It seems like everything is new right now for me… new apartment, new coat, new clothes, new job, and as of late last night, a new phone!
I just got the Droid by Motorolla which I have yet to fully figure out how to work, being that I have owned it for less than 12 hours! I think it will be a great addition to my life, helping me with blogging, school, and everything else in my crazy life (at least once I figure out how to use it).
My resolution is to let go and trust that if I focus on what I love and do it well, all else will be taken care of.
What are your resolution(s)?
Have a safe, happy, wonderful celebration for the New Year!
Hope everyone has had a fantastic holiday! I brought my computer with me to post while at my parents’ but the cord was sliced in the shuffle somehow. My blogging software like windows live and picasa are on that computer, so I am without that computer until I can find a replacement battery cord!
I think I have eaten my weight in christmas cookies but I did get in a gorgeous 7 mile run in the country so it all balances out in the end! Enjoy family, enjoy cookies, enjoy life!
What was your favorite present this year?
Lunch after Starbucks & Shopping was at Camille’s with my mom and brother. I had the Vegetarian Wrap with fruit. The spinach flavored wrap had eggs, salsa, rice, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
It was okay but the 3 cheese wrap both my mom and brother ordered looked even better!
Dinner was take out from work , since I did the gift card shift I got free dinner! For the holiday season, we are running a promotion at Bonefish- if you purchase a $100 worth of gift cards, you get a $20 bonus gift card free. We sell so many gift cards this time of year that someone is scheduled just to sell gift cards! The bonus for that person is – a free dinner!
Wow, that looks like so much food! I ordered two dinners to share with my mom, the Sashimi Appetizer with Potatoes Au gratin and Seasonal Garnish ( a corn succotash) and house salad, and then the Salmon with garnish and Salad ( and a side of spinach, artichoke & goat cheese topping that usually goes on top of the Lily’s Chicken). The salads have toasted pine nuts, hearts of palm, tomatoes, and kalamata olives.
I totally had leftovers for two days! It was delicious and actually the first time I have eaten from Bonefish since I started! Both meals were fantastic and rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which are so important for inflammation, heart health, and brain function.
If you had a free dinner from Bonefish Grill, what would you order?
I don’t really mean cheat Starbucks because I love their coffee! I enjoy its rich, reliable flavor so much that I actually never order anything there except their brew of the day. I am a “black” coffee kinda gal but something about those delightful Holiday blends with whipped topping and sprinkles just makes me second guess my usual order. 
(image source)
Not only are they packed with sugar and calories, but they can be upwards for $4-5 each! That is outrageous for your everyday cup! The calories are also outrageous and come from the sugar syrup, whipped cream, and sugar crystals. But, doesn’t it just make you feel like you are doing good for the world if you drink one? I mean really, a wish for good cheer indeed.
A wish for good cheer apparently means a bigger waistline and a sugar crash in a few hours!
One Way to Cheat Starbucks:
My mom and I headed out for our shopping adventures this past weekend and I had no coffee in my new apartment. I was in despair realizing that a caffeine headache (not Santa) was on its way, so we rushed into the nearest Starbucks. 
Maybe it was the despair for caffeine…
or the posters of perfectly topped Gingerbread Latte & Peppermint Mocha’s that gave me this idea. I ordered the brew of the day as usual, but then asked for “some of” the whipped topping and sprinkles shown in the wishful “Caramel Brulee” posters all over the coffee-house.
The Barista asked if I wanted the flavoring for Caramel Brulee as well and my Nutritionista head automatically shook no to the extra sweetness. She offered to put in 1/3 of the normal and if I didn’t like it, she would make me a new one!
My mom ordered the same exact thing and it was love at first sip!
It was just $2 for this (grande) size concoction that was far from sugar overload, yet sweet and seasonal! It was quite perfect.
Here’s to smaller waistlines, bigger budgets, and delicious holiday cheer!
It is refreshing to know that I have a place all my own! It reminds me of the blog, a place all of my own to write about whatever I wish wearing makeup or not, wearing pj’s or a dress. It’s all me, all the time.
So what the heck have I been eating this whole time? Well… I had to move during finals week so that meant craziness on top of craziness… and also means quick, fast, easy, and most often that means pre-packaged or processed. Despite the chaos, I did still take pictures of everything I was eating mostly out of habit and I did my best to show examples of how to stay away from the packaged processed style!
Siggi’s is finally available at Whole Foods! Siggi’s yogurt is delicious! It is very similar to Oikos Vanilla or Chobani but a little better nutrient profile and better quality. The vanilla is from real vanilla beans not flavoring, and the protein content is even higher (slightly) than the others. It is just as expensive, if not more. I have been dying to try this since my professor first mentioned it last semester!
Grab and Go Breakfast:
Sambazon Acai juice, an orange,a mini organic greek Oikos, and a small slice of Cinnamon Stressel bread
Semi-Homemade Dinner
Roasted Pork Tenderloin (antibiotic and hormone free, roasted for 20 minutes) with Brussel sprouts, a sweet potato with pumpkin butter, and organic mixed baby greens.
Moving trip #2 + After Final Snack
After our final Sarah and I ran to whole foods to grab some delicious fresh fruit and Kombucha. I have purchased well over 40+ of these since first trying them two months ago. I also got Sarah hooked as well. 
Thanks again GT’ Kombucha for the initial 10 Free coupons!
More finals, more Kombucha, more whole foods!
That was Orange curry sweet potatoes with collard greens from the hot bar.. so delicious!
Pre -Dinner
Pre-washed Organic salad mix with pre cut veggies and pre-roasted chicken breast= Super quick dinner!
Fabulously Catered
Neomonde, a mediterranean deli near campus, catered a lunch meeting for the Dietetic Internship. Their hummus is bottom left and is OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you think Sabra is good, you will be blown away at the quality of Neomonde! (going counterclockwise) to the right of hummus is a Walnut Backlava, to the right of that Pickles, then Tomato and Cucmber salad, Pita 1/4 , Falafel, Bean Salad and right in the middle is a Stuffed Grape Leave
Yum! That blank paper underneath is entirely filled with notes from this meeting! It was so much great information!
Coming up is a recap of meals with mom! She came to town to help me with my move after finals ended and we shared some fantastic meals & shopping fun!
Loyal, faithful readers in search of all things food related, I know you are still there! I have so much to write about yet so little to actually say right now!
You see, I am still settling into my new apartment which seems cold and lonely at times. My new bed is absolutely amazing and I love my bathroom. I have needed time to clean and finish setting things up so Sarah was wonderful enough to write a guest post! She and I are classmates, both love human nutrient metabolism, and often get asked a good dose of questions that we could go on and on about regarding nutrition. One of these topics is butter. That creamy substance that just makes everything “taste better” . But, Is Butter Better?
Here are Sarah’s thoughts…
The day before Thanksgiving I was sent a chain email by a family member questioning which was more healthful: Butter or Margarine? I’ve been asked this question quite a few times and my answer is partially scientific and partially personal choice.
First of all realize, these are added sources of fat in the diet. I hardly ever use butter or margarine when cooking anything, and yes it can be done. Baking …well that’s a different story. So what do I cook with? Olive Oil. Of course this isn’t always the best choice for some cooking techniques and dishes, and typically doesn’t come in the ramekin with the loaf of bread at your favorite dinner restaurant. So you’re going to have to choose at some point and hopefully your choice will be more well informed.
What is margarine? Basically it is a spread made from vegetable oils. How do these vegetable oils become solid you might ask? Well for the most part margarines are hydrogenated to form a solid. Did you catch that buzz word? Hydrogenated: a bad word when it comes to food products. Why? Well because the hydrogenation process turns fats into Trans fats (buzz word number 2). Trans fats raise bad cholesterol, or LDL, and raise one’s risk of coronary heart disease. So yes margarine is lower in overall fat but the real subject is the type of fat. Read margarine labels carefully, 0g Trans fat doesn’t mean a whole lot when an ingredient has the word hydrogenated in it. Food manufacturers are allowed to label something as 0g Trans fat when it has less than 500mg per serving. How many servings are you eating?
So you’re saying butter is better? Moderately, give me one more minute. It is better, comparatively, in my opinion than margarine. Two reasons: no trans fats, and I find comfort in the fact that it’s not made in a lab by food chemists. But you don’t want lose sight of the issue: your health. Butter is high in saturated fats which ALSO contribute to coronary heart disease. Good news is that not all fats are created equally.
Mono-unsaturated fats are sometimes referred to as “good fats” and they are. MUFA’s help to lower “bad” cholesterol and may even raise “good” cholesterol. We can get the benefits of these good fats from oils like Olive Oil and Canola Oil so consider cooking with these when you can. But remember, too much of anything can be a bad thing. If you must have your butter consider using whipped butter which tends to go a little further thanks to the air whipped into it, or just simply use less. No matter which you decide to use, use it in moderation and you’ll be on your way to being healthier. Happy Holidays & Healthy Eating.
-Sarah B.
MS Candidate, Human Nutrition & Metabolism
Hi Everyone!
I am about to take my last final for the semester, which has appeared to flown by me like Kenyans in a marathon. Wish Me Luck!
Here is a quick update for you..
Body:
Since my half marathon, I have kept up with running an average of 15 miles/week and yoga classes at least twice a week! I wish I could have had more time for strength training but I did get in plenty of resistance work lately by packing and moving boxes into my new apartment!
Mind:
Although a little scatterbrained at times, I think I soared through this semester despite plenty of distractions! Work at my first job is going really well because we are picking up for the holiday season and work for my new second job is fantastic but off to a slow start with finals week!
I have my Nutrition in the Lifecycle’s final this afternoon at 4 pm and go right to work immediately following it. Tomorrow, I have to type up a quick summary for Food and Society class, which is regarding our thoughts on the film Food, Inc. Pretty cool for a final exam, huh?
I suggested that to our class/Professor and it was accepted! We could have also attended a conference but I was moving that day… oh well.
Any bloggers want to relay their thoughts to me on Food Inc?Soul:It really is the most wonderful time of the year! I have managed to stay on top of most things but with two jobs, beyond full-time graduate courses, no longer being engaged, and moving into a new apartment. I think my soul is completely ready for holiday spirit, fun, and relaxation to kick in at any time.
I have the most amazing group of friends that I could have ever asked for. They have been truly my angels and I love them dearly. My mom is coming to town tomorrow to help me move and I am so looking forward to her visit!
I might be getting the Android or Droid Eris phone, any bloggers use either for posting? I would love to know your feedback!
I have much more reporting to do for you bloggies, so stay with me!
I love mail in general but I especially love mail that is filled with delicious food that I can review!
Mark from The Healthy Baking Company sent me Heart Thrive samples and I immediately wanted to try one! I had a Chocolate Heart Thrive for breakfast along with some fruit and a Via Starbuck’s Instant Coffee ( I’m moving and don’t feel like dealing with the coffee maker just yet!).
Each Heart has approximately:
Heart Thrive Bars are also:
The Negative
They come with two per package. I was really surprised that each contained 160+ kcal, which for one little cookie can be misleading. One really fills you up because of its nutrient density, fiber and protein power, so what do you do with the second? I think that can be incredibly confusing for the general public that think “This is a Heart Healthy option, it has all these great qualities and come in value packages of two so I’m supposed to eat both”. Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
The Positive
These hearts are heart healthy because they contain at least 5g of fiber, 25% DV of calcium and are low in fat. They also contain a good dose of protein at 6-7g per heart, no cholesterol and they taste yummy! They are a great on-the-go snack that does not contain wheat (like everything else in this world!) and I don’t know anyone on-the-go as much as me right now! After taking Medical Nutrition Therapy class, I also know these would be a GREAT bar for older adults to get in their needed nutrition in less bites. Similarly, those with COPD, arthritis and emphysema have increased energy needs ( their energy typically goes to breathing first) and thus decreased intake from being too tired from daily activities. These bars would be great for that population as well as young kiddos and students because they require no preparation or cooking!
Thank you Mark from The Healthy Baking Company for a delicious healthy snack! You can find out more information as well as where to find these great bars here.
Hi Blogland!
How has everyone been ? I know I have been MIA from my blog but I have really good excuses! I communicate with most of you outside of the blog, which has been one of my favorite things ever! I love the emails that you have been sending and messages I get that creates connections well beyond the blog. Because of those, most of you know what has been going on in my crazy busy life. Most of you do not know that I found an apartment and am moving this weekend!
Fall Courses for 2009 are Over!
All of my final projects and assignments are finished as of this past week and now I have my first final at 9:00 am on Saturday! This semester flew by so quickly! Where does time go?
As if I were not busy enough, I started my second job this week!
I have been setting everything up with them for the past couple weeks and spent the morning completing Lesson 4 for Grade 1, Milk Group Foods! The curriculum is called Professor Popcorn… isn’t that awesome? He uses his strong bones and muscles to climb the pyramid :
It was SO much fun updating the curriculum for it and I hope I can help prevent osteoporosis in at least a few kiddos! I have the flexibility to add in fun activities like “Blob”, which is basically tag but you hold on to the person you catch causing the Blob in the middle to grow. The more people (bones) you keep, the stronger you get and we need calcium rich foods like “milk group foods” such as cheese, yogurt, and milk to keep our bones strong!
Posts to be looking out for in the near future:
Product Review: Heart Thrive Bars ( healthy-cookies!!)
First Annual Meredith College Iron Chef Competition
Restaurant Review: The Sitti
Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and enjoying all of the wonderful holiday sales, gatherings, and parties to come! Good luck to all my bloggers heading in for final exams too!
