Cooking Lean for Family & Friends with Mario Lopez

It’s tough for working moms to find the time to cook meals that their kids will eat.  Many moms may give in to children’s pleading for fast food or may rely very heavily on processed foods when cooking at home.   Yes, it’s easier to give in and go “the take-out route”, but with childhood obesity rates on the rise and kids getting less exercise than in the past, it’s more important than ever for moms (or dads) to cook healthy meals for their family.  Drawing on principles from his first book, a New York Times bestseller titled Extra Lean, Mario Lopez wrote his new book Extra Lean Family to provide an easy to follow guide for parents to take charge of what their family eats. 

While many long time fans may remember Mario from his acting role as highschool heartthrob A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, his more recent work include his hosting roles on entertainment show, Extra, as well as MTV’s Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew.

VIVE Katerin met with Lopez during his book signing event at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ.  He was gracious enough to interview with VIVE Katerin (see video below) despite the long lines of fans eager for an autographed book and a chance to meet Mario.  He's fit and muscular, and looks like he lives by the advice he doles out in Extra Lean Family.  It’s clear this first time dad – his daughter Gia Francesca was born in September to girlfriend Courtney Mazza – wants to ensure his family stays and healthy and fit as he is.  Extra Lean Family is more than just a recipe book.  While it does provide over 40 recipes for meals that can be prepared in less than 20 minutes, Mario’s book centers around meal planning guides, that make it easier for readers to follow, and stick with, the Extra Lean Family approach.   It also provides ideas for snacking; alternatives that will keep your metabolism rate up and still taste great.  Mario even includes some “extra lean” versions of Mexican recipes that he modified from the high calorie, high fat versions he loved in his childhood.

Pick up a copy at Bookends or a local, independent bookstore near you.