Fridge Voyeur is a virtual visit into the chill zone of the Spoon Crew — our team, our friends, and some of your favorite wellness gurus. We may eat a lot of plants, but you better believe there’s a whole lot of variety, and a bit of naughty, going on behind closed doors. We know you want a peek ;).
This week, we’re peeking into the fridge of registered dietitian and mom, Justine Roth.
Splendid Spoon: Hey Justine! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Justine Roth: Hi! I’m a registered dietitian and mom to two kids under 5. Yes, I’m tired all the time.
As a dietitian I mainly work with people with severe eating disorders. I fell into this area sort of randomly after moving to the city without a job. I could never have predicted how much I’d enjoy helping people develop a healthier relationship with food. I’m fortunate to work in a research hospital so the people that come to us for treatment can stay for as long as they need: I get a lot of time to undo those unhealthy thoughts around food and body image!
I became interested in sustainable food systems and organic, local farming after getting my masters in nutrition at Columbia. It opened my eyes to our current state of food production and consumption. Having kids furthered my interest in this area, and showed me how important it is to create a healthy relationship with food from a young age.
My passion is redefining people’s ideas of healthy. I help them worry less about calories and instead focus on choosing foods that leave them feeling physically and mentally satisfied.
SS: What are the 5 staples you can’t live without?
JR: Does coffee count?
- Water. I talk all day long and joke that I have water anxiety — if I don’t have a bottle of water with me I get a little nervous. I’m thirsty all the time!
- Bananas. I love bananas, and so do my kids. They keep me full and taste great.
- Bread. I couldn’t live without it.
- Almond butter. My favorite snack is bread topped with bananas, almond butter, and a drizzle of honey.
- Vanilla almond milk. I’m lactose intolerant: dairy gives me a stomach ache. There are many things I’m willing to suffer a stomach ache for (ice cream, cookies, strawberry shortcake), but milk isn’t one of them. I froth it and have it in my coffee.
SS: You’re a busy working mom. What are your go-to weeknight meals for you and the kids?
JR: I don’t get too fancy during the week. I always make sure there are a few options of proteins (fish, chicken, turkey burgers), carbs (sweet potatoes, mixed rice, pasta), and veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, kale) available for us to grab.
SS: What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge?
JR: Eggnog Coconut Milk. I love putting this in my coffee so much that when I saw it at Target after the holidays I stocked up, froze it, and have been enjoying it ever since!
SS: What’s your fave sweet and what’s your fave savory?
JR: I have a serious sweet tooth so that’s hard to narrow down, but I would say double stuffed oreos win every time. Savory has to be French fries.
SS: If you were one thing in your fridge, what would it be?
JR: A pineapple: hard on the outside, sometimes prickly, but very sweet once ripened.
SS: What food do you turn to when you want something comforting or nostalgic? Although we eat to keep our bodies strong and healthy, food also connects us to our past, to friends, and to different times in our lives.
JR: Homemade meatballs. I’m Italian and we grew up making these from scratch every Sunday. I love making them with my kids and sharing the tradition.