Kickin’ It With SHAPE Magazine’s Karen Borsari
by Cascade Ice on February 21, 2013
Cascade Ice is excited to post the first interview in our brand new series, Kickin’ It with Cascade Ice! We’ll be interviewing notable healthy living advocates around the country to get their best tips and tricks, and post them here for all to benefit.
For our first post in the series, we are lucky enough to hear from Karen Borsari, an editor at SHAPE Magazine! Karen shared some fabulous advice and great meal tips to encourage Cascade Ice fans to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Read below to hear more from Karen!
Why is “Healthy Living” important to you?
How could it not be? I want to get the most out of life and I know I need to take care of myself in order to do so. I never want to miss an opportunity because I don’t feel well, am too tired, or not physically capable.
Who are your “Healthy Living” role models and why?
My coworkers! It’s awesome to be surrounded by like-minded people. Every day I’m inspired by the healthy home cooked meals I see, the women who hit the gym on lunch break, and the proudly displayed medals from last weekend’s race. We do group fitness classes after work instead of happy hour from time to time and it’s wonderful to realize that fitness is fun and grabbing drinks isn’t the only way to socialize.
What is your go-to healthy meal when you are short on time?
Every morning I have PB & J oatmeal because I can make it in minutes when I get to work and it truly keeps me full until lunch. I put half of a cup of old fashioned oats with a sprinkle of salt in a microwave safe bowl and heat for a minute or two, then stir in two tablespoons of peanut butter. I’ll top the mixture with half of a sliced banana, dried cherries or a tablespoon of real fruit preserves.
Stuffed baked potato. I make this on nights I get home late. I’ve even shown up in the office with an unbaked potato when I don’t have time to pack a lunch. All I do is wash and prick a potato and pop it in the microwave for about five minutes. While that’s heating, I look to see what’s in the fridge. Leftover chili? Throw it in the potato. Sausage and peppers? Dice it up and throw it in the potato. Chicken breast and broccoli? Shred the chicken, chop the broccoli, and throw it in!
When I don’t have leftovers, frozen veggies, a can of beans, salsa, and Greek yogurt all make good toppers in any combination. Potato + veggie + protein = a quick, healthy, well-balanced, portion-controlled meal.
Do you have any tips for families who want to make some healthy lifestyle changes?
I don’t have a family so I hesitate to give advice here but I would say be sure to sit at the dinner table and take your meals together—TV off. Most people don’t realize what a wonderful and healthy opportunity it is—not just for the body but for your relationships as well.
Are there any foods that you consider to be off-limits completely?
I don’t have any foods that are off limits but there are a few I know I can’t be trusted with alone. I never snack on cashews when I’m home alone because I know I will finish the whole container but I always indulge if they’re served at a party! I love putting them on salad or enjoying in dishes like cashew chicken.
In addition to eating right, do you have any other tips to share on overall wellness?
Also, I program my favorite gym classes into my phone so I almost never miss a workout—but not to the detriment of my social life! At the beginning of the week, I see if there are any conflicts with my social calendar and reschedule those workouts for the morning or at lunchtime. Or maybe it becomes my rest day. I schedule those too!
Keep up with Karen on Google+ and follow SHAPE Magazine on Twitter for more great advice!
