SM: Why is it so hard to change people’s diets?
Lala: My mom used to show us how much she loved us by cooking a great meal. So the best moments of my life happened around the table. [Most people] associate eating with this wonderful love and passion for the family. We don’t want to be on a diet. We don’t want a bland, awful meal. [Healthy Latin food] does seem like it is a contradiction in terms. But even in my book, I didn’t change any recipes. All I did was take what my mom was already making, did a nutritional analysis and showed that it could be healthy.

SM: So how has this involvement impacted your personal life?
Lala: Oh, my God, when you see someone’s eyes change because they learn something new, that’s just so, so powerful! I just did a [program] for Step Up Women’s Network, where I was able to teach [girls from the YMCA of East Los Angeles] about nutritional self-respect for their bodies. At the very end, they were asked what they liked the best about the whole workshop and I think 90% said that they “loved meeting Lala.”