My Interview with Olivia’s Organics

If you follow me on Instagram you may know that I’m in Olivia’s Organics’ newsletter today! I mentioned it earlier this week and today is the day. If you’ve clicked over to my site from the Olivia’s Organics’ newsletter, welcome! 

My Interview with Olivia’s Organics

Olivia’s Organics was only able to feature a portion of the interview so I’ve included the full interview here. I hope you enjoy it! 

Olivia’s Open Mic August 2017

What is your overall eating philosophy?

I’ve been interested in healthy eating for a while now and I’m still learning and trying to figure out what works for me. The hard part about nutrition is that what works for me may not work for everyone, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to eating. It’s definitely a process.

That may be intimidating to some people, but that’s why I love it. It makes the experimentation fun and I want to make food approachable for people. That’s why I started my site and my Instagram account. I want to help others find food that makes them feel good and expose them to things they haven’t tried before.

Finding what works for you may take a bit of work but it’s always worth it. I know when I feed my body with fresh, quality food, I always feel better.

How does your eating philosophy transfer over to your beauty regimen?

I definitely believe that what you eat affects your skin. In fact, I think it’s more important to start with your diet when you’re looking to clear up or brighten your skin instead of looking for a fast fix in a beauty product. Food is a powerful tool, and for me personally, it’s helped clear up my skin more than any beauty product.

What first drew you to purchase Olivia’s Organics Products?

I typically shop at Mom’s Organic Market here in Arlington and they carry a lot of Olivia’s products. I trust Mom’s a lot and knew that if they were carrying Olivia’s, it must be good. Every time I buy one of Olivia’s products, I’m blown away by the freshness and great taste.

What is your favorite Olivia’s product?

That’s a tough one! I’d probably say the Baby Butter Lettuce – it’s just so creamy! (Yes, lettuce can be creamy!)

What is your take on salads?How do keep them exciting and fresh?

Lots of people think salads have to be boring and that’s just not true! One really important factor is to start with a great base. If your lettuce or arugula or spinach isn’t good, your salad won’t be either.

Then, don’t be afraid to pile on the toppings. My favorite thing to do is to use some sort of warm vegetable or starch on top of my salads; they are much more satisfying and filling that way. Some of my favorites are roasted broccoli and roasted sweet potatoes.

Finally, end with a great dressing. It’s so easy to make your own at home with just oil, lemon juice, and salt.

How do you sneak in your greens to each of your meals?

Most mornings I make a smoothie and I always throw in frozen greens. Lately, I’ve been using Olivia’s Baby Spinach but the Power Greens are also fantastic in smoothies. Did you know you can freeze a clamshell of spinach and grab a handful when you need it? It’s an easy way to throw in greens (you won’t taste them at all, I promise!) and it won’t go bad in your fridge. Win-win.

At other meals, I always try to have something green. I have a salad for lunch most days and they are a great way to add greens, veggies, protein, and fat all in one sitting. Then at dinner, I try to either make a side salad or eat some other green vegetable. My favorite is roasted broccoli with tahini sauce. I probably make it once a week!

How do you recommend people eat healthy on-the-go or in the office?

You have to plan ahead. Some people like to batch cook on weekends and some people don’t, and both are fine. But prep often starts at the grocery store. Before you go, make a list of a few items you know you will need on hand throughout the week so that you can grab items from your fridge or pantry to have with you.

One other easy way to be prepared is to make an extra serving of dinner the night before and take leftovers. You’re already making dinner anyway, so just make more.

What tips do you have for adding greens to smoothies that also beautify?

Olivia’s spinach and Power Greens are both great options. When you make a smoothie, add the milk and greens in the blender first. Mix those until the greens are well combined and blended. You’ll have something that looks like green milk when you’re done and that’s what you want! Then you can add the rest of your ingredients.

How did you come up with the name Crunchy Kat?

I knew I wanted to start a blog and website for a long time but I was hung up on what it would be called. I also knew that I wanted to talk about both food and beauty products so I needed a name that incorporated both of those things. The idea came to me when I was on the way home from a family vacation. I’m a little bit crunchy and I liked the alliteration. The name stuck and now many of my friends and family members call me Crunchy Kat!

Now that you’ve read my answers, what questions do you have for me? I’d love to hear from you!