Laura Trice, M.D. is a graduate of Smith College and the UVM College of Medicine. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of Los Angeles and has been a TED Conference 3-minute speaker twice and an attendee for three years.
She is the founder and CEO of Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food and author of the best-seller, “The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook.” Endorsements for her book included Dean Ornish, M.D., Daphne Oz, Christiane Northrup, M.D and Kim Barnouin. It is in its second printing.
Her health and lifestyle tips appear in Health Magazine, Shape magazine, and many other national publications. Start-up Nation chose Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food as the nations Yummiest company and she was nominated for Business Woman of the Year. She has been featured on Martha Stewart radio and in the Harvard Business Review and is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post. She is an attendee of the Aspen Health Forum and Ideas Festival.
What are you working on right now?
I’m continually looking for ways to expose and teach individuals how to bring the fun and pleasure back into eating in a guilt-free and natural way. I have come up with a secret healthy but decadent traditional coffee treat that can double as breakfast that I’d like to launch in the next few months.
I’m teaching women and girls how to communicate clearly about their needs and how to take care of themselves in the world. A woman can choose all the right foods, but if she makes unhealthy decisions with her romantic relationships, that can overshadow all the goodness she is looking to create. For this, I am affiliated with The Want Institute and am a clinical coach.
3 Trends that excite you?
1. I’m excited about the empowerment of the individual through the Internet. Globally, even though there is misinformation on the Internet, there is a new level of transparency that companies, individuals and governments are held to since one does not need access to a television studio to communicate information. I love learning online, whether it is about buckwheat flour, a top news story or watching a new YouTube video.
2. I’m excited about the trend of people taking charge and being accountable for eating healthy food, minimizing unhealthy foods and exercising. I like this because I enjoy writing about it and living it. I get frustrated that so many illnesses are preventable with different food and lifestyle changes, so that one day health care is just a back-up system for the rare times people are not healthy is very exciting to me. I also like that my cookies and cookbook play a part in empowering people.
3. I’m excited about our country looking to be more fiscally responsible. I enjoy running a business and a household, and they both have very clear budgets. Our country needs to take care of its finances in the same way.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Well, I don’t really think an idea counts that much unless something is done with it. So, I either write an article for The Huffington Post, give a talk about it, create a product that fulfills it or write a book about it. It is not easy to bring an idea to life and always takes time and follow-through. Most of the time, the passion driving the project makes it feel like play. To get things done, I will shut off my phone and devote my attention to projects when it feels right and just go with it.
What is one mistake you’ve made that our readers can learn from?
Just one? Let’s see. Even though paper can pile up, create a system for putting important documents in a safe place. Sometimes not having them can be costly. Never believe someone who tells you that you can’t do it without them. Odds are they need you more than you need them. But to choose one? I had different situations both personal and business where something felt “funny” or “off,” and I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong, so I didn’t trust my gut. I ended up really regretting it and paying a high price for ignoring it. My reasons for ignoring my instincts were wanting to avoid the discomfort of a conflict and hoping the issue would just go away. It didn’t, and I had to take a stand every time, and the longer I had allowed the situation to exist, the harder it was to resolve. This has led me to trust my instincts inherently, even when it will be uncomfortable or unpopular.
What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?
I love, love, love “The Game of Life and How to Play It.” It was written by Florence Scovell Schinn in 1925, and it has such a great approach and attitude about life.
I also love my iPhone because I can keep lists of my ideas and goals while on the go. I adore my Shure quiet spot headset as people can hear me clearly no matter where I am.
What is one idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I’d like to see a natural electrolyte product, like Emergen-C, but without the fructose and maltodextrin. To my knowledge, there is not a sports drink or electrolyte packet that both tastes good and has natural, wholesome sweeteners.
What is your next book about?
Well, I have two books that I have in mind. One will be on self-care for women during a crisis. The next is a dating how-to book.
What reason are you so excited about communication?
I believe it is how we can all be our best and eventually create a peaceful earth with wise uses of resources and grace for all.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.