In this interview, Reena Vokoun, founder and CEO of PassionFit, sits down with her mother to explore the Eastern (primarily Indian) health and wellness traditions that shaped Reena’s own philosophy and the practices she shares with her clients. The conversation covers the mother’s lifelong commitment to daily exercise, the importance of starting the day with movement, and the role of walking, yoga, and strength training for longevity. It delves into cooking philosophies, emphasizing whole‑grain staples, a variety of vegetables, balanced protein sources, and the extensive use of traditional Indian spices (turmeric, ginger, garlic, cumin, mustard seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf) for flavor and health benefits. The mother describes typical meals—brown rice or chapati, vegetable dishes, salads with lemon or vinegar dressings, and occasional non‑vegetarian options—highlighting moderation and the avoidance of overly fried or heavily spiced foods. Snack and beverage routines are shared, including warm lemon‑water with honey and cloves, mixed nuts, fruit‑based smoothies with Greek yogurt or almond milk, and occasional dark chocolate. The duo discusses dietary philosophy: no restrictive “diets,” just moderation, inclusion of all food groups, and preparation with wholesome ingredients. They also touch on natural health approaches, noting the use of homeopathic and Ayurvedic remedies (e.g., lemon‑honey‑clove tea for cough) alongside conventional medicine when needed, and the growing popularity of Ayurveda and yoga. Throughout, the mother’s teachings are framed as timeless, balanced, and adaptable, with Reena emphasizing how these principles inform her work at PassionFit and encouraging viewers to adopt sustainable, moderate, and culturally‑rich health habits.
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Hi guys, I'm Reena Vokoun, the founder and CEO of PassionFit, and I'm so excited to be interviewing my mom today where she is going to be sharing her tips and tricks on health and wellness from an Eastern perspective. All right, Mom, so tell me, how did you first become interested in health and wellness? Because you've been a huge influence on me in my life. And a lot of my interest from health and wellness come from you.
I was always very conscious about health, and my mom— credit goes to my mom because she taught me that, you know, exercise is very important in life, and you should start your day with doing some exercise. And that's what I have been doing all my life. And then food, you know, that's very important. Healthy food, you should always eat healthy food. So that always stayed in my mind. And I was following my mom's ideas. And then when I got married and when I had all four of you, then I became more conscious that I have to give them balanced diet and teach them to do exercise every day. And that's what all of you are doing it, especially you, you followed. You know, a lot. Thanks, Mom. What I taught you, and I'm very proud of you that you're doing it. And today you put me in front of camera.
Well, yeah, because I want to showcase your, you know, teachings, because so much of what I learned and so much of what I value has come from how you raised us. And you drove us all to sports our entire, you know, childhood and teenage years. And now I'm doing that, obviously, for our kids. But I think it really stems from your teachings and Nani, my grandmother's teachings.
Yeah.
So what are your favorite philosophies, Mom, when it comes to cooking? You are the chef of our entire extended family. All the kids and grandkids love your cooking, especially your Indian cooking. So maybe share some of your tips and your secrets.
I just don't want very fried food because I don't eat, so I don't like to make it. Yeah. Everything I want it to be tasty but not very spicy. But I put lot of spices. And like when I make chicken, then we use like main thing is onion, garlic, ginger, which is very good. And then coriander powder and turmeric powder and little chili. And these are very healthy spices. Turmeric is antiseptic.
Yes.
And we have been using it for ages. You know, I grew up with it. My grandmother, mother, grandmother, they all grew up with all these spices. So it's very old, ancient spices. And then the cardamom, cumin, mustard seeds, they're all very healthy. And cinnamon Bay leaf. And we have been using it for vegetables and non-vegetarian, like chicken curry or fish curry. We always use those things. And then we season like lentil soup with cumin and mustard seeds. So it makes it more tasty.
Yeah. And all of these spices, I remember when we were growing up, they weren't available in regular grocery stores. You always had to go to a special—
Indian store.
Store, and now it's becoming much more mainstream.
Yeah, yeah, that's true. When we came, I think it was '70— 1971— and at that time it's— it was very hard to get any Indian spices or Indian— even not too many restaurants were there.
That's right.
At that time.
That's right. Yeah, now there's a plethora of Indian restaurants.
Yeah, it's getting very popular. People like Indian food because they realize it— it's very healthy. Yeah, because it's a balanced you know, diet, right?
So yeah, all the meals you've made, it's a combination, right, of whole grains and, you know, vegetables, healthy proteins, whether you're vegetarian or you eat meat.
Yes, usually, you know, if it's a lunch or dinner, we have like brown rice, whole grain wheat— I mean, wheat tortilla, we call it chapati. Yeah. And then vegetables like eggplants and spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini. A lot of, you know, you make it in different ways and you season with different seasoning and tastes very good. And then non-veg, we always cook, we discussed about it, right? And then some salad. It's always, you know, in Indian food, every day we eat salad and that becomes like, you know, a good habit. And the salad is with like cucumber, tomato.
You can add carrots.
Carrots and whatever you want to. The healthy way is like, you know, we either do vinegar or lemon juice.
Right. Instead of high calorie fatty dressings.
Yeah, it's very healthy. And especially in India, The weather is hot most of the time, so cool salad feels good. Right, right.
It's very soothing on a hot day.
So yeah, that's how I grew up and that's how I started, you know, teaching you guys and you guys developed taste for Indian food. Even the grandchildren, they like it. Yeah, I'm happy about that.
Yeah, it's a very rich cuisine and I'm really glad that now it's more available all throughout the world. More and more people get to enjoy what we enjoy.
Now it's very popular. Yeah. When we go to Indian restaurant, Indian people we see less. Yeah. Other people.
People from all over the world.
Yeah.
Yeah, we're very lucky in that way. Yeah. And so what other, in addition to, you know, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the main meals, what other types of healthy snacks do you like to make or drinks or juices? 'Cause I know you have a lot of them. You've taught me a lot of them.
Yeah.
And so maybe share that with everybody.
Sure. Usually in the morning, This is my habit that I drink lemon water, warm water with lemon in it and some 2, 3 cloves I put.
It's good for your, like, cough or any kind of cold and upper respiratory issues.
And then some honey in it. So that's how I start my day. And I think you are doing the same thing.
Yeah, it's been hugely helpful, as you know, for allergies and asthma, which I get a few months out of the year. I know you get as well. And it's very healthy and soothing for that.
So, and then nuts, we like it. And you don't need to eat too much. You know, maybe—
Like a handful.
Handful of mixed nuts. That includes cashews, almond, pecan, walnut. And they're all very good protein and good for your brain. So that's how I start my day.
Yeah.
And then in the afternoon you can make smoothie. I like smoothie and I make usually with fruits like banana, apple, berries, and then I mix some carrots or spinach, something so it tastes good.
Uh-huh.
And some Greek yogurt in it. Yeah.
So you know, protein and calcium.
Yeah. So it's very healthy. If you want— you don't want to eat lunch, then this is very healthy and, you know, it's filling.
Yeah, yeah. I love to make smoothies as well for breakfast or even brunch.
Yeah.
And I like a lot of the same fruits that you put in yours. I like to add almond milk to mine and berries, bananas, maybe a little bit of dark chocolate.
Yeah, as well. You love chocolate.
I do love chocolate. Yeah. So yeah, so I, I like your recipes and I've kind of created some of my own as well. But you're right, it's a really great way to get your fruits and vegetables.
Everything in it.
Calcium, everything in one.
Children, it's very good. They like it, and this way they get to eat some vegetables and some fruits.
Yeah, it's a way to kind of sneak it in.
Yeah.
That's great, Mom. And then what are your views on diets? Because I know growing up you always taught us to have a very healthy body image and never told us that we had to look a certain way or diet or restrict ourselves. And I appreciate that. I know all of us kids have appreciated it.. And I think that's also something to share with this next generation where body image is on social media so much. And I think some of the old tried and true principles are really applicable here. Yeah.
Yeah. I never believed in going on diet. I always believed in eating everything in moderation. And that's what I did. That's what I taught you guys. Yeah. That you should not restrict yourself from any food. You know, food is not bad. The way you eat, that's the bad part. You know, if you overdo with any kind of food, it's bad for you. But if you are eating in moderation, then things are good, right?
And if you're preparing it with healthy ingredients, it can still be tasty even if it's healthy, right? That's important.
Yeah, that's what I've been doing all these years, and look, I'm fine.
That's right. Yeah, you are a great role model. You've been healthy. And, you know, it's— I think it's important for people to know to not cut food groups out as well, because we need all the fruits, the vegetables, right?
Yeah.
Proteins, healthy fats, healthy carbohydrates.
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's so—
yeah, it's very helpful. And I practice it. That's what I recommend to my clients. And I think with my training in nutrition— I've been certified in nutrition over the last several years— and it's been interesting to see how a lot of those philosophies are what you've taught me. So, you know, the Indian style of eating, the Mediterranean style of eating is, you know, very well known, like at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School promotes that as well.
Yeah, now all these Ayurvedic medicine and all these are getting so popular, yoga, and these are ancient, you know, things which in our old ages, rishi, munis are doing. Yeah, you know, eating fruits. They used to live on fruits, right? Do yoga and live on fruits.
Yeah, so, you know, it's been around for centuries.
Centuries.
Yeah, which is a really good segue into what your views are on medicine, because growing up, obviously, if the doctor recommended medicines, if we were sick, we would take them, but we also always had homeopathic medicines and more natural remedies as well to balance that out, and that has really stuck with me throughout my life.
Yeah, because, you know, when I was growing up, we never had antibiotics unless you have to—
needed it. Yeah.
So, you know, we used to take homeopathic medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, or natural, like, you know, if you have cough, just drink, you know, lemon water with honey and clove. That will soothe your, you know, throat and all that. So these kind of medicines very popular in India.
Yeah.
And that's how I grew up. And when I came here, and then, you know, I taught you guys the same thing.
Yeah.
You know, as long as you can do without it, then you can—
fewer side effects. Yeah.
Because, you know, no matter what, antibiotics and all that, they have side effects. And these are natural stuff, the Ayurvedic or homeopathic They are, you know, made with natural stuff. So there are not too much side effect.
Right.
Yeah.
And at the end of the day though, if your doctor recommends certain medicines, you have to take them.
Yeah, I'm not against it.
Right.
But, you know, I want to take it, I have to do it.
Right. If you can use the natural options.
Small things like sneezing, coughing, fever, you know, you can do with all these natural remedies.
All the calmer, more natural stuff.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I know that's a balanced philosophy for sure. And everyone has to do what's right for them.
Yes.
Yeah. And then finally, Mom, what is your philosophy on exercise and having a daily exercise regimen?
Yeah, I have been doing all my life. I start my morning with doing some exercise, like 45 minutes, and then I do my other rituals like drinking lemon water and have some nuts and then coffee. So exercise is very important, and especially now in our age, very important doing some yoga, some breathing exercise which, you know, helps your lungs and heart and everything. And there are some yogas you, you do, and that's lower your blood sugar, blood pressure. So it's very, very helpful, right?
It's good for your mental and your physical health, both managing stress.
Yeah, meditation is very important for your mental health. So these things I do myself, and I always encouraged you guys, and I'm happy that you are doing, you know, a lot of exercises. But all other kids are also doing it, so I'm happy about that. Even grandkids are in it.
Yeah, into sports, staying active.
Doing active, yeah.
Yeah, and walking is probably one of the most tried and true ways to get cardiovascular activity.
Especially our age, it's very important. And that's what we are doing.
Yeah, you and Papa are good about walking every day.
Yes.
Yeah, I think that's a great philosophy. And it's, again, it goes back to moderation.
You feel good.
Right.
When you do 45 minutes of exercise, starts the day like that. Yeah. Then you know that your day will be good.
Right. Yeah. You're starting it off on the right track.
Right track.
And you're being consistent, right?
It doesn't have to be extreme. Yeah, that's the important part. I never go extreme on anything.
Some people might, and that's okay too. But if you want the consistency, that's what's important.
Yes.
Is to pick something that you can do and that's sustainable. Right. In your case, like walking and yoga.
Yes.
I know I've bought light hand weights for you and Papa to have you do some strength training for bone density building. Which is also important, especially as you get older.
Yeah, and my doctor is very impressed with me. She says, wow, you're very flexible. I said, yeah, because I do exercise every day. Yeah, she said, that's good, keep doing it.
Right, exactly. And the yoga helps with that a lot. Yeah, well, Mom, I'm proud of you. I'm so proud to be your daughter, and I really wanted to share and showcase all of your knowledge because, again, it's, it's had such a big impact on me, on the work I do with PassionFit, and I really just wanted to share you with the world so they can hear.
Thanks for that. But I'm proud of you, what you're doing.
Thank you.
So yeah, I'm very proud of you. I love you.
Thank you, Mom. I love you.
I love you too.
Thank you all so much for tuning in, and I hope you enjoyed this interview with my mom and hope you guys learned a lot. Feel free to share, comment, like, and subscribe to the PassionFit YouTube channel. Tell your family and friends, and we will be back with more health and wellness videos very soon. Thanks, guys!
