One of my big challenges in the fitness arena has been with my hatred of most vegetables. Perhaps it was they way things were prepared when I was growing up or my “texture issues” with certain foods (does anyone have that too?)…but in my life, most bitter green vegetables cannot make it past my lips without severe consequences. SO…I was a bit nervous meeting our nutritionist this past weekend. Janis developed the meal plans and recipes in collaboration with Bob Greene for the Best Life Diet –so she is about as expert as you can get and I was prepared for a demoralizing lecture on how I’m a bad, bad eater.

Not so! Janis was so wonderful and did not treat me like a freak when I told her I had issues with vegetables. She asked me which ones I liked–and I was surprised to figure out that, when I sat down to think about it, there were actually many vegetables I did like and three of them were green (green beans, peas and mixed greens). She quickly wrote some recipes for me on the spot on how to incorporate all of those vegetables into my diet in a subtle way…working them in slowly. I also was thrilled to find out that pureed soups can count as a vegetable serving–DONE! No texture issues in soup…and there are so many great organic soups out there that pack a punch of nutrients.

I and the rest of the girls are so fortunate to learn from a professional, expert nutritionist with a wonderful food-side manner! Go Janis!