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

My name is Debra Jaliman and I’m a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and author of “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist”. I am 57 years old.

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 inspired me to eat healthy. My dad inspired me to exercise daily.

3. What did they do to inspire you?

My mother prepared organic foods from the time I was an infant. She even made organic baby food. She was way ahead of her time. She was a great cook and prepared everything from scratch. I remember that her friend used to bring us tomatoes that she grew in her garden with tobacco instead of pesticide to keep the bugs from eating the plants. These were the early years of organic farming. My dad exercised an hour every day no matter what. He was always in great shape. Never an ounce overweight. His motto was “I eat to live, not live to eat”.

4. How did their lesson change your life?

I try to exercise every day. I rarely miss a day and I spend an hour doing it. I always feel better after I do, whether it’s taking my dog for a 3 mile walk or going on the elliptical and doing light weights. I eat a variety of organic vegetables, a little bit of fruit, no red meat and line caught fish. I rarely eat processed food and try to cook as much as I can with healthy fats like macadamia nut oil and olive oil. I drink freshly squeezed lemon juice throughout the day.

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

Yes. I have stressed the importance of healthy balanced eating to my daughter. When my daughter was little I introduced her to a variety of fruits and vegetables so she has a very varied palate. She loves persimmons and ate artichokes when she was 2.

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

Try to avoid processed foods and eat sugar in moderation. I would never make any food verboten as children always want what they can’t have and you don’t want them to develop eating disorders because the eating regimen is too strict. Try to do some exercise even if you are studying hard and have exams, it will help alleviate stress.

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

drjaliman.com