Actor and author Valerie Bertinelli opens up about her evolving relationship with food, emotional eating, and the community she’s building through her new cooking app.
What do mornings typically look like for you?
I’m up early, hopefully in time to see the sunrise. While my coffee is brewing, I take my dog outside, and while she’s busy doing her thing, I’ll jump up and down at least 50 times to get the blood flowing, do some stretches, and say some morning gratitude prayers.
How has your perspective on food and eating evolved over time?
Food isn’t the enemy anymore. It’s neither good nor bad; it’s simply nutrition to feed our bodies so we can move about in the world. It’s not there to numb our feelings.
How do you approach making choices around food in your day-to-day life?
I ask myself: What am I hungry for? What is my body trying to tell me? Not my emotions — my body. Have I not had enough veggies lately? Since I travel so much, I find it’s not always easy to get fresh vegetables and nice crispy salads, so that’s usually what I’m craving when I’m off the road. I try to listen to my body, eat when I’m hungry, and do my best not to eat emotionally.
You recently launched a cooking app. What inspired you to explore that space?
I missed cooking for people after losing my show on Food Network. Valerie’s Place is much more than a cooking app. It’s my home, and I’m inviting you into it. I have three brand-new cooking shows I film in my own kitchen, with my animals walking in and out, all my old episodes of “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” a podcast, and a book group. I also love collecting perfume, so I’m going to be adding unboxing videos and tours of my collection. I’m hoping to build a community where we can all hang out.
What role does food play in how you connect with the people in your life?
It’s always been one of the ways I show love and care for the people in my life. I learned to cook at a very young age, and I’ve just always loved it. It’s a very creative outlet for me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share, or any perspective you’d offer to others as they figure out what works best for them?
I’ve learned it’s always best to try to listen to my body without my brain getting in the way. I do my best not to use food as a way to numb or avoid uncomfortable emotions. I’m not always successful, but I’ve definitely gotten much better at it by trying to be more intentional and more curious.
