Hello, Invisible Friends.  Queen Bitty here.

I’d like to introduce Jackie Clark of Mesotheolima and the Daily Arc. When Jackie first approached me about healthy eating, I snarled.

I’m Queen Bitty, after all.  I don’t have to worry about peasant things like calories.

But then I thought of the Blond Duck’s Mom and how she went through cancer.  And I thought about how if the Blond Duck’s mom didn’t take care of herself, I would no longer have a pillow.  And when Jackie said she could make healthy eating fun, I was intrigued.

Perhaps you will be too.

1) Tell me about yourself and your blog. How did you develop a passion for what you do?

I have always had a passion for writing. I remember writing poems as a young child in my journal. As I developed I realized that I had other passions, to include food and fitness. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the power in blogging and I decided to text the water with guest posts. I loved what I was writing and doing and one day I bit the bullet and had my very own blog!

2) Why is it important for everyone to eat healthy, not just those recovering from cancer?

For me, many healthy foods are enjoyable. I especially like juicing a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables to create a nutritious drink that goes perfect with a healthy breakfast. Though I do not find some healthy foods fun by themselves, I’ve found that adding spices can liven up the taste.

3) How do you make healthy eating fun?

Healthy foods are not necessarily boring and it is easy to incorporate them into the holiday meals. For example, cut up a wide range of fresh fruits rather than using canned fruits to make the fruit salad and mix in some spinach, kale and other dark leaves to the normal salad. Instead of buying pies from the store, make it at home and lower the amount of sugar in the recipe. Fresh fruits used in a pie are naturally sweet and do not need a large amount of sugar to make it taste amazing.

4) Queen Bitty demands to know what your favorite type of pie is (resident Chihuahua on blog, common interview question). She also demands to know if there’s a healthy pie recipe.

I personally enjoy eating pumpkin pie and apple pie. The best way to make the crust healthy is with whole-wheat flour. Even better is to make a healthy pie filling. I find that pumpkin, apples and many other fruits are naturally sweet. By lowering the amount of sugar and adding a little extra cinnamon to the pie, it is possible to make many fruit and vegetable pies healthier.

5) What’s a good way to get kids involved in healthy eating? Any good recipes?

Getting children involved in healthy eating is simple: lead by example. When parents eat healthy, the children naturally follow healthy eating habits. Getting them involved in healthy eating requires nothing more than only offering healthy options. Avoid giving them unhealthy food.

6) What’s your favorite healthy holiday recipe?

My favorite healthy holiday recipe is turkey. In our family, we use fruit juice to baste the turkey instead of using butter or other high fat options. We simply put the turkey into the oven on 300 degrees for most of the day with it covered. To get the juice inside the meat, we will inject it with a syringe and occasionally open the oven to repeat the process. In the end, the turkey has a slightly sweet taste, but without many added calories and no added fat.

7) Any tips on starting healthy traditions?

Starting healthy traditions begins with making a few minor changes. Work on making half the foods healthy and gradually increase the number. This makes it easier to transition into a tradition.

Any healthy recipes you’d like to share with a creative twist?

In my personal life, I’ve found that one of the best breakfast recipes is mixing a large amount of tomato, onions, spinach or other vegetables with one egg. Put it on the oven like an omelet and cook both sides. Then put the egg into one half of a warm whole-wheat pita with a small amount of light mayonnaise. It makes a low calorie meal that is satisfying and full of vegetables for a great start to the day.

While I think I’ll stick to my own peanut butter puppy cookies and the Blond Duck will stick to her pie, I’m glad the Blond Duck’s mom and others can have healthy eating tips so I can have a long-term pillow.

I like pillows.  And peanut butter dog cookies.

Jackie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 as research assistant after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in fitness and nutrition. Jackie’s experience in technical and medical research has allowed her to assist in the development of medical content and outreach efforts, with specializations in alternative care, cancer support programs, and social media campaigns.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  A new Wings tomorrow!

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