Fun Fact: Joannie Rochette has been skating since she was 22 months old. Now 29, Joannie has two Olympic medals under her rhinestoned belt and a whole lotta passion for eating well and staying fit. A cause close to her heart, Joannie lost her mother to heart disease in 2010 and has been raising awareness for the “I Heart Mom” campaign ever since. We recently got a chance to speak to Joannie about Beyoncé, fitness and everything in between!
SDTC: It’s a super busy day, and you only have 20 minutes to get a bit of exercise. Do you do sun salutations, go for a run, or bounce around your house to Beyoncé?
JR: I would probably bounce around my house to Beyoncé! I also love to do quick work-outs that I find online; right now I Love the Uptown Funk ab workout, which I recently discovered on YouTube.
SDTC: What are three dietary changes we can all make to look and feel great?
JR: Definitely drink lots of water! Have healthy snacks throughout the day to avoid cravings and keep your energy level up to feel great. What I like to do is keep variety in my diet, I try new things all the time and I don’t feel guilty about indulgence because balance is important. I like to incorporate healthier alternatives, like Almond Breeze, into my diet for things like morning smoothies, etc.
SDTC: Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to food? Tell us!
JR: I definitely have a sweet tooth so I love to have treats like cookies. I think it’s important to feel like I’m allowed to have snacks without feeling bad about it. It’s all part of a balanced diet.
SDC: What aisle do you spend the most time in at the grocery store?
JR: I spend a lot of time reading ingredients on foods in the center aisle. I like to know what is in the food I’m eating and I enjoy understanding the ingredients that are included and knowing what my food is made from.
SDTC: What are some EASY ways we can incorporate exercise into our daily routines?
JR: Walking to work, taking the stairs, exiting your station early from public transit, walking to a park for your lunch break, and even a power cleaning session through your house – these are small changes that can make a big difference in your daily routine.
SDTC: When it comes to fitness trends what, in your opinion, is overrated?
JR: Anything that is too extreme can be overrated or even unhealthy. It’s important to aim to be healthy overall rather than stressing too much about how you look or think you should look.
SDTC: On those lazy days when you just want to stay in bed, watch Netflix and order a pizza, what do you do to pump yourself up?
JR: I definitely like to listen to music! If I listen to Eye of the Tiger I immediately feel like Rocky!
SDTC: If you had a leisurely day to spend in Toronto, what would you do? Where would you eat? Stroll? Shop?
JR: I would go for a walk down Bloor Street and window shop, then maybe head towards the Eaton’s Centre and check out ‘The Room’ at The Bay since we unfortunately don’t have it in Montreal. I prefer to walk around and explore rather than shop. I’d love to go to Toronto Island, rent a bike and bike around. Also, I love to explore Kensington Market. I am a fan of both Italian and Indian food, so I always try and check out different restaurants when I am in town.
SDTC: Favourite pre-exercise/post-exercise snack with Almond Breeze?
JR: I love the Okanagan Cherry Mint Smoothie because it has the protein boost, with its added hemp seeds, for after a workout. The Almond Breeze Berry Bars are also great for on-the-go snacking.
SDTC: Favourite song/artist/album to listen to while working out?
JR: “What a Feeling” by Irene Cara gets me moving and I also love “Dream On” by Areosmith.
Make A Pineapple Chiller At Home! Here’s How:
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Yield: 5 cups, 4 servings
Ingredients
– 1 cup (250 mL) Almond Breeze® Sweetened Vanilla Original
– 1 cup (250 mL) frozen mango chunks
– 1 cup (250 mL) pineapple juice
– 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut water
– 1/2 cup (125 mL) orange juice
– 1/4 cup (60 mL) lime juice
– 8 ice cubes
Directions
In blender, combine Almond Breeze, frozen mango, pineapple juice, coconut water, orange juice, lime juice and ice cubes; blend until smooth.
Nutrition Facts
PER SERVING: Per 1-1/4 cups: Calories 110, Fat 1g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 45mg, Carbohydrate 24g, Fibre 1g, Sugars 19g, Protein 1g
For more info and recipe ideas, visit www.almondbreeze.ca!
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