Healthy Habits: Competitive dancing, nutritious substitutions key for Dr. Sandra Haudek

November 20, 2018 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.

Sandra Haudek, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine-cardiovascular sciences at Baylor, shares some of her healthy habits with us.

Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: Drinking a glass of water and stretching.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: Granola without sugar with fat-free milk, flax, chai, hemp seeds, blueberry and pecans.

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: Competitive dancing and running.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: Listening to upbeat music.

Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: I always take the stairs, even to higher floors. There is a lot of walking from office to office.

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: Apple, banana, yogurt or avocado.

Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: Vitamin D, sometimes C, and a calcium supplement.

Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy?
A: I use only olive oil, fructose-free products, add more veggies, reduce added sugar, and I cut off fat from meat. These substitutions are basic yet healthy from the start.

Q: What hobbies do you have to help you relax?
A: Reading, swimming and Sudoku.

Q: What is your go-to Houston restaurant for a healthy meal?
A: I enjoy my husband’s home cooking and sushi.

Q: Do you use a pedometer or Fitbit and what is your daily step goal?
A: Yes; my goal is more than 10,000 steps a day.

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: Eat well, sleep much, laugh a lot and dance.