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

Kahshanna Evans, Director of Public Relations, I’m old enough to drink but not old enough to retire!

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

As a tween my Girl Scout leader, Gail, was a nurse. She made homemade yogurt and was always eating really healthy. I remember smirking at the food she ate thinking it was strange, cheeseless and just didn’t look as appealing as hot dogs and Mc Donald’s french fries. She encouraged our entire troop to plan healthy meals for camping trips and other outings. I remember eating baked apples on our camping trip to Joshua Tree. I think just the idea was seeping in. She was my secret second mom, but it took years for me to understand her enthusiasm about eating vegetables and drying her own fruit. To me Gail was the ultimate health hippie.

3. What did they do to inspire you?

Gail was persistent without seeming pushy. If we were having trendy snacks with preservatives or candy she’d nibble on some granola, fruit and yogurt. This in addition to hiking and lots of walking everywhere we went. We often giggled or exchanged glances with each other wondering what on Earth motivated her to eat such boring food. We made yogurt bars one day which was fun. To our surprise the yogurt held it’s own shape and transitioned to yogurt bars rather easily. It was fun, like an experiment so I really enjoyed the process of making them although I don’t remember being as excited about eating it. It still planted seeds and stayed in my mind. Gail had a way of suggesting healthy habits conversationally and also led by example. That was always a relief that she wasn’t a nag or a health pusher. She just seemed to really enjoy healthy foods and it always made me curious. I think because it was an interest to Gail it had become a part of our troop culture. I remember even talking to one fellow Scout whose father worked as an executive of an artificial sweetener company. She told us her dad said it was bad and she wasn’t allowed to eat it or bring it in the house. Being exposed to the dialogue and health culture to consider what I eat gave me space to make up my own mind.

4. How did their lesson change your life?

It was years until I was ready to eat for health rather than entertain my tastebuds but when I did I thought of my Girl Scout leader who was always munching on a salad or trail mix. As a young adult my face suddenly began to have itchy, raised bumps which was new because I never had skin problems. I had tried new foods by this time but was still known to have the occasional ice cream or fast food for breakfast. I steadily became more healthy and due to the itchy bumps covering my face I began taking wheatgrass shots before my green juice. I did this consistently because I was so alarmed about the bumps on my face. The results were amazing…my skin really perked up and smoothed out. I am now completely submerged in raw smoothies with seeds, nuts and green ingredients — things I would never have eaten before that I now crave and seek for optimal health. I can’t say the wheatgrass tastes amazing but the woman who cultivated it cured her leg of gangrene; that goes a long way in my book.

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

I remember offering to my niece a really ugly looking raw juice. By then I was used to drinking what looked like pond scum and would even invent funny for them. My niece, who had been teased about her weight, had a really hard time trusting it wasn’t going to be the end of her. She promised to be sick if she had to try it. I asked her to please try. We had that moment. I faced my disappointment that my favorite gal didn’t even want to try for auntie and she faced feeling like she disappointed me for not being more like me. I was just frustrated with myself wanting the best for her…I realized it was my form of worry. She impressed me with her communication skills. The next time she visited she was a little more open to eating more fruit (anything but that ugly juice). A teenage friend was just over and we shared one of my smoothies with raw cocoa, flax, chia and hemp seeds, Goji berries, Spirulina and cashews. She was familiar with most of the ingredients but really was enthusiastic about eating natural and organic. She responded well. I share my raw smoothie recipes via social media channels to inspire young relatives and other smoothie addicts. I still enjoy the funny names.

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

Good food will make you a winner at everything you do. It will make you feel good, strong and energized and it’s not just for your tastebuds. Unfortunately we adults have not learned not to put so much non-food substances in our food and snacks which is not good for our bodies so if you have to eat junk food, eat gourmet junk food. You should be able to pronounce all of the ingredients. Support food brands and farms that have a commitment to you being healthy and strong, that way the bad people won’t get rich at your expense because that’s just not nice and it’s not healthy.

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

kissinglions.com