I recently had the pleasure to attend theKrogers Wellness Your Way Festival(WYWF). I had the opportunity of interviewing Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, one of the nations leading health authorities. She is the nutrition and healthy lifestyle expert for NBCs TODAY show and the host of NBCs Health + Happiness. Joy is also a monthly columnist for Womans Day magazine, the official nutritionist for the New York City Ballet and the creator of JoyBauer.com. Joy is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with 13 best-sellers to her credit, including Joys Simple Food Remedies. Her new childrens book,Yummy Yoga, communicates a true passion of Joys encouraging young kids to try healthy new foods and energizing exercise in a playful and engaging format.

Thank you so much for joining us Joy. This festival is about Wellness Your Way. What does the term Wellness Your Way mean to you?

Wellness Your Way is this awesome event that Kroger has put together that just really helps to empower people. It exposes them to all sorts of new exercises, cooking techniques and products all in one place. People can mosey around in this huge space, learn and walk out feeling smarter and healthier.

Was there a story that inspired you to get involved with WYWF?

They asked and I came. I just immediately felt like it was such a beautiful message and a beautiful opportunity for me to help provide people with a skillset to live healthier and happier.

Can you tell me about a wellness challenge youve had and overcome?

My biggest ongoing wellness challenge is that Im full speed ahead. Im go, go, go, go. I joke that, I feel like when the alarm goes off in the morning, Im shot out of a cannon! I run from one activity to the next to the next.

I have so many deadlines that Im always juggling, whether its television segments or articles or meetings. Im always working on a lot of projects so my biggest conundrum is zenning out and staying balanced. Incorporating meditation, stretching and yoga has been a game-changer for me. And Im not gonna lie. Its still work. I have to schedule it in to make sure that I get it done, but it makes me feel so good. And even if the remainder of the day Im go, go, go. Its so helpful and I look forward to it. It literally could be like five minutes. I always do five minutes of meditation during the day.

I also like think about what Im grateful for, what I want to accomplish, what kind acts I can do. All of those things make me feel good. And I think it helps to calm the nuttiness that I normally have going on in my life. Dont get me wrong, I love the nuttiness. Thats how Im wired. But I think because Im wired so frantic and like go, go, go, you know, super, super driven, its key for me to press the pause button and sort of decompress.

Whats your current wellness mantra or life quote?

Life is hard. Food should be easy and delicious.

I think that people automatically feel that eating healthy means compromise. And you know, Ive tried to, my entire career, show people that no, you can prepare wholesome, healthy food in the most divine, delicious ways. So many flavor combos and textures. Theres a lot of deliciousness out there. So life is hard. Food should be easy. And Im hoping to make it easy for everyone.

Whats one wellness product/routine you cant live without right now?

Im going to have to say my Apple watch. It almost feels like this is a commercial. I promise this was not planned. You just asked me this question and I happened to look at my Apple watch so let me tell you why I love it. My days can be a little haphazard but I always try to work out most days of the week, so when I cant, I want to feel confident that I hit my 10,000 steps. My Apple Watch helps me keep track.

What projects are you currently working on?

The project that I am most excited about isYummy Yoga. I love this book so much. Ive always had this mission to help kids get excited and passionate about good health, eating well and trying new exercises. This is definitely my baby right now and Im working on a television show for NBC too that Im very excited about.

And new recipes, always! If you have any recipe requests, DM me, send them over to my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Im on it. I love taking indulgent decadent dishes that are typically unhealthy and lightening them up and inject superfoods. I love holiday foods. Anything goes, anything. So just you send me your request and I will be busy in my kitchen working on it for you!

Thank you for joining us, Joy! Your energy and mission is such an inspiration.

Keep up with Joy on Instagram @joybauer

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NBC's Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyle Expert, Joy Bauer: Life is hard. Food should be easy and delicious. - Thrive Global