Ensuring the health and wellness of both oneself and one’s family has never been more important. This is where longtime CMEE member and Sag Harbor resident, Kiley DeMarco comes in. She’s the creator of One Healthy Hamptons, an online platform and virtual community dedicated to healthy living, both online and off. We recently chatted with Kiley about the value of eating together as a family, her “go-to” kid-friendly snack recipe, and the one food item she’s not particularly fond of.
Can you share a little bit of your background with us? How are you connected with the East End?
I moved to the Hamptons 11 years ago after leaving a very stressful job as a crisis clinician for at-risk youth in Massachusetts, where I grew up. My education is in Clinical Social Work; I always knew that I wanted to help people, but it wasn’t until I dove deeper into my passion for wellness and got certified in Nutrition that I realized how I would make my impact. In raising young children of my own, I’ve learned that motherhood adds so many more layers (and obstacles) to daily life, so I especially enjoy supporting other moms/parents by educating them about nutrition and empowering them to better nourish their own family. I live in Sag Harbor with my two toddler girls, husband, and our giant dog – we truly love where we live.
Can you describe what One Healthy Hamptons is all about?
I started One Healthy Hamptons as a free resource for all things health and wellness in the Hamptons. I see health as the combination of mind, body, food, and fun, so that’s how my website is categorized and how I approach nutrition as well. OHH is a brand that represents connection and empowerment through wellness, healthy eats, inspiration, and living a balanced life. Life in the Hamptons is often viewed as indulgent, but true balance takes place when we indulge in what life has to offer while maintaining our inner-peace. It’s not one or the other and that’s what One Healthy Hamptons is all about. Check out onehealthyhamptons.com for recipes, tips on healthy living, and more!
How has the COVID pandemic changed the way you view nutrition?
Healthy eating and self-care are more important now as our health and the health of our loved ones are on the line like never before. Food really can be medicine and the most powerful tool we have to boost our immunity, along with sleep, hydration, and fostering our mental health. Stress levels are high due to the current state of the world and food can not only provide us with comfort, but whole foods truly do have healing powers. During this stressful time, I also believe that eating dinner together as a family has monumental effects and even more so if the kids get involved in the food shopping, prepping, cooking.
Do you have a “go-to” snack recipe for your kids, one that’s both easy-to-make and healthy?
Yes! We eat apples with peanut butter or almond butter almost daily (it’s just the best!) Apples provide us with energy (carbs) while the nut butter contains healthy fat and protein, so it’s got all of the macro-nutrients for the perfect snack combo for any age! Plus, the apples this time of year are so fresh and tasty, especially if you pick them yourselves – one of our favorite fall activities! I’ve been making baked apples non-stop this fall and created this healthy peanut butter apple crisp dessert that we’ve been loving. Just chop as many apples as you’d like and put on a pan, generously coat them in cinnamon (option to add a little bit of coconut sugar for added sweetness) and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with granola or oats and a few teaspoons of butter (optional) and bake for another 10 minutes. Serve with some drizzled peanut or almond butter and plain Greek or coconut yogurt or for a super special treat, your favorite vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!
What tips would you offer for someone trying to change their family’s eating habits?
My #1 priority is to simplify things and make it enjoyable. Instead of focusing on restriction, shift the goal to ADDING as many fruits, vegetables, and whole foods as possible. It’s a great practice to start reading labels before you buy foods at the store; it will be shocking seeing the ingredients in foods we think of as “healthy” and “natural.” Less is more when reading a food label, so look for minimal ingredients and words you recognize as real foods. Another tip is to maximize ease with tray dinners, (everything cooks on one tray) meal prep, and anything that makes family life easier, because I know that time is precious! Like mentioned before, I highly recommend families eating dinner together as much as possible. Not only does it allow for meaningful conversation, but it is also a great way for adults to set an example as far as trying a variety of foods, eating a nutritious meal, and prioritizing a technology-free dinner.
Is there any healthy food you just do not like?
Ha! I’ve been trying SO hard to think of one! Cilantro is NOT my friend, but I pretty much like any and every healthy food out there! (and by healthy, I mean whole foods that come from nature.) The more whole foods and less processed foods you eat, the more your body will crave those clean, healthy foods. Not to say that you should eat foods you don’t enjoy, but (especially kids) do try things more than once to give your taste buds a chance to warm up!
To schedule a free 15-minute virtual consultation with Kiley to learn more about One Healthy Hamptons and discuss your personal wellness goals, please contact kiley@onehealthyhamptons.com.