FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions and helpful information on the blog.

They are listed by number and category. They are still in the development process so more will continually be added.

As always, if you have ANY questions regarding me, Just Flourishing, nutrition, health, fitness, or anything else EMAIL ME at justflourishing@gmail.com

Janna

Questions about Me

1. What is your favorite food?
2. How tall are you?
3. Do you have any hobbies?
4. How old are you?

Blog Questions

1. Why "Just Flourishing!" ?
2. What kind of camera do you have?
3. I’m looking for a new computer, what kind do you use?
4. I love your blog design! Can you help me with mine?

Food/Health Questions

1. Are you a vegetarian/vegan?
2. Do you do cleanses? Should I do a cleanse?
3. Should I take a  multivitamin?
4. Is there such a thing as too much fruit in a day?
5. Natural almond butter – Where do I get it and why should I choose it over natural peanut butter?
6. Is natural or raw sugar better for you than regular sugar? What about honey?
7. What are your thoughts about quick cooking (like Uncle Ben’s) brown rice?

Fitness Questions

1. What fitness videos do you recommend?

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Questions about Me

1. What is your favorite food?

Oh man, that is a tough question! A year ago if you asked me that, my answer would have undoubtedly been SUSHI! But now that I am cutting back on animal product consumption, coupled with the fact that the BF is allergic to fish (!)- I don’t think I can use that as my answer anymore

Although I have many favorite foods. I guess my favorite would be a tie between pasta and fruit.

Pasta is the food I crave most often.I LOVE pasta. Always have. My favorite pasta dish is "veggie pasta". I cook brown rice pasta and toss it in some healthy tomato sauce and mix it with steamed zucchini’s, peppers, mushrooms, spinach and any other veggies I have on hand. I then top it with some fresh herbs if I have them. Yum!

And fruit is just amazing and so good for you! My favorites are the tropical fruits (mango, papaya, pineapple) but I am also a BIG fan of berries.

2. How tall are you?

I’m slightly over 5’5".

3. Do you have any hobbies?

Sure do! I’m pretty into the arts (dancing, singing, acting.. etc) – I try and take a dance class every once in a while, I love to sing and I try and get to as many Broadway shows as I can! I love to read.  I also have a few guilty pleasure TV shows I watch regularly (ANTM, Gossip Girl, Being Erica). Also, I used to knit, and would love to take it up again!

And of course I love cooking and baking!

4. How  old are you?

I am 23 and will be 24 on May 28, 2010!

Blog Questions

1. Why "Just Flourishing!"?

According to yourdictionary.com the definition of flourish is:

flour·ish (flʉr′ish): to be at the peak of development, activity, influence, production, etc.; be in one’s prime

I feel that the word “flourish” really defines what we all strive to do by being active, being conscious about what we put into our bodies and generally living a healthier more natural life. Conveniently my name, Janna, happens to mean flourishing.

2. What kind of camera do you have?

The camera I use for the blog is a simple Canon Power Shot SD1000. One day I hope to get a much fancier one so I’m able to take prettier pictures. But I think, for now, this one works just fine!

3. I’m looking for a new computer, what kind do you use?

I use an HP Pavilion Entertainment PC laptop. It’s beautiful and large and in charge! Here is a picture of it! I’ve only had it for a few months but so far, I really like it and it has exactly what I need for blogging, video making, and school work!

4. I love your blog design! Can you help me with mine?

Unfortunately, I absolutely cannot! I am hopeless when it comes to that type of thing My blog design is courtesy of The Blog Fairy! If you are looking for a new design or new header, give her a shout, she was wonderful to work with!

 

Food Questions

1. Are you a vegetarian/vegan?

The simple answer to that question is: No.

The more complicated answer is:

I probably eat a vegetarian or vegan diet 90% of the time.  I call myself a "flexitarian" but to be honest, these days I NEVER eat meat and have drastically limited my consumption of animal products.
So I think the more "proper" term for me would be "aspiring vegan who eats minimal seafood, dairy and eggs". Ha!

My number one focus in terms of these eating habits has been my health. I mean, I’m hoping to become a Registered Dietician, so of course health is my priority! And although health is still my number one focus, I have recently become more attuned to the moral reasons to eat or not eat certain things. And this is helping me make decision I was unable to before.

I’ve been reading about the treatment of animals and watching videos from Mercy for Animals http://www.youtube.com/user/mercyforanimals#p/u which have deeply affected me and reinforced my choice to limit my consumption of animal products.  But I guess I’m not ready to make such a large change in my diet as to stop eating all animal products.

I have cut out all red meat and poultry and have drastically limited my consumption of fish and seafood. I still occasionally eat eggs, but try to only buy them form reputable local farmers markets. And in terms of dairy, for the most part it’s minimal.

I know that animal products can provide you with many vital nutrients and vitamins that aren’t available to the same extent in other food products so I am keeping some animal products in my diet for the time being.

I really want to do a lot more research on completely animal free diets, and perhaps my eating habits will change once again.

Also, I don’t think you’re a bad person if you eat meat! This is my own personal choice for many many reasons and everyone is different!

2. Do you do cleanses? Should I do a cleanse? 

I answer that question in this post.

3. Do you take a multivitamin? Should I?

As of right now, no, I don’t take a multivitamin. If I am feeling a cold coming on I will occasionally take a Ginseng supplement, as I have found it to be helpful.

As for other people taking them – I’m not sure how I feel about multivitamins at this point. I always thought that if you ate a nutritionally balanced, healthy diet you wouldn’t need to take one. But now I’m not so sure. I think for some people they may be important.

What I do know is that you SHOULD NOT eat cheeseburgers and fried foods and drink soda and then compensate with a mutlivitamin.

I think that when I learn more about nutrition I will develop a better sense of my opinions on them.

4. Is there such a thing as too much fruit in a day?

You can definitely eat too much of ANYTHING in a day, even if it’s healthy. That said, fruit is a good thing to eat compared to a lot of other things (both health-wise and weight-wise) but unlike veggies, fruit has a lot of sugar, which is not great in high amounts. Personally, I think eating lots of fruit is probably better than eating lots of junk food

5. Natural almond butter – Where do I get it and why should I choose it over natural peanut butter?

You can get it at most grocery stores now. Definitely at Whole Foods!  I actually prefer the taste of almond butter over peanut butter and some people are worried about peanut butter due to e-coli outbreaks. And from a nutritional standpoint almond butter offers a bit more. It has less saturated fat and more calcium, iron and vitamin E than peanut butter. But both are a great source of protein! So continue to enjoy both, but in moderation, because one serving is only 2 tbsp!

6. Is natural or raw sugar better for you than regular sugar? What about honey?

From what I understand, sugar is sugar whether it’s raw, white, honey, agave other otherwise. So it’s best to limit your consumption of foods with added sugar. That said, raw sugar, honey and agave offer more in terms of nutrition than refined white sugar. They are less processed and, lower on the Glycemic Index and contain more nutrients. So when I do have sugar, choose them over the refined white kind. But they’re still sugar so don’t go overboard!

7. What are your thoughts about quick cooking (like Uncle Ben’s) brown rice?

From what I understand, quick cook brown rice is precooked and then dried before it’s packaged. So, nutrition-wise, it probably wouldn’t be as "healthy" as regular brown rice. But as long as there aren’t any preservatives, I think that quick cook brown rice is better than white rice. If you are wanting to try regular brown rice and if you don’t want to wait so long, I know that if you soak the rice first it can shorten the cooking time. Personally, I use regular brown rice. It takes a bit longer, but I think it tastes better. But if you enjoy the quick rice then I think that’s fine too!

Fitness Questions

1. What fitness videos do you recommend?

Unfortunately, my teeny Manhattan apartment is too small to allow me to do fitness vids. But I do LOVE doing them when I’m home in Winnipeg or on vacation.

Some I recommend are:

30 Day Shred
No More Trouble Zones
Physique 57
Core Fusion
The Tracy Anderson Method