Adventures in Healthy Eating Transitions- An Interview with Britney

Q1: So you’ve lived with a health-nut for a girlfriend for several years now-did she ever come close to scaring you off?

A1: LOL! Early on when we were dating, I used to eat out A LOT and quickly realized that Rande wasn’t as interested in that and that the way she ate made eating out more challenging. So at first I think I was really nervous about not being able to share that activity with her, but then I realized how amazing of a chef she is and what a treat it was to stay at home with her. I also recall thinking it was so strange to drink veggie juice for lunch and to often not eat solid foods until dinner, I was sure she would starve! But clearly she is alive and well

Q2: What made you decide you wanted to start changing your diet?

A2: I would say it was a combination of wanting to cure some digestive issues I had been dealing with for a long time and wanting to be more conscientious about what I was putting into my body. And certainly being inspired by seeing how Rande positively glows with energy and life when she is immersed in her healthy living habits.

Q3: What symptoms have you been experiencing that you’re hoping a diet and lifestyle change will benefit?

A3: Digestion and heartburn issues, as well as a general sense of sluggishness and lack of motivation. In addition to the changes in my diet, I am making an effort to be more physically active and spend time outside in nature in hopes that it improves my general well-being and mental health. This summer I plan on doing more yoga, lots of hiking, and trying-out stand-up paddle boarding in Puget Sound!

Q4: What have been the hardest and easiest parts of the transition?

A4:The hardest adjustments have been (1) the realization of how much planning and prep goes into eating a healthier diet (especially since I was a major consumer of Trader Joe’s quick and easy pre-made foods), and (2) my attempts at learning and implementing food combining. Being a scientist, I tend to approach life with a very inquisitive nature and have grown comfortable discussing Rande’s diet with her and having great discussions about how and why she lives/eats the way she does. I think my inquisitiveness has only increased since starting to make changes to my own diet (poor Rande is fielding questions left and right!!) and I tend to think of it as a big “experiment” testing different variables in my diet and trying to control for different confounding factors…sorry for the geek moment All that to say, there are some difficult parts of this transition but I am making an effort to understand and test the reasoning behind these changes and am hoping to find something that works well for my own body.

The easiest part of the transition is having Rande there at every step of the process to encourage and guide me, and to make me tons of delicious things to eat. This transition would have been a million times more difficult without her! Thank you, sweetie

Q5: Do you have any favorite new dishes or things that you really miss?

A5: I’ve become a big fan of wraps, something I really did not used to enjoy! My new favorite lunch is a sprouted grain tortilla with avocado and arugula, enhanced with a little spicy salsa or mustard and paired with some raw veggies for munching or some crispy veggie chips. The thing I miss most: a grilled cheese! It was a staple item in my diet and I was always in search of the best new grilled cheese recipes. I will probably still indulge occasionally (especially since Rande concocts some of the best home-made grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever eaten!), but I am working my way towards proper food combining (good-bye bread with cheese…) in hopes that it improves my digestive and energy issues.

Q6: Do you have any tips or questions for the readers?

A6: One thing that has helped me lately is to forgive myself if I don’t get my combos just right or indulge in something a bit more processed than I would like to eat (especially when going out to eat with friends), but at the same time to make sure I don’t gorge even though I fell off the wagon. I think this is really helping me transition more smoothly, but I welcome any and all other suggestions and ideas from Rande’s wonderful readers!!