It's National Eat Better- Eat Together Month and we’re stepping up this year to celebrate and encourage others to participate! All month we are going around Orlando and interviewing people who we see inspiring and challenging one another to be the best versions of themselves in our Community. And who better to start this series with than Local Orlando Blogger, Amanda Smith! If you guys aren't already checking out her website www.astoldbyamanda.com on a daily basis or keeping up with her on Instagram @amandasmitthh, we recommend you do! She has an incredible outlook on life and never fails at portraying who she is and what she believes in. But enough about our obsession, let's get to know Amanda and how she Eats Better together! 

Q: Hi Amanda, let's start things out simple! Tell us a little bit about yourself...

A: Hey guys, my name is Amanda Smith and I am 24 years old. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. I currently have two jobs. I work full time for Brandstar Entertainment as a Social Media Monitor, and part time at Kids Nite Out as a babysitter. I love all things creative. Whenever I have any free time I am usually creating content for my blog, working out, visiting a local coffee shop, or hanging with friends. I love dancing, acting, writing, video making, and working out.

Q: That's awesome, we love our Orlando Bloggers! Now growing up, tell us a little bit about what meals were like for you at home!

A: So my mother was a single mom who worked multiple jobs at a time so it was difficult to get a home cooked meal every night. My mother was also not the greatest chef, so most nights it was pasta, a sandwich or some kind of tv dinner. Not usually the healthiest meals, but as I got older my mom got better and we started to cook meals that were both healthy and yummy.

Q: I think we can all agree cooking gets easier and better with age! So what do meals look like for you now?

A: Normally I try to prep food on the weekend for my week ahead. I like to prep brown rice, sweet potato, and precook any veggies. I usually have those three things in every meal or at least once a day. I work from home most week days so it could be anything from avocado toast to chicken, rice and veggies. I love making smoothies too, and I won’t lie and say I don’t occasionally have a bowl of cereal for dinner.

Q: That is great! We know Meal Prepping every week can be difficult so that's awesome you're able to keep it up! As you know, it's National Eat Better-Eat Together Month. What do you think “Eating Better, Eating Together” means?

A: It means that you are eating healthier meals and with people you love. Unfortunately, your average family doesn’t sit down often for meals, and that was something I rarely got as a child so I know whenever I can sit at a dinner table with people and share a meal I am my happiest.

Q: Would you say, “Eating Better, Eating Together” ties into Eating Healthier?

A: Yes, Eating Better to me means that you are looking at the food you put into your body and aim to have the healthiest meals out of them. You are looking at your portion sizes. You are checking to see you have both protein, veggies, and all the essentials food groups in every meal. I also feel that health goes beyond the food on your plate that it stems from your mental and emotional state as well. Like I said before, sharing a meal with people you love gives you a chance to talk about your day, catch up on life, and get other people’s opinions and perspectives. I know that makes me happy and I believe that’s a string part of my overall health.

Q: Do you feel inspired to Eat Better? If so who or what inspires you?

A: I do feel inspired to eat better. I recently tried being vegan for two months and was surprised I could stick to it. I right now am no longer vegan, but it did bring my attention to everything I put in my body. I now read all labels before I purchase anything, and I make sure that everything I do eat is organic and have not been touched with any hormones or chemicals. I feel inspired to change my eating habits after watching a few documentaries on Netflix and seeing how sluggish I was at work. I now pull my motivation to stay healthy through Pinterest meals, Instagram accounts, and people around me who are also trying to eat better.

Q: 2 months is a good amount of time to be a Vegan! I've tried myself and only lasted a few weeks. Well, thank you for doing this interview with us! We'd like to wrap things with one final question if that's alright. Why do you want to eat better?

A: Growing up I was super active. Not necessarily in sports but in my schools Theatre or dance which I did both for 14 years. So once I got into college and didn’t have much to stay active I noticed my body slowing down. This got super normal to me until the last year when my skin was always breaking out, I had headaches unless I had coffee, and it seemed like my body would fall apart without these horrible things I was putting into it. I hated that my body relied on these things, so I wanted to make a change. I right now, feel so much more energetic and rested to take on every day. I have the strength to work out each week and I can see the results even physically. Overall, I want to be a happy and healthy person. I want to go on hikes, and crazy adventures and I don’t want my body holding me back. Long term I am also doing this to be healthy for a future family and a long life.