Living a Healthy Lifestyle with GreenChoice Role Model: Tava Sternberg

GreenChoice has been profiling role models who are leading lives of health & sustainability in the Greater Boston Area. We have introduced you to Victoria Eden (read parts one and two), a vegan with a love for animals devoted to a healthy lifestyle and Lydia O’Connor, a student working towards living a zero-waste lifestyle.

Now, meet Tava Sternberg, half of the team at Hub Healthy, a Boston-based nutrition consulting practice where their goal is to help clients achieve a healthy lifestyle through eating well, exercise, and a balanced life.

The opinions expressed in this interview are Tava’s own and do not reflect the view of GreenChoice.

Why is living a healthy lifestyle so important to you? Is there a specific backstory that inspired you to start Hub Healthy?

I have always been interested in wellness and taking care of myself and helping others do the same. What really motivated me to be a functional and integrative dietitian is that both of my parents died from cancer too young. I realize that even if you have cancer in your genes there is so much we can do to prevent those bad genes from turning on. It starts with what you put on your plate but also has to do with your environment, your stress levels and taking time for self-care.

What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?

Health means taking care of yourself – respecting yourself enough to treat yourself right. Sustainability means finding balance in your life and doing whatever you can to nourish your body when you have the opportunity. You don’t have to be perfect but you have to have the right mindset – there is no reason to restrict yourself – you have permission to eat whatever you want – but what can you eat so you feel your best?

What is the hardest part of living a healthy lifestyle?

I think having the right mindset for most people is the biggest struggle – most of my client’s come to be with a self-control way of thinking – as though they have to restrict and be perfect to be healthy. Instead, I encourage a self-care mindset – if your overall goal is to feel great and be the healthiest version of yourself I think making the right choices becomes a whole lot easier!

What are you looking for when you make your food choices?

Balance!

What piece of advice would you share with someone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle?

Really think about your overall goals – write them down and remind yourself of them often. Make a plan for how you will get there and work with someone to help guide you there if you need the help.

Learn more about Tava’s work by following @HubHealthyBoston on Instagram and at hubhealthy.com .

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