Claudia Zapata-Elliott is the health and fitness columnist
for the San Antonio Express-News, where she covers a
broad range of topics on healthy living, from food, fitness
and medicine, to family and community nutrition and
wellness. She is also a board member of the American
Heart Association. After receiving her master’s degree
in nutrition, she completed a dietetics internship at the
University of the Incarnate Word. Zapata-Elliott has 10
years’ experience as a fitness instructor, and in 1996, she
qualified and competed in Boston marathon’s historical
100th running. Here she shares her insights and tips on
keeping a heart-healthy family.
1. How did you become a health and
fitness columnist?
“Six years ago, I was teaching group
exercise classes while pursuing a
graduate degree in nutrition, and
students in my group cycling class
would often hear me rant about
healthy eating. One student in
particular, senior editor of the Express-
News, Robert Rivard, suggested I
interview for a nutrition columnist
position. The job has been the perfect
marriage of two of my loves, writing
and health, and I’m incredibly
grateful to have been given a voice in
the San Antonio community.”
2. What has been the most interesting
or surprising story you’ve written?
“There have been too many columns
to select just one. I tend to enjoy those
that mix food and politics, including a
story on a junk food tax, and more
recently, a local trans fat ban. They
usually generate the most reader
responses, which is always rewarding.”
3. Women are traditionally thought of
as being the caregivers of their
families. How important do you think
it is for women to help nurture a
healthy lifestyle in their families?
“First, I think it’s critical that women
put their own health on top of their
lengthy to-do lists, not simply for selfish
reasons, but because it’ll also make us
better caregivers. Once we model
healthy behaviors, it becomes much
easier to encourage (or nag) the rest
of the family to follow!”
4. Who’s the cook in your family, and
what’s your favorite dish?
“I’m the least worst cook in the house,
so cooking falls on me by default.
Fortunately, my family enjoys simply
prepared, fresh food, which usually
means grilled fish and veggies and
whole grains, such as brown rice or
whole wheat pasta. My favorite is any
healthy dish prepared by someone else.”
5. Obesity is a risk factor for heart
disease and stroke. Unfortunately,
San Antonio has been consistently
rated as one of the fattest cities in
America. Do you see San Antonio
changing into one of the healthiest
cities in the future?
“It’s not the easiest place in the world
to be healthy, but I think we’re seeing
glimpses of a changing attitude —
more park space, improved streets and
sidewalks, and an increased awareness
of healthy living in general. If we have
any chance of making the jump from
fattest to fittest, however, we’ll have to
reach out to San Antonio’s youth and
educate them about the why’s and
how’s of healthy living.”
6. Many people who volunteer with
AHA have either survived a heart
attack or stroke themselves or are
friends with someone or have a family
member who has some form of
cardiovascular disease. Have you or
your husband been touched by heart
disease or stroke? How do you think
that experience compelled you to
work with AHA?
“My dad had his first quintuple bypass
operation in 1988, and another seven
year later, so I’ve lost plenty of sleep
worrying about heart disease. And,
most recently, my father-in-law
suffered a debilitating stroke. Having
the illness directly impact my family
was definitely a factor in my decision
to work with AHA, especially knowing
heart disease can often be prevented
with a healthy lifestyle.”
7. Time often seems to be somewhat
of a barrier for women who say they
are too busy to exercise or to cook
healthfully. The American Heart
Association encourages women to
build more physical activity into their
existing routines, not create new
routines that are hard to fit into the
day. How do you stay motivated?
“I think the excuses are there if you
want to find them. To be consistent
with exercise, find something you
love, and schedule it into your day
as you would any other important
appointment, even if all you can fit
in some days is 10 minutes.
It’s true — the little things all help,
but while vacuuming burns calories,
it’s not as fun or therapeutic as going
for a good power walk with a friend.
Personally, there are plenty of days
when I’m feeling lazy, but I try to
remember how much better I feel —
physically, mentally, and emotionally —
when I move and strengthen my body.”
