How I Became Jamie Eason's Cart Boy--And The 10 Lessons I Learned

Okay, so guess who went on a grocery-shopping extravaganza (I'm calling it a date) with Jamie Eason? Me! I'm not sure why I was chosen to do this, and I think she was a little surprised as well, but as I waited for her in the hotel lobby I started wondering what Jamie Eason might be like.

Would it turn out that her real name was actually Demanda? Or was she just a total fake who didn't know the difference between a candy bar and a protein shake? This was a truly odd "date"--the world's fittest model going shopping with the world's most immature nerd.

Jamie Eason's Grocery Store Trip

Watch The Video - 13:08

Our task?

We would be gathering ingredients for some righteously healthy and tasty meals that Jamie was going to make herself, and catch all the action on tape. I figured if I could pitch some off-the-wall curveball questions to keep Jamie on her toes, then, heck, we might just make it out of this ordeal alive.

And the result?

Well, before I could start nerding out too much and annoying Jamie to the point of unbridled fury, the grocery staff caught up to us and made us turn off the camera.

However, in the few moments we did have, Jamie owned the aisles--she definitely knows her stuff! She was also able put up with my nonsense, and we got along famously.

What was Jamie like?

You might be pleased to know that Jamie works off her keister traveling around the world to do videos, edit and write for major publications, keep in shape, maintain a social life, and stay wicked sma't! And even though she was a little under-the-weather during our excursion, Jamie is one of the most humble, exciting, and accommodating celebrities I've ever met.

So let's get down to brass tacks here. What did I learn?

Lesson No. 1: Protein Powder Doesn't Mix Well With Beer

Mixing protein powder with beer isn't actually a magical potion that will allow me to get my drink on AND maintain a chiseled body. (I asked).

Jamie made me put the beer back in the fridge.

Lesson No. 2: Beware Of Preservatives [shiver]

In the nutrition world, "what you don't know won't hurt you" is completely wrong. You don't realize how many strange things you're putting in your body until you look at the labels of everything you pick up.

Find stuff with the lowest sodium content and sugar content possible. If there's a long list of unrecognizable -ines , -oses, or syrups behind what you're buying, put it back on the shelf.

It takes a little extra looking around, but you can definitely find options without all that extra junk.

Lesson No. 3: Chicken Versus Turkey Is The Ultimate Lean-Meat Battle

Most of us lean-meat-savvy types know both chicken and turkey are healthy meat sources, but apparently chicken does a little bit better at holding flavor, so keep that in mind. Of course, you won't be dissatisfied with the flagship Thanksgiving bird when you try Jamie's 3-bean Turkey Chili--the girl's got some mad kitchen skills.

One thing to remember is that white is the healthier meat, so stay away from the dark side, if you catch my drift. And as far as lean cuts of red meat go, a London broil is your best bet.

For fish, tilapia is the best lean option. It has the added benefit of being very versatile for different dishes and cooking styles.

Lesson No. 4: Turns Out Baby Food Isn't Off-limits To Adults

Weird I know. Imagine how I felt when we started perusing the baby food aisle. As I watched Jamie frantically look for baby applesauce, I thought to myself, "Jamie is trying to steal food from our nation's youngsters. This cannot stand!"

However, her justification made enough sense. Most baby foods don't contain as many additives and syrup as the regular pureed brands for adults, and they are conveniently portioned for baking. Touché, Jamie. Touché.

Lesson No. 5: Almond Milk Does A Body Good

Some of us are lactose intolerant, and some of us aren't sure about the estrogenic issues associated with soy milk. But wait, almond milk escapes both those hiccups? Great!

Almonds have a delicious taste and plenty of healthy fats and protein, but watch out for all those added sweeteners in flavored almond milks.

Lesson No. 6: Always Take A Recipe Or Ingredient List With You To The Store

Knowing what you're after will help eliminate impulse buys or any other unnecessary purchases.

Lesson No. 7: Eat The Whole Fruit And Nothing But The Fruit

We all love trail mixes and cereals with some good dried fruit in it every once in awhile, but dried fruits contain a lot of extra sugar.

Whole fruit is almost always the better choice.

Lesson No. 8: Chips Are Chips

Whether chips are organic, there are definitely some unhealthy additives in those bags to extend the shelf life. This tip probably didn't surprise you.

However, you might be happy to know that homemade pita chips are a healthy alternative to your corn/potato varieties.

Lesson No. 9: Exploit The X Factor

Ever heard of xylitol? It's usually found in chewing gum, but it's a great natural sweetener for baking. So if you're looking to cut down on that extra sugar but still want something to give your food some sweet flavor, xylitol is a great option.

Jamie did mention not to overindulge on xylitol because you might end up with some tummy issues--everything in moderation. Another natural sweetener option is organic honey, which is full of antioxidants and plenty sweet.

As for agave nectar, even though it is labeled as low glycemic, it's still a derivative of fructose and will cause a slight rise in blood sugar.

Lesson No. 10: Baking With Oat Flour Is Delicious And Nutritious

Oat flour is a great choice for baking because it's less refined than most flours. You can conveniently make your own by simply grinding oats in a blender.

All oats are typically gluten-free, but even if it's not labeled as such, there's a chance that it may have been contaminated in packaging. So if you're concerned about this issue, look for the gluten-free label.

Overall, this was a delightfully eye-opening experience. Was my pride a little hurt when the phone number Jamie gave me was only 6 digits? Sure. But she's a classy gal with a passion for what she does--helping people to reach a new level of fitness with good information and a great personality.

And hey, if you're interested in the meals she made with all the delicious stuff we bought, here you go!

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  Jamie Eason's LiveFit Recipes: Pumpkin Protein Bars
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  Jamie Eason's LiveFit Recipes: Cinnamon Swirl Protein Bread
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  Jamie Eason's LiveFit Recipes: 3-Bean Turkey Chili