Dancer, actor and Dancing with the stars co-host Julian Gaff is proud of his fitness lifestyle. She prioritizes nutrient-dense foods in her eating pattern and does what it takes to properly recover from workouts to ensure her body feels its best.
So through her partnership with Blender Bites, she helped create a new flavor that prioritizes healthy ingredients: the Superberry Sport 1-Step Smoothie, which boasts 6 grams of protein per serving and no added sugar. Packed with an array of fruits and vegetables, turmeric, and hydrating ingredients like water and coconut milk, all you have to do is simply add liquid to one of these inflammation-fighting smoothies, shake it up, and enjoy.
Through this launch, we were given the opportunity to speak with Hough about how she incorporates anti-inflammatory and protein-rich ingredients into her meals. Plus, more about the new product, her workout recovery methods, and her nighttime routine below.
Eating well: Are there any anti-inflammatory ingredients you like to add to your meals or foods in general that help you feel your best?
Half: I’m definitely a good fat person, so sometimes I’ll do avocado, some olive oil and salt. This is a good breakfast for anti-inflammatory needs. Sometimes I’ll make a piece of fruit in the morning as a snack. If I’ve woken up pretty early, I’ll make some salad with protein in the afternoon and then really just protein and veggies at night. These are my preferences, I’m not a big grazer. I’m just going to eat.
Eating well: Is protein something you focus on? Do you have favorite high protein lunches or dinners?
Half: To be honest, protein is key for me. I work out, I dance, I’m active, so that’s definitely what I need for my recovery. But for everyone, this is what we need in our daily diet. Other things I like to eat that are high in protein are salmon or chicken, from good sources. And I’ll combine it with some Japanese sweet potatoes, asparagus, or sometimes I’ll do cauliflower. I really enjoy healthy food that is either local or farm to table. I just feel like I’m feeding my body so well and I feel so energized.
Eating well: Could you talk about Blender Bites and the new Superberry Sport 1-Step Smoothie?
Half: Everything I do must be in line with my lifestyle. Blender Bites fit perfectly with everything I do on a daily basis, whether it’s my morning shake or post-workout [smoothie]. They are easy on the go, it’s literally just one simple step. And the fact that it’s a brand founded by women was a huge point of why I wanted to partner.
After working with them for a year and trying all the flavors, I wanted to add some protein to one of the shakes. It’s really hard to do this because the consistency can get kind of grainy and weird. But we’ve perfected the formula and it’s so amazing. It’s still gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free, and made with Orgain’s plant-based protein. It’s so delicious and it’s called Superberry Sport because it improves muscle recovery. It’s our new formula and our new blend and it’s so exciting. I can’t wait for people to try it. It came out this summer at BJ’s Wholesale Club nationwide and will be in other retail stores later this summer.
Blender bites
Eating well: What thing about post-workout recovery do you think is overlooked and what do you personally do?
Half: I think recovery is generally overlooked. I really like saunas and ice baths. I feel that is huge and has helped me so much to be able to dance as long as I can. I’m almost 36 and if I’d been doing cold plunges and ice baths and saunas earlier in my life, I think my body would be in even better shape. Since I started, I feel healthier and more vibrant now than even in my mid-twenties when I wasn’t doing it. I love lymph booties, they will squish the feet and sometimes I’ll just put them on at night. And when I put on lotion, I’ll give myself a little lymphatic massage. I know the pressure points behind the knee and on the inner thigh. I will do this and it helps with inflammation.
Eating well: Do you have a nighttime routine or any rituals that help you wind down and prepare for sleep?
Half: I’m an early dinner person because I like to starve intermittently, so I’ll finish dinner around seven. Sometimes I’ll watch a TV show just to kick back and relax, but most of the time I’ll take my dog for a walk, especially now that the sun is staying longer. I’ll take her for a walk at sunset and be a little active. Then I’ll come back and try to put my phone away for an hour before I even start getting ready for bed. It’s hard, but I’m trying. Sometimes I’ll journal and brainstorm for the day, or read, meditate a little before bed. I don’t have a TV in my bedroom and I put my phone in the bathroom when I go to bed.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
