1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?

Cyndia Monahan, Age 28, Copywriter for Spinning®.

2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?

My mom has always been a health nut. While all the other kids at lunch were trading their PB&Js on white bread for mayo-drenched tuna salad sandwiches, I was happily noshing on grilled chicken lettuce wraps and carrot sticks with hummus. I’ll have to admit, I went on a bit of a junk food bender in college, but now in my 20’s, when I have a maturing stomach to answer to, I appreciate my mother teaching me how to cook and eat healthfully.

3. What did they do to inspire you?

Snacks in my home were only raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts – a habit I carried with me all the way into adulthood. Just recently, I decided to switch to a primarily raw food diet, partly because of health and fitness reasons, and mostly because it just didn’t seem like that much of a change to what i was already doing. I attribute a lot of my decision to adopt a raw diet to my mom’s holistic eating style.

4. How did their lesson change your life?

Leading a raw diet has given me incredible energy. Working for Spinning® requires both mental clarity (to be able to write and edit engaging content all day) and physical stamina (because we all go to Spinning® Class after work, of course). I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with my career and fitness goals with processed foods and packaged junk in my stomach.

5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?

I don’t currently have kids, but when I do, I will encourage them to pursue a primarily natural-foods diet. Of course, while they’re growing, I’ll meet their nutritional needs with grass fed meat, organic dairy, free range eggs, and cooked foods (which I don’t currently eat), but I’ll do my best to keep them away from the kind of packaged and processed foods most kids are eating (and school cafeterias are providing).

6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?

Above all else, I think it is important that children learn to eat and enjoy fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are filled with the healthiest stuff for our bodies, and getting used to them at a young age will translate into a long life of good health. Of course, this is very much the responsibility of the parent as well. Children are not going to enjoy boiled frozen vegetables. Teach them to love vegetables by roasting, grilling, and sautéing fresh veggies to their fullest, most delicious flavors. And be sure to get them started young!

7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?

Spinning®®