Healthy Habits: Dr. Monica Sanchez Shields aims for balanced meals and plenty of cardio

February 5, 2018 cardiology, Dr. Monica Sanchez Shields, Healthy Habits, Nutrition and Wellness

Taking care of your health is a priority and nobody knows that more than physicians and healthcare providers.

It can sometimes be difficult to find ways to stay healthy, so we’ve asked members of our Baylor College of Medicine community to share what they do in their daily lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Monica Sanchez Shields, assistant professor of medicine-cardiology at Baylor, shares some of her healthy habits with us.

Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: Exercise and planning a healthy, balanced dinner for my family.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: Low-fat, sugar-free yogurt with fruit, a handful of salt-free, raw cashews or sugar-free peanut butter on wheat toast.

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: A three-mile brisk walk or jog.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: The more you do the more you can do.

Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: Ten-minute core strengthening.

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: As above for breakfast.

Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: Yes – I take a multivitamin with iron.

Q: What do you include in your child’s lunch?
A: A turkey and cheese sandwich, two fresh fruits (strawberries, grapes, blueberries), yogurt (less than nine grams of sugar) and pretzels.

Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy (healthy substitutions)?
A: I substitute butter with olive oil and use low-fat protein such as turkey meat or beans instead of red meat.

Q: What hobbies do you have to help you relax?
A: Pilates.

Q: What is your go-to Houston restaurant for a healthy meal?
A: Local Foods.

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: Everything in moderation.