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This gave us the chance to chat with her about the importance of a healthy gut.
She also dished on what she typically eats in a day, including a five-ingredient Vietnamese smoothie.
Photo:Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
EatingWell: When did you start to realize that you wanted to prioritize gut health for your overall well-being?
Like, I need my maca smoothie.
I want my healthy snacks.
I want to check that Im doing all the things to make myself feel good inside and out.
EatingWell: What do you typically eat in a day?
Mai:In the morning, I always do overnight oats.
Even Amazon has those trays that you might get with the pop-up lids.
Then, I do avocado shakes in the middle of the day.
It’s a Vietnamese thing called sinh to bo, and it’s avocado with condensed milk and ice.
But I make the grown version.
I make it with avocado.
I still use condensed milk because there’s nothing that beats that creamy sugar.
It’s so good and creamy and fluffy.
And avocado is so healthy for your skin.
I can’t get enough.
After work, I link up with Monaco, my girl.
I just introduced her to Greek food.
And then she loved the baba ganoush.
It was just so special to see her there.
And yeah, that’s a full day’s meals.
EatingWell: What’s the one cooking mistake you seeAmericas Test Kitchen: The Next Generationcontestants make most often?
Mai:They don’t listen to the judges.
After one competition, the judges told every single chef, Taste your food before you serve us.
It’s just common sense when you’re spending 45 minutes by the clock making this amazing presentation.
But you didn’t taste it yourself?
You didn’t know that your risotto was still crispy in the middle?
After a few competitions, I can’t feel bad for you at that point.
EatingWell: What foods do you like to focus on eating for better gut health?
Mai:Oh my gosh, chia seeds are number one.
That’s always in my cart.
I love making overnight oats with chia seeds, ground or whole.
Monaco gets a sprinkle of chia seeds, too.
She knows exactly how to sprinkle it like Salt Bae on top of her baked goods.
I also love Greek yogurt.
I’m big on chickpeas.
I cook with chickpea flour.
I bake with it.
I’m big into root vegetables.
And I also have been big on kefir lately and mixing that into everything.
EatingWell: Whats a go-to savory food you cook with kefir?
Mai:I make really good labneh with a lot of dill, lemon and lemon zest.
But using kefir instead of Greek yogurt has been a game-changer, especially since its raw.
I’ll cook my labneh and then put the kefir in last to just kind of whip it in.
EatingWell: Whats your favorite way to stay active?
Mai:Being a mom.
Yesterday I got out of work at 6:00 p.m. and took Monaco to the park.
We’re into the seesaw right now.
We have been scootering.
Scootering is a big thing to us.
I learned at an early age, and bike riding is my jam.
EatingWell: What does eating well mean to you?
Or, it meant eating anything I could because I finally made my own money.
But then, when I hit my 30s and 40s, I realized thats not actually eating well.
That doesn’t make me feel good the next day.
It doesn’t make me feel strong.
