Food Network star Amanda Freitag is reminding fans and followers to take care of themselves during the holiday season. Freitag, 52, shared a picture of herself wearing leggings and a black Madonna shirt, posing in a Pilates studio with a cute little Frenchie next to her. “Self-care is even better with a PUP! 😍 Make sure you take care of yourself through the holidays, everyone,” she captioned the post. Here’s how the chef and writer stays fit, happy, and healthy year-round.
Working Out While Traveling
Freitag’s trainer helped her come up with a good exercise routine for when she was on the road. “I never used to exercise when I traveled,” she told Women’s Running. “I would just put it on hold and begin exercising again when I got home, which meant I was constantly burned out from always having to start from the beginning. Going outside to jump rope seems awkward at first, but you just do it. You just go for a big, long walk in the city you’re in. Do something, anything, and you’ll stay on track.”
Favorite Snack
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Freitag enjoys basic, everyday snacks during her down time. “After eating pork brains and gummy bears, I usually crave a cup of mint tea with lemon!” she told The Daily Beast. “But I do have a ‘crunch’ addiction, so if I happen to be hungry after a shoot day, I will grab a bag of really good tortilla chips and dip them into some seasoned sour cream.”
The Healthy Chef
Freitag had to teach herself how to stay healthy while doing her job. “I had been trying to get fitness into my life for a long, long time without getting anything to stick,” she told Women’s Running. “As a chef, it was hard to find one form of exercise that really fit into my life. Becoming aware of how much food goes into my body in a day was a huge learning experience for me. After the third bite of something, you’re not tasting anymore – now you’re just eating.”
Cardmom Cookies
Freitag says her favorite spice is cardamom. “My dad always put a pinch of cardamom in his Christmas sugar cookies and it is such comforting complex spice,” she told The Daily Beast. “I also grind cardamom seeds into my coffee beans every morning, try it, you will thank me!”
Packing Tips
Freitag has good advice for people who want to pack their own utensils for travel. “If I am packing knives, I normally pack small wares like my favorite spoons to cook with or a rubber spatula,” she told The Daily Beast. “You would be shocked to find out how many on-location kitchens don’t have the little things you need.”
