This week GamerFitNation’s Alfredo López was at the TenTenWilshire in Los Angeles for the 11th Annual NAVGTR Awards Nomination Ceremony. Nominations were announced by voice actors Tom Sizemore (24: The Game) and Tara Platt (Resident Evil:The Umbrella Chronicles). NAVGTR (National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers) has a large number of categories-everything from Classic Revival, Original Children’s, Song Collection, Game of the Year, and more! They give recognition to not only the games, but the makers of those games as well. To find out more about NAVGTR click here. While I was there, I got the chance to talk to Tara Platt and ask her a few questions about her gaming and health lifestyles. Here’s what she had to say.

GFN: So you seem pretty healthy and fit, what do you do to stay in shape?

Tara Platt: Thank you. I practice yoga, I think yoga is a great thing for both men and women. It works your muscles. It’s really good to just stretch your body out and breathe, and things like that. I’ve also recently started going to the gym. I’m not really a gym person, but I recognize that going to the gym and working out can actually be really good for your body, and I think that’s important. Especially if you are playing games and you’re indoors a lot, and you’re not getting out physically, I think your body will show the wear and tear, so it’s important you exercise your body. I know there are lots of games where you can get up and do physical stuff. But I do think there’s something to be said for just good old fashion exercise. Go for a walk, hike, or swim. Do something cool.

GFN: Part of being healthy is also watching what you eat. Everyone has a favorite snack, what do you like to snack on?

Tara Platt: I love salty, crunchy, sorta chips and stuff. But what I found that really sorta shapes that for me is, right now at Trader Joe’s they’ve got these rice crackers, and they’re like salt and pepper rice crackers. So they’re like really crisp and crunchy and they’ve got a really great flavor to them. But they’re actually pretty good for you ‘cause it’s a rice cracker, it’s not deep fat fried or anything like that.

GFN: What’s your favorite fruit?

Tara Platt: I love pears!

GFN: Pears are awesome! You can either be chewing on one or slice a few up and eat them while gaming. So what’s your favorite health-motion censored-game?

Tara Platt: I really love some of the Wii Fit things. There’s like a marching game where you’re marching and are doing the drum major and stuff like that-even though it’s silly. But I do like that more games are getting physically active. We haven’t set ours up yet, but my husband just got one of those new setups where you’re moving in front of it and it records everything. We literally just bought it, so I haven’t started playing. But I know there’s gonna be cool games on that because it’s gonna receive the information. I’m excited to start playing that, but I haven’t set it up. But I love games like that that. I think it’s a really great use of incorporating the joy of gaming and physically expressing yourself. So I think it’s great.

GFN: You mentioned you do yoga. Do you think there should be more yoga inclined games-out in the market?

Tara Platt: I think it would be great actually. I think as technology evolves, it’s going to be easier to have games where it’s actually helping you do yoga or sports with correct form. But I think right now it’s a little tricky with the technology to be able to identify your body and what your body’s doing in relation to the game so that you’re getting points in the game and doing it correctly. Because there’s a lot to be said for form, and people don’t always know what to do with their body physically, so they can hurt themselves. Everyone’s body is different, until the technology can identify your body to the point where it can tell you what you need to do physically to do the correct poses it would be great, especially as technology advances.

GFN: Everyone’s got that favorite classic game, what’s yours?

Tara Platt: Super Mario Brothers ‘cause of all the coins!

GFN: What games are you looking forward to?

Tara Platt: I’ve really been thrilled with Saints Row the Third, it was really cool. I’m looking forward to the upcoming Resistance and Bioshock.

GFN: Okay there’s something I have to ask you. Since you’re a voice actress, I know you have to take care of your voice. Taking care of the muscles in our throats is important to stay healthy. Do you have any tips for any future voice actors, etc.?

Tara Platt: I recommend doing vocal warm ups, that’s really important to strengthen your vocal chords and just relax the area. I also think that proper hydration is really important, because your voice can get dried out. Smoking or drinking a lot of caffeine can really dry it out. You’ll notice if you go out and go to a club, you’re screaming and yelling and when you get home your voice is hoarse. Staying hydrated helps prevent that, not screaming and yelling. Or if you have to yell, do it in a very supportive way where you use your diaphragm or use your body. There’s other ways other than just screaming, yelling, and hurting yourself. And then-I’m not telling people what they should or shouldn’t do, but-smoking isn’t as good for your vocal chords generally. If you’re an athlete you take care of your body because you’re an athlete, well if you’re an actor or voice-over actor, or anything having to do with your voice, you want to take care of your voice.

GFN: I’ve heard olive oil is pretty good for your voice, do you recommend that?

Tara Platt: People have all sorts of cures and remedies. Olive oil can be good; olive oil’s just good for your body. If you’re looking to specifically support vocal health, pineapple is good for your voice, so is black liquorish, the aniseed is good for your voice and for inflammation. And if you’re worried about being smacky or making funny mouth sounds, green apples are always good for that.

Tara Platt was really cool and had really great advice and tips. Whether it was physical health, vocal health, snacks, she really gave plenty of great tips that lots of gamers could incorporate into their lives. Tara Platt is a great example of a gamer that finds ways to stay healthy in and out of gaming.

The people at NAVGTR are awesome and really look out to give credit to those developing the games we so much enjoy, they also make sure to give the gaming community a voice in choosing the winners for these awards-which is pretty awesome! To check out the full list of nominees and categories click here.