What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

When I was a little girl, I always envisioned myself as a teacher. I would set up my dolls and stuffed animals in front of my chalk board, and teach them the lesson of the day. I was thinking about this today and how my dream of becoming a teacher has evolved. I believe that being a successful teacher requires the desire to constantly learn and then in turn teach others what you have learned. I may not be a teacher in a classroom, but I feel that I am a teacher in my own way, because I love to learn and I love to share what I have learned with people through writing, videos, conversation...anything. I encourage you to think back to when you were a child. What did you want to be? Have you fulfilled that dream even if it's not in the exact way you thought you would?

"When you learn, teach."--Maya Angelou

Feature Story on Me and Healthy Italian

Reporter Kelsey Bongiovanni from the publication The Daily Mt Kisco, wrote a feature story on me and Healthy Italian. She did a great job, hope you enjoy it! http://tinyurl.com/45xfhpj

Here is her complete interview with me:

Kelsey Bongiovanni: How has your Italian heritage had an impact on your life?

Joanna Galli: To many Italians, the most important things in life are family, friends, and food.  And I am no different.  My heritage has taught me to embrace what I have, be happy with it, and be proud of it. I always count my blessings, and I try my best to live my life with passion.

KB: How did visiting Italy influence your writing, cooking and overall way of life?

JG: I was fortunate enough to travel through many regions of Italy with my family.  There, I really learned to take the time to enjoy good food, good wine, and good company.  We ate fresh, healthy foods daily.  And the passion, serenity, and enjoyment of the people were contagious.  When I write and cook, I always make sure that it comes from my heart.  That way, you can’t go wrong.

KB: I see that you’re in the process of writing a book! Can you tell me about that? What it's going to be about? When it will be done?

JG: Yes, I’ve been writing my first book manuscript!  It’s about living, loving, and eating like a “Healthy Italian.”  I believe in marrying Old World Italian with Modern Day Italian.  It's tradition refreshed.  The book is about living well, loving well, and eating well.  And I teach how this can be done by adopting an Italian mentality and applying it to every aspect of your life.  I don’t have a completion date just yet, but follow me on my website, www.joannagalli.com, for updates!

 KB:
What is your favorite thing to cook and eat?

JG: My favorite thing to cook and eat is definitely pasta!  Any kind of pasta!  If you visit an Italian market, there are so many different shapes, textures, and flavors of pasta, and I love to utilize each one in a different way.  I’m always sure to add vegetables and some sort of protein to my pasta for a healthy, balanced meal.  Contrary to popular belief, pasta is really healthy for you.  Italians eat much smaller portions and they always balance the pasta with other food groups.

KB: How would you define a "Healthy Italian"?

JG: A “Healthy Italian” is a person who applies an Italian mindset to living, loving, and eating.  We live passionately.  We love deeply.  And we eat pleasurably.

KB: Are you originally from Mt. Kisco?

JG: Yes, I was born and raised in Mt. Kisco.  I love it here because I have a lot of family around.  Home is where the heart is.

KB: Has having your work published in a number of places helped drive traffic to your site?

JG: Absolutely!  It’s so exciting to see different people and websites reference my websites, my videos, and my articles.  I’ve gotten really positive feedback so far, and I can only hope it continues that way.

KB: Where do you hope to be career wise in the next five years?

JG: In five years, I’d love to be more of a household name.  I would also love to have my book published, or very close to it.  My goal is to get people passionate about life, love, cooking, and eating again.  And I believe Italians evoke that emotion like no other!

Updates!

I am now a sponsor for CupcakeMAG | Sprinkles (http://cupcakemag.blogspot.com/p/celeb-interviews.html). Keep a look out for my ad on their sidebar and for my sponsor post. Make sure to visit their website. They have great celebrity interviews, product reviews, and fashion blogs!

I'm also going to be working with Oldways (http://www.oldwayspt.org/) for Mediterranean Diet Month next May as a blogger, so stay tuned for that.

Exciting things going on, and I'm doing ny best to network, connect, and really get my name and message out there.

Ciao for now!

Meeting Teresa Giudice

This post is a little late, but better late than never!  Back in January, my mother and I made a trip to the Ritz Carlton NYC to see Teresa Giudice get interviewed by Rob Shuter.  This was part of The Learning Annex.  She spoke about everything from RHONJ to her family to her book.  I actually got my copy of Skinny Italian autographed by her.  I asked her a question about how she keeps her marriage going strong and if she had any advice for a newly wed (I got married in October 2010).  She told me to keep my husband happy in the kitchen and in the bedroom.  Sounds good to me!  I have to say, she was very down to earth and just like she is on the show.  Enjoy the pictures!

The Seven Virtues of Life

Chastity: Remain pure and modest. True love is worth waiting for.

Temperance: Practice moderation. There is such thing as too much of a good--or bad--thing.

Charity: Be loving and kind towards others.

Diligence: Have a zealous work ethic. Never become lazy.

Patience: Persevere in the face of difficulty without anger or disturbance.

Kindness: Be pleasant and tender towards others.

Humility: Remain humble, not proud. Do something out of the goodness of your heart without expecting anything in return.

RHONJ Marriage Advice

On my twitter account--www.twitter.com/joannagalli--I follow the ladies of New Jersey. That is The Real Housewives of New Jersey. The show is my guilty pleasure! I went ahead and asked them all a fun question: How do the RHONJ keep their marriages hot?
I got an answer from both Caroline and Dina Manzo. Here is what they said:

Caroline Manzo: "Always be each others #1, make time for each other, keep laughter and romance alive, always be each others boyfriend/girlfriend."

Dina Manzo: "Like I said on the show, always be his girlfriend. Stay that 'Sexy Bitch' he fell in love with!"
So, I asked Dina how to be a "Sexy Bitch," and she said, "Well, at the end of the day boys will be boys. They think with their you know whats...I'm just sayin'...give em something to think about!"

Exclusive Interview with Real Housewife of New Jersey, Melissa Gorga, and her Celebrity Personal Trainer, Kelly Giordano!

This is an exclusive interview with one of the new Real Housewives of New Jersey, Melissa Gorga, and her celebrity personal trainer, Kelly Giordano. Both ladies were kind enough to take time out of their super busy schedules to answer all the questions you want asked. Get diet, fitness, beauty, marriage, and mommy tips straight from the ladies! Also, please make sure to visit my personal website, www.joannagalli.com. There, you can connect to my Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube pages. Enjoy! 

How did you two meet?  When did you begin working out together?

Kelly Giordano: We met at my friend’s, her neighbor’s, “Tapas and Opera” party. They had invited about six couples and we were introduced there. I had mentioned that my husband and I were personal trainers, and Melissa mentioned that she was looking for one. We started training right before Thanksgiving.

What does Melissa’s workout routine consist of?

KG: Melissa works out for three hours a week. We focus on hitting all body parts, with multi-functional movements and core work. I always change it up and bring in different pieces of equipment to challenge her. She always loves the floor exercises we do for her glutes. I am all about making sure that someone is doing the correct movement to correct posture, that the movements are functional, and that the reward outweighs the risk. I train Melissa to prevent injury, correct posture, tone up and burn calories. She always works hard and her dedication and commitment has paid off. We have now been training together for seven months.

How did you eat and workout during your pregnancies?

KG: I have had four children and each one I pretty much ate whatever I wanted. My first three pregnancies, I put on twenty pounds, the last one, nine months ago, I put on thirty seven pounds. I had a lot of Braxton hicks contractions with my pregnancies, placenta previa and miscarriages, so therefore, I was discouraged to exercise while I was pregnant. As a trainer, I always had to demonstrate movements and one of my favorite training devices is the TRX. Because I already had a strong core from being a trainer and Pilates instructor, I had very easy deliveries. The doctor said I should make a workout video so that all pregnant women could deliver that easily. After I had each of my babies, I lost the weight by nursing them. Nursing your baby burns up to one thousand calories a day, provides them with immunities from you, and doesn't cost anything. I would just stay away from broccoli, can cause gas in babies, and that is not fun!

How do you manage it all—wife, mother, personal time?

Melissa Gorga: It's not easy; I'm still trying to figure it all out. My kids will always come first before anything.

What are the three ingredients you always have in the kitchen?

MG: Garlic, Onions, and Pine nuts.

What are some of your go-to recipes?

MG: Chicken cutlets (they are my children's favorite), escarole and beans, and homemade lentil soup.

Do you have any guilty food pleasures?

MG: I'm a junk foodaholic. I love desserts!

Besides my grandmothers and mother, my Italian role models are Sophia Loren and Giada De Laurentiis.  Who are yours?

KG: Sophia Loren.

MG: My Grandmother. No other Italian role model.

What are your favorite pastimes?

MG: I'm a huge movie buff! I love to go to the movies and I love the beach!

What can we find in your makeup bag?

MG: Nars blush in orgasm, Mac lip gloss, and Almay mascara.

You have gorgeous skin. What is your skincare regime?

MG: Murad skincare line.

You have great personal style. Who is your go-to designer?

MG: Alice and Olivia.

How do you keep your marriage happy and fresh?

MG: I still flirt with Joe.

KG: We put God first in our marriage. Always make time for date night and put the cell phone away to give your husband your complete attention. Also listen to him, give him hugs, and of course always make time for the bedroom.

Any mommy tips?

MG: I'm a strong believer in teaching children early on to respect their parents and each other at a very early age. I make sure to reprimand my children every time they talk back to me.

KG: Give hugs and kisses every day and live by example.

In your opinion, how can an “everyday woman” or “everyday mom” feel more celebrity or posh?

MG: Put a heel on instead of a flat shoe. Put a little make up on when running to the store. Don't keep your favorite outfit in the closet for something special. Put it on and wear it, today!

What do you want people to know about you?

MG: I love my family; they will always come first to me, no matter what.

I have a brand called Healthy Italian. By definition, a Healthy Italian is a person who applies an Italian mindset to eating, loving, and living. We eat well, love well, and live well. How are you a Healthy Italian?

MG: I exercise three times a week with bodybykelly (Kelly Giordano). I don't sit much, hard to when you have three young children, and I don't watch much television. I'm always on the go and it keeps me healthy. I let myself indulge every once in a while on fabulous food, but I make sure to take just a few bites.

Where can we find more information about you?

MG: I blog once a week on my website http://www.melissagorga.co/ to clue everyone in on what's going on in my personal life. Feel free to message me or find me on twitter, www.twitter.com/melissagorga. I would love to hear from you!

KG: Bodybykelly on Facebook. http://tinyurl.com/3l9c8y8

Giada De Laurentiis Talks About Diet and Food

One of my Italian icons, Giada De Laurentiis, was recently interviewed by www.signonsandiego.com about how she stays so slim while cooking—and eating—Italian food. Here is her answer:

"Italian food is actually good, healthy, fresh food. Extremes are never a good thing. You need to find some kind of balance in your life. I don’t eat a lot, but I eat anything I want. I’m a chocoholic. If you ask me something that I crave every single day of my life it is chocolate, in some form. Do I allow myself to have it every day? Yes. If I go overboard one day, I scale it back the next. Can you eat pasta? Yes. You just can’t eat a pound. When you go out to eat, eat whatever you want, but try to ask for appetizer-size portions. Or if you want to get a main course portion have them pack up half of it and take it home. Our portions are so big. Europeans do not eat those portions, they just don’t. We consume too much." 

Right on Giada! This is exactly the Healthy Italian message.

Italian Exercise versus American Exercise

There are Italians who go to the gym and use equipment to stay in shape, and there are Americans who love non-traditional forms of exercises, but I thought it would be interesting to give a traditionally Italian alternative to common exercises Americans perform. It provides a different way to look at exercise and maybe it’ll inspire you to incorporate other movement into your daily lives. Bottom line is to be active in any way that you enjoy.

Americans like to spend hours on the treadmill, elliptical machine, rowing machine, or recumbent bike.

Italians like to walk or bike everywhere. Whether it’s to and from the local market or taking a stroll after a meal, using their legs and feet as a form of transportation is often favored compared to driving a car or a Vespa.

Americans like to lift weights or use the weight machines at the gym.

Italians lift their groceries and their children, they enjoy keeping a well-kept home by doing chores, they knead their bread and pasta dough, they stir their homemade sauces, and they tend to their gardens and flowers.

Americans like to do squats and lunges.

Italians like to walk up and down the hilly streets to visit their families and friends.

Americans like to do endless crunches and sit ups.

Italians love to laugh. (A great ab exercise!)

Americans like to watch TV to relax.

Italians like to dance to let loose and relax.

Many Americans are in love, but Italians are known for love, and we all know that love is slimming!

Warm Weather Workouts

The Spring is finally here and Summer is around the corner. When the warm weather hits, everyone gets into full-on workout and diet mode. By now, you all know that crazy and obsessive diets and workouts are not my cup of espresso, but that being said, it's still very important to eat a Healthy Italian diet and to be active daily.

I'm going to try and get up a little earlier before work to get my workout in. This way, I'll start the day doing something good for myself and will hopefully gain more energy. Then, I won't have to worry about doing it after work. I can enjoy my family and friends more. But, I will also resolve to move more during the day. For example, I'll take the stairs instead of the elevator, and I'll take a walk at lunch to get my blood flowing.

What are your warm weather resolutions?

Fresh and Healthy Italian Recipes!

There is nothing better than refreshing and healthy Italian food that's beneficial to your health—and figure ;)

Try these for lunch, dinner, or as a satisfying snack!


"Insalata Caprese"

Ingredients:
4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
fine sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
On a large platter, alternate and overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper.


"Prosciutto and Melon"

Ingredients:
1 melon, cut into 6 wedges
18 paper-thin prosciutto slices

Directions:
Cut melon into wedges. Drape prosciutto slices over each melon wedge, and serve!

How I Stay Healthy & Fit

My whole brand is based on staying healthy and fit, but I just wanted to write an easy, go-to blog that can help anyone get started on this path.

First, you really need to be grateful for your body and let go of all the negative talk and unrealistic goals.  Be proud of yourself that you want to make a positive change and be grateful for what you already have.  It all begins with your attitude and mindset. 

Second, take a look at how you are feeding your body.  I have a few things that I take into account when it comes to my nutrition: Fresh, Whole foods; Balance; Portion Control/Moderation. 

• Always choose the freshest, most whole foods that you can find.  Avoid or limit the processed, fat-free, sugar-free foods.
• Make sure to eat balanced meals: fruits/veggies, grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts...basically, an array of foods.
• Watch your portions.  Learn about correct portion sizes of different foods.  Have more of the good stuff, and less of the "bad" stuff.  Never deprive yourself, but try to have small portions or a few bites of the more decadent foods.  Instead of a whole chocolate cake, have a small slice.  Instead of a whole pizza pie, have a slice or two.

Third is exercise.  Daily movement is important.  Add it into your day.  Take a walk at lunch, lift weights while watching TV, take a fun dance class...just keep active.

It's that simple!  Cheers to a healthy life!