Q & A with Giada DeLaurentiis

Yesterday afternoon, I was surprisingly calm and collected during my conversation with Giada DeLaurentiis. I thought I’d be a nervous wreck, but as soon as we started chatting, it was like talking with a friend (or at least a ‘regular’ person). I’ve only met a couple of celebrities in real life, and I always felt like their attention was elsewhere, but Giada was totally focused on our conversation and thoughtfully answered all of my questions. She was really nice, too!

Giada and I talked for about 15 minutes. During that time, I asked her a mix of food and lifestyle questions. I jotted down a few notes while we chatted, so here are the questions that I asked her with a summary of her responses.

How do you manage to eat such indulgent foods and not gain weight?

Giada sort of laughed when I asked her this question because she said the gets this question all of the time. Her response: it’s all about portion size. She said she grew up in an Italian family where the portions weren’t supersized, and there wasn’t an expectation to finish everything on your plate. Giada also said that she doesn’t see food as the enemy. She enjoys all kinds, but nothing in excess. She also added that her genetics probably help her stay thin as her mother is really tiny.

What’s your exercise routine?

Giada also mentioned that she maintains her slim figure by regularly exercising, so I asked her about her routine. She said she does 3-4 days of yoga (usually 60-minute sessions) and regularly participates in “extracurricular activities,” such as hiking, biking, walking, and paddle surfing.

What’s your favorite go-to recipe when you’re short on time?

Giada said her favorite go-to recipe is her husband’s favorite dish for Farfalle with Turkey Sausage, Peas and Mushrooms. The way she explained it made it sound so simple. I want to make it now!

What key staples do you always have in your kitchen?

Giada said she always has garlic, olive oil, dried pasta, tomatoes, a bottle of Pinto Grigio, and some type of chocolate (she mentioned chocolate chips and Nutella) in her kitchen.

How do you manage to always stay so positive?

Like all celebrities, Giada deals with negativity on a regular basis. She said she doesn’t read what’s written about her, but her husband and PR team do in case an issue ever needs to be addressed.

Interestingly, Giada said participating in social media (she manages her Twitter account) has been really tough for her with regard to negativity. She said she knows she’s never going to make everyone happy, and there’s always going to be people who want to tear her down, so she just accepts it as part of life. She says the negativity still hurts her, but she just does her best to do her job and help people.

What are your tips for expanding one’s brand and marketing themselves?

Giada gave me three tips:

• Have patience. Success doesn’t happen overnight.
• Align yourself with opportunities that are true to you. Pick and choose wisely.
• Connect yourself with other people. Network and use social media.

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Many thanks to Bella Sera Wines for arranging this conversation. What an amazing opportunity to chat with Giada!

Tagged as: Bella Sera Wines, Giada, Giada DeLaurentiis