What’s the secret to enjoying pizza and wine on Friday night without feeling guilty afterwards? Jess Baumgardner, health coach and Vitacost VIP, has the answer. Her solution has nothing to do with following a trendy diet or restricting yourself. It’s about accepting the realities of life, listening to your body and finding your own balance. You won’t be able to start every day with a green smoothie or make it to the gym after work. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Have pizza and ice cream when you want it, but make sure you’re also eating foods that come from the earth – after all, that’s what your body really wants.
Can you actually enjoy a slice of pizza and a glass of wine without that familiar eater’s remorse? Read below to learn what Jess has to say. Get her realistic, practical tips and advice for living a healthy, balanced life.
Tell us a little about yourself and your mission.
I am a marketer-turned-women’s-health-coach who operates three businesses: Health Coach Philly, the GOOD Fest wellness festival and B+YND: local pop-up events and membership.
My mission is to help women find their own version of “healthy” and “wellness” by reducing stress and eating more real food, and taking away the diets and fads. I’ve played a lot of roles in a lot of environments – from busy-NYC-life to entrepreneur-mom – so my hope is that I can find relatable solutions for everyone with limited time or other obstacles. I don’t expect anyone (even myself) to drink a green juice every day, eat perfectly prepped meals, work out, meditate, see their crystal guru and manifest daily.
What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?![Health Coach Jess Baumgardner Eats Pizza with Girlfriends]( "Health Coach Jess Baumgardner Eats Pizza")
My goal is about finding a balanced, real-life approach to health and wellness. I’m a busy mom – and I certainly am not perfect. I don’t always make a green smoothie. I don’t even work out regularly. But over the years, I have practiced how to listen to my body and mostly entertain healthy foods – while still enjoying wine and pizza, ice cream or whatever I want and not feel the guilt afterward.
I have also figured out, for the most part, how to keep a mostly-healthy lifestyle going with two kids and a business, and not feeling like I have to meal prep ten food containers every Sunday, but instead find joy in easy healthy food.
Who inspired you to live a healthy lifestyle?
Kimberly Snyder. Back in 2011 – I stumbled upon her first book while I was in full-on wedding prep mode for our 2012 Hawaiian wedding. I read the book cover to cover in a weekend and was hooked! It was completely insane to me that I did not have to eat low-calorie, low-fat, sugar-free food to feel good. I was, for many years prior, eating complete packaged junk thinking it was keeping me thin and healthy. Once I started eating as close to the earth as possible, my diet, my relationship with food and my entire life changed. I felt so much better, looked more alive and wasn’t bloated all the time. And my skin was so much clearer!
Do you follow a specialty diet?
I don’t believe in diets, and I don’t like to label myself as anything in particular because that is very limiting and not fun! I like to live in the moment and that means some days I might have cheese and wine or pizza, but in general, I try to eat vegan and gluten-free foods – a heavy plant-focus.
How do you stay inspired?
My family and the women who come to our events. Over the years, I’ve seen my parents change their breakfast to green smoothies and acai bowls, my husband makes our family smoothies each morning, and my daughters are growing up with an abundance of amazing foods and natural products.
Also, with the events that we put on both in Philadelphia and nationally, it’s so motivating to see the changes made in the lives of the people who attend with just some simple adjustments to their diet or lifestyle. One testimonial is enough to keep me moving along!
![Health Coach Jess Baumgardner Plays with Young Daughter]( "Health Coach Jess Baumgardner Plays with Baby")
Why do you love Vitacost? How long have you been a customer?
I’ve been a customer for years! Ever since I started eating more healthfully. With Vitacost, I’m able to get things in bulk that would otherwise cost me a fortune at the grocery store. I stock up on almonds, cashews, natural cleaners, cat food, peanut butter, as well as hard-to-find things for recipe development (like lucuma!)
What does a typical day of eating look like for you?
- Morning smoothie: Usually spinach, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, water and frozen strawberries. Lately I’ve been wanting to switch it up and have needed a lot more protein for nursing a new baby.
- Morning and afternoon snacks: While nursing, I’m hungry all the time! A big favorite of mine is trail mix with cashews, almonds, dried cherries and dark chocolate. I also love fresh fruit and waffles with interesting nut/seed butters like pumpkin seed butter!
- Lunch is usually a salad or quinoa bowl with lots of veggies and sometimes a fried egg or chicken.
- Dinner is always a rotation of old favorites, takeout and a new recipe. Some of our favorites are quinoa or brown rice stir-fry topped with avocado, bean and “cheese” (almond milk, nutritional yeast blend) quesadillas, tacos, brown rice pasta and red sauce, chicken fingers with almond flour (and mashed potatoes with nutritional yeast and almond milk!), almond flour wraps with a new filling each week.
What’s your favorite splurge/cheat food?
Wine and pizza Friday nights. Always!
How often do you exercise? What’s your favorite way to exercise?
I just had a new baby so I haven’t been cleared yet for exercise – but in the spirit of full transparency – I wasn’t exercising too much during pregnancy. I mostly did a lot of walking through the city, or yoga/stretching in my bedroom, or some hand weights and squats. I was giving myself permission to take it easy for a few months.
Are you married and do you have kids? Do you have pets?
Married for five years to my college sweetheart, with two daughters (Carmen, 2 and Perry, 1 month) and three cats!
What’s the hardest part about healthy living for you?
Finding time for the routines I want to have in the morning (oil pulling, warm lemon water, new breakfasts each day) and at night (new dinner recipes, a face mask, meditation).
What are your top 3 must-have products from Vitacost and why?
- Halo cat food – before my daughters, the cats were my kids and I wanted them to have good food!
- Nuts, seeds and dark chocolate – for my NECESSARY nursing trail mix snack daily
- CleanWell or Bronner’s soap for our bathrooms and kitchen. I love the scent of these soaps!
What advice would you give someone who is just starting on the path to healthier living?
Find a buddy to guide or start the journey with you. It is much more fun with a friend, and it keeps you motivated and gives you someone to talk through all of the “internet-advice” with!