Gail Simmons, a prominent figure in the culinary world as a judge on Top Chef and a food writer, has built a career around food. Navigating a world of culinary delights while maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires a strategic approach. Simmons emphasizes balance, moderation, and listening to one's body. This article delves into Gail Simmons' tips for maintaining a healthy mind and body, drawing from her experiences and insights.
Embracing Moderation and Balance
For Gail Simmons, balance is key. It's about being active, embracing moderation, and listening to her body. "There is no shame in eating well and eating great food, in eating in moderation, in eating all things," she says. She doesn't believe in depriving oneself, but rather in enjoying food responsibly.
Avoiding Guilt Trips
Simmons emphasizes the importance of avoiding guilt associated with food and exercise. "I’m not an exercise obsessive," she admits. "I get to the gym about three times a week. If I don’t make it more, I don’t berate myself or feel guilty. Life is just too short, and it’s not a ratio of ‘if I exercise, then I can eat this.’" This mindset allows her to enjoy meals without feeling the need to compensate excessively.
"People ask, ‘When out to dinner, can you just enjoy it?’" she says. "Of course I can!" This highlights her ability to savor culinary experiences without unnecessary stress.
Smart Snacking and Stocking a Healthy Pantry
Simmons advocates for stocking your cabinets with smart foods. "I don't keep processed food or refined flour in my kitchen," she states. "If I have pretzels, they're whole grain; if it's pasta, it's whole wheat. I know it's not going to change my life, but a little fiber is always a good thing." She also keeps a little dark chocolate and unsulfured dried fruit for snacks. "The Bananas Flattened from Trader Joe's are like candy, they're so good."
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Pantry Staples
Simmons always has canned beans, chickpeas, dried lentils, dried whole grains, dried beans, brown rice, and quinoa in her cupboard, ready for when she needs it. She'll often gather up random vegetables in the fridge - half an onion, a couple of carrots, and some spinach - sauté them with a can of beans and some spices, and it turns out to be a tasty, low-cost meal.
The Importance of Physical Activity
Simmons integrates physical activity into her daily routine. "I live in New York City and walk home from dinner whenever I can. I always say if I lived anywhere else, I'd be 10 pounds heavier. I'm also a runner." She runs a solid 4-6 miles at a time, and over the last two years she's gotten really into SoulCycle.
Finding Your Zen Outdoors
“I was raised in Canada and love the wilderness," says Simmons. "I’m actually a certified canoe instructor. When the weather’s nice, and I can be outside, that’s my favorite thing, whether I’m hiking, biking, or being on the water.”
Never Stop Moving
“I feel like if part of my job is to eat, then the other part is to stay healthy,” Simmons said. “I consider it part of my job to exercise.” So she fits in movement whenever possible, by walking to work, for example, or choosing to take the stairs. She’s also serious about prioritizing her gym time. “If it’s not on my schedule to work out, things will come up and I’ll never get a chance.”
Healthy Eating Habits
Simmons emphasizes starting your day with a routine, just like brushing your teeth. She favors a savory meal with eggs and fresh veggies. She also doesn’t feel compelled to eat every bite on her plate. “That took some training,” she says.
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Don’t Clean Your Plate
“You don’t need to finish everything on your plate,” said Simmons. “On Top Chef, it’s all about tasting, not eating the whole dish-I mean, you couldn’t possibly!” she said, laughing. When you dine out, she recommends dividing your meal in two, and either sharing half of it with a friend, or boxing it up for tasty leftovers. When it comes to super decadent food (we’re looking at you, chocolate lava cake), Simmons suggests taking a bite or two for the taste, to avoid going overboard.
Make Your Healthy Meals Flavorful
Food doesn’t need to be fussy in order to taste good, Gail explained. When she cooks for her family, she always uses simple, healthy ingredients like grilled vegetables, lean protein, quinoa, and faro. Her key to making those meals delicious and satisfying? Tons of seasoning! Think fresh herbs and spices, lemon juice and vinegar, and plenty of hot sauce.
Cooking at Home and Involving Children
Gail Simmons also recommends cooking in the kitchen as much as you can, and if you have children, trying to get them to join you. "The more time you can spend cooking with your kid, the more pride they take in the food they'll eat [and] the more open they'll be to try new things," said Simmons.
Meal Prepping
Meal prepping on days when you have time makes healthy eating feel easy on days when you don't have much free time. "A recipe like vegan chili or a nutritious vegetable soup or stew is the kind of thing you can make in a big batch," said Simmons.
Post-Filming Diet
When Gail Simmons, Kristen Kish, and Tom Collichio wrap up a season of Bravo's Top Chef, after having spent time filming and tasting lots of delicious food, one might wonder if they have any kind of special diet or eating regimen they go on post-filming. And, the answer is quite surprising. "I try not to eat candy for a week," Kristen told The Daily Dish in an exclusive chat, to which Gail and Tom agreed during our conversation with them about that "one week" timeframe. Tom added, "Only because we eat copious amounts of candy on set."
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The Top Chef judges reveal their food philosophy
Gail added that because they're professional cooks and food experts, eating is really a part of the job and their daily lives. "There is no shame in eating well and eating great food, in eating in moderation, in eating all things. None of us are spending time worrying about - let’s not say we don’t get full on set," she said. "But we’re professionals at what we do, and eating is eating, and cooking and being around food is our life.