Healthy Chicks in The Community Week 3: Words of Wisdom from Casablanca, Morocco

This week’s Healthy Chick in the Community is studying in Casablanca, Morocco, is a family girl at heart and loves baguettes. I’ll let Melissa take it from here!

NAME/AGE: Melissa Mitchem, 24.

BLOG/TWITTER (If Applicable): N/A

CURRENT CITY: Casablanca, Morocco

PHOTO TAKEN: December 2012 with my nephew

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: In terms of life goals, I’m working towards getting a PhD in Education by first teaching for a few years. In terms of fitness/health goals, I’m working on maintaining a balanced, protein-rich diet as a vegetarian and keeping up with my 5-6 day-a-week workouts (usually running, using an elliptical, or yoga).

NUMBER ONE PASSION: This is a tie- my family and education. I love my family so much, but we all live in very different parts of the world. It’s simply the best when we all get together for a holiday or vacation. As for education, I have always loved learning and teaching and envision a perfect society as one with highly educated citizens.

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: in my daily routine of work, exercise, and diet and have a low level of stress.

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: eat my feelings after a long day at work and on family vacations.

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES: olive oil, nutella, and carrots (not all together ever, of course)

NUMBER ONE GUILTY PLEASURE: anything that’s sweet and eaten, but not supposed to be, with a spoon (peanut butter, nutella, etc.)

EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE: body combat classes and running (when I’m in shape)

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: This is weird, but it’s a baguette. I live in a country where bread is subsidized by the government, so it’s really easy to pick one up at the end of the work day, open up a bottle of wine, and just comfort myself away.

MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS: It can be really hard to carve out time in the day for yourself to exercise and to resist the pressures of eating poorly when dining out, but it’s important to remind yourself that exercising regularly and eating well are long-term investments in your life happiness. Make your health a priority; no one will do it for you.

If you’d like to be featured as one of my Healthy Chicks in the Community, or know someone who you want to make blush, email me for more deets. Oh, and be sure to check out yesterday’s post on self care (and my super sweet Spotify mix), one of the most essential things you can do for your health in my book!