Sane ways to stay healthy: An interview with Glamour blogger Sarah Jio

Glamour’s health and nutrition blog, Vitamin G, is one of my daily must-reads—it’s full of smart, practical information, fun food news and easy-to-execute recipes. That’s why I was so excited to connect with Vitamin G blogger Sarah Jio via Twitter last month. She and I ended up emailing back and forth and discovered that not only do we write for many of the same magazines, we share a literary agent, too (the wonderful Elisabeth Weed).

I asked Sarah—a busy mom to two boys—to share a bit about her career, as well as her secrets for staying healthy while keeping her sanity intact. Here’s what she had to say:

How did you get into health and nutrition writing?
In some ways, I feel like my passion for health and nutrition started in the womb. My mom was a health nut long before it was hip to be one. She bought all-natural peanut butter and organic foods and sprinkled wheat germ on her cereal every morning. I think I was the only one of my friends who despised most all candy, soda and white bread (I wanted whole wheat!).

Fast forward to college, and a degree in journalism later, I began writing for women’s magazines and naturally fell into health and nutrition writing. I got my very first big assignment from Marie Claire years ago, and have been writing for major magazines ever since. I’ve been blogging for Glamour.com for the last year and a half, and it has been my favorite gig yet.

What recent nutrition or food news has surprised you?
You will think this is absolutely nuts, but you know how apple cider vinegar has been talked about as some mystical, voodoo diet aid for years (well, centuries)? I didn’t believe any of it … until I tried it myself. I never, in a million years, thought there was any validity to this, but after reading about some interesting results from a small study that looked at vinegar’s fat-blasting powers, I decided to give it a go. (I have about 5 stubborn pounds of baby weight that JUST. WON’T. GO. AWAY!) So, when I started to feel snacky in the late evenings, which is when I’m typically at my desk writing, I began having two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. It somehow–and I can’t explain why or how–killed my hunger. Lesson learned: I think there is some wisdom and truth (yes, and some lunacy) in folk medicine and ancient treatments.

You have two kids and seem to be the picture of health. What’s your secret for making time for healthy habits?
I’m blushing, but that description is far from the case; it’s a daily challenge. If my kids had it their way, I’d never do anything for myself, including eat, shower, exercise or sleep. Part of being a good mama, I’ve learned, is to be a healthy mama and to take care of myself. The healthy eating bit is the easiest part for me (though, I won’t tell you what happens to my willpower when I find myself wandering past a bakery or cupcake shop …), but exercising? That can be harder. I’ve tried everything, from hiring a babysitter to go to the gym, to going to late-night yoga classes after my husband is home and my kids are in bed.

I’ve worked out a fitness plan that is really working for me this year. I’ve recently began running again, after a long-ish hiatus, and I have never felt better. I run 3-5 miles, three times per week, and on the off days, I pop in a yoga DVD and my kids join in (or crawl all over me). or I wait until they’re in bed.

Do you have a dietary weakness? How do you make sure you’re not over-indulging?
Yes, yes, yes! I have a horrible weakness for pastries. I also happen to be coffee aficionado (did I mention that I live in Seattle?). I spend a lot of time popping into my favorite cafes around town, and when I’m standing in the coffee line, I used to find it to be utter torture to order coffee and not have a little sweet treat on the side. Everything in moderation, yes, but for me, I had to reign in my pastry habit. So, I made a new rule for myself: Only coffee at cafes. No more pastries. It was hard at first, but now I really don’t miss those sweets all that much—even the pumpkin spice bread (which was always my Kryptonite).

You’re an avid cook. Care to share a favorite recipe?
A friend of mine told me about how she makes big batches of pancakes for her toddler and then freezes them. Then, when her son wants one for breakfast or a snack, she just grabs one from the freezer and reheats. Brilliant, right? Because what mom of a toddler has time to stand over a hot stove and make pancakes first thing in the morning? Not me! So I created my own banana-cinnamon-whole wheat freezer pancakes that are so delicious for breakfast or a snack. My boys have them for breakfast almost every morning—they’ve really become staple in my house—easy, healthy, good!

Here’s a link to Sarah’s freezer pancakes. Thanks, Sarah!
–Camille