Laughing it up with comedian RD David Grotto
Jan
13Posted in [Calcium/Dairy], [Nutrition], [Q/A] By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir
1/13/2012 9:44 AM
It’s not often that you find a highly respected registered dietitian who’s bold enough to ask “Did someone step on a duck?” when blogging about beans…and get away with it.
The author of 101 Foods That Can Save Your Life, blogger for WebMD and longtime national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (recently renamed The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), Grotto is a Vince Vaughn lookalike from the Chicago suburbs who can spout off random-yet-useful factoids like, “A handful of tart cherries before bed can help you sleep better,” at the drop of a hat. When we caught word over Twitter that he was a fan of kefir, we just knew we had to interview him for our blog. Here’s what he had to say:
Lifeway: So, why do you like kefir so much?
David Grotto: “The thing I like most about kefir, as opposed to yogurt, is it offers the ultimate in convenience. It’s portable, easy to use: You just drink it, with no need to dirty – and then wash – a spoon afterwards. Not to sound lazy or anything. It’s nutrition and convenience rolled into one.”
Lifeway:What's your all-time favorite kefir flavor and why?
DG: “I’m “old school” – none of those newfangled flavors for me. I like to keep it traditional, like they used to serve in the old country. It’s Birthday Cake for me.”
Lifeway:Everyone seems to pronounce kefir differently – “KEE-fuhr,” “Keh-FEER.” How do YOU pronounce it?
DG: “I pronounce it ‘Key furtghddf.’ The last six consonants are silent.”
Lifeway: You’ve got three teenage daughters – that sounds crazy! Do they like kefir?
DG: “Indeed they do! They’re 17, 15 and 13 and two of them are lacto ovo vegetarians, which means they don’t eat meat but they do eat dairy and eggs. These girls are finicky, but my wife and I aren’t running a restaurant so we need foods that appeal to all three of them. Kefir works well within their dietary laws, plus it tastes delicious. They love the sweet tang. I feel assured not only as a dietitian, but as a dad, that I’m doing the best for my girls’ overall health, bones, immune health. We get a triple bang for the buck.”
Lifeway: What’s one of their favorite ways to enjoy it?
DG: “I’ll use it as a base for smoothies. They’re usually so busy, they don’t even have time to nuke something in the microwave. They need something quick. So I’ll whip up a blender-full of smoothies. We’ll throw in some soy or whey protein, nut butter – maybe pistachio or almond, some fruit juice, and whatever fresh fruit is lying around. Maybe bananas or peaches. I also use it to cook oatmeal, swapping out half of the liquid ingredients for kefir. It gives it a nice, creamy consistency. We also use it in baked goods: My wife made a rum cake for Christmas and used kefir, and it was very moist and tasty with a nice tang.”
Lifeway:What do you think of those Activia commercials featuring Jamie Lee Curtis?
DG: “I don’t watch them. Now if they featured Tony Curtis, that would be a different story.”
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