 |
Sherry Valentine, Indianapolis, shops for fresh produce on the "Garden on the Go" produce truck parked in front of Lugar Tower Apartments. "This is great. It is a whole lot better than going to the grocery store," she said Wednesday. / Danese Kenon / The Star |
Friday, April 29, 2011
Trucks to bring produce to city's 'food deserts'
Check out this story on bringing fresh produce to food deserts in the Indianapolis area. A lovely and wonderful idea....kudos to you "Garden on the Go!"
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110428/NEWS19/104280394/Smith-Trucks-bring-produce-city-s-food-deserts-?odyssey=tab
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Learning to Take Care of Me
April 28th, 2011
I realized something quite fascinating about myself recently. I learned that I have a really hard time nurturing myself. Seems like a strange thing to find out about yourself, but after reflecting on my life and trying to pinpoint the reasons for my recurring stress, I have come to that conclusion. I have spent so much time trying to make other people happy, that I have often neglected my own happiness and needs. Please don't get me wrong, I am plenty happy, but I would say that I am a people pleaser. I love saying "yes" to everything, knowing that by agreeing to it, I won't be dissappointing anyone. It feels so good....or does it???
I guess maybe it doesn't. By saying "yes" to everyone else, I am basically saying "no" to myself. Only recently have I learned to put the word "no" into practice when others start to ask too much of me. It was a little scary at first (what will they think of me??? will they ever ask me to do anything again???, etc), but now it feels good. It feels good because I am being honest with others and myself. If I truly don't want to do something, I just respectfully say no. No explanation needed, just "no."
This new found ability to say "no" has really empowered me. I am beginning to understand that this journey through infertility is a little bit about being selfish. Not selfish in the "I must always get my way" fashion, but selfish in the" it's ok to sit on the couch and read a book" kind of way. I still struggle with relaxing, knowing that there are a million other things I should be accomplishing, but now I acknowlege it and allow myself these nurturing moments.
I guess my point is, that everyone should take time to nurture themselves. Do the things that make you happy and learn to say "no" (in a nice way of course!). This journey through infertility is hard enough as it is. As my husband tells me, "this is your time to be selfish." Now I just need to believe it.
Maybe I will get that massage......
I realized something quite fascinating about myself recently. I learned that I have a really hard time nurturing myself. Seems like a strange thing to find out about yourself, but after reflecting on my life and trying to pinpoint the reasons for my recurring stress, I have come to that conclusion. I have spent so much time trying to make other people happy, that I have often neglected my own happiness and needs. Please don't get me wrong, I am plenty happy, but I would say that I am a people pleaser. I love saying "yes" to everything, knowing that by agreeing to it, I won't be dissappointing anyone. It feels so good....or does it???
I guess maybe it doesn't. By saying "yes" to everyone else, I am basically saying "no" to myself. Only recently have I learned to put the word "no" into practice when others start to ask too much of me. It was a little scary at first (what will they think of me??? will they ever ask me to do anything again???, etc), but now it feels good. It feels good because I am being honest with others and myself. If I truly don't want to do something, I just respectfully say no. No explanation needed, just "no."
This new found ability to say "no" has really empowered me. I am beginning to understand that this journey through infertility is a little bit about being selfish. Not selfish in the "I must always get my way" fashion, but selfish in the" it's ok to sit on the couch and read a book" kind of way. I still struggle with relaxing, knowing that there are a million other things I should be accomplishing, but now I acknowlege it and allow myself these nurturing moments.
I guess my point is, that everyone should take time to nurture themselves. Do the things that make you happy and learn to say "no" (in a nice way of course!). This journey through infertility is hard enough as it is. As my husband tells me, "this is your time to be selfish." Now I just need to believe it.
Maybe I will get that massage......
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Nutrition/Culinary Tip O' The Day
April 26, 2011
After much careful thought and consideration (does 5 minutes count?), I have decided to post nutrition tips of the day/week/month/whenever I feel inspired. Wow, that sounds incredibly boring, doesn't it? Yes, but I would be an irresponsible dietitian if I couldn't find ways to inspire you to eat a healthier diet, right???
After even more thought and consideration (does 1 minute count?), I have also decided to post culinary related tips. This one doesn't sound as boring, right? Heck, I might even decide to combine the two! I know, I am getting a little crazy, but I just can't help myself.
My first tip is eat more vegetables. Ok, just kidding (don't you love a little dietitian humor?)! No, my first tip is... Don't always follow the recipe. What? Haven't I already posted recipes on this blog? Yes, I have. However, I will be the first to tell you that recipes aren't always good or right. It's true. Many times I find recipes are missing key ingredients. Not only that, but I know better, even healthier ways to cook foods instead of basting them in fat and salt.
I find that so many people have a hard time cooking because they fall victim to the recipe. They don't seem to understand that the recipe and ingredients are just merely a suggestion. For instance, if a recipe calls for butter and you don't have any or you're watching your saturated fat intake, what else could you use? Nothing? Wrong! If it's a savory recipe (meaning one that isn't a baked good), you can usually swap olive oil for butter. Maybe you've got a quesadilla recipe, but it just tastes like melted cheese? Why not add some spice? Sure, the recipe didn't call for cumin, cayenne or Mexican oregano, but who cares!!! Throw caution to the wind and give it a shot.
Be creative and put some thought into your next meal. Research and find healthy swaps for high fat/high calorie ingredients. Ever tried mayo made with olive oil instead of the traditional mayo? It's delicious and you can't taste the difference. It's an easy swap and you'll save yourself some fat, calories and even get some heart-healthy omega 3 fats too. See how easy that was???
I hope you enjoyed my first intallment of Tip O' The Day. Remember, there is a little chef in all of us! Get in the kitchen and experiment!
After much careful thought and consideration (does 5 minutes count?), I have decided to post nutrition tips of the day/week/month/whenever I feel inspired. Wow, that sounds incredibly boring, doesn't it? Yes, but I would be an irresponsible dietitian if I couldn't find ways to inspire you to eat a healthier diet, right???
After even more thought and consideration (does 1 minute count?), I have also decided to post culinary related tips. This one doesn't sound as boring, right? Heck, I might even decide to combine the two! I know, I am getting a little crazy, but I just can't help myself.
My first tip is eat more vegetables. Ok, just kidding (don't you love a little dietitian humor?)! No, my first tip is... Don't always follow the recipe. What? Haven't I already posted recipes on this blog? Yes, I have. However, I will be the first to tell you that recipes aren't always good or right. It's true. Many times I find recipes are missing key ingredients. Not only that, but I know better, even healthier ways to cook foods instead of basting them in fat and salt.
I find that so many people have a hard time cooking because they fall victim to the recipe. They don't seem to understand that the recipe and ingredients are just merely a suggestion. For instance, if a recipe calls for butter and you don't have any or you're watching your saturated fat intake, what else could you use? Nothing? Wrong! If it's a savory recipe (meaning one that isn't a baked good), you can usually swap olive oil for butter. Maybe you've got a quesadilla recipe, but it just tastes like melted cheese? Why not add some spice? Sure, the recipe didn't call for cumin, cayenne or Mexican oregano, but who cares!!! Throw caution to the wind and give it a shot.
Be creative and put some thought into your next meal. Research and find healthy swaps for high fat/high calorie ingredients. Ever tried mayo made with olive oil instead of the traditional mayo? It's delicious and you can't taste the difference. It's an easy swap and you'll save yourself some fat, calories and even get some heart-healthy omega 3 fats too. See how easy that was???
I hope you enjoyed my first intallment of Tip O' The Day. Remember, there is a little chef in all of us! Get in the kitchen and experiment!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Coconut Cream Pie
April 24, 2011
Happy Easter everyone! For some reason I have had this crazy yearning for coconut cream pie. I think it has something to do with recently recalling memories of sharing a piece with my mom at good old MCL Cafeteria (a place we went quite often for lunch when I was young). Thanks for sharing mom!
This recipe is a tride and true one from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I found that I only needed to add a little bit of salt to the custard to enhance that delicious coconut flavor. It's easy, so go ahead, give it a try.
Coconut Cream Pie
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
Ingredients:
1 prepared pie crust
4 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt (this is my addition, but totally necessary to really bring out the coconut flavor)
Directions
1. Cook pie crust. Prick the bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Bake with pie weights or beans at 450'F for 8 minutes or according to package directions.
2. Separate egg yolks from whites; set whites aside for meringue.
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| Separate eggs one at a time before adding to your bowl |
3. For filling, in medium saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly; reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Slightly beat egg yolks with a rotary beater or fork. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot filling into yolks. Add egg yolk mixture to fillin in saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter, vanilla and coconut. Keep filling warm; prepare meringue (see next).
4. Pour warm filling into baked pie shell. Spread meringue over warm filling; seal to edge. Bake in a 325'F oven for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Chill 3-6 hours before serving; cover for longer storage.
Meringue for Pie
3 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup coconut
Directions:
1. Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large mixing bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until soft peaks form.
2. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed about 4 mintues more or until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks and sugar dissolves.
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| Stiff peaks |
3. Immediately spread meringue over hot pie filling, carefully sealing to edge of pastry to prevent shrinkage. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake as directed above.
National Infertility Awareness Week: Busting Myths...Infertility does not affect the young and healthy.
Happy National Infertility Awareness Week! What, you didn't know about it? Well, now you do and I am counting on you to spread the word.
As part of National Infertility Awareness Week, RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, is encouraging bloggers from the infertility community to "Bust Infertility Myths." We were challenged to answer the following question:
"What is the biggest infertility myth and how has it affected your life or the life of your friends and family members?"
There are so many myths surrounding infertility that I wasn't quite sure which one I wanted to tackle. After much thought, I finally settled on the myth that infertility does not affect young, healthy people.
My whole life I have been healthy. Probably obnoxiously healthy. I have never had a broken bone or been sick for long periods of time. I don't have diabetes or even allergies. I have pretty much always eaten a healthy diet (I am a dietitian afterall) and exercise has always been a huge part of my life.
To me, being healthy is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Eating well and exercising has kept both my physical and mental state in good shape. I am disciplined about it (as my friends and family know), but to me it's worth it. My belief is this: you only get ONE body, so why abuse it? I am well aware that fixing or replacing parts is not only painful, but expensive as well.
You would think that with this great approach to health, that I would be the least likely person to be struggling with infertility. I certainly never thought that I would be the one going through this. I remember hearing about it happening to some friends of friends and I felt so sad for them. Never once, did I think I would become one of them. Now, here I am, at age 32, going through this whole experience.
Honestly, I am frustrated. I feel like the body I have worked so hard at taking care of has completely failed me. Why did I bother with taking such good care of myself? I still struggle with this one, but I know that this is a completely irrational thought. I might be in a worse situation, had I not taken care of myself.
I honestly believe that things happen for a reason. I know that I was meant to speak up about infertility. To be a voice and to encourage other women and men to open up and not be embarrased or ashamed. I have learned so much through this whole process and for that I am grateful. I have become much more patient, as now I realize I am not the one in control here. I have taken the time to nurture myself and take care of my mental self as well as my physical self. I believe that if I am meant to bring a baby into this world, it will happen. And when that baby comes, it will be the ultimate blessing.
For a basic understanding of infertility: http://www.resolve.org/infertility101
The background of National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW): http://www.resolve.org/takecharge.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Banana Bread - Yum!
April 23, 2010
As you probably figured out by the title, I am baking banana bread today. I am actually a few days tardy in making it. Why you ask? Well, because I have bananas sitting on my counter that are no longer lightly speckled with brown spots, but totally covered in brown spots. In other words, these bananas are beyond gross for eating (too mushy for my taste), but absolutely perfect for banana bread.
The next time you have super-ripe bananas sitting on your counter, don't throw them away, make banana bread!
Banana Bread
Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook
3 large ripe bananas
1 egg
2 Tbs canola oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla *
As you probably figured out by the title, I am baking banana bread today. I am actually a few days tardy in making it. Why you ask? Well, because I have bananas sitting on my counter that are no longer lightly speckled with brown spots, but totally covered in brown spots. In other words, these bananas are beyond gross for eating (too mushy for my taste), but absolutely perfect for banana bread.
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| My lovely bananas |
The recipe I use for banana bread is one I found during my dietetic internship. I was in my sports nutrition rotation and had read about a sports dietitian named Nancy Clark. Of course, I had to buy her book and I think I read the whole thing in a day. (In my next life I am coming back as a professional athlete!) In the back of the book there are a bunch of really great recipes for athletes. I stumbled upon the banana bread recipe and fell in love.
This recipe is good! It is simple to prepare and is a satisfying healthier version of the greasy, sugary original. I make a few of my own modifications, which I've included below, otherwise, it turns out great every time. Thank you Nancy!!!
Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook
3 large ripe bananas
1 egg
2 Tbs canola oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla *
1/4-1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon*
1 1/2 cup flour (or 3/4 cup all purpose flour and 3/4 cup whole wheat flour*)
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped*
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mash bananas with a fork.
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| Makin' a double batch. My bananas in a bowl. |
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| Mashed banana (I'm sure you didn't need a caption for that one) |
3. Add egg, oil, milk, vanilla, sugar, salt, baking soda and powder and cinnamon. Beat well. Stir in nuts.
4. Gently blend flour into the banana mixture, stire 20 seconds, or until moistened
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| Half whole wheat, half all-purpose....so healthy! |
5. Pour into greased loaf pan.
6. Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the middle comes out clean.
*indicates my modifications
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| So delcious warm right out of the oven. |
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tax on Soda? Yes, please.
What a fabulous idea! Chicago, please save our children by imposing a similar tax.
Proposed soda tax would raise $1.7 billion statewide for schools and children's health programs
Read all about it using this link:http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17897046?nclick_check=1
Proposed soda tax would raise $1.7 billion statewide for schools and children's health programs
Read all about it using this link:
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lemon Cake...oh please turn out!
April 21, 2001
After that, I was on my way home to begin the lemon cake baking extravaganza. I have actually never made a lemon cake before, so this was a new adventure. The recipe is a little different in that it calls to slice, boil and then puree the lemons. Hmmmm, seems fishy to me, but I am sure Martha and her staff know what they are doing. Usually, I try to make my baked goods a little healthier, but not this time. I went full-tilt on this buttery, egg-yolky concoction.
The recipe seemed a little daunting, but it really turned out to be quite easy. It only took me about 20-25 minutes to get the batter made and in the oven. The only problem I had was trying to figure out who was going to clean up my mess. Where is that maid when you need her???
So, as you will see below, the caked turned out fairly well, at least it looked ok. For me though, this was not a winner. Perhaps I did something wrong in the method, I'm not sure, but my cake turned out to be pretty dense and not very sweet. My recommendation to you? Give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out for you!!! Enjoy your lemon cake and Happy Easter!
Simple Lemon Cake
Everyday Food by Martha Stewart, Issue 81
I was awoken this morning by the sweet song of a lovely bird. Actually, the truth is, I was awoken by a horribly loud and obnoxious bird singing off-key (or at lest it seemed to me) at 5:45 this morning. This bird is actually no stranger to me. He is a cute little red cardinal who comes every spring and sits right outside our bedroom window. Every morning this bird sings and wakes me up at least an hour before my alarm goes off. I know it's horrible that I am angry at this bird, but seriously, I love sleeping and I wish he could just wait at least another hour for his performance.
After trying to "sleep" for the next hour or so, my alarm went off. I got myself dressed and out the door. Time for bloodwork at the doctor's office. There really is no better way to start the day than with a nice needle stick. Such a great time, I never tire of it. (I am kidding by the way)After that, I was on my way home to begin the lemon cake baking extravaganza. I have actually never made a lemon cake before, so this was a new adventure. The recipe is a little different in that it calls to slice, boil and then puree the lemons. Hmmmm, seems fishy to me, but I am sure Martha and her staff know what they are doing. Usually, I try to make my baked goods a little healthier, but not this time. I went full-tilt on this buttery, egg-yolky concoction.
The recipe seemed a little daunting, but it really turned out to be quite easy. It only took me about 20-25 minutes to get the batter made and in the oven. The only problem I had was trying to figure out who was going to clean up my mess. Where is that maid when you need her???
So, as you will see below, the caked turned out fairly well, at least it looked ok. For me though, this was not a winner. Perhaps I did something wrong in the method, I'm not sure, but my cake turned out to be pretty dense and not very sweet. My recommendation to you? Give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out for you!!! Enjoy your lemon cake and Happy Easter!
Simple Lemon Cake
Everyday Food by Martha Stewart, Issue 81
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature, plus more for pan
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
- 1/2 pound lemons (about 2), ends removed, cut crosswise into thin slices, and seeds removed
- Coarse salt
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
- Raspberries and whipped cream (optional), for serving
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan (2 inches deep). In a medium saucepan, cover lemon slices with 3 cups water. Add pinch of salt, cover, and bring to a boil over high. Boil lemons, partially covered, until very tender, 15 minutes. Drain in a colander and transfer to a food processor, along with lemon juice; process until smooth. Set aside.
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| So far, so good |
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter on medium, 2 minutes. Gradually add granulated sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down bowl as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
- With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions buttermilk. Beat in vanilla, then fold in lemon mixture.
- Transfer batter to pan and bake until deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack, 20 minutes. Remove cake from pan and let cool completely on rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve with raspberries and cream, if desired
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| Mix, mix, mix |
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| My masterpiece |
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Lemon Cake
April 20, 2011
I am a baker. I know, it seems ironic that someone so conscious about nutrition would love to bake. Maybe that's why I love it. Or maybe it's because I enjoy consuming the end product (I claim every tooth I have is a sweet-tooth). Or maybe it's because I enjoy bringing a big plate of whatever I've made to friends/family for them to indulge in.
It's likely I love it for both of those reasons, but also because baking has been a great comfort to me. When life is good, I bake. When life is bad, I bake even more. Baking has been there for me through all of the ups and downs of my life. Some people turn to alcohol or drugs when things get rough, but not me, I turn to my oven and Kitchen Aid.
My weakness? Brownies or anything chocolate. However, in a nod to spring and the Easter season, I will attempt to bake a lemon cake. I found a delicious and interesting looking recipe in Everyday Food by Martha Stewart. If all goes well, I will post the recipe. If my attempt fails and I am completely embarassed by the result, I will still post the recipe. :) Baking is not foolproof!
Cake baking begins tomorrow. Wish me luck!
I am a baker. I know, it seems ironic that someone so conscious about nutrition would love to bake. Maybe that's why I love it. Or maybe it's because I enjoy consuming the end product (I claim every tooth I have is a sweet-tooth). Or maybe it's because I enjoy bringing a big plate of whatever I've made to friends/family for them to indulge in.
It's likely I love it for both of those reasons, but also because baking has been a great comfort to me. When life is good, I bake. When life is bad, I bake even more. Baking has been there for me through all of the ups and downs of my life. Some people turn to alcohol or drugs when things get rough, but not me, I turn to my oven and Kitchen Aid.
My weakness? Brownies or anything chocolate. However, in a nod to spring and the Easter season, I will attempt to bake a lemon cake. I found a delicious and interesting looking recipe in Everyday Food by Martha Stewart. If all goes well, I will post the recipe. If my attempt fails and I am completely embarassed by the result, I will still post the recipe. :) Baking is not foolproof!
Cake baking begins tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Doctor, Doctor
April 19, 2011
The day started out with a nice early morning run. That would've been fine had I been wearing the appropriate clothing and if I wasn't actually running to catch the bus. To add to the hilarious nature of this "run," I was trying to move as fast as I could while holding my work bag and lunch tote. Special. I am sure that I looked like a crazy person. I sure felt like one.
Anyway, I was taking the bus to my doctor's appointment. This was my second appointment with her. I got there right on time, as usual, but was told she was running behind schedule. When I asked how far off that schedule she was running, I was met with a blank stare and an "I don't know." Awesome. My husband was going to meet me there and he was already on his way. So, we sat in the waiting room for about an hour and then finally, in to see her.
My doctor is smart. Seriously, she is amazingly smart. We met to discuss all of the tests and results and came up with a plan. I will spare the details of that plan, but let's just say, it sounds like fun. Super fun. I left feeling better, but worse at the same time. Is that possible???
After that, it was off to work. It's always enjoyable to try to work after a doctor's appointment like that. I did it though and was grateful to have something else to focus on. After work I met my husband at the train station and we were homeward bound. Today's train ride was uneventful. I am always appreciative when that happens.
Since it was a late day at work, dinner was fast and easy. I always have some kind of pulled pork/chicken on hand in my freezer. I make sure to prepare extra so that I can have it on hand for these kinds of occasions. I sauteed the pulled chicken with some onions and peppers, added some cheese and put it between some whole wheat tortillas. Served it up with a little light sour cream, salsa and shredded broccoli slaw and dinner was done.
It was a long and eventful day. Is it too soon to be ready for the weekend?
The day started out with a nice early morning run. That would've been fine had I been wearing the appropriate clothing and if I wasn't actually running to catch the bus. To add to the hilarious nature of this "run," I was trying to move as fast as I could while holding my work bag and lunch tote. Special. I am sure that I looked like a crazy person. I sure felt like one.
Anyway, I was taking the bus to my doctor's appointment. This was my second appointment with her. I got there right on time, as usual, but was told she was running behind schedule. When I asked how far off that schedule she was running, I was met with a blank stare and an "I don't know." Awesome. My husband was going to meet me there and he was already on his way. So, we sat in the waiting room for about an hour and then finally, in to see her.
My doctor is smart. Seriously, she is amazingly smart. We met to discuss all of the tests and results and came up with a plan. I will spare the details of that plan, but let's just say, it sounds like fun. Super fun. I left feeling better, but worse at the same time. Is that possible???
After that, it was off to work. It's always enjoyable to try to work after a doctor's appointment like that. I did it though and was grateful to have something else to focus on. After work I met my husband at the train station and we were homeward bound. Today's train ride was uneventful. I am always appreciative when that happens.
Since it was a late day at work, dinner was fast and easy. I always have some kind of pulled pork/chicken on hand in my freezer. I make sure to prepare extra so that I can have it on hand for these kinds of occasions. I sauteed the pulled chicken with some onions and peppers, added some cheese and put it between some whole wheat tortillas. Served it up with a little light sour cream, salsa and shredded broccoli slaw and dinner was done.
It was a long and eventful day. Is it too soon to be ready for the weekend?
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Introduction
I love food. I know it's not a very original way to start a blog, but it's completely true. I feel like I was put on this earth to celebrate, appreciate and enjoy the amazing gift of food.
I love food so much that after one semester of college studying apparel merchandising (NOT a good fit), my mom kindly suggested perhaps, a different career path. Moms are so smart; mine especially. Ironically, at the time, I not only loved food, but I was also totally in love with nutrition. So, it became very obvious that I should study and become a dietitian. That's what I did, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Oragnic chemistry??? Really?
After I graduated and completed my internship (a requirement necessary to sit for the RD exam), I set my sights on Chicago. There were two main reasons for this:
1) Chicago is close to Indianapolis where my family lives. I would be geographically close to family, but not too close. (Keep in mind I was 22 years old at the time)
and...
2) I had a friend here from college who needed a roommate. I feel like this is always a good reason to move somewhere.
I landed my first job as a dietitian at an area hospital. It was awful. Seriously, I was not prepared for the urban hospital setting. Plus, I had the amazing luck (insert sarcasm here) as being the dietitian for the psych floor. Horrible.
Finally, I came to my senses and with much coersion and love from my friends and family, I decided to go to culinary school. It was an amazing experience and a very eye-opening one too. Let's just say not everyone going to culinary school is the next Rick Bayless. It was a stressful time. I went to school in the morning and then went to work right after. It was a long and grueling day, but totally worth it. I graduated and began working for place that focuses on healthy cooking and it was a nice fit.
These days I wear many hats (as I like to say). I am a chef, a dietitian and a teacher, but these days the role I want most is mom and this is where the story continues...
About two years ago my husband and I decided we wanted to start a little brood. Knowing that we were both super healthy (I think my biggest health catastrophe was a bout of chicken pocks when I was about 6 or 7 years old), we figured that it should happen pretty quickly. No one I knew had any trouble popping out kids...why would I? Oh, but I did. After a year of no luck, we finally turned to some specialists. My first doctor was not exactly helpful and the whole experience was awful. I felt like I wasn't getting any answers or making any progress. Instead of finding out the cause, they wanted talk about medication, IUI and IVF. Whoah!!!
Needless to say, I didn't stick with him for too long. I took about a year off of Western medicine after that. I decided to go the route of acupuncture, herbs and yoga. This did amazing things for me and still does. I would certainly recommend giving Eastern Medicine a try. It isn't as evasive and has a pretty good track record. Although this didn't result in a baby for us, it gave me a new perspective and I decided to get a second opinion. ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION! (FYI- I can't stand when people bold type stuff, but this is so important.) Never trust one person's opinion when it comes to your health. Do yourself a favor and get another set of eyes on your problem.
I love my current doctor. The first time we met we talked for one solid hour about what we were going to do. I have never in my life gotten that much attention from a doctor, it was amazing. So, here I am today, still learning and still on my journey of starting a family.
I started this blog for selfish reasons (as a way to cope with all of this), but I am hoping that it can become a good source of information and/or entertainment for you. This blog will be a source for healthy (and perhaps sometimes, not as healthy) recipes, nutrition information and my journey with infertility. Now that you know a little bit about me, it is time to get this blog rolling. So....time to go preheat that oven!!!! (Get it?)
I love food so much that after one semester of college studying apparel merchandising (NOT a good fit), my mom kindly suggested perhaps, a different career path. Moms are so smart; mine especially. Ironically, at the time, I not only loved food, but I was also totally in love with nutrition. So, it became very obvious that I should study and become a dietitian. That's what I did, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Oragnic chemistry??? Really?
After I graduated and completed my internship (a requirement necessary to sit for the RD exam), I set my sights on Chicago. There were two main reasons for this:
1) Chicago is close to Indianapolis where my family lives. I would be geographically close to family, but not too close. (Keep in mind I was 22 years old at the time)
and...
2) I had a friend here from college who needed a roommate. I feel like this is always a good reason to move somewhere.
I landed my first job as a dietitian at an area hospital. It was awful. Seriously, I was not prepared for the urban hospital setting. Plus, I had the amazing luck (insert sarcasm here) as being the dietitian for the psych floor. Horrible.
Finally, I came to my senses and with much coersion and love from my friends and family, I decided to go to culinary school. It was an amazing experience and a very eye-opening one too. Let's just say not everyone going to culinary school is the next Rick Bayless. It was a stressful time. I went to school in the morning and then went to work right after. It was a long and grueling day, but totally worth it. I graduated and began working for place that focuses on healthy cooking and it was a nice fit.
These days I wear many hats (as I like to say). I am a chef, a dietitian and a teacher, but these days the role I want most is mom and this is where the story continues...
About two years ago my husband and I decided we wanted to start a little brood. Knowing that we were both super healthy (I think my biggest health catastrophe was a bout of chicken pocks when I was about 6 or 7 years old), we figured that it should happen pretty quickly. No one I knew had any trouble popping out kids...why would I? Oh, but I did. After a year of no luck, we finally turned to some specialists. My first doctor was not exactly helpful and the whole experience was awful. I felt like I wasn't getting any answers or making any progress. Instead of finding out the cause, they wanted talk about medication, IUI and IVF. Whoah!!!
Needless to say, I didn't stick with him for too long. I took about a year off of Western medicine after that. I decided to go the route of acupuncture, herbs and yoga. This did amazing things for me and still does. I would certainly recommend giving Eastern Medicine a try. It isn't as evasive and has a pretty good track record. Although this didn't result in a baby for us, it gave me a new perspective and I decided to get a second opinion. ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION! (FYI- I can't stand when people bold type stuff, but this is so important.) Never trust one person's opinion when it comes to your health. Do yourself a favor and get another set of eyes on your problem.
I love my current doctor. The first time we met we talked for one solid hour about what we were going to do. I have never in my life gotten that much attention from a doctor, it was amazing. So, here I am today, still learning and still on my journey of starting a family.
I started this blog for selfish reasons (as a way to cope with all of this), but I am hoping that it can become a good source of information and/or entertainment for you. This blog will be a source for healthy (and perhaps sometimes, not as healthy) recipes, nutrition information and my journey with infertility. Now that you know a little bit about me, it is time to get this blog rolling. So....time to go preheat that oven!!!! (Get it?)
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