooks because as a Registered Dietitian in training I love to eat healthy and am always looking for new recipe ideas!
This is so cool! I would love to win those cookbooks as my boyfriend and i are moving out into our own place for the first time and i need to find healthy meals!!!!!! Grapes are so good already, i would love to incorporate them into my recipes! Thanks for the opportunity!
I am always looking for new and healthy recipes. These cookbooks would be awesome!
I would love to win these cookbooks because as a future registered dietitian I really look up to Ellie Krieger! Also, I’m always looking for new healthy recipes.
I tend to do the same thing all of the time and would love some variety in my dishes!
I would love these cookbooks to get some new recipe ideas! Thanks for such a great giveaway!
I would like to win these cookbooks because I need to learn how to cook before moving in with my boyfriend! This would help me so much 🙂 Also I love love cookbooks!
I wanna win because I LOVE grapes! I used to eat a bag a day (got a little expensive). 🙂
I’m going to start my junior year in college and will be moving into a house with roommates so I’m dying for some healthy recipes I can use to switch up the chicken and salad routine!
I love Ellie Kreiger! Her cookbook looks amazing!
I love new healthy recipes! And she seems very sweet.