Like sands through the hourglass, so is my love for Sami Brady (couldn’t resist, sorry). Days of Our Lives pretty much came to define my childhood and early adolescence, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the ruthless, conniving and beautiful Sami (played by Alison Sweeney) was my absolutely favourite.

Sadly for us Days fans, Alison is no longer on the show, but that hasn’t slowed her down any! Over the last few years alone, she’s directed, produced and starred in several films and taken on a hosting gig on The Biggest Loser (what a #BossBabe).

Alison was recently in Vancouver, on behalf of A&H Dental Truly Radiant, which is when I got the chance to steal her away for a 15 minute chat.

What aisle do you spend the most time in at the grocery store?

Fruits and veggies.

What’s your favourite healthy meal right now?

Raw Brussels sprouts and kale salad with lemon and shallots, it’s really delicious.

What guilty pleasure food or snack can you never get enough of?

Popcorn. Even though I need to brush my teeth afterwards, every single time.

You’ve managed to get your kids and husband out of the house. What’s the first thing you do?

That almost never happens! But last time it happened I binge-watched Outlander. I also love to cook and to read.

What’s your favourite beauty hack?

I like to brush my teeth with Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant toothpaste and to use the spin brush. Did you know that the first thing people notice about somebody is their smile? Having clean, strong teeth gives you that confidence when you start your day; you know that you’re taking care of yourself and you’re putting your best foot forward.

You only have 15 minutes, what kind of workout do you squeeze into your day?

Stretches, yoga and some sort of toning. I like to do ab workouts that are really quick.

What’s your favourite part of Canada?

Whistler and Vancouver BC. Everywhere I’ve been has been so pretty.

What word(s) should we all use more? 

I like upbeat words like “happy” and “positive.”

What word(s) should we all use less?

Negatives like “I can’t,” “I don’t” and “I won’t.”

What are you loving about life right now?

Gosh, I don’t know where to begin! I’m loving my career and my family, my family time.

What’s the best part about not having a 6am call time everyday?

Getting to take my kids to school ever morning. I love it.

How do you pump yourself up when you’re feeling down or unmotivated?

I like to do one little thing, one little gesture towards health like eating an apple, going for a walk, or taking a nap.

Do you watch yourself on TV?

Yes, I do (lots of laughter). But for educational purposes!

When interviewers ask you about playing Sami Brady, how does that make you feel?

Nostalgic.

What’s the most exciting thing to happen to you this year?

I got to executive produce my own movie for the Hallmark Channel. It was such a proud moment for me to get to that place. I’ve been a part of this project for two years and it was very rewarding to see it through to the finish line.

What did you learn from your time on the Biggest Loser?

So many valuable lessons about nutrition and health! Health is a lifetime journey, it’s not a sprint. And, it encompasses every decision, from going for a walk to choosing to play with your kids, instead of watching TV.