Celebs Talk Health, Shoes & Edamame At FoodBank4NYC's 9th Annual Can-Do Awards

by Ailsa Forlenza · April 8, 2011

Celebrities and philanthropists came out last night for the FoodBank4NYC's ninth annual Can-Do awards dinner. Below we talk to Mario Batali, Jon Bon Jovi, Sarah McLachlan and more about health, fitness, and their favorite places to eat in NY!

Al Roker served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and Mario Batali and wife Susan Cahn served as Co-Chairs. The Honorary Dinner Chair was Michael Stipe and Honorary Benefit Committee Chair was Jimmy Fallon. Jon Stewart served as the evening's special guest, while Sarah McLachlan gave a special performance.

Stars such as Mario Batali, Jon Bon Jovi, Anthony Bourdain, Rachael Ray, Joy Bauer, Dominic Fumusa, Isaac Mizrahi, and Bridget Moynahan arrived on the "orange" carpet to provide their insight and opinion about poverty, hunger, health, and their careers.

Mario Batali, sporting a pair of orange Crocs and a large smile, gave us info on his sartorial style and edible insight:

What does it mean to you to be a part of an organization like Foodbank4NYC?

I consider it a luxury and a responsibility at the same time. Raising awareness to hunger is really the more important issue than hunger itself. It's people not knowing that there is hunger and that one in five New York City children go to bed hungry on a regular basis... it's preposterous, especially in a time when the country's rich as possible and I know we're making enough food, we're just not doing the right thing with it. It's a question of distribution, which seems a lot easier to solve than the philosophical question of who should and who shouldn't receive it.

How many pairs of Crocs do you own?

You know, I don't count them. There's a big pile where the coats are hanging up, so probably thirty or forty. They're like twenty dollar pairs of shoes- nothing like Jimmy Choos.

What are some things you can't live without?

Can't live without my kids, can't live without New York City traffic, golf, and duck eggs.

Alternative Easter dinner?

Tortellini and brodo. That's the national Italian dish for Easter. If you don't want ham, you should have lamb! But if you don't want meat, have tortellini.

Jon Bon Jovi attends FoodBank4NYC every year, and told reporters why this means so much to him:

I don't need a scientist to find a cure, to bring us a pill. This is something money and attention can fix. When people are choosing between paying the electric bill and putting meat on the table to feed there kids, that's pretty much a no-brainer. We have to find a way to help our brothers and sisters out, coast to coast, big city small town.

Sarah McLachlan looked beautiful in a fitted tuxedo blazer and gave us some health tips:

What healthy eating tips do you follow?

I eat a ton of raw vegetables. I love raw veggies with ranch dressing or whatever. I have them cut up the night before, and whenever I get hungry, I'll eat a piece of broccoli instead of the chips.

What types of exercise work best for you?

I like trail riding, I do a lot of yoga as well, but the yoga I do is more restorative and mellow. Yeah, as far as rigorous exercise, trail riding.

Joy Bauer, the nutrition and health editor for TODAY and the author of several books

So, it's spring: What are some upcoming diets or food that are trending?

Foods that are trending... Definitely, Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is huge right now, kale is very hot right now, edamame is very hot, fish is always hot.

What are some of your favorite healthy places to go in the city?

To be honest with you, every place I go there are things you can get that are super healthy like Fred's and Barney's Chicken Caesar salad with dressing on the side. I love Candle Cafe and I love all the fish places like Atlantic Grill.

[Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Sarah McLachlan]