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11 Questions With… Mariano Lozano, CEO of The Dannon Company

Editor’s Note: 11 Questions With … is a regular series profiling some of our favorite bloggers, athletes, celebrities and real moms and dads.

The Dannon Company Since his appointment as president and CEO of The Dannon Company, Inc., in January 2014, Mariano Lozano has worked to continue the company’s long-standing tradition to bring great taste and better health through food to as many people as possible. Having worked for Danone (Dannon’s parent company) for more than 15 years, the native Argentine has lived and worked in South Africa, Slovakia, Brazil and his home country Argentina. He currently lives in Connecticut with his wife and children.

  1. If you were stranded on a deserted island, and only one vegetable grew on that island, what vegetable would you want it to be? Carrots, because they are nutritious and it takes a long time to chew so I’d enjoy spending some of the time that way while being healthy.

  2. What is your healthiest habit? One hour of exercise every day and no alcohol…during the week.

  3. What is your go-to nutritious breakfast? Vanilla yogurt and muesli.

  4. What are the 3 items that are always in your fridge/pantry? Yogurt, sparkling water, and several varieties of fruit.

  5. What is your favorite workout? Running outside.

  6. Who is your fitness hero? Ultra-marathoner Gift Kelehe, who is the most recent winner of the Comrades Marathon, which is the greatest ultra-marathon in the world. It takes place in South Africa, where I used to work, and is about 90 km. In addition to extensive training to achieve the right kind of fitness and to optimize diet and nutrition, ultra-marathoners like Gift have to maintain the mental strength and endurance to last a lonely race that takes more than five and a half hours.

  7. How do you take your water – sparkling, flat, over ice? Sparkling, no ice. My favorite sparkling water is Badoit, which has delicate bubbles, almost like Champagne.

  8. What is your guilty pleasure? A bite of cheesecake.

  9. What is your healthy eating philosophy? For me it’s all about balance, balance, balance, with no fanaticism. I have a really varied diet.

  10. What is your go-to nutritious family dinner dish? Sushi.

  11. What is the best health advice you’ve ever received? Daniel Carasso, who started Dannon in the U.S. in 1942 and for whom the company is named, told me when he was in his late ‘90s that the key to his health was eating yogurt every day. He lived to 103. It’s good advice that works for me, too, and I share the same words of wisdom with everyone I meet.

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