In Conversation With E! News Host Maria Menounos on Fitness, Diet, IVF & Much More..

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

8 years ago

Maria Menounos

Maria Menounos is an American television host, journalist, and occasional professional wrestler of Greek descent, best known as the host of E! News and her Sirius XM radio show, “Conversations with Maria.” Her charming and bright personality gives an instant connect with her audience, who love her and are so fond of her.

An entrepreneur, host, author and advocate Maria Menounos definitely wears many hats. Lets get to know her more closely as she catches up with Namita Nayyar in an exclusive interview with Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

In 1996, you won the title of Miss Massachusetts Teen USA and were the first runner-up at the Miss Massachusetts USA 2000 and since then you have come a long way becoming an actress, professional wrestler, host and co-founder of AfterbuzzTV.com. Walk us through your incredible journey and tell us how it all began?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

It began with my Mom and me fighting with my Dad to be able to pursue any kind of career in the entertainment business. As a traditional Greek father he was dead set against it but Mom was ALWAYS in my corner. She and I took baby steps with Dad, participating in the pageants then attending Emerson to study broadcast journalism. Dad got to the point where he could live with me doing the local news where I would be safe, close to home and using my brain for work. Though my dad sometimes made it tough always saying no!, the positive result was it made me resourceful. That has served me well in life. While at Emerson, I met my fiancé, Keven Undergaro, a filmmaker and TV writer who worked at MTV. I worked on his film and knew he was a visionary. He was also one of the most generous people I’d ever met. We had an instant bond and I had his back from day one.

He was making his first feature film and had just about everything go wrong but I stayed in his corner and he vowed, in turn, to always stay in mine. Kev was the one who preached the need for diversification, prompting me to produce, act and learn anything else I could in addition to broadcast journalism – so I did. Today, everyone in Hollywood wears many hats and has many jobs but back when I met Kev, you were either a serious reporter or entertainment reporter – that’s how boxed in you were. The thought of being both those things was unsettling enough to the old guard. To consider being an actress, filmmaker, author, pro wrestler and entrepreneur, it would have had us locked up. Luckily, Kev saw all of that within me and recognized the need for it business-wise. He was ahead of the curve and still is. Nineteen years later, Kev, Mom, Dad and I are still a great team on this crazy Hollywood ride.

Full Interview on Next Page!

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You are an actress, journalist, television host, author and an occasional professional wrestler. Introduce us to a typical day in your remarkable multi-dimensional life.

Ms. Maria Menounos:

I wake up around 6. In the past I would immediately check my phone and start responding to emails and messages but, through my Mom’s recent bout with cancer (stage 4 glioblastoma- we are confident we will survive!) and through my extensive work with Tony Robbins, I’ve learned how stressful it is to do so. Now I wake up and either do some “priming”, a technique I learned from Tony (a breathing exercise that gives you the most positive burst and outlook for the day) or I do some transcendental meditation or mindful meditation. The latter is a recording I listen to, created by an amazing female therapist, Ida Kendall, that I met through my girlfriend, Emmanuelle Chriqui. Ida has been very helpful to me and other females in easing stress and lending better coping tools to deal with life. By waking up this way, I’m in such a better mindset and mood for the rest of the day. On my best day, which isn’t often enough, I’ll go for a walk with my Mom, Dad or Kev. It’s a great form of exercise and often so rewarding. You get to bond and exchange with a loved one in such an amazing, healthy and relaxed way. BTW! one of my favorite tips in my book “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness” is to take walking meetings! Next time you have a meeting or even need to open up to someone about something bothering you, a walk is the most open least combative way to do so.

I shower/get dressed, review emails and prep to host E! News and my SiriusXM Radio, Stars 109 show, Conversations with Maria Menounos. At 9am I have a morning meeting with E!, where we go over stories of the day. At 10am, I’m live in studio for SiriusXM with my show, “Conversations with Maria Menounos.” The show lasts an hour but it’s such an amazing opportunity to connect directly with other women. We cover everything from health, wellness, beauty, relationships, career and pop culture. Between the guests I have, celebrities, and world experts, and the fans who call in, we always learn something. Sharing information and helping people are such an ongoing passion of mine. SiriusXM and the talk radio format really helps deliver that. As soon as I wrap Conversations, I’m off to E! where I’m shooting until late afternoon. Jason, Catt, and our other hosts and crew, and I have a ton of fun doing it, always making one another laugh. As you can probably tell, I’m very blessed to do the work that I do. When I wrap, I hit my desk to respond to emails and take calls as we have our production company with many shows in development and our digital network AfterBuzz TV. At AfterBuzz we produce ‘after-shows’ for your favorite TV shows because, like most, I’m obsessed with television.

We are amongst the biggest content providers if not THE biggest in the world. But what I love most about AfterBuzz is the opportunities we give new hosts and how we help build and shape their brands and careers. I take that part of AfterBuzz very serious. We hold multiple seminars and classes, do our best to set hosts up for success, AND establish a New Hollywood where women, especially, support one another rather than tearing one another down. Once a week I head over to our AfterBuzz studios. There, I shoot my cinema pre-show, NCM’s First Look, seen daily in 70% of America’s theaters. The shoot lasts less than 15 minutes but it gives me a chance to see and engage Hollywood’s next generation of hosts. After that I head home. I’ll make some more calls in the car either for work or to catch up with family. At home, we try to have dinner out or at home whichever is more convenient. I’d like to be able to work out after, once to three times a week, but it’s not easy. Lately I have been getting one workout a week. I mainly follow the principles I laid out in “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness” being active throughout my day. When I can I like to binge watch TV with Kev, Mom and Dad and the babies – the term we use for our four dogs. Mondays and Thursdays Kev and a crew of millennials dress in Star Trek uniforms to host ‘The Tomorrow Show.’ I’m not on the show but they have many of my celeb friends in as guests so it’s nice to use the show to catch up with them. Plus, Mom and Dad cook all these super healthy high protein soups for the staff that I always indulge in. Once Kev comes to bed, we settle in and watch South Park or whatever is current. The lighter the tone of the show, the better. Watching ‘Waking Dead’ before bed leads to nightmares. I may be old fashioned but once Kev turns off the TV, I approach the fireplace mantle in my room. There I have my religious icons and such from childhood. I stand in front of it, fold my hands and pray for those in my life who need it from fans to friends to family including my mom. I fall asleep to Ida’s meditation recording.

My days change often as there are events and dinners but that’s a pretty solid account. I try my best to use weekends to catch up on errands, quality time with family and sleep!

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

I’ve tried everything from boxing to weights but recently, I’ve been thinking about learning Pilates. It would be less impact on my joints and increase my strength and core. In the meantime, a good walk with a loved one or friend is amazing. When I wrote The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness, I learned that the cultures that lived the longest all had something in common – they walked a lot! I’ll do a few minutes on the treadmill, too, and I love Soul Cycle. It’s just hard for me to find time for the latter but I love it.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Also, tell us about your Top 5 Favorite Recipes.

Ms. Maria Menounos:

My diet always changes. Currently, I’m leaning toward a paleo diet of mostly greens, fish and red meat but I still splurge. As I said in The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness and The EveryGirl’s Guide to Cooking, I hold to an 80-20 plan. 80% of all the foods I intake are healthy with 20% less so. And I try eating things pulled from the ground. I am by no means strict with my diet. I love nachos and potato skins and the rest. I just try to limit portions and to move as much as possible in my day. Whenever I can opt for stairs instead of elevators I do. And when I walk around the office I do it at a brisk pace. It all helps.

Here are some of my favorite recipes are from my cookbook – they’re simple and super yummy (and I even include some food options for dogs)!

Breakfast: Cinnamon Swirl Oatmeal:

*for this recipe, you can use either old-fashioned or quick oats; there is no nutritional difference. However, because quick oats have been pressed to make them thinner (and thus more quickly cooked), they usually cook up into a mushier texture. As for the cream cheese “frosting”? That’s just for fun! This breakfast is delicious with or without it!

½ cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats

¼ cup raisins

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon chopped almonds or walnuts

1 tablespoon whipped cream cheese, at room temperature

2 teaspoons milk (any kind)

Cook the oats according to the package directions. Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the raisins. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and the almonds.
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and the milk to reach a glaze consistency. Spoon over the hot oatmeal.

Lunch: Three-Bean Power Salad:

*Bring this colorful salad to your next picnic or potluck – it’s the perfect make-ahead dish and it tastes even better the next day. For heartier appetites, fold in a cup or two of cooked shredded chicken.

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup white wine or apple-cider vinegar

2 teaspoons Italian spice mixture or chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salt and black pepper

1 can (10 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 can (10 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (8 ounces) low-sodium green beans, drained and rinsed

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

½ red pepper, cut into small dice

½ cup chopped fresh parsley or dill

In a large serving bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, spice mixture, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste until blended.
Fold in the chickpeas, kidney beans, green beans, scallions, celery, red peppers, and parsley.
Refrigerate for at least 6 hours before serving.

Dinner: Crustless Chicken Pot Pie

1 ¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 cup frozen peas

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 onion, thinly sliced

3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 cup nonfat milk

Salt and black pepper

1/3 cup bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lay the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan; cover with water by at least 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked through. (Reserve 1 ½ cups of the poaching liquid; discard the rest.)
Dice the chicken. In a 2-quart casserole, combine the diced chicken and peas.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook the onion and carrots for 10 minutes, stirring. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until a paste is formed.
Very slowly pour in the milk and the warm poaching liquid, stirring the whole time, until a thick sauce forms. (This can take as long as 10 minutes)
Fold the sauce into the chicken mixture in the casserole. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pan with foil; bake for 15 minutes.
Uncover, sprinkle with the bread crumbs, and bake for 15 minutes, or until hot.

Dessert: Best Banana Bread:

*You might think of banana bread as a breakfast treat, but it also hits the spot at the end of the evening meal, so don’t toss those black-peel bananas! Turn them into the moistest banana bread you will ever meet. The riper the bananas, the better the flavor.

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for the pan

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pan

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and lightly flour a 9-inch loaf pan.
In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt until combined.
In a large bowl (using an electric mixer, if desired), beat the butter and sugar until combined. Beat in the eggs and vanilla, then the mashed bananas, leaving some chunky banana pieces.
Fold in the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the walnuts.
Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the bread in the pan; carefully remove from the pan. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Doggy treat: Canine Mini Patties:

1 pound salmon

2 large organic sweet potatoes

1 large egg

½ cup rolled oats

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Boil the salmon in 2 cups water. When the fillets are cooked through, drain and let them cool. Once they’re cool enough to touch, shred each one with a fork.
Bake the sweet potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Mash the sweet potatoes together with the shredded salmon.
Beat the egg and add to the sweet potato and salmon mixture. Add the rolled oats to the mixture, and stir well.
Finally, make 1-inch patties (they can be a little larger, depending on you pup’s size and appetite!) with the salmon mixture and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven (you can break one patty open to make sure it’s cooked all the way through) and let cool before serving to your pup.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have had a tough and tiring journey with IVF, would you like to share any tips with our readers who maybe opting for this fertility procedure?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

I wish I could share success in this regard. As of yet, I have not. I have frozen embryos though and I would advise to any woman out there to do the same. If you have a partner and are not ready to have a baby, create and freeze your embryos. If you have no partner, then freeze your eggs. The younger you do it, the better the chances you’ll have of retrieval and inception. On the psychological front, I think my schedule and stress level has prevented a baby from coming into our lives. Again, I’m working on that part. We are always a work in progress and I’m certainly no different.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

In 2015, you became the co-anchor of E! News and in the same year, it was announced that you would host a daily, one-hour radio show on SiriusXM called “Conversations with Maria Menounos.” How has your experience been being a television and radio host?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

I love both! Radio has made me a better TV host and interviewer! Radio allows you to open up and connect with people in such an intimate manner.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You are the author of the 2xNYT Best Sellers EveryGirl books—the Guide to Life and the Guide to Diet and Fitness and now the third one is out “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Cooking”. Tell us more about this fantastic new book of yours?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

It’s a great book for the girl on the go who wants to take control of her diet and life by cooking for herself without compromising time, healthiness or quality. My Mom is a professional cook, my grandfather was a chef on Greece so cooking is in the genes. My Mom had as little time as I do yet found a way to make the healthiest meals. We share them all in the book.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Also, we would like to know about your food line, Maria’s Greek Delights?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

Greek food may be the most underrated of all. Italian and Chinese foods are so popular and easily accessible, Greek food, well, not so much. Yet our dishes are craved by as many people AND, as part of the Mediterranean diet, we are the healthiest. With Maria’s Greek Delights, many of the most intricate and difficult to prepare recipes are available to all – from freezer to your table. They look and taste sensational and add something spectacular to any event, party or meal.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

With an audience of over 817k followers on your Instagram account @mariamenounos you’re a social media sensation and an internet leading star. How does it feel that you are able to influence the healthy lifestyle of so many individuals?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

I’m blessed to be in my position. My only regret is that I don’t have more time in my day to use it to help more women, older and younger. In time, I’m hoping to do more of just that. I’d love it so that all I am doing through my work is sharing valuable information so we may a better world than our mothers and a better one for our daughters. Again, a work in progress.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Maria Menounos:

Take health one day at a time and apply a marathon long term approach. Walk and move a little more and eat a little better every day. Try eating 10% less each meal for example as I did to lose my 40 pounds. And do your best to help the girl next to you. She needs it at much as you do.

To know the latest from Maria Menounos, Follow her on

Or check out her website: http://mariamenounos.com/

Women Fitness Team thanks Maria Menounos for giving her valuable time for this interview, enlightening us and our viewers and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her.

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