Eating Healthy Around the World: A Conversation with HolyHealth Founder Gal Cohen

A few months ago, I was browsing through my Instagram feed and found myself staring at the most extraordinary pictures of food. While I love great food, I wouldn’t call myself a foodie — but I was mesmerized. I contacted Gal Cohen, founder of HolyHealth. In this interview Gal share’s all about how she manages to eat this well during her travels. Here’s a glimpse into our conversation.

Eating Healthy Around the World: A Conversation with HolyHealth Founder Gal Cohen

Tell us about yourself! What do you do when you’re not cooking up delicious food? Where do you live?

I’m currently finishing up my bachelors at Brooklyn College for health and nutritional sciences, and will be starting my masters for nutrition in August. When I’m not busy studying, I’m always in the kitchen coming up with new food ideas and raw dessert flavors, which I sell from home.

I love to try new combinations of foods and get creative in the kitchen, it’s my happy place! I’m 23 years old, and live in Brooklyn, New York.

When did you fall in love with healthy food and cooking up delicious healthy meals?

I think it started when I was in high school. Although I wasn’t as healthy as I am now, I was always conscious of the food around me. I loved to research new food trends, anything from raw, to vegan, to vegetarian; I’ve tried it all. I was always intrigued by new diets and lifestyles, and I tested them all out until I found my balance.

Coming up with healthy meals came from experience and Instagram inspirations. I’m all about trial and error, I’ll take the risk to try something new, and if it fails I learn from my mistakes.

Eating Healthy Around the World: A Conversation with HolyHealth Founder Gal Cohen

What was your motivation to start HolyHealth?

HolyHealth started as a little side project. It was during the time I was vegan and wanted to share some of my creations with other foodies on Instagram. I’ve learned so much from the Instagram community about food and recipes; it really helped me expand my knowledge about all the possibilities there are with healthy eating.

A lot of people think of healthy eating as a boring diet, but it can be so much more when treated as a lifestyle.

A lot of people think of healthy eating as a boring diet, but it can be so much more when treated as a lifestyle.

We hear you’ve been traveling to Grenada frequently. Tell us about it! What have been some of your greatest travel highlights and challenges you faced while you were there?

This past January my boyfriend started a program for veterinary science in Grenada, and I’ve visited him twice since then. It is truly a gorgeous island with so much to offer.

Highlights of both my trips were definitely the beautiful beach we stayed on, Grand Anse, eating at the local beach bar that seems to be the go-to spot on the island, and enjoying what the island has to offer, such as boat rides and their farmers’ market. We loved relaxing on the beach in the warm weather, and taking a break from reality.

Food can always be a challenge while traveling, but luckily we were right down the block from a supermarket and had access to all they had to offer.

Food can always be a challenge while traveling, but luckily we were right down the block from a supermarket and had access to all they had to offer. In addition, I prepared a few treats at home to bring with me. I think planning ahead and coming prepared can really help.

Would you share some tips on how you stay healthy when you travel?

Although while I’m on vacation I do indulge in foods I normally wouldn’t eat, I like to keep most of my meals healthy. The easiest way for me to do this is to just eat natural foods. Especially when traveling to an island, I look forward to having all of the fresh fruits and vegetables they have to offer.

I’ll always opt for a fruit platter by the pool, or a fruit shake, and when eating out I modify the salads on the menu to my own liking–extra vegetables and some grilled fish. I also always pack snacks with me. Anything from homemade date balls, to bars, to a jar of peanut butter. Something I can have easy access to when my sweet tooth kicks in.

Eating Healthy Around the World: A Conversation with HolyHealth Founder Gal Cohen

Do you have any advice for readers who absolutely love to eat healthy, but travel on a tight budget?

The most important thing is to plan ahead. Food becomes really expensive when traveling, especially for those looking to eat healthy.

By packing energy bars, homemade treats, or your favorite healthy snacks, you’re coming prepared to your trip and can worry less about food and more about your travels. For me, part of traveling is also getting to taste the cultural foods that place is known for, so with doing so I like to make sure that I still stay healthy throughout my trip, and planning ahead helps me do this.

What’s next for you?

After my masters I plan to apply for a dietetic internship, and hopefully become certified as a registered dietitian. I hope to share my love for health and food with others, and encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle by showing them there’s more to eating healthy than just salads.

As for HolyHealth, it’s a business I just started, but hope that it will grow into something bigger eventually. Right now, I’m enjoying creating homemade treats right out of my kitchen.

 

Eating Healthy Around the World: A Conversation with HolyHealth Founder Gal Cohen

Follow HolyHealth and Gal Cohen on Instagram for more food inspiration here: https://instagram.com/holyhealth/.

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Do you have tips for staying healthy during your travels? Email us at [email protected] for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear  from you. Photos by Unsplash and Gal Cohen.