Svelte Gourmand Launches - A Q&A with Camille Noe Pagán

Sara Reistad-Long and Camille Noe Pagán. Photo: JP Pagán

We caught up with Pagán to chat about her dislike of food "fanaticism," the evils of high-fructose corn syrup and how she not only has her steak, but eats it too.

Who is the site geared toward?
People who like food. We are speaking to a more general audience, male and female. People who read Gourmet, but might read Fitness, too. People who are really interested in food and their health.

How did you come up with the name?
I have no idea. It just struck me one day. I bought the domain names for sveltegourmand and skinnyfoodie and svelte just seemed to be more what we were about.

What's been the difficulty in mapping out the site?
It's still a learning process for us. On the whole, it hasn't been that difficult. This site is the site I wanted to read. I just didn't see the intersection of health and good food [out there]. I assume we will have more competition.

What is one tip that you would give people?
Truly enjoy your food. I think people are in such a hurry to rush through food. When you eat more slowly, you eat less, and in the process you are doing your waist a favor.

What do you say to people who believe healthy food does not taste good?
I would say you are not eating the right thing. I recently did a post on kale. I had only had it one or two times in things, but I had never gone and cooked it on my own. I tried it and it turned out I liked it a lot.

You talk a lot of about portion control. Why do you think it is important?
I think portions are really important. I think you can eat anything, as long as you control how much of it you are eating. It means different things to different people. I think that's kind of the hurdle people face every day -- how much you can eat every day.

What's one eating myth that you hate?
That there is one right eating plan to keep you thin. The research doesn't support that. I just don't like fanaticism. I think the site is equal opportunity. We cover all things.

What is a food you eat regularly that would surprise people?
I have eggs every single day. I think eggs get a bad rap. I have the yolks, too ... It usually keeps my appetite in check into the afternoon. On the weekends my husband and I get bagels and I am hungry by 11:30 or noon. I also have a lot of steak.

Steak! What cut?
I really love hangar steak, which is not the leanest of cuts. My husband and I spent a month in Argentina and I would say we had steak twice a day.

Why do you think wine gets a bad rap?
I think it is really perpetuated by the health magazines. I would say one or two glasses is fine. It's when you start drinking three glasses or more [that it becomes an issue].

But aren't those the same magazines you've spent much of your career writing for?
I don't think all health magazines perpetuate that myth. Some do. I've written about wine's health properties for Health and Modern Bride, for example. I just think that some of the same magazines that I enjoy reading give wine a bit too much of a bad rap ... It's everything in moderation.

How important are ingredients?
I think they are key. I would say I pay a lot of attention to what goes in your food. Sara is a little more focused on looking at ingredients. If there are more than five ingredients, you need to look into what those ingredients are.

Is there one ingredient that is more evil than any other?
I would say high-fructose corn syrup.

Why "evil"?
I don't think high-fructose corn syrup is evil, per se. I eat it in small quantities -- for example, in ketchup. I just think there's too much of it in too many foods where it doesn't belong. I really don't think anything should be entirely off-limits, even trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup. That's not our M.O., and it's not a practical way to live.

For more on staying healthy while still eating well, go to ThatsFit.com or read our own Skinny Chef's posts twice weekly, Monday and Friday at 1pm.