(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’ve just recently gotten into cooking and I’ve been experimenting recreating my favorite recipes in a healthier way. I would LOVE a cookbook that shows me how to do that to comfort food recipes!
I’d love to win this cookbook because I love all of Ellie’s recipes. I think she’s one of the only chefs on the Food Network/Cooking Channel that truly focuses on heart healthy food geared towards active lifestyles and families. We need more like her! 🙂
I started living on my own about 6 months ago when I moved away from home to attend college. My kitchen skills may not be the greatest but I love to experiment and try new things! I especially enjoy eating healthy foods nowadays, which is not something my parents pushed on me when I lived at home.
Love EK – love her recipes.
I’m such a comfort food junkie… I’m allllwways looking for new ways to make my favorites healthy but still keep me comforting! 🙂
I love Ellie Krieger! I’ve used some of her recipes, and love how she can create healthy good tasting dishes. I’ve lost close to 70 pounds by diet and exercising. The last 40lbs I attribute to a healthier eating style. I would love to own her cookbook so I can continue to come up with scrumptious meal ideas.
As much as I love finding recipes online, there is something so special and fun about flipping through a recipe book, especially a healthy one! 🙂
i agree! cookbooks make me happy. 🙂
Love her show and love a new cookbook–especially ones with great healthy recipes that taste delicious 🙂
I would just love to get a cookbook! I love to cook, but want to be more healthy about it
I am changing my family’s lifestyle! We are gradually going organic and cutting out unhealthy eating habits where we can. Except my husband’s love of cookies, there’s no cure for that! These cookbooks would beterrific inspiration for me in the kitchen.
Love Ellie, her values and philosophy as an RD. I applaud her contributions and initiatives to further nutrition education and awareness, with programs like “let’s move” She is such an inspiration and I have yet to explore her cookbooks!
I would like to win because I am stuck in a cooking rut.
I am always eating the same old stuff so some new recipes would be great. Also, Ellie makes such great food. I have tried a couple of her recipes before and they were amazing. I would love to try more.
I would love Elie’s cookbook! Her recipes are healthy and taste amazing!
I Love cookbooks and this lady! As a new home owner I would enjoy having one of these cookbooks to help me make some delicious meals for my honey!
I love Ellie’s philosophy on healthy eating. It would be such a treat to read her cookbook! Thanks, Julie!!
I would love to win these cookbooks!! I’m always on the lookout for making comfort meals healthier and this looks right up my alley! 🙂
I’ll be living on my own for the first time and would love to have a healthy cookbook!
I’d like to win cause I need some motivation to start cooking more!
The grape cookbook looks interesting! I’ve only ever eaten them just on their own so adding them to recipes would be new for me.
I love the recipes of hers that I’ve tried so far. I would love to try out more from her cookbook!
I would live some new ideas for some fresh and healthy meals for my family. It is hard to find meals that my husband and 3 year old daughter like to eat! I am tired of making the same things week after week, we need some new ideas.
I would love to win of Ellie’s cookbooks. I have the comfort foods cookbook on my amazon wish list. I have worked hard over the last two years to transforms my lifestyle and have lost almost 100 pounds. With just a few more to go I am really looking for some different recipes to help bust through my current plateau.
Thanks for the opportunity!
I want to start living a healthy lifestyle and these books would be a great start in the eats department.
I would love to win one of these books because I LOVE to cook new recipes, and I love to bake even more. I find it so interesting to see other peoples cooking styles(especially a tv star like ellie) 🙂
I just graduated from college, am out on my own and am loving experimenting in the kitchen!
Love this!! Always in need of a healthy cookbook 🙂
I’ve always been a huge fan of Ellie Krieger. I already have and love her Healthy Appetite book, but I’d love to have that Comfort Food one!
I’m always on the look out for new healthy recipes and I think her recipes would be a great addition to my current menu!
Comfort food is usually what my family wants to eat. Men aren’t always into “health food” like quinoa, raw veggies, green smoothies and the like. Learning how to make healthier versions of my family’s favorite meals would be a great way to improve everyone’s health!
I’m always on the lookout for healthy recipes and to learn how to healthify comfort food would be great!
That’s so awesome that you got to interview Ellie!! I would like to win either of the books and especially Ellie Krieger’s book because I have enjoyed her creativity and good advice in the past. She’s incredibly smart yet easy to relate to 😀
First of all- I love your blog! I swear we would be great friends in real life! 🙂 Secondly, I would love to win one of her books because I DVR all her shows and would love to have her printed recipes so I can easily access them.
i love grapes! and it looks like Ellie loves grapes too 😉
I just recently started on a healthy eating/exercise kick and this would be a good way to get more ideas for healthy meals!
Great interview! I love making comfort food and would love some tips to make it healthier!
I would love to win Ellie’s cookbook! I love how she focuses on portions and quality food rather than low fat or diet foods.
Im a fan of Ellie. I would read her book and try some recipes!
I would love to win Ellie’s book! On her show she makes such great looking stuff and the fact that they’re healthy makes them that much more appealing!
I’d love to win because she’s my fave food network star!
I’m getting married in October and I will soon be the main chef in the house. Although I am a bit nervous, I’m really looking forward to it! I think these books might help jumpstart our ability to join our lives and eat healthy together : )
I need some new recipe ideas – would love to win the cookbooks!
I’d love to win the cookbooks! I have Ellie’s first one (The Food You Crave) & have been wanting to get both of her other ones. 🙂
I would love a cookbook with ways to make comfort food healthier! And who doesn’t love grapes?
I love cooking, cook books, and learning about healthy eating.
I read cookbooks like novels, and always love getting healthy inspiration for different dishes. I would love to win either one of these fantastic cookbooks!
I would love to win her comfort food fix cookbook, I’ve borrowed it from the library before and loved making her healthy recipes for my family 🙂
Needing some good healthy recipes for my hubby and toddler..always running out of ideas.Need some inspiration!
I always love new ideas from healthy cookbooks! Seems like she has a really sensible approach to healthy eating. Also, grapes are the best!
I would LOOOOVE the comfort food fix book – My biggest hobby is seeking out the most delicious comfort foods (cheesecake, fried chicken, chocolate covered chocolate! covered in peanut butter, of course..) and creating healthy versions of them!! It’s thrilling when it turns out to be successful! …Wow, how exciting does my life sound?! 😉