Healthy Chicks

Good afternoon friends, and happy Friday! I am so thrilled to bring back one of my favorite Healthy Chicks traditions: Healthy Chicks in the Community. If you’re new over here, each and every week I would spotlight a fabulous gal via a mini interview here on the blog.

To bring it back with a bang, I can’t think of a more perfect woman to feature. When I first met Kelsey, I was immediately drawn to her infectious, glowing personality and genuine care for other people’s wellbeing. She’s one of those selfless souls that has the biggest heart, and you can feel that energy just by being around her. (The girl literally radiates positive energy!) Go ahead, see for yourself…

NAME/AGE: Kelsey Margaret O’Neil, 22

BLOG/TWITTER Website: kelseyoneil.com Twitter/Instagram: @Kekeoneil

CURRENT CITY: Boston, MA

PHOTO TAKEN: In Jaipur India, by Helena Monterio

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I recently graduated from Boston University, and am looking to move to Southeast Asia (hopefully Kathmandu, Nepal) to work in humanitarian aid/disaster relief in September!

NUMBER ONE PASSION: This may sound cliché, but I love volunteering and helping those in need in developing countries, whether it be at orphanages in India or Leprosy Hospitals in Nepal. My heart and body literally radiates. I am now trying to make a career out of it.

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Taking time out of my schedule to do things for me and my body. It could be a bike ride, a hike, a 2-mile walk around Boston or attending a group fitness class- yoga, flybarre or spin class, (loving Flywheel and BSpoke!) It doesn’t matter what the actual activity is, it matters more that I took the time for my mind to clear and reset, rather than the exercise itself. It also reminds me that at times I need to make myself a priority, if my mental and physical health is not up to par, then it affects other aspects of my life, such as my mood, my happiness and my productivity. I am also a huge believer in the saying, “you are what you eat!” I feel the most energetic and healthy when I am fueling my body with organic, non-gmo and raw foods.

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: I sometimes forget to work out or even worse, I will make excuses to not! I also sleep in until 11 or 12 on the weekends, but tell myself “It’s my body telling me it needs the rest!” Which in reality it is probably saying, “You lazy bum, turn off the Netflix and go to sleep 2 hours earlier.”

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES: 1. Fage Strawberry Greek Yogurt. I eat this with granola and cinnamon almost every morning. Greek yogurt is a great source of high protein and cinnamon secretly has a lot of fiber.

2. Trader Joe’s Pineapple Salsa. I dip black quinoa chips in for a snack, or whole wheat quesadillas.

3. Coconut Oil. I use this for everything. From cooking chicken and sautéing spinach in, to taking off my make up at night with. (Sounds weird but it is SO good for your skin- nourishes and moisturizes almost better than most cosmetic products.)

NUMBER ONE GUILTY PLEASURE: Strawberry Cream cheese. I have been obsessed with smothering it all over my bagels since I was 5-years-old. It tends to be a great Saturday/Sunday morning remedy if you know what I mean 😉

THREE FAB THINGS ABOUT YOU: 1. In my 10-year goal plan in life, I hope to open up an orphanage/shelter for girls who are being sex-trafficked in Nepal. It is a cause I am extremely passionate about, and probably will be for the rest of my life.

2. I am a HUGE news junkie. I love to know what protests are occurring in Jakarta, to Cholera outbreaks in Haiti, to everything in between. I also am discovering that I am only attracted to men who share this similar passion and thirst for learning and debating about current events around the world. #nerdalert

3. I have been through a lot of adversity to get to where I am, and I wouldn’t change any part of my past. I am now proud of the person I am today, because of it.

EXERCISE THAT MAKES YOU SHINE: Reaching the top of a mountain, or peak on a difficult hike. It’s an amazing experience to see how far or how high you can push yourself. Hiking creates a physical exhaustion that I cannot feel in any other workout- it is so pure and intimate, between your mind, your body, and nature. I am grateful for a healthy and functional body, especially after working with leprosy patients who lost their limbs and severe nerve sensation in multiple parts of their bodies. My healthy body is something that I definitely took for granted in the past.

FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD: Ice Cream. Usually vanilla, Oreo or Chocolate chip. I grew up in a household where there is always at least 2-3 different flavors to choose from, that is if my dad didn’t get to them first.

MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER HEALTHY CHICKS: How can we all be the best versions of ourselves? Is it the people we surround ourselves with? Our careers? Our values? Our health? Whatever it is, find what fuels YOUR soul, and chase after it, NOW.

Sending a big heartfelt thank you + giant air hug to Kelsey for taking part in this week’s Healthy Chicks in the Community! If you’d like to nominate yourself or a friend, just email me at rachelAThealthy-chicksDOTcom.