DIET | DETECTIVE^®

Jay Kenney, PhD, RD, FACN, is an acclaimed nutrition researcher, author, and educator.  He has written articles for the nation's leading newspapers and scientific journals, and he is a frequent guest on many television and radio shows.  He has a passion for debunking nutrition myths and helping people learn the truth about healthy eating.  Dr. Kenney is on staff at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Miami, FL.

Dr. Jay Kenney

Birthday: April 20 1945

Q: What dessert do you dream about?

A: Chocolate mousse that is made with tofu, Splenda, vanilla and cocoa powder.

Q: Best health book?

A: One of my all time favorites was Live Longer Now by Nathan Pritikin Longevity Center. Recently, I would say "Eat Right Electrolyte".

Q: A healthy food item that I love that I would eat every day?

A: Oatmeal, with cinnamon and soy milk and fruit.

Q: Two best health magazines?

A: I don’t read magazines. I read newsletters. I like CSPI newsletter "Nutrition Action" and "Communicating Food for Health" which is geared to dieticians.

Q: What do you consider the perfect food?

A: There is no one perfect food but what comes close is broccoli or brussel sprouts.

Q: What physical activity do you do to keep yourself in shape?

A: I walk, play tennis and lift weights.

Q: Favorite cooking tip?

A: Cook from scratch. Don’t use processed and convenience foods.

Q: Do you have a Calorie Bargain?

A: Try fresh, sweet strawberries instead of candy. Strawberries have 140 calories per pound. Candy has virtually no nutrients and it costs you 2200 calories per pound.

Q: How did you get to where you are?

A: I earned by undergrad degree was in nutrition and food. Master and PhD in nutrition. Post doc in nutrition. I have been with Pritikin since 1985.

Q: Define and discuss

A: Failure: Most Americans fail when it comes to nutrition. Nutrition education in the US is abysmal. More Americans die from poor eating habits than anything else combined so it is hard to explain why nutrition is such an ignored topic in the US today.

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you’ve change you mind in the last 20 years?

A: In the last 20 years, I was not nearly as concerned about omega 3 fatty acids or vitamin D. These are now much bigger problems now then I thought 20 years ago.

Q: What is a major item on to-do list?

A: Retire and write a book

Q: Define Individual responsibility?

A: In terms of nutrition, I would say it comes down to who is responsible for the food that goes in to your mouth. It is the individual’s responsibility to get oneself informed about what constitutes nutrition.

Q: How do you react to adverse situations?

A: Depends on the adverse situation. My solution is to avoid them.

Q: Defining moment in your life that changed the course of your life?

A: I realized that people lead meaningless lives. They get caught up in things they don’t need.. People spend 1,000 of dollars on cosmetics or plastic surgery. People spend far more on food than I do and they eat junk and it sends them to an early grave. At some point in my life, I realized that life is a biological process. Most people’s lives are dominated by fantasy. I decided that reality is far more important than fantasy.

Q: What's the biggest chance you have ever taken?

A: Investing in the stock market

Q: What's the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself?

A: Life is not that complicated if you focus on what is real.

Q: What keeps you going? Motivation?

A: The biological drives.

Q: What’s your favorite saying?

A: America has the best politicians that money can buy.

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