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June 2006
Worth the price?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Beauty creams that moisturize the skin and delay or prevent aging cost $3 or $4 for a drugstore brand to hundreds of dollars for a single jar of a luxury treatment made from rare ingredients. Devotees of the cheap and devotees of the chic all swear by their preferred creams, but in the end, do the mass-market brands work as well as the expensive ones? Or do the expensive brands have some special cache that sets them apart?
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Go outside and play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have always preferred being outside, especially during the summer. Just ask my parents how hard it was to get me to come home as the sun set each night. I didn’t want to stop playing soccer, baseball, football, softball, Frisbee or whatever was going on. Things haven’t changed much over the years, and I’m thankful I live in a place that offers so many outdoor activities. When I moved to Atlanta almost seven years ago, one of the first things I did was hike up Stone Mountain. It was a hot and humid day, much like the ones we’ve been experiencing lately, but I was determined to get to the top. After the climb I was tired and sweaty, but I felt great. There’s something about being outside that invigorates me. Maybe it’s because I can reap the benefits of exercising without realizing how hard I’m working. When I go to my gym, I know I’m there for one reason. Outside, my goal isn’t only to walk on a stair-climber or run on a treadmill, it’s to hike to the top of a mountain to see a beautiful view or walk miles into the woods to see a gurgling stream or a roaring waterfall. I haven’t seen any scientific evidence that says exercising outside is better for you, but it’s just like everything else in life: The more you like it, the more you’ll do it.
What’s your favorite outdoor activity in Atlanta?
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Aging well isn’t only the luck of genetics
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll never forget the day my mom and I were asked if we were sisters. I was a teenager and my mom was in her late 30s. We had been shopping at a department store and were in the process of checking out when the cashier popped the question. “Are you two sisters?” I wanted to shout back “Are you crazy? This is my mom.” Fortunately, I kept my mouth shut and let my mom bask in the glory of being mistaken for someone much younger. I was appalled by the question because I thought my mom was, well, old, and how could someone possibly mistake me as someone her age? Twenty years and a few wrinkles later, I have a much different point of view. I’m ecstatic when people think I’m much younger than I am. Some of us age more gracefully than others. My mom, for instance, didn’t have gray hair until she was about 40. And my grandmother, who turns 85 this year, looks better than she did 15 years ago. Genes play a big role in how we look as we age, but I like to think that the way we take care of ourselves and the way we approach life matters just as much, if not more.
What’s your secret for looking young?
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Exercisers’ secret weapons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There seem to be about as many exercise books and plans as there are people in the United States, but no plan is ideal. In fact, some of the best exercise tips are ones that we figure out on our own. What’s the secret weapon that gives you the motivation to go that extra mile or to exercise on days when you’re just dead tired?
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Buck up and get to the doctor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few months ago I was supposed to pick up my brother from the airport. He had told me via e-mail that his glasses had broken a couple of days beforehand and asked if there was a place close to the airport where we could get them fixed. I didn’t realize how broken they were until he got off the escalator. He was carrying a bag in his left hand and was using his right one to hold up what remained of his glasses so he could see. I felt bad for him, but I also chuckled inside because I thought he looked silly. I can laugh because he’s my little brother. On our way to get his glasses fixed, I asked him how long it had been since he had had his eyes checked. “I don’t know, probably about 12 years,” he said. Twelve years?! I chastised him as only a big sister can. “I know. I haven’t had time,” he said. His reason is one of the more popular excuses men give for not visiting doctors. The problem is that by not making time to go now, they risk sacrificing the time they have in the future to share with loved ones. Some of the biggest medical dangers to men, such as prostate cancer, can either be prevented or treated if caught early. I reprimanded my brother that day, but the truth is, until a couple of years ago, I was just as bad as he is. I wasn’t a big fan of preventive medicine because I wasn’t crazy about some of the exams, and I always was afraid they were going to tell me something was wrong. But those aren’t acceptable reasons. The bottom line is we all need to buck up and visit our doctors. It only takes a little time and, generally, is only a bit uncomfortable. And if there’s a problem, we need to hear about it early so we can do what’s necessary to get well. Are you and your family good about getting regular checkups?
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Childhood obesity
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Childhood obesity is at an all time high. Have you and your family made any changes such as eating differently or excercising more to make sure your children are developing healthy habits?
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Controlling what you eat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Eat to live, not live to eat.”
— Cicero
I had heard this quote before but ran across it again over Memorial Day weekend while spending a couple of days at a spa in the North Georgia mountains.
Before the trip, I daydreamed about how great it was going to be to get massages, stretch and strengthen my body and mind during yoga, commune with nature and just relax.
I had no idea I would end up in the kitchen. No, I didn’t cook, but I did spend some time with Corrine Wittman, the chef at Pura Vida, about 15 minutes from Dahlonega.
It’s not often that we get to talk to chefs about how they make our favorite meals or what their philosophy about cooking is.
Corrine’s is simple: “I cook with love; I have a passion for life and a passion for my job.”
It might seem strange, but her love does come through in her food.
I’m not a professional food critic, but I really enjoyed the meals she prepared. They tantalized my taste buds and were light and the portions weren’t overwhelming.
Corrine, who has been in the food industry at least 20 years, doesn’t think bigger is better, especially when you’re talking about food.
“We’ve turned into a quantity vs. quality society,” she said. “I definitely downsize a bit.”
For instance, any chicken and fish she serves is typically 2 to 3 ounces less than what you would get at most restaurants.
And the serving of her fantastic Key lime cheesecake with raspberry compote is two-thirds smaller than what you’d typically get dining out.
I didn’t feel cheated by the cheesecake’s size, however, and I never left a meal feeling hungry.
Maybe that’s because for the past few years I’ve been pretty good at practicing my own portion control.
I have several tactics: Sometimes I share my food with dinner companions or make sure I only eat half of whatever is served. Other times I order only a small appetizer and salad.
The more we try to stick by Cicero’s words of eating to live as opposed to centering our lives around eating, the better off we’ll be.
Making that adjustment isn’t always easy, because we are used to being inundated with food. But as chef Corrine showed me, smaller can be a lot better.
Are you a member of the clean plate club? Or do you control your portions while dining?
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Why are you a vegetarian?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PETA rated Atlanta as a very vegetarian-friendly city based on the number of restaurants and retail sales (among other factors) here. And the impact of vegetarians is growing nationwide — in 2003, it was a $1.6 billion industry. But although vegetarians are united by their diet, their reasons couldn’t be more diverse. Some people “go veg” in support of animal welfare, some for workers rights and environmental causes, others for health reasons.
Why are you a vegetarian?
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Is organic food better?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Organic food is a hot topic. The claims are that organic is healthier because no pesticides are used and that the foods contain more vitamins. Some people even say it tastes better. The problem is that organic food often costs three times as much!
What do you think: Can you afford to go organic? Is it worth the money?
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Would you eat cloned meat?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was listening to NPR the other day and there was a report about using cloned cows as food. This did not sit well with my stomach. Can you imagine drinking milk from a man-made cow or eating a t-bone steak from this beast? I’m sure science is working hard at making things safe, but I’ll stick to the real thing. How about you?
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