Editor’s Note

I’m not going to sugarcoat it (besides, it’s the health issue so this surely isn’t the place to do that) — we live in a hard place to be healthy. I’m not making excuses but between our amazing food and the long hot summer months, staying fit can be a challenge! We have some of the most delicious food in the whole country, right here in our own neighborhoods. I bet there’s a restaurant within a five-minute drive from your house that serves the best fried oyster po’boy around. My spot is dangerously close —it’s actually within walking distance.

It’s not just the food and the summers that make it difficult to prioritize our health — it’s the fun. We know how to have fun on a daily basis, plus there are so many great activities all year long. We’ve got festivals and music happening most weekends and dang it, we just like to have a good time here. For us, that includes spending time with family and friends, having a bounty of our favorite food, drinks and great music — the works. And that’s just a regular hang out with a few folks on a Saturday afternoon. When we really celebrate, look out. Even my friends from cities with health food stores on every corner, plentiful bike paths and hiking trails and temperate weather year-round have been challenged to maintain their health and fitness routines once they’ve moved here.

I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life and the one thing I’ve learned is that if I don’t make it a priority, it’s so easy to get distracted by everything around me. Just when I’ve started regularly working out, gotten my weight right where I like it and am into a good yoga and meditation groove, I’ll get caught up in a flurry of dinners with friends, festivals and parties and before I know it, the train is off the track again.

But I’ve been living in Louisiana my whole life and I’ll likely stay here, so recently, I prioritized finding the balance between enjoying all of the pleasures this place has to offer with my health and well-being. Do I still eat fried oyster po’boys? You better believe it (dressed with hot sauce and a side of fries) — that’s my favorite, but it’s a rare treat.   

Now more than ever, there are healthy options that can help us take care of ourselves, no matter where we live. Options such as veggie makeovers for some of our favorite dishes, shopping at farmers markets and ideas for moving more — all mentioned within the pages of this issue — are excellent starts.

Reine Dugas
Editor
Reine@AcadianaProfile.com