Health Scan Lifestyle Q&A

Nicola McEvoy, secondary school teacher, 2012 Rose of Tralee

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I don’t think I’m one of those super-healthy people, but in general I would lead a good lifestyle. I watch what I eat and I limit treats to weekends.

How often do you exercise?

I try to swim at least twice a week and when the GAA in Luxembourg [where I live] is in season, I train at football and camogie twice a week. I have a treadmill here in my apartment. It’s an old cheap thing but in the winter it can get very cold and snowy here so it’s hard to get out. Exercise is really popular here. The gyms are expensive so I try to keep away from them.

Do you get your five a day?

I try my best. There’s a staff canteen at school and at lunch – I try to limit the carbohydrates and try to eat as many vegetables as possible. I like fruit as well, there are a lot of peaches here at the moment and I love grapes and bananas for snacks.

Do you worry?

In pressurised situations I do, but then I realise after, it wasn’t worth the worry. Everything has its own way of working itself out I think. If I do worry, I turn to my boyfriend Eamon or my parents and they kind of give me a new perspective on it. Everything works itself out in the end I think.

What do you do to relax?

When the term finishes, I love going home and relaxing and being with my family. One of my favourite things is going out for a meal with friends and having a bit of a laugh and relaxing. Also swimming lets you be alone with your own thoughts for a while.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

When you live in Luxembourg, you can’t get a real Irish chipper. When you can’t get it you just crave a few chips – like a battered sausage supper with a carton of curry. That’s the first thing on my list when I go home. Lennox’s chipper in Cork is one of the best.

In conversation with JOANNE HUNT