Lisa, thanks for the opportunity to interview you. I would love to know how you became interested in food. Was it an early passion? What was your motivation?
Dr. Lisa Young : I was always interested in food and nutrition as a kid. I was influenced by my grandma Ceil, who was fighting breast cancer arsenic well as struggling with weight. She was my inhalation, because she turned to nutrition and goodly consume as a way to fight her cancer, and she did, indeed, live with cancer for 2O years. In college, at Wharton/University of Pennsylvania, I majored in health care presidency and sought out all elective course classes that were nutrition- and food-related. And thus my heat began. After running a weight-loss program for 3 years, I decided to go back to graduate school and formally study nutriment.
As an nutritionist, what are some of the changes and trends you’ve observed in the food world over the last 20 years?
Dr. Lisa Young : I ’ ve observed the assign sizes of normally consumed foods increasing—really quite a set. No one was talking about big portions in the 1990s, and I decided to write my doctoral dissertation on growing portions. Sodas, fast food, restaurant portions, bagels, candy, and most early foods have increased in size. many foods we normally eat are now 2 to 5 times larger than they were 50 years ago. That ’ s a huge increase, which surely explains our fleshiness epidemic in the US. Plates, mugs, cup holders in cars, and tied hospital gowns, have increased in size.
Tell us about eating healthfully? Why INCREASE your portions? Why should someone load up on non-starchy veggies to lose weight?
Dr. Lisa Young : Eating healthfully is about balance and moderation. It ’ s about eating foods from all the food groups, varying your food choices, and, of class, watching your portions. There is an exception, however, when it comes to fruits and veggies.
It ’ s very hard to get people to eat less, because they feel deprived. A elementary solution is to recommend that they eat more fruits and veggies, which are super-nutritious, high in roughage, low in calories, and a win-win for slant loss. As I tell clients, no one got adipose tissue eating excessively many carrots.
Can you define the term “healthy eating?”
Dr. Lisa Young : healthy eat is about symmetry and easing. It ’ mho about eating foods from all the food groups and not feeling deprived. It ’ south besides about creating a healthy life style you can sustain.
What if you’re not a “portion” person? What if you just can’t stop yourself from eating everything you see in front of you? Can you eat everything you see?
Dr. Lisa Young : I come from a family of “ volume eaters ” — lovers of big portions. The key is learning which foods to downsize and which you can supersize. If you can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate stop yourself from eating certain trash foods ( cookies, chips ), Id suggest not bringing them into the theater and enjoying a little taste when you are out.
What non-related issues (e.g., sleep habits) are important to healthy eating? Dr. Lisa Young : Getting enough sleep along with even exercise are so significant. research shows that when people are sleep deprived, they often overeat. And they make poor choices. exert not only burns calories but it ’ randomness besides good for your temper. A win-win .
What’s the one thing you’d suggest people keep in their kitchen if they want to cook healthy meals?
Dr. Lisa Young : Keep measuring cups and spoons handy and use them on occasion. You may be surprised what a cup or tablespoon of your favorite food looks like .
What food person do you respect most, or who motivates you?
Dr. Lisa Young : Marion Nestle, my NYU mentor, has been an inspiration.
How would you describe healthy foods?
Dr. Lisa Young : whole foods that don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate come in packages. colored fruits and vegetables, for exemplify .
Your proudest moment?
Dr. Lisa Young : Finishing my PhD and writing my books.
As a child you wanted to be?
Dr. Lisa Young : A celebrated dietician .
What’s your motto?
Dr. Lisa Young : size matters ! At least when it comes to food portions. 🙂
What is the best advice you have been given?
Dr. Lisa Young : Do what you love !
FACT SHEET
Grew up in: Long Island, NY
City or town you call home: upper east slope of Manhattan ( NY, NY ) and Lawrence, NY.
Job title: Nutritionist in private practice and adjunct professor of nutriment at NYU
Background and education: Received undergraduate academic degree at The WHARTON School/ University of Pennsylvania. Master ’ s degree and PhD in nutriment from NYU.
One word you would use to describe our food system: A work in progress
Foodie hero : jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers
Your breakfast this morning: yogurt with berries and walnuts
Favorite food : unharmed wheat pizza with lots of veggies
Last meal on Earth : peanut butter ice cream
Your healthiest habit : day by day exert
Least healthy habit : go to bed excessively recently
Food policy social media must follow : @ marionnestle @ cspi
Food newsletter, website or book you can’t stop reading : I love Nutrition Action and Consumer Reports
Your proudest “food” moment: being recognized for my work on fortune sizes and contribution to the field of nutrition