Wellness Confidential: "Food Babe" Vani Hari

“Food Babe” on her superwoman girl crush—and butt-kicking philosophy

Photo: Vani Hari

Welcome to Wellness Confidential, our quick-fire interview series where we ask hard-hitting (okay, entertaining) wellness questions, lightning round-style.

Today we’re quizzing Vani Hari, food activist (and New York Times best-selling author of The Food Babe Way) who runs FoodBabe.com.

First thing I did when I woke up this morning

Put on my warm fuzzy robe and went straight into the kitchen for warm water with lemon and cayenne.

Last thing I did before I went to sleep

Picked up Conscious Eating to read again—one of my favorite books on nutrition.

If sugar was a superfood, my diet would consist of

I don’t like this question. But if sugar was a superfood and it didn’t make me feel bad or look bad, I’d eat donuts, cake, and have milkshakes every single day—ha!

The workout I’m currently obsessed with

Boxing and Pilates—Dayron at K.O. Fitness in Charlotte, NC, kicks my butt and is one of the best boxing coaches I’ve ever had. I also take “Pilates on steroids” at Charlotte’s Hilliard Studio Method. Those gals kick my butt so hard. Basically, if it doesn’t kick my butt, I don’t want to do it.

My most memorable sweaty moment

Hot Yoga with Johnna Smith. She is the most brilliant yoga teacher I’ve ever had and makes me sweat like no other!

The one beauty product that I’m always replenishing

Sesame oil. I put it on before I get into the shower—it protects, nourishes, and hydrates skin so beautifully!

Most people probably don’t know this about me, but…

I used to have an alligator as a pet.

My mantra of the moment

“Strip or retire.” This is not meant to be taken literally—it comes from an ancient Greek phrase and the idea that we need to have “skin in the game” to have an honorable heroic life. For example, having the courage to expose the truth despite the consequences. I discovered this mantra from scholar Nassim Taleb and this piece that discusses his work.