When we heard the co-owner of one of our favorite pizza joints around town was a health nut, we were intrigued: pizza and health? Seems a bit of an oxymoron. So we tracked down John Puckett, co-owner of Punch Neapolitan Pizza, and promised we would fill our Punch “punch” card (not a hard thing to do!) if he would be willing to tell us his secret. Read why Puckett, who started Caribou Coffee, left the caffeine biz in lieu of a little 'za and how he maintains his health while eating six to seven pizzas a week.
Q: When did you first get involved in being active and why?
I have been active all my life. I love sports, and once I got out of the competitive sports after graduation, I fell in love with triathlons and running. I have had a lifelong love of running; it is something my wife and I enjoy doing for our decompression time. We run three or four days a week together, and it gives us a good chance to catch up while exercising. Our dogs love it, too. I also picked up yoga about three years ago because after all the running, I found it hard to tie my shoes in the morning. I am more flexible and stronger than I was in high school. My wife, kids, and I also compete in horse jumping, which keeps our competition juices flowing.
Q: Which of your workouts do you enjoy the most?
Horse jumping is the most fun because you are working with an animal, so you have to figure out both yourself and another high-octane animal every day. It is challenging and a surprisingly good workout. However, over the last five years, I have spent more time in emergency room than when I was a little kid. I’ve had a concussion, broken bones, torn ligaments, and I’m still doing it. That’s where yoga comes in handy—it prevents you from getting injured worse than you do.
Q: You mentioned that you ran marathons and competed in triathlons. What was your favorite race?
The Boston Marathon. I competed in that three times. I almost cracked three hours, but I never got to it. The closest was three hours, two minutes. It is so hard to come that close and never got there. It would be fun to try to beat that some day.
Q: I know you are co-owner of Punch Neapolitan Pizza. How does pizza fit into a healthy diet?
I eat so many pizzas a week. We spent a lot of time in Southern Italy. I eat the Mediterranean diet of red wine, five to seven pizzas a week, salad, a lot of olive oil, cheese and meat at night. But I think there is something when you go to Italy, not a lot of people there are overweight. You don’t have super-sized fries. So much of diet is avoiding processed food.
Q: So, eating food that has wholesome ingredients is key?
That is the thing that attracted me to Punch, which my partner [John Soranno] started. You will not see a Sysco truck drive up out back. We use local vendors and prepare everything ourselves. When we were growing Caribou Coffee [which Puckett started], our [my wife and my] favorite restaurant was Punch; we had date night there. After being co-owner of Punch for eight years and eating a ton of healthy pizza, I think I am in better shape now than I was prior to being in this business. I think carbohydrates have a place if you are an active.
Q: What advice would you give for those looking to get active and healthy?
I think some of my friends who have struggled with exercise were too Type A. They used a wristwatch and watch their “zones.” I do it because it is fun. If I don’t feel like running the whole time, I don’t. Find something you enjoy, and don’t be so Type A about it. I think the reason I exercise is that I like the feeling. Find something you love doing.
Q: In terms of local notables who are also healthy, whom do you admire?
David Gigerich, a local entrepreneur, just picked up boxing. He is either doing that or a 100-mile cane race, and he even did SEAL training—for fun.
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