Interview with Jesse Lane
Author: Rachael Schelew
I sit down for an interview with Jesse Lane Lee, BSc, CNP, a cheerful holistic nutritionist, media personality, author, and founder of JesseLaneWellness.com. Jesse Lane believes that eating healthy whole foods can be easy, fun, and most of all delicious. She loves to play in the kitchen and create holistically delicious recipes that accommodate a wide variety of food allergies, diets, and lifestyle choices. She is the author of four cookbooks and a book about pregnancy called Healthy Holistic Pregnancy. You can find her books on her website and Amazon. Jesse Lane is a regular contributor to Clean Eating Magazine and frequently appears as an expert on CTV, Global TV, and City TV. You can connect with Jesse Lane on social media as @jesselwellness.
Describe your signature dish
My signature dish is my Crispy Chickpea Kale Salad. It is fresh, crunchy, delicious and seriously addictive. It is one of my favourite creations because it is a great way to turn kale skeptics into kale lovers. The textures in this kale salad are awesome – from the creamy salad dressing and avocado to the crispy crunchy chickpeas and seeds. I make it for myself at least once a month and it is my favourite dish to bring to pot-lucks. You can get the recipe here: https://www.jesselanewellness.com/recipes/crispy-chickpea-kale-salad/
What is your favourite mantra or inspirational quote?
I love mantras and practice affirmations on a daily basis. It is so hard to choose a favourite because I tailor them depending on my mood and what is going on in my life on that day or that month. Right now I’m 7 months pregnant so my go-to is “I have a happy healthy baby in my comfy cozy womb”.
Is there a kitchen appliance you can’t live without?
I really can’t live without my food processor. I have a bunch of attachments for it and use it almost daily. It was a gift from my mom when I was in university and it still works perfectly. I use it to make sauces; dips like hummus, desserts like black bean brownies, snacks like fat balls, and pretty much everything!
What is your favourite recipe for kids?
Right now my two-year-old is obsessed with chia pudding. He loves using a spoon to scoop it up and feed himself and I love that it is so nutrient-dense. Chia seeds are packed with clean sweeping fibre, which is the perfect way to get things moving in the morning, if you know what I mean. The chia seeds are also high in healthy omega 3s which are really important for brain health. Chia pudding is a super filling breakfast meal because chia seeds are a fabulous source of protein. Get my recipe for Strawberry Banana Chia Pudding here.
What is your favourite/least favourite food?
Right now I’m totally obsessed with peaches! Ontario peaches are incredible this year and I can’t get enough. I buy a big basket at the farmer’s market every week and eat 2-3 a day since no one else in my house likes them. At the moment, my least favourite food is fish. I’m from the East Coast and usually love fish, but in pregnancy, I have a hard time with the smell and tend to avoid it. I take fish oil supplements instead so my baby and I can still benefit from the healthy fats.
Best pre/post work out foods?
Yoga is my workout of choice and I love it so much. Before a class, I try to eat something with a good balance of healthy fat and complex carbohydrates. My fat balls are great because you can eat one on the way to class but it won’t fill you up too much and they are super energizing. After yoga, I like to hydrate and eat something high in protein. Smoothies are a great option because they are quick and high in protein when you add protein powder or collagen. My Chocolate Monkey Power Smoothie is a post-yoga go-to of mine.
Who are your food role models/inspirations?
My mom is my role model. She has unlimited patience, is always able to see the bright side of any situation, and she is super supportive. I could go on and on about how awesome a mother she is and how I hope I can be the same for my kids. In my industry, I look up to and get inspiration from Joy McCarthy and Sarah Britton.
What are your top favourite blogs/Intragram accounts we should be following?
Right now I’m following a lot of inspirational Mom’s who are also in the health and wellness field. @thebellemethod has excellent information on pelvic floor health and pre/postnatal fitness, @joyoushealth, @deliciouslyella, and @urhealthnut have delicious recipes, and @therebelmama provides a fun and witty look at motherhood.
Favourite restaurant(s) in the city?
There are so many! I love the Bowls at Flock because they are super quick and delicious. Fresh is always a great choice because it has something for everyone on the menu and it is all so yummy. I also really like The Goods. I always hire them to cater my corporate wellness Lunch and Learns because the food is so yummy and healthy. Everyone who attends always leaves feeling satisfied and energized.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
Reading is my favourite hobby so most of the books I read are fiction. I just finished Where’d You Go Bernadette and I’m really excited to see the movie with my girlfriends. I’m currently reading the third instalment of the Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard. Non-fiction books I’m planning to read this month include Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Healthy Your Body Naturally After Childbirth by Dr. Jolene Brighten.
Author Bio: Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rachael graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a Bachelor of Arts and upon graduation moved to Toronto to pursue a postgraduate certificate in corporate communications and public relations from Centennial College. Prior to graduating, she interned at Walt Disney Pictures Home Entertainment, where she gained a wealth of experience in the world of entertainment publicity and promotions. It was here that the public relations firm Media Profile snatched her up to work on the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment account, as well as other accounts such as The Source by Circuit City, The Shopping Channel and Diesel Canada. Rachael then moved to the Vancouver office where she managed the West Coast Office with one other employee and worked on a variety of accounts such as Warner Brothers, CBC Radio and Television, Kraft Canada, Microsoft, Dairy Queen, Delta Hotels and Resorts, HSBC Direct and KPMG. Rachael is a regular contributor to a mortgage brokerage blog, Dominion Lending Centres NasaKasa and has previously had her work published in the Globe and Mail. You can usually find her making jewelry for her jewelry line Roozie Roo Designs, writing, hanging out with her ten year old son, or at the yoga studio and gym.
