Former Gov. Tim Kaine, with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and state Sen. John Edwards during a recent visit to the Roanoke Weiner Stand. Despite the evidence here, Kaine said he's eating healthier since having a physical last year.

More breakfast, less Dr. Pepper.

That’s part of the recipe for healthier living that former Gov. Tim Kaine says he’s followed since undergoing a thorough physical exam last year.

Kaine and the man he hopes to join in the U.S. Senate, fellow Democrat Mark Warner, made a campaign stop today at Health Diagnostics Laboratory in Richmond. The fast-growing company conducts tests for risk factors associated with cardiovascular and related diseases, and provides patients with a personalized overview of those risk factors.

During a town hall-style meeting with employees today, Kaine said he had his own lab work sent to HDL after having a physical exam last year. In prior check-ups, Kaine said, he had “never found the information that I was given to be, frankly, that helpful.”

“And certainly I could blame myself, because I didn’t alter my behaviors as a result,” he said.

But after getting the information back from HDL, he said, “not only do I suddenly now understand a lot more, but I actually changed some behaviors as a result.”

The testimonial got Kaine a round of applause.

So what behaviors did he change? Kaine elaborated after the meeting.

Kaine said found he was consuming too much high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener commonly used in processed foods and beverages. So, among other things, he’s cut way back on one of his favorite beverages, Dr. Pepper. He’s gone from drinking one a day to one per week, he said.

He also makes time for breakfast, a meal he admits he often skipped when he wasn’t hungry.

“Well, everybody tells you should have breakfast,” Kaine said. “But I never knew until these guys give you the report and they show you what happens to your blood chemistry based on when you eat.”

Kaine said he also tries to exercise more.

“When I finished the physical, my physician gave me a lot of good news and said, ‘Have you ever done a single stretching exercise in your entire life?’” Kaine said with a grin. “The answer was no.”

– Michael Sluss