Ask Alina Chef Alina Z

Q: Alina, I want a healthy body and a happy life and have been doing so much work to achieve that, but sometimes it feels that happiness and health are just not for me. Honestly, I don't feel that I full deserve it... Any advice?  



A: I get it. All of us at some point don't fully feel we deserve all the joy in the world. But the truth is that we DO! I teamed up with coach Ally Jewel to talk about just that for you and have Ally help. Check out this video and definitely reach out to Ally for personal coaching at AllyJewel.com. She is amazing!

Q: Alina, I know you have been a private chef for many years and are very successful and known. I want to start my own private chef business too,  but it's so intimidating,  I don't know where to even begin. What are your tips?

A: Thank you. I am very grateful to be a private chef for 11 years now and it has been the most rewarding job. To answer your question I teamed up with Holly Verbeck, owner of a private chef staffing company, and together we share our tips for creating a private chef business as well as what you need to know when hiring one.

For more information on Holly and how she can help you, visit https://makeyourbusinesscook.com/

Q: Alina, I have been reading a lot about the danger that bees are in and therefore our planet, so what can I personally do to help save the bees?

A: Yes, bees are definitely in danger but there are a few things each one of us can do.

1. Go organic - with fruits, veggies, grains and meat. Bees are dying due to chemicals, herbacides and pesticides.

Tips 2-5:  listen to the podcast :)

Q: Alina, I know you are all about green juices and healthy living, but I can't give up alcohol. Or actually, I don't want to give it up. Ha! Any advice on how I can keep it and still feel pretty good?

A: Great question! And if you know me in a social setting, you'd know that I am a big fan of red and sparkling wines and enjoy them every week or so. 

For this particular question, I decided to sit down with my great friend Claire Vidal, co-founder of a new brand of French sparkling wine Exigeante, and talk to her about this topic. Listen and let me know your thoughts or maybe your own tips to share.

Q: Hey Alina, do you have any advice on anti-aging treatments and foods? I know girls in their early 30's may not know much, but you seem wise, so thought I would ask.

A: Ha! Thanks for the compliment! While some people may think that I am in my early 30's or some even think late 20's, I am actually now in my 40's and up until last year I haven't had any skin care routine.

Of course, there is something to be said about genes, but so there is a lot to be said on what you do with those genes.  There are some easy things that I have been doing for years that definitely helped looking and feeling youthful.

In this podcast and video that's on my YouTube I share my tips on how to keep looking young and yes, I even share about a procedure I have done and why.

Q: Alina, I just watched the Seaspiracy documentary on Netflix and I am really grossed out with the seafood industry. Yet, I still want to eat fish, shrimp and all that yummy stuff. What do I do??

A: I totally get it. It's hard not to be moved by the movie and yet it's also hard to do something. But not to worry! I have a few ideas to share in this podcast and video.

After I recorded I realized I didn't answer what one can do if you choose to continue eating fish. What are the best options? So here are my answers to that:

SKIP: Tuna and Tilapia. Tuna has way too much mercury and tilapia is raised in horrible conditions and full of yucky stuff you don't want to eat.

SWAP: Choose organic farm-raised salmon instead of wild salmon. My current concern is the radiation and pollution in our oceans that are poisoning wild salmon, so I personally eat sustainably-raised organic salmon.

To make sure I get my Omega-3's I eat flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts. I also take Krill oil once in a while.

CHOOSE: Go for the small fish such as sardines. They are rich in Omega-3's and since they are tiny, they don't have a long life-span so they don't have time to accumulate junk in their tissues. Of course, please choose only from small sustainable fisheries and consume only when needed, not for entertainment.

BEST CHOICE: Plantbased salmon and other vegan options at gtfoitsvegan.com. They have amazing foods like the shrimp and salmon among others.

For more ideas, stories and tips please watch the video or listen to the podcast.

For other ideas, please watch the video or listen to the podcast. If you find it useful, please share with friends so together we can create a healthier, happier and better world!

Love,

Alina