Bauer and Rockley set in a culinary demonstration.
President Darryll J. Pines of UMD welcomed the warm chat (and yes, song) of Public Health Dean Boris Rashniak and head football coach Michael Locksley, at a gathering of over 160 alumni and students. The event also included trivia segments and cooking demos, including the Bauer format for the “Today” show.
Takeout: A healthy lifestyle is making small, healthy choices. “There's no need to feel overwhelming,” Bauer said. “Nutrition is about balance and not perfect.”
Bauer shared some simple tips to encourage healthy eating choices:
Big goals are great, but set small goals along the way. “I'd probably want to run the NYC Marathon or lose 100 pounds, but giving momentum is a small goal,” Bauer said. She proposed weekly goals that are realistic, concrete and enduring. “You can check them off, tap your back and fuel it so you move forward.”
Health is overall. It includes physical, mental and social well-being. This can start with something simple like a walk. For Bauer, it's 4-5 miles a day. “It brings me that inner peace,” she said. “I'm thinking about what I'm going to do that day.”
If you don't like Quinoa, try again. “Play and experiment with seasonings,” suggested Bauer. Quinoa's fiber and protein combo stabilizes blood sugar levels and slows carbohydrate absorption into our blood. The same applies to lush greenery. It's all about finding a way to prepare you to work for you with fun things. For example, Bauer demonstrated a recipe for Joyful Terp in Dark Chocolate with fiber-rich dates and pecans packed with antioxidants, replacing sweet sweet snacks.
Smarter and less difficult. She recommended using dry spices. For example, dry ingers have high anti-inflammatory abilities. “You have a learning curve at first, but then you feel very good,” she said. Plus, you're probably consuming some healthy stuff. “I'm a big coffee girl,” Bauer said. “That's why I get out of bed in the morning.” Coffee helps to boost brain health and memory, she said, and even Decaff is packed with antioxidants.
Small choices lead to great benefits. Lushniak asked the question that all the soccer fans in the room were thinking. What should Lockley replace his famous sour patch kids bag to stress on the bystanders? “Instead of candy, I give him a grape with antioxidants, sweet peppers and sugar snap peas,” Bauer said. “And if he did well with produce in the first half, I'd give him candies in the second half.” Other foods she's incorporated: berries for brain health, lentils swoosh over cholesterol, avocados to fight potassium and sodium.
“The biggest thing you can do to start your health journey and stick to it is to lead your mind into the game,” she said.
