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Welcome to My Morning Routine, where Brittany Snow and other good-life gurus share their personal (frequently surprising, often healthy) morning rituals—to help you make your a.m.’s more awesome. 

Brittany Snow
Actress in Pitch Perfect and the TV series Workaholics

I wake up around 7:30 a.m., which is good for me—I am not a morning person. The first thing I do is pet my dog for way too long. We have a routine where she just rolls over because she knows it’s morning and I scratch her belly. Then I get dressed, brush my teeth, and go downstairs. Number one priority: coffee. I put it in a to-go cup, and take my dog for a walk.

When we get back, I make breakfast. I have a nutritionist who has me on a program where I eat a certain amount of oatmeal and egg whites. To make my oatmeal more exciting, I put frozen blueberries on top. The mix of hot and cold is exciting to me (I don’t get out much). I’m also obsessed with Justin’s almond butter—I put it on apples or get a little crazy and add it to my oatmeal.

I sit outside and try to read something of value while I eat breakfast. Lately, I’ve been putting classic movies on in the background, so I’ll be watching and reading at the same time. I’m trying to familiarize myself with the classics again. I love the look of old movies. There are certain ones I love, like Casablanca, that I get totally sucked into; but other ones, like East of Eden, I just watch James Dean and go back to whatever I’m doing.

I try not to go on Instagram or any other social media until later in the day, when I’m bored. I admit that I’m still bad about answering emails in the morning though. I wake up and think, Ugh, I should just get this done now. So I do send some emails during breakfast.

After breakfast, I put on my “getting ready” playlist, which plays on speakers throughout my house. It totally wakes up my roommate [fellow Pitch Perfect star Kelly Jackle], but she’s gotten used to it. She loves it now.

I don’t work out in the morning—my body will literally not move. I like waiting until around 5 p.m., which is when I feel the most energized. I have an elliptical at my house and I go to spinning three times a week. My roommate and I like to go running together about twice a week, and we do video workouts at home, too. We did Insanity every day for a while, which was a nightmare. But I like more intense workouts. I wish I was into yoga or barre, but I just get bored.

The last thing I do in the morning is put on my makeup, which really isn’t much. The one thing I do always put on is sunscreen. I have very fair skin, so that’s a must. My favorite is Coppertone Clearly Sheer because it’s super light and it finishes in a matte. And it doesn’t clog my pores, which is a major plus.

I don’t really have a manta per se that I keep in mind throughout the day, but I do always remind myself about what’s important. Sometimes I get worked up about something and then I start thinking about what I’m grateful for and how much I have—hashtag blessed!—and that usually centers me. 

Want to follow Brittany’s lead and make gratitude a bigger part of your life? Here’s how to do it in under a minute. And yes, you can even practice mindfulness during your workouts.

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Pride Week is recognized every year at many of New York City’s fitness studios, with celebratory spin classes and trainers marching together in the parade.

But this year, leaders on the fitness scene are responding to the events in Orlando by hosting workouts that are more about giving back and taking a (sweaty) stand than rocking rainbow swag (although you should absolutely still do the latter, too).

“What’s beautiful about New York is that it feels like such an inclusive city, it feels like a city where you get to be accepted for who you are,” says Fhitting Room instructor Ben Wegman, who led the charge to recognize the tragedy at the popular HIIT studio, which is now hosting two “Love is Love” classes on June 22 (9:30 a.m. at Flatiron) and 25 (12 p.m. at 67th Street) to benefit the OneOrlando Fund. “To not stand up in a moment like that feels like it’s sort of denying what it is to be a New Yorker.”

TS Fitness hosted a We Are Orlando Charity Fitness Bootcamp this past Saturday, June 18, and Courtney Paul’s CPX is hosting a Pride Werkout on June 22, both to benefit Equality Florida’s Pulse Victims Fund.  SoulCycle’s #OrlandoUnited Rides throughout the weekend of June 17-19 benefited the same fund, and Flywheel’s GLAAD Rides on June 23 and 25 support GLAAD’s work keeping the tragedy in Orlando in the media.

“You get to see every shape, size, and kind of person, and everyone is respecting and cheering on the person next to them. That’s what we stand for every day.”

Last year, Pride Week classes were filled with the exuberant energy of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, which makes 2016’s festivities even more difficult, says popular trainer Zack Schares. “This year its much different. I’m so heartbroken. You go to bed thinking everything is okay, then wake up realizing it actually isn’t,” he says. “Within the fitness community, I have so much love around me, and I wanted to bring people together and celebrate love and NYC Pride, but also help those in Orlando who really need some love right now.”

To that end, Schares is hosting a “Pride Tri” on June 25 that includes a swim at The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers, a spin class at Swerve, and a run at Mile High Run Club, with $50 from each ticket ($125) going to a person in need in Orlando.

But what does working out have to do with standing up for #loveislove and gay rights? “Fitness is about being strong and being in control of your body, and having respect for your body and the body next to you,” Wegman says. “If you’re ever talking about tolerance, it happens in a New York City fitness class. You get to see every shape, size, and kind of person, and everyone is respecting and cheering on the person next to them. That’s what we stand for every day.”

Orlando also hits home for the large gay community represented on the fitness scene. “There is no other community that supports LGBTQ like the fitness professionals in NYC,” Schares says. “There are some really great people who others look up to. If we come together and do something and give back, a lot can be done.”

Giving back is good for your health, too. Find out why, here.

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Sippable superfoods are a daily wellness staple—whether it’s your daily green juice, your post-workout protein drink, or your cold-pressed custom blend. But how do you keep your combos interesting? Welcome to the debut of Back to the Roots, our series with 1915™ Bolthouse Farms where we’ll highlight The Buzziest Things in a Bottle Right Now—AKA the talk of your (healthy) summer. All of these of-the-moment ingredients can be found in 1915’s delicious, organic, non-GMO concoctions, which range from cold-pressed juices to plant-based protein drinks.  

The ingredient: Grapefruit

Grapefruit is one of those foods that has come in and out of healthy eating consciousness for decades. It was a breakfast table staple for your grandma’s generation (along with toast and coffee)— and yet it fits in perfectly with today’s focus on nutrient-dense foods. It’s time to take another look at this superfruit.

What’s in it

Just one medium grapefruit has 59 percent of the vitamin C recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. And the rich pink or red color? That’s because of lycopene, a phytonutrient with major antioxidant powers.

Why it’s trending

Lately there’s been some excitement and innovation around the fruit (grapefruit brulee anyone?). And since avocado-grapefruit pairings have been a traditional salad pairing for decades—with the tart sharpness of the grapefruit mellowed by the avocado’s creaminess—a lot of people are amping up the avocado toast megatrend by adding some gorgeous pink slices on top.

Any way you cut it, the bright, familiar flavor of grapefruit is being dished up—or sipped up—in modern ways—creating a new wave of appreciation for the sour-sweet superfruit.

For delicious grapefruit sips (like The Farmarita, a grapefruit-inspired margarita—hello, sunset cocktails!), follow 1915 on Instagram (@1915organic).

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

And right now, we’re gearing up for the Summer Olympics by quizzing some of the coolest, strongest, and most athletic people we know: Team USA contenders. This week we’re chatting with the Women’s World Cup soccer winner (and gold medal hopeful) Julie Johnston.

My typical day of training

Wake up and eat a quick breakfast, then weight training, soccer training, running, [head to the] grocery store for lunch and dinner, eat lunch, clean the house, yoga/Pilates, eat dinner, then watch a film with my boyfriend.

My weekends are made of

I love cooking and baking, reading, and watching TV—[especially] cooking shows or Games of Thrones.

Best way to fuel up during training season

I have done a lot of individual research on nutrition to make sure I’m putting in the things my body needs to perform at its best, so I eat a ton of vegetables and protein.

Favorite healthy snack

A protein shake or toast with peanut butter.

Favorite protein-packed lunch hack

I make something different every day for lunch and dinner because I get sick of the same stuff over and over. I love making tacos, naan salad wraps, and guacamole.

If sugar were a superfood, my diet would consist of

Chocolate!

I never pack a gym bag without

Body lotion and toothpaste.

The best way to relieve my super sore muscles

I do yoga twice a week.

My most memorable sweaty moment

Being a starter at the World Cup.

The best way to get psyched up for a game

Music. I listen to every genre. Lyrics are the most important to me—words that motivate me and push me to go harder. Then comes the beat of the song. I have two playlists I switch between, but after winning the World Cup “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten and “Grateful” by Rita Ora were on repeat.

One thing only my teammates know about me

I like to make my own candles.

I firmly believe a girl can never have too many

Nikes.

The one place I’d never wear leggings

Nowhere—I’m more of a sweatpants girl!

To learn more about all Olympic hopefuls, visit teamusa.org. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin August 5.

Ever wondered how much time really goes into training for the Olympics? Track star Allyson Felix tells all. And if you’re a protein hound like Julie Johnston, you’ll want to try one of these 14 dishes with 20 grams of protein.

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If you thought swimming laps was brutal, try doing it with a tail.

Yes, this is actually a thing: Starting Memorial Day weekend, San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado will be offering a weekly high-intensity, full-body workout dubbed Mermaid Fitness, in which participants ditch their leggings and sneaks for a glittery mermaid flipper.

Veronica Rohan, a fitness instructor at the hotel, developed the workout after the tails ($120-$150) started flying out of the property’s gift shop last summer. “It’s circuit training mixed with an ab workout on the side of the pool,” she tells me. “You’ll swim laps to get your heart rate up, and I also included standing stationary movements, like squats and arm exercises with a beach ball.”

The 45-minute, adults-only class takes place in the shallow end of the pool, so it’s totally safe for those who don’t fancy themselves Ariel IRL—and yes, the tails, made from a lightweight bathing suit material, come in dudes’ sizes as well. (Bribe your man by telling him you’ve got a merman fetish—the Instagram pics will be totally worth it.)

“We’ll be offering the class all summer, and we’re really looking forward to guests and locals being able to experience it,” says Rohan, who notes that it will be taking place every Friday morning. Fin-tastic!

Mermaid Fitness class prices range from $10-$20; first class is free with the purchase of a tail. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA, 92118, 619-435-6611; hoteldel.com

Want to up your swimming game, with or without a tail? Try these three triathlete-approved drills the next time you’re in the pool. And make sure to apply sunscreen the right way before you take the plunge. 

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Are you sitting down? Ready? There’s a whole new breed of avocado popping up in grocery stores, the Wall Street Journal reports. Called the SlimCado, they are avocados grown in Florida that are bigger than the Haas variety you’re used to—they weigh six times as much. But despite the size, the SlimCados have half the fat and one-third the calories as regular avocados (hence the name). They’re also creamier, which anyone who has ever tried to peel a rock-hard avocado can appreciate.

So, what’s the catch? Well, rumor has it they don’t taste very good. (Sorry to smash your avocado dreams into guacamole.) Avocado lovers told the Wall Street Journal they were disgusted by the taste, and so was an editor at Cooking Light. One of our editors tried one as well—verdict: not into it.

Instead of SlimCado, a better name might be SlimeCado—apparently the fruit is a bit too creamy and is more like an avocado soup, which actually sounds sort of delicious except for the fact that SlimCados are sweeter than regular avocados, so according to taste-testers it’s a fail in both texture and flavor.

SlimCado is tradmarked and owned by a company called Brooks Tropical, which is hoping to encroach on the dominant Haas variety, which makes up 95 percent of the global avocado market, according to the Wall Street Journal. In order to succeed, it sounds like they’re going to have to come up with a way to grow firmer SlimCados. Maybe they should brainstorm over some nice summer avocado cocktails?

Want to take your avo-game to the next level? Here’s how to make an Instagram-worthy avocado rose. Plus, three easy avocado recipes that don’t involve toast. You read that right—no bread needed! 

 

 

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Welcome to our every-so-often series of questions to discover how you, our readers, live a super interesting, healthy life. We totally invite you to dish on your habits, preferences, and know-how in the Comments, and we may even use our favorite ones in an upcoming article!

This week, we want to know:

What’s your go-to 5-free nail polish shade? The one that you’re on your fourth bottle of? The chemical-free color with a really fun name?

Tell us in the Comments, below! (And check out other Well+Good reader favorites to change up your manicure.)

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Playing catch-up? Here are the week’s five must-read Well+Good stories you may have missed.

1. Cameron Diaz is on a mission to change the way we age

“As long as I get to keep on aging, I’m pretty lucky. Not everybody has the opportunity to grow old.” Word.

2. 8 superfoods for better sleep

Put down the Ambien, pick up the cherries.

3. The Karlie Kloss guide to staying fit and happy—in 7 steps

It’s all about avoiding workout boredom.

4. The best all-natural (and affordable!) beauty product swaps to help you quit your drugstore habit

We’re giving your beauty cabinet a makeover. Sayonara chemicals, microbeads, and parabens….

5. Who will be the next Sweetgreen?

Let the healthy fast-casual revolution begin!

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Are you ready for the NikeID of workout leggings?

Luxury activewear brand Alala announced today the launch of Alala Carte (get it?)—their first customizable tight program. The concept is pretty straightforward: You get to pick the upper, lower, and mesh panels on their best­-selling Captain Ankle Tight, with colors, prints, and even an optional monogram (which is reflective, in case late-night runs are your thing). Each pair goes for $185—think of it as the ultimate way to ensure that no one grabs your leggings by mistake from the locker room bench.

“The Alala girl is an individual; a strong, independent girl boss who is in charge of her list and her style,” founder and CEO Denise Lee tells us. “We wanted to give her an avenue to express herself through designing her own [tight].”

To showcase just how many variations you can come up with through the Alala Carte program (we did the math, and landed on 441 different combos), Lee invited 11 sporty-chic women—think FlyBarre master instructor Brittany Franklin, ChaiseFitness co-founder Rachel Piskin, and DJ Valissa Yoe—to design their own pair (which they show off in a photo series).

And this is only the beginning: The brand plans on rolling out more options and styles as the program grows. Does it mean that plain black mesh leggings are a thing of the past?

Scroll through for some color combo inspiration from the Alala Carte customized legging launch.

Bad at decision-making? Find out which fitness fashion tribe you’re in to help you design the tights of your dreams.

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You put spinach in your smoothies, are well-versed in the benefits of dandelion greens, and could massage kale in your sleep. Raw or cooked, in a salad or a stir fry—doesn’t matter—you pile your plate with the nutrient-rich veggies.

And for good reason. “Greens are the powerhouses that contain very high concentrations of many of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we need to keep us healthy,” says cookbook writer Dana Jacobi, whose new cookbook The Power Greens Cookbook is dedicated to the dynamite leaves.  

But are you maximizing your nutrient takeaway? The key, it turns out, is variety. All those leaves are full of different vitamins and minerals—and you want them all. Same goes for how you prepare your greens. “Raw is not necessarily better,” Jacobi explains. “Your body can actually absorb iron in spinach and chard better when they’re cooked, because it breaks down the cell walls.” 

And even though greens are good is practically hardwired into our brains, with whole aisles filled with the nutritious leaves, it can be hard to keep them all straight. That shouldn’t stop you from filling your cart with dark, leafy greens, however. “Two ways to know if a food is rich in nutrients is how they look and how they taste,” Jacobi explains. “Darker colors and stronger tastes mean more nutrients!”

But what is the difference between chard and collards, anyway? Which greens pack a mean protein punch and which are better than a multivitamin?

Keep reading for our rundown of some of the most powerful greens—from their nutrient profiles to the tastiest ways to prepare each one.

1. Arugula

The green known for its peppery bite has the most calcium of all the salad greens. Arugula is also packed with antioxidants (think vitamins A, C, and K) and manganese. “That combination is great for protecting your bones,” Jacboi says. And it can do way more than just act as an accent to your tossed salad. “It’s fun to use as an alternative to baby spinach—you can just wilt it,” she notes. Her kitchen advice? Try stirring arugula into risottos and soups, or adding them to a frittata.

2. Bok choy

This cruciferous green is not only delicious when stir-fried with garlic, it’s also a key supporter of a healthy gut. The green is full of magnesium and antioxidants, and helps the gut produce inflammation- and allergy-fighting substances. Bok choy leaves can be tougher, which makes them perfect for juicing. Jacobi’s favorite combination? Bok choy, apple, and ginger for a three-ingredient Asian-style super juice. For something a little easier to eat, reach for Shanghai bok choy (more commonly known as baby bok choy)—perfect for stir fries or adding a crunchy kick to salads.

3. Chard

This leaf is pretty on the inside and the outside. Antioxidants, iron, and chlorophyll are just some of the nutrients found in chard, whose stems are also packed with fiber. The green also contains carotenoids, which help to protect your eyes against harmful UV rays, and folate—key for healthy pregnancies. This is one green that Jacobi definitely recommends eating cooked, rather than raw. “Cooking chard helps diffuse the dry tannic quality,” she explains, adding that blanching chard will also get rid of its muddy quality (meaning it will be even more Instagram-worthy on your plate). Pair it with lentils or browned onions, or chop it up finely for a frittata.

4. Collard greens

If you’re a plant-based eater who has heard the question “How do you get enough protein?” time and time again, this leaf’s got your back. Collard greens pack 5 grams of protein per cup. They’re also loaded with calcium, cancer-preventing B6 vitamins, and the natural sleep aid tryptophan. Oh, and they make a great midnight snack: As Jacobi tells us, “You can make collard chips just like kale chips!” Crumble them on top of soups or eat them as a snack—you may be pleasantly surprised to notice they’re even a bit less bitter than their kale equivalent.

5. Dandelion greens

Eat your greens—ahem, flowers. Dandelion greens come from the same family as sunflowers and daisies, but they’re just as nutritious as the other similarly hued options in the supermarket. In fact, they’re all-stars when it comes to detoxification, since the greens are great for liver health and full of potassium to keep the body free of impurities. They may be a bit more bitter than what you’re used to—Jacobi calls them a “green lover’s green”—but there are ways to slowly add them in to your lunch routine. She recommends mixing them in with your go-to salad green for starters, or chopping them up and eating them blanched with olive oil and lemon juice for a Mediterranean-style salad.

6. Kale

This dark, nutrient-dense, leafy green more than lives up to the hype: It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein…the list goes on. Kale also contains a category of phytochemicals called glucosinolates—a group of compounds that help to detoxify the liver and support other body functions. Another of the super-green’s super powers? “Kale protects us against the chemicals that promote the storage of body fat,” dishes Jacboi. Oh, and did we mention just how versatile it is? Massage it with lemon juice and olive oil for salad bases, blend it into your smoothie, roast it at low temperatures and turn it into kale chips—the possibilities are limitless. And if you’re not sure where to start, Jacobi’s favorite way to eat kale is braised. “Braising brings out the flavor and gives them a texture with body but not too much. You have control over the texture, without losing the flavor,” she explains. “Plus, the oil helps your body absorb the nutrients.”

7. Microgreens

Don’t let their miniature size fool you—microgreens’ nutritional value is supersized. But what, exactly, are they? Microgreens are veggie shoots (everything from arugula to radishes) picked as soon as the first leaves sprout. The tiny salad greens are full with vitamins that are often far more concentrated than their mature counterparts. And since microgreens include a range of types, you’re bound to be chomping on more nutrients than one variety can hold. “Adding a sprinkling of microgreens to a salad or sandwich is a great way to add a flavor kick and a nutrient boost,” Jacobi suggests. But be sure to buy these organic or at your local farmers’ market—the tiny leaves are fragile and can harbor bacteria, so you’ll want to show them a little extra love.

8. Romaine

If you normally throw iceberg lettuce into your salad bowl, it might be time to swap it out for some romaine. “The darker the leaves are, the better,” Jacobi says, explaining that the depth of the color corresponds with the nutritional value. This salad green is full of antioxidants and is also a great source of the natural sleep-enhancing amino acid tryptophan. And if you’ve only ever eaten romaine raw, Jacobi recommends branching out. “Lettuce is delicious slightly cooked—it has a great nutty flavor,” she notes, suggesting lightly stir frying it with white wine. That’s right: romaine and wine, together.

9. Spinach

You can find spinach just about everywhere—yes, even your local corner store. “I like to call it the convenience green,” says Jacobi.  Good thing: It’s full of vitamins and minerals that are released differently, depending on how the green is prepared. While the carotenes and iron are more accessible when we eat spinach cooked, some nutrients are lost because of heat sensitivity. Luckily, spinach is incredibly versatile—you’re bound to enjoy it some way or another. When in doubt, just throw a fistful of spinach into your a.m. smoothie and hit “blend.”

Ready to go green? Get them fresh at the farmers’ market—here’s how to shop like a pro. And then incorporate your favorites into your weekly meal prep for lunches that will make your co-workers extremely jealous.

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