A show I’ve been watching a bit of recently is Supersize vs Superskinny. I don’t have a good moral reasoning behing watching it, other then the fact I’m morbidly curious about how skrewed up our diets can get. I like it because when I watch it I just unplug, zone out and enjoy the silliness.

If you’re not familiar with the show, it’s based around 2 people (a supersize overweight person and a super skinny underweight person) who get put into a feeding clinic for a week long diet swap. The participants are asked to swap diets for a week, in hopes that living of each other’s diet will teach them a thing or two about where they’ve been falling short. The whole thing is overseen by a “doctor” who highlights the dangers of their current diet and coaches them on their way to health.

This show is definitely a “reality show”. It’s cheesy, obviously pre-scripted and not exactly “true to life”. But one things that has stood out to me is the participants wiliness to participate and tackle new, and often obscene food choices. Someone that eats 1000 cals a day will switch to a 4000 cal a day diet, and although they ALWAYS initially struggle, they generally manage it in the end. One thing they definitely don’t lack is commitment and a real motivation to see it through.

Of course TV is TV and in real life I know these things would look very different. But it made me think a bit about me and my situation at the moment. I still consider myself underweight, I don’t particularly like what I see when I look in the mirror. And yet forcing myself to eat more is REALLY difficult. I think a lot of it has to do with my fear of overeating (something I used to do pretty regularly in the past). I like being energetic and full of life, and I generally put a LOT into my breakfasts and dinners – but since snacks and lunches are sort of “grab and go” I don’t particularly go out of my way to make them the nutritional powerhouses they should be.

Why is that? I have the motivation – I look in the mirror and I know if I had a bit more “meat on my bones” I’d look and feel better. But when it comes down to actually doing it something holds me back. It could be my irrational fears of binging, it could be my monetary budget limit (I know this plays a big role), it could be just the fact that I need some outside help. But I know I should and can do better – I just need to figure out how.

Another question that watching this show has brought up in my mind is how much would I be willing to give in order to be the weight and shape I want to be. If someone gave me a diet full of foods I don’t feel comfortable eating and said “Eat this and in x amount of time you will be where you want to be ” – would I be committed enough to go for i?. I have made huge strides in changing my eating habits – I know that as a fact, but has it been enough? Where does that extra little push need to come from in order for me to make really lasting changes to my diet and lifestyle?

If someone put something like this in front of me for instance - I don't think I'd be strong/commited enough to eat it

And so now’s the part I ask for your help. I know you guys don’t know me in person, and it’s hard to give advice without seeing the full picture – but an outside perspective is always appreciated. Obviously there will be some things I can do, and some things I can’t do – but the point is that I want to change, I want to do better. I want to be strong, muscular, curvy (still a bit hard for me to say that) and beautiful again!

Here a few tips they give on the show in order to encourage healthy weight gain:

- Never go without breakfast. Definitely something I stick too (maybe even to the point of being obsessive)

- Add healthy snacks to your diet. I usually have about 2 a day – having one right now (a granola bar, a bit of yogurt and carrot sticks). But they’re not always this nutritionally balanced – must work a bit more on that.

-  Pack in the protein- this I’ve had a hard time with, but I think I’m doing better by adding lots of PB, lentils, eggs and yogurt to my diet as of late.

- Enjoy the taste, texture and color of food – hmm well let’s just say that right now I eat more for practicality and economy then for pleasure. I generally enjoy breakfasts, but the rest of my meals are kind of whatever I have on hand/whatever is the cheapest option at the moment. I definitely see room for improvemnet on this front

PS: As a side note I also wanted to mention that the pictures of “meals” I post on my blog are never the “full deal”. Usually there’s about ½ already eaten, or a dessert, appetizer consumed before. I just want to avoid coming across as someone who eats tiny portions and then wonders why they don’t gain weight. I may not eat 100% enough, but it’s better than it looks.

PPS: And Katy if you’re reading this – I’ve already tried to take your suggestion and am eating homemade granola bars along with my fruit for snacks. Thanks for mentioning that to me. Those are the kind of practical suggestions I really need to hear

Looking forward to all your imput and personal experiences on the subject. Enjoy the weekend!

Eating a mostly vegetarian diet and being lactose intolerant to boot means that quick and healthy sources of protein can be hard (or costly) to come by. Which is why I have come to really appreciate eggs.

I think one thing everyone knows about eggs is that they are a quality source of protein (6 grams of protein in one of these babies). But we often forget the other nutritional benefits of eating eggs.

Eggs have lots of vitamins. They are rich in the B vitamin family, and also contribute vitamins A and D. In particular, egg yolks are one of the greatest sources of riboflavin, B12, and choline, which may well not only help developing brains in utero, but protect us from age-related memory loss. In the mineral department, eggs are especially rich in selenium. Eggs are also abundant in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids which protect our eyes from macular degeneration, among other benefits. And the lutein in eggs seems to be better absorbed than when it comes from vegetable sources. But this isn’t just the egg white we’re talking about here. For a long time I refused to eat eggs yolks because I considered them a source of “unnecessary fat” and cholesterol. However,  almost all the above mentioned nutrients are in the yolk of the egg. Recent studies have also shown that eating eggs in moderation  doesn’t significantly affect the risk of heart disease.

To top it off they are only 70 calories, so it is considered a nutrient dense food meaning a high amount of nutrition compared to their calorie content. In addition, scientists often use egg protein as the standard against which they judge all other proteins. Based on the essential amino acids it provides, egg protein is second only to mother’s milk for human nutrition. All this great nutrition for a very affordable price.

So how do I eat my eggs “fast food style” – some of my favorites are.

Pair them with a whole grain and veggie for a filling dinner:

….or serve sunny side up on a warm bean salad for a protein punch

Eat them on sandwhiches for lunch:

Scrambled

Whip the egg white into oatmeal for a voluminous, creamy, protein packed start to the day.

Here’s the way I do it

Make French toast out of them

Eat them in omlettes (with hummus if you want a real flavor explosion )

Yes, there's more veggie then egg in that omlette

(Here’s a recipie I tried recently that I highly recomend)

Other tasty ideas I’ve tried:

Pizza omlette (adjust the recipie to make it single serve if you like, and top with any amount of vegetables)

Hummus egg salad :

Hummus egg sandwhich (ok, so I might be a little obsessed with this combination, but trust me, there’s a reason)

Egg white breakfast pizza (sweet OR savory)

Or as oat bran minus the oats:

 So thank you eggs, for being the cheap, versatile food that you are. You keep me healthy and my belly full. And regardless of what some people say – you are my superfood

If you eat eggs, what’s your favorite way to make them?

What’s your favorite healthy “fast food”?

After discovering the concept of intuitive eating and trying encorporating it into my eating habits I slowly began reintroducing more exercise into my lifestyle, with quite a significant amount of weight training. At this point I started focusing a lot on what I should be eating as far as building up my strength and stamina goes. It was a real eye opener for me to realize how fueling up properly before and after work outs crutial to fully benefiting from the exercise . During my ED I would work out only to burn calories, and I would do so on minimal amounts of fuel. But as I started focusing on building up strength and endurance, I realized just how much fun I had been missing out on. The rush of completing a hard core workout because you took the time to fuel up properly really makes the conscious effort to eat more pay off. This too though, was a trial and error experience and I have to say that on more then one occasion I didn’t balance out my calorie intake with what I was burning by exercising, and I DEFINITELY felt it. One of the things that has changed in my body since developing an ED is that if I have a calorie deficiency, I feel it right away and the warning signs my body gives me are hard to ignore and can be pretty scary. So in some cases I learned the lesson the hard way, but it was definitely an important one to learn.

Then I started uni and the craziness of a student’s lifestyle threw me off guard. Strict class schedules, new surrounds and people, and a lack of accountability to anyone but myself for me eating habits tested all I had learned up until this point. The first few weeks I didn’t do all that well. It’s not that I was trying to restrict, but trying to adjust to everything and take care of all there was to do the first couple weeks basically meant I neglected to take the time to fuel my body properly. And since I wasn’t ready to adapt to the ramen noodle and beer diet so loved by students I ended up eating a very limited diet that may not have been very much better then the long run. So most of the time I felt very weak, tired and hungry .

NOT the diet I was going for.

Finding out how to balance my studies and take care of myself took a bit of time and trial and error. I started doing things I NEVER did, and it was kind of scary. For instance, on days I didn’t eat enough during the day I would get crazy hungry around 10 PM. One night I had to get up and make a snack at 11PM because I couldn’t fall asleep.

I had to switch from eating every 2 hours to sometimes going 4 + hours with no food, and by the time I actually managed to eat, I would eat so much I would end up overstuffed. So there was a delicate balance there that was hard for me to find. Of course stress played a factor in here as well, and for the first time in my life I found myself emotionally eating because of stress. You see, when I don’t eat enough my body displays a lot of the same symptoms it does under extreme stress – I get cold and shaky and anxious. So whenever I felt this way I assumed I was hungry and would eat – only to be confronted with a stomach ache from overeating. Of course this time was very difficult for me, because those negative ED voices would come screaming that I was binging and that I should restrict to make up for the extra food I had eaten. Another thing that made it hard was that I compared my food intake with my roommate – who eats 2-3 times a day, occasionally very low calorie foods such as yogurts and rice cakes. Of course other days she would eat a small loaf of bread in one sitting, but of course that was hard for me to keep in mind when I had to eat 3 hours after a meal, and after eating a 3 PM she would be set for the night. Of course I realize everyone’s body is different, and I am more active in general then her, so naturally my body  needs more fuel. But I had to learn not to compare to others and do what is best for me.

Where I’m at now:

Now I seem to have found a much better balance in taking time to take care of myself and devoting time to my studies. I upped the amount of calories in my breakfast and I’ve found that it makes my appetite much more manageable during the day. I try to pack enough food if I know I have a very busy day, I precook a lot of food and rely on leftovers when things get really busy.  I stick to a general eating schedule and eat between 4-5 mini meals a day, but also try to listen to my body and eat more if I need it. I’ve also focused on mindfully eating , so I can better distinguish between stress and genuine hunger; and occasionally force myself to eat even if I have no appetite (another stress related issue for me). My stomach and IBS issues have gotten significantly better, although some days are still better than others.

I still go through phases where I don’t eat enough and need a pretty severe wake up call to get back on track. I mentioned this a little bit in my last post, but I played it down a little. In all honesty when I went out to buy a apple and that yogurt as part 2 of lunch I was about ready to collapse and was so hungry I was afraid I would start binging. Apparently there was a pretty big drop in air pressure so a few people were feeling weak, but I know in my case it was more than just that, and it scared me. I’m currently learning the balance between focusing so much on food to the point it becomes an obsession and not thinking about it at all and neglecting giving my body what it needs. It’s a trial and error process to be honest, but the important thing is that I am not giving up. I know it’s possible for me to learn to eat in a healthy, balanced way, and although it may take a while, I’m determined to make it work.

Have you found the balance between giving your body what it needs and not obsessing about it? Was there one factor in attaining that balance that played a key part?

I can’t remember the last time I was able to take part in one of these . I always plan to, but then I forget and remember on Thursday. But today I actually managed to capture everything I eat in a day, and it was pretty fun.

Today actually isn’t a very good representation of my typical eats. Today I woke up exhausted and felt kind of weak and tired all day. I was also ravenously hungry, thus the frequent snacks. I’ll explain more on this later. But there was a lot of good healthy food today, so nothing to be ashaimed of

Brekafast: Oatbran topped with  honey raisin peanut butter (I blended up some of my crunchy PB with raisins, cinnamon and honey for a creamy, sweet ), and a drizzle of honey and a massive cup of coffee.

I’m becoming a firm believer in the fact that PB makes everything better. The oatbran came out really nasty and gummy (maybe something to do with the ground flax I added) – but topped with PB it was ok.  Long live peanut butter!

After getting to work (right now I’m working part time at a fitness club , but it’s desk job and nothing too exiting ) I could feel my sugar levels drop, so I had an apple and indulged in a late valentines day treat – chocolate!

I’m actually a dark chocolate lover, but there is one type of milk chocolate I do enjoy – and that is milk chocolate with hazelnuts. So that was my treat of choice for today.

Then it was time for lunch – bean salad with a tiny slice of (unpictured)bread.

Warm bean salad – green beans, white beans, cooked carrots and a bit of corn , eaten out of a classy cottage cheese container

But lunch didn’t really fill me up like it was supposed to, and an hour later I was STARVING. I litterally though I was going to pass out, so I had to lock up the place, run to a store and run back. Thankfully the “store” (e.i farmers market) was 1 minute away, and I made it there and back in record time. So lunch part 2 was 1/3 cup yogurt (which was eaten by the time I stopped to take a picture) and a delicious crispy apple – possibly the best I’ve had all month.

I thought that was the end of my snack adventures for the day, but obviously my body knew better. After getting home I was hungry AGAIN, so I opted for 2 crispbreads with cottage cheese and some leftover veggies from lunch.

Since I wasn’t feeling well I decided to do follow my challenge and not push myself to work out today, even though I ate more then usual. Instead I did a relaxing 20 minute yoga flow and because I spoiled my appetite with a late snack ate a smallish serving of dinner – bean chili with corn bread.

Not so photogenic, but very tasty. I <3 cornbread!

After dinner I was full, but had a crazy dessert craving. I was craving chocolate, yogurt , honey and peanut butter so I decided to combine all three and see what happened.

A couple tablespoons of yogurt, 1 tsp of dutch cocoa powder, 1 tsp of honey and a glob of homemade honey raisin PB

The result- a creamy dessert that satisfied all my cravings and finally left me feeling full (maybe even a little too  full, totally worth it though )

As I mentioned before, I usually don’t snack as much as I did today. Throughout my eating journey I’ve learned that listening to my body is very important for staying healthy and maintaining a balanced diet. However, some days I try to cheat myself into eating less then I actually need. Yeasterday I had a busy day interning at a restaurant and then crammed in a work out  at the end of the day. All the while I ate a very minimal amount of food , because I was just “too busy”. So today not only was I ravenously hungry, but I felt weak and light headed all day with barely enough energy to do anything. So it just wasn’t worth it. Cheating doesn’t pay

Of course I think it’s equally important to not freak out if you miss a few snacks or even a meal in a day, and feel extra hungry the next. Our bodies are awesome about balancing out energy defitiencies as long as we’re willing to listen to them. So even though today was a massive snack fest, I know I made good food choices, and I don’t feel bad about it.

Do you ever find yourself trying to cheat your body? Do you feel guilty on days you snack more then others, or do you try to “go with the flow” and trust your body knows best?

Since coming home I have definitely been exercising more, but unfortunately not as much as I would have liked to. Being busy, travelling, extreme cold and feeling under the weather means I’ve only been doing a real “workout” about 3 times a week. I know that this is enough to be healthy, but it has highlighted another struggle that I’m facing, that I’m sure some of you are familiar with.

Eating on rest days. Some days it comes easy (particularly if you’re so busy you hardly have time to eat), but there are days when you are simply ravenous and can’t/shouldn’t work out for some reason or another. This is where ED thought generally come in particularly strongly, telling you to restrict, monitor your calorie intake because you don’t “need the food”.

What I’ve come to realize though, is that this is total bogus. It’s not like building muscles is the only thing your body needs fuel for. Every single moment of every single day your body is burning energy just to keep itself running. It’s repairing tissue, keeping you awake and warm, strengthening your immune system. If you deprive your body of the right amount of fuel it needs to keep running, it suffers, and you suffer as a result. So if you’re on a rest day and you’re extra hungry, it’s not a sign you’re being greedy or gluttenous – it’s a sign that your body is doing something to repair/strengthen itself and listening to your hunger cues is probably the wisest thing you can do.

I know this is probably obvious for many of you, but it’s taking me a while to get this to hit home. I tend to simple ignore my bodies signals on rest days, because I feel that whatever “extra” I’m eating will be stored away into fat (yes,  I know, definite ED mentality there), but there are so many other things your body needs the fuel for, and here’s a quick reminder of some of them:

Protein

Protein helps to maintain and replace the tissues in your body, and it’s found in almost every living cell and fluid. Your muscles, organs and many of your hormones are made up of protein, and it is also used in the manufacture of hemoglobin, the red blood cells that carry oxygen to your body. Protein is also used to manufacture antibodies that fight infection and disease and is integral to your body’s blood clotting ability. Both children and adults need plenty of protein to grow and develop. Protein is a part of every cell in your body, and no other nutrient plays as many different roles in keeping you alive and healthy. The importance of protein for the growth and repair of your muscles, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, eyes and other tissues is proven since a very long time. Without it, you would lack the enzymes and hormones you need for metabolism, digestion and other important processes.

In short even if you’re not doing strength training, your body STILL needs and adequate amount of protein to keep repairing and building itself. It’s your bodies most basic building block.Try restricting that, and your health will suffer in a major way.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate-rich foods are the primary source of energy for all body functions. Your body breaks down carbohydrates, or carbs, into fuel for use by your cells and muscles – that’s why eating a moderate amount of carbohydrates is necessary for most people. There are two types of carbs – sugars and starches. Sugars are simple carbohydrates that can be easily digested by your body and include foods like cake, soda, candy, jellies and fruits. Starches are complex carbohydrates that take longer to be digested and include foods such as breads, grains, pasta, tortillas, noodles, fruits and vegetables.

Carbs get a really bad reputation in todays world, particularly if you’re not doing any form of cardio to “balance out your intake”. However, I know from personal experience that when I’ve tried to restrict my carb intake I’ve found myself drowsy, with no concentration or motivation to do anything. So even if you’re doing sendetary work, like studying for instance, you need those carbs (sugars in particular) to keep those brain cells running.

Fat

Fat is the body’s major energy storage system. When the energy from the food you eat and drink can’t be used by your body, the body may turn it into fat for later use. Your body uses fat from foods for energy, to cushion organs and bones, and to make hormones and regulate blood pressure. Some fat is also necessary to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails, so you shouldn’t cut fat out of your diet.

If carbs got a bad name, fat gets a REALLY bad name in some circles. Most people think that if you eat something with a substantial amount of fat, it inevitably gets stored away somewhere on your body. I’ve found that a serving fat is necessary for long term satiation and keeping energy levels stable, Cutting it out from your diet (and I’ve found this out the hard way) results in dry skin, lackluster hair, cracking nails and very low blood pressure. It’s also necessary for the absorption of some very vital vitamins and minerals. So even if you’re not “burning off fat” by exercising, there are still some very important things your body need it for, that won’t make you any “rounder”.

I’m using this as a reminder to myself (more then anyone else) that our body is a precious and delicate machine. By neglecting to take care of it properly we are doing damage that might not been seen today, or even tomorrow, but in the long run it will have an affect on our health and well being. So even if eating on rest days isn’t easy, it’s important to push through those negative thoughts and realize what total lies they are. Because we are worth it!

Do you occasionally struggle with eating on rest days? What reasoning do you use to push back those negative thoughts and “do the right thing?”

I left home around 7:30 because I had to travel an extra hour to get to my uni to pick up some paperwork. Thankfully that went smoothly, and after stopping at my dorm to pick up a few things I was on my next bus off to the “big city”.

I arrived at around 12:00 and my friend was there to pick me up. I don’t know about you, but I love seeing a familiar face after a long trip- it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Anyways, we have this tradition that every time we meet up we go out for coffee, so off we went.

There’s not very many places here that serve good coffee without cows milk, and I have suffered from some nasty stomach issues from having real lattes in the past, so I was very happy to find a café that served soya milk with no extra charge J. I had  the flat white pictured above (double espresso shots topped with steamed soya milk) and my friend had a white chocolate latte. I have to say, when it comes to coffee I like to taste the coffee with minimal additives- Frappuccino’s  and the like should be served cold in my opinion.

Anyhow, after a good 2 hours of catching up we decided to look around the mall. I still had all my luggage with me, and believe you me, clothes shopping with a huge backpack, handbag, coat and winter hat is NOT all that fun. But I was able to buy something I’ve been needing for a long time – a warm winter sweater. It might not be the most fashionable thing, but in -25 C warmth> fashion.

Then we went back to her place and I had a meal with her family (she still lives with her parents, but that doesn’t bother me since we’re old family friends and pretty much grew up together). I was a little apprehensive about telling them about my lactose intolerance and how I don’t eat meat, but they were super cool about it. Actually I was taken aback by how kind and accommodating they were. Usually when I tell people they either treat me funny, ask aqward questions (So, what happens when you drink milk?) or think I’m making it up. But her parents were totally different. In fact they gave me a bunch of soy powder and soy meat to take back with me – such sweethearts!

We stayed up late watching a kid movie with her little brother and talking. It was so nice just to sit back and do nothing.

After a good sleep in and a hearty oatmeal breakfast for me (which they had the BEST pots for – did you know that oats cook differently depending on the pot they’re in?)

…we decided to go to one of the biggest “museums” in the city  – the Copernicus Science institute. I didn’t believe my friend when she said we’d be gone for 3+ hours, but we ended up staying over 4 hours. Since it’s impossible for me to describe the place and all the exhibits in it, I’ll post a describtion taken from their website:

“Visitors can race against the human heart, discover the limits of their own sense of hearing, and become a lightning-tamer – boredom is virtually impossible at the Copernicus Science Centre.”

Lightzone

Paradoxically this is an area of darkness and shade. The absence of natural light sources provides ideal conditions for exploring the properties and essential nature of light.

Roots of civilization

What can be considered the sources of civilisation? What are the milestones in its development? What might the world look like in a few hundred years? The “Roots of Civilisation” gallery will both pose questions and inspire to seek answers.

Here we are discovering how mankind affects the environment, as well as how it affects us.

Our planet, water in the ocean, blood in our veins, particles in the air we breathe – all the surrounding world is on the move. The exhibition will show you sound waves and light spread, and what makes our finger move.

Me, my brain and emotions. My surroundings and my relations with the environment. Societies and communities and rules within them. Earth as a global village. All this constitutes the RE: generation gallery.

On the banks of the Vistula River and around the Copernicus Science Centre building and on its roof, there is an extraordinary garden called the Discovery Park. This is an open, green space, a place of relaxation geared for educational entertainment, dedicated to whole families.

I have to say – the generation exhibit was my favorite. It was fascinating to see how the human mind works, and all the interactive exhibits were beyond cool. I wish I had taken a few more pictures of the place (and that my friend was a better photographer ) but here are a few so you get a general idea.

Me with a voice imitation robot

On a bed of nails

Me with a face imitation robot, which was actually able to mimic your facial expressions

Interactive learning exhibit

Music composition board

Unfortunatly I was feeling sick during this time, so as much as I would have loved to stay longer, we decided to head back home and rest. Plus we were both pretty hungry at this point, and being poor collage students we didn’t feel too inspired about eating in the overpriced restaurants in the center of town.

After eating and resting up a bit (I got to finish a novel I’ve been reading for over 6 months – just didn’t have the time since I started studying) we had a game night. We played Clue most of the evening and I even won  a round , which was cause to celebrate since I never win board games. Then we watched another movie and headed off the sleep.

The next morning we went for a walk in the city. We ended up stopping at an organic food store (as per my request) and I became the proud owner of a jar of organic, crunchy PB J. I couldn’t afford both the sunflower seed butter and nut butter, and so I opted for something that was the “safer bet”. Then we hit up a few more outlet stores and I bought a few majorly marked down items before heading back.

?

Aren't organic stores always laid out so cute ?

After lunch and fond farewells I was off on my way. Because of traffic I was home really late, but my siblings had planned a special movie night (complete with snacks and dark chocolate which they bought JUST for me) so I stayed up. All in all it was a great ending to a great trip and made me happy to be home again.

And guess what was featured in the next mornings oatmeal –

A very cautious first taste – and guess what – I liked it! J

And now I think it’s time for me to get out of bed and get dressed (it’s 10:00 AM). Hope you have an awesome weekend.

By the way, has anyone heard of soya powder and what to do with it. I first thought it was soya milk powder, but it’s definitely NOT (tried it in my coffee this morning – baaaad idea). Any ideas what I can use it for

Any peanut butter recipies I HAVE to try ?

I’m visiting my friend right now, so I’m away from the computer for a few days. I feel like some times you’ve got to take a break from cyber-world in order to fully enjoy the real world.

However, since I’m in the “big city” I’m using this opportunity to stock up on some nut butter. But I have a dillema…

Sunflower seed butter and peanut butter are at the same price. Sunflower seed butter has slightly more protein, but I’ve never had it before, and I’m wondering if I’ll like it. Peanut butter is, well, peanut butter – so I don’t feel I can go to wrong there…

So can you offer any sunflower vs peanut butter reviews. Which is better in your opinion and why (flavour is really what matters to me here)?

vs

See you again soon with a trip recap.

Take care and have a great week!!

One of the things I’m enjoying most about being home for spring break is finally having the time to cook again. Even though I’m still keeping myself pretty busy (being the work-a-holic that I am), I’m spending significantly more time in the kitchen, which is great fun.

Here are some of my favorites from the last few days:

“Cheese Danish oats”

½ a cup of quick oats (although any variety of oatmeal or oatbran will do)

1 cup milk/water

Handful of raisins (you can also add thinly sliced banana for that hint of sweetness)

1 TBSP ground flax seed

¼-1/3 cup cottage cheese

Vanilla essence.

Add the quick oats, liquid and raisins in a pot and cook on low till the mixture begins to very slightly bubble and is still very liquidy. Add in cottage cheese and continue cooking for a few minutes or till it’s completely melted in. Add flax seed, and vanilla and cook for another minute or till it’s reached the desired consistency. Serve with nut butter, jam, or whatever else you like J

Creamy, delicious and FILLING. This is one of the few breakfasts that can keep me going for 3 -4 hours – definitely thanks to the protein in the flax and cottage cheese. If you’ve never tried cottage cheese in oats I highly encourage you to.

A twist on Mama Pea’s chickpeas and dumplings (I used a variety of veggies and white beans for the base along with a thickened vegetable broth). Another easy, comforting, delicious meal.

Chocolate covered Katies Brownie batter dip – lived up to all my expectations of it.

And today’s latest experiment – a hummus stuffed omlett (not sure if any of you have ever tried the combination, but I found it fantastic). I imagine adding some sauted spinach and cheese would have taken it till the next level, but unfortunatly I didn’t have that available

And now I’m going to sleep with a house that smells deliciously of chocolate cake (which my simblings will be devouring for breakfast tomorrow). It’s good to be home…

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

What was your favorite “taste of the weekend” so far?

I passed my last exam of the semester!

Anyone who hasn’t studied probably can’t relate relate to how liberating the feeling that comes after all the pre-exam, last minute assigment stress, but you who do know what I’m talking about

What a great way to start off Febuary!! I think this calls for a survey post (haven’t seen that on here for a while). The lovely lady at “The breakfast diaries” tagged me on this

1)      I’m totally a morning person. I’m not sure if this is because I physically can’t sleep in the morning (the longest I’ve ever slept in after staying up till 7:00 Am was 12:00) I have a hard time working late at night (although relaxing or partying isn’t too hard to do   ) so I find my most productive times are in the morning. Seriously, I wake up at 5:30 pre-exams to study. This is totally unlike the typical uni student schedule, which is sleep till 10:00 minimum before even contemplating getting out of bed

2)      My biggest “guilty pleasure” is coffee. I know I probably drink too much and should limit my intake, but it’s just such a nice way to start off your morning, afternoon, night studies I would take a good cup of coffee over a decadent dessert any day.

3)      I don’t like smoothies. Wait, let me rephrase that, I like the idea of smoothies, but they really don’t fill me up at all, and I always finish them feeling somewhat cheated. They’re ok as a light snack in summer, or a side to a “real meal” but I much prefer something I can chew. Slurping just doesn’t do it for me.

4)       I used to dance all the time. Either by myself in my room, performing in dance troops, or choreographing and organizing a kids dance troop. Seriously there was a time I couldn’t imagine life without dancing being a regular part o me. I think I should get back into it, because that was something that really made me happy.

5)      I’m insanely picky about my hot cocoa/ chocolate. It’s probably why I never like ordering it in restaurants or buying it ready made. I like it REALLY DARK (made with Dutch cocoa) with only a splash of milk, sweetener and a slight dash of chili for a spicy kick. Weird, maybe, but that’s how I like it.

6)      I like books/movies that end with the main character dying. Not because I don’t enjoy a happy ending, but because I feel then the story has run a full circle. It had a beginning and a definite end. Plus it’s generally more realistic than the price and princess riding off into the sunset and living happily ever after.

7)      The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten was baloot – I am NOT going to post a picture of it for you, because it’s not very appetizing. However, I encourage you to google it and then praise me for my bravery . I will however admit I ate it with my eyes closed.

8)      When I was a kid I used to entertain myself by telling myself the story of my life in third person. I also wrote poems, short stories, songs (I never got very far with this one), and drew. I’m wondering where all that creativity went.

9)      I love hot water bottles in winter. I use them a lot because of my weird stomach issues, but even when I’m not in pain I love cuddling up with something warm and fuzzy. Particularly since I have 0% tolerance to cold and was definitely made for tropical climates.

10)   Since beginning studies I am paranoid about forgetting something. I check my bag at least 5 times before leaving my dorm. I misplace things and have to write lists to keep track of everything. Must be all that new information cluttering my brain.

11)   I enjoy cleaning the house when I’m annoyed or stressed out. It’s one of the best “stress therapies” in my opinion because it gets my mind off whatever’s bothering me AND is productive so I don’t feel like I’m wasting time. Although my least favorite chores is washing dishes (probably because it’s so repetitive).

Now onto my questions:

1)      Which foreign language would you most like to learn and why?

This would probably be between Arabic or Spanish. I consider both to be very beautiful languages (Arabic slightly more so) but Spanish is more practical for day to day use

2)      What were the last three books you read? Which was your favourite?

I really haven’t been reading much aside from anatomy/genetic/chemistry text books recently, but an all time classic for me has been the Bourne Trilogy by Eric Van Lustbader  (which I intend to read again over the spring break) – don’t judge the book by the movie though, the book is a million times better. I’ve actually never seen the movie because I don’t want to ruin the book.

3)      What is your favourite thing about your home/house/flat/dorm room?

Dorm room it would have to be the covers on my bed and the hot shower next door. Other than that there’s really not all that much endearing about that place At home my favorite thing is my knick knacks, cups/bowls and cozy kitchen.

 4) Cereal vs. oatmeal/porridge?

Cereal – major fun food. Love the crunch and flavor, but it has zero filling power for me. Oatmeal on the other hand is my power food that will keep me going all day

4)      If you could be a Disney character for a day which one would you choose?

Gosh, this is a hard one. Off the top of my head it would be Pocahontas – I’ve always found something fascinating about her and the world she lived in.

6) What was your favourite subject at school?

Language arts. I love reading and writing, so this was right up my alley. Although I wasn’t 100% sold on grammar and spelling

7) What was the first album you bought?

I think it was some kind of random hip-hop mix. (I was really into hip-hop back when I was about 11-12 – although I’ve kind of grown out of that phase now)

8) Who makes you laugh?

One of my friends. He thinks he’s a lot funnier then he is, but some times he has me laughing so hard I can’t stop. And my mom, but mainly when

9) What is your favourite smell?

I love the smell of the forest right after it rains. As far as perfumes go I’m in love with Calvin Kleins “Obsession”. If you’re a guy and you wear that perfume you get some major brownie points in my book

10) Which historical figure/person do you find the most interesting?

Is it really bad to say I don’t know. I was never much of a history buff in general. My (somewhat pessimistic ) approach to history is that “the only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history”.

12)   What is your favourite chocolate bar??

I don’t know about my favorite chocolate bar, but I love “After Eight” chocolates. Mint and dark chociolate are the best combination ever.

I know most people have already done this survey, but I’m going to tag a few of you anyways

- Liz

- Aja

- Katy

- Breakfast Junkie

Here are the rules:

1: You must post these rules.
2: Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
3: Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

And here are your quiestions:

1) What is your biggest pet peeve?

2) What is your idea of the “perfect morning”?

3) Best movie you’ve ever seen?

4) If you could meet one celebrity in person, who would it be?

5) The most exotic place you’ve ever visited (or would like to visit)?

6) Who’s a role model for you and why?

7) 4 qualities you look for in a good friend?

8) 5 quirky habits you have?

9) Cake or ice-cream?

10) 2 quotes that motivate you?

11) What did you want to be when you grew up?

Have a great month everyone!

I was planning a deeper, more thought provocing post. But since I’ve been up since 5:30 working and studying for an upcoming exam, I don’t really have the mental stamina to type it up in a logical, comprehensive fassion. But as soon as this exam is done and over with I’ll be posting, so stay tuned.

One thing I’ve been thinking about recently is the stereotypes we are surrounded with. Daily we are force-fed others opinion – either by the media, the people around us, or just the accepted norms of the culture around us, and we rarely stop long enough to question them. But I think there’s a lot of stearotypes we would find to be totally false, if we would only stop long enough to question them and form our own opinions. So here are some silly  foodie stereotypes I bashed during the weekend:

-          Silly stereotype no.1 – oats are horse food (I’ve actually been told this by others ) As a pre-teen it was so uncool to eat oatmeal so I  stopped eating it for years. But since discovering new and exiting ways of making it, I can’t get enough! So glad they’re a healthy indulgence  :)

My current favorite oatmeal combination- oats with soya milk, flax, cinnemon and raisins.

-          Silly stereotype no . 2 – Healthy equals bland or boring. So not true! I made a variation of chia seed chocolate pudding and it was so rich and delicious I could hardly believe I was eating something healthy.

-          Silly stereotype no 3. – Simple can’t equal delicious. The best foods are all gormet. My favorite snack of late has been anything but fancy, but the combination is incredible.

Oranges (or tanderines) topped with yogurt , cinnemon and honey. It’s amazing (and no, that’s not my picture )

-          Silly stereotype no 4. – Spinage is yucky . I wonder who came up with this one? Although admittedly I was turned off to spinach for a long time because the first time I was served it boiled with no seasonings. Did I mention it was frozen, shredded spinach. Yeah, I think I’d still dislike it. But I did have a proud moment when my little brothers picked out a leaf of spinach from their dinner the other day and said “Leelu, we like this green stuff” (I had cooked dinner by the way )

Ugly picture – delicious food. Millet with sauted spinach, chickpeas and melted cottage cheese. Soooo good!

-          Silly stereotype no 5. Milk chocolate is better then dark chocolate. Ok, so this is more of a personal preference, but it seems the majority of “normal people” prefer milk chocolate and think of dark chocolate only in a baking capacity. Such a sad thought. Oh well, at least there’s more in the world for me.

What’s a silly foodie stereotype in your opinion?

But no matter how crazy life gets, one thing I am dead stuck on is veggies in my diet. Fruit – I try to have it, but veggies are an almost inseperable part of at least 2 meals. Of course, buying fresh produce for just one person is hard for me, so I tend to pick a “veggie of the week” that I buy more of, and buy the rest as the mood strikes.

The veggie of the week was broccoli – I haven’t had it in a long time, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a great, flavourful addition to my grain bowls (the majority of my hot meals) and after a little research I was very pleasantly surprised at all it’s healthy benefits J

Here are some of the main benefits of eating broccoli:

-          Broccoli can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in broccoli do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they’ve been steamed. Raw broccoli still has cholesterol-lowering ability—just not as much.

-          Broccoli has a strong, positive impact on our body’s detoxification system, and researchers have recently identified one of the key reasons for this detox benefit. Glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiian, and glucobrassicin are 3 glucosinolate phytonutrients found in a special combination in broccoli. This dynamic trio is able to support all steps in body’s detox process, including activation, neutralization, and elimination of unwanted contaminants. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are the detox-regulating molecules made from broccoli’s glucosinolates, and they help control the detox process at a genetic level.

-          Broccoli may help us solve our vitamin D deficiency epidemic. When large supplemental doses of vitamin D are needed to offset deficiency, ample supplies of vitamin K and vitamin A help keep our vitamin D metabolism in balance. Broccoli has an unusually strong combination of both vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and vitamin K. For people faced with the need to rebuild vitamin D stores through vitamin D supplements, broccoli may be an ideal food to include in the diet.

-          Broccoli is a particularly rich source of a flavonoid called kaempferol. Recent research has shown the ability of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. This kaempferol connection helps to explain the unique anti-inflammatory benefits of broccoli, and it should also open the door to future research on the benefits of broccoli for a hypoallergenic diet.

To sum it up, here are some of the main nutritional benefits of broccoli  -it’s one of nature’s best super foods and provides over twice your daily requirement of vitamin C from an average serve. Plus it’s top of the list for beta-carotene (the precursor of vitamin A), folate, vitamin E plus several B vitamins and minerals like iron and calcium.

Here are so of the ways I’ve been enjoying broccoli recently:

In veggie bowls:

Top ped with roasted chickpeas (ala this recipie)

With millet and “cheese sauce”

As a side to sandwhiches:

In soup.

Honestly, my favorite way is to eat it lightly steamed with only a hint of salt added.

What veggie have you been lovin’ on recentIy?

If you had to pick one, which would you prefer – veggies or fruit?

Holy guacamole I love food. And TV. And being able to combine them into one cohesive event without looking like a complete dinner-in-front-of-the-tv-watching bum (but hey, who doesn’t do that once in a while?).

But anyway, two of the biggest reasons to watch TV and eat a lot of food are coming up, and one of the reasons I was really inspired to write this post is due to this post on epicurious.com’s site (I follow them on twitter, too. @epicurious). They took the best picture nominees and created menus revolving around the themes of the movies. I think it’s pretty genius. Here’s the link:

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2012/01/menus-for-the-2012-oscar-nominees.html

By the way, you can check out the show on February 26th.

I bet ten bucks you guys can guess the other TV to food topic I’m going to mention: The Superbowl! I don’t really have quite the same super cool link for this TV event, but I don’t think it’s needed! There’s all sorts of nom-able ideas that you can come up with to serve at this event, but one that I’m really excited to make (and for the first time at that) is buffalo chicken dip! I know it’s probably not the most exciting item on a menu, but I’m really excited to try it! Here’s the recipe I plan on using:

http://www.food.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-wing-dip-116266

I’m really excited about the fact that it makes A LOT, also.

And veering off the topic of food just a bit, there’s this super sweet contest on Rachael Ray Magazine’s website to win a trip for 4 to Hawaii! Here’s the link:

http://promo.rachaelraymag.com/sweeps/1112_sweeps_isle.php

Have a fab day!

So on Saturday, my kitchen was taken over by my husband and his dad. What an unusual thought, huh? Two men taking over the kitchen…and COOKING at that! Actually, my father in law is quite the cook, and he’s always really into trying something new. This time around, his new thing to try is venison breakfast sausage. And since my husband had an abundance of deer meat from about 2 years of hunting seasons, they decided to take some of the less delectable cuts of meat and make something supremely delicious!

Here’s the gist of how they put it together:

-2 lbs ground beef

-9 lbs pork shoulder,meat cut off bone

-9 lbs venison

-stick each individual meat through a meat grinder (they used a kitchenaid mixer attatchment-works really well but it’s REALLY loud which was crappy due to my trying to watch a movie in the other room.)

-add seasonings -you can buy breakfast sausage seasoning specifically for game animals at hunting/outdoor stores and I bet at specialty markets as well.

-mix it allllll together, then run the meat through the grinder again.

That’s it! The FIL says that the seasonings don’t really set into the meat right away, but his dad stuck it on our cast-iron grill pan right after they made it and it was AMAZEBALLS. They then packaged up the rest in freezer paper for us to stock up on. you would think with about 20 lbs of meat that you would have a LOT of sausage, but when you think about giving a package or two to friends and family here and there, it runs out quickly! You can use the ground meat for pretty much anything, I’m actually going to try using it in meatballs hopefully some time next week.

Another reason why I really enjoyed my husband and FIL have a cooking spree in my kitchen is the fact that not only did I get all this super awesome sausage, but I got a ham bone which I am currently stewing in my crock pot right now to make my first attempt at ham bone soup! Here’s the recipe I’m using:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ham-bone-soup/

I tweaked it a little by taking out 1/4 of the onion (which isn’t a real big favorite of mine or my hub’s) and adding in about 1.5 cups of carrots (which we both agreed was a needed addition).

Here are a couple pics from my soup adventure:

The above pic is about the halfway point, and below is the soup with the bone ready to cook.

I feel awesome!

So awesome I’m actually gonna post a recipie for the first time in forever.

My little brothers begged me into baking cookies this afternoon. But with no ingredients in the house – this turned out to be quite a challange. So opposed to following a recipie I decided to throw a bunch of ingredients together and hope for the best. And I was pretty happy with the outcome!

(PS: These look and taste like “health cookies”. I personally enjoy my cookies “real food” tasting, but they’re not exactly dessert cookies per say. I like to think of them as “brain fuel” But for being vegan, sugar free and taking exactly 5 minutes to put together – they’re not half bad .)

Oatmeal raisin chewies

- 1 cup oats

- 1 cup flour

- 1/2 – 2./3 cup water

- 1/2 cup raisins

-  1 tsp cinnemon

- 1 tsp baking powder

- peanuts, walnuts  (or whatever other nut you prefer – I used peanuts because that was all we had in the house)

Mix together dry ingredietns. Pour hot water over the raisins and let them plump up. Once the water has cooled to a lukewarm temperature, blend the raisins and water together. Add to the dry ingredients. Add chopped nuts. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for 15 minutes.

I ate these for snack with a bit of yogurt, and they kept me full for a good 3 hours. Lots of real food in there.

Alright, I’m off to bed. Have a great weekend everyone!

(And check out  This fit chicks awesome give – away while you’re at it )

Do you prefer you desserts “healthy side”? Or are you more of the “indulgent type”? I have a very conservative sweet tooth, so I prefer to make my own desserts in favour of anything store bought.

The worst of the exams are over. I have 2 in the next week and then one a week after that, but this has been by far the most hectic period of my studies so far. Between sleepless nights, multiple cups of coffee, crazy amounts of pressure and fickle professors I’m more then ready for the weekend.

During this week I realized something very odd about myself. As much as I pride myself in knowing my limits, somehow I feel like I have to test them on every occasion. After writing my last exam of the week on Thursday I was so tired and mentally spent all I could do was lie on my bed and stare at the celeing. Yet, I was contemplating taking an addition 2 exams in order to try to up my grades.

Truth is, I knew it was too much. I knew I was piling on the pressure so high that I couldn’t handle it. But something kept forcing me to try, to push myself just a little bit more, to try to drain the last bit of energy out of me.

But I was able to say no. I was able to push my perfectionist tendencies to the side and acknowledge the fact that I am in fact human and that’s ok. I don’t have to have the best grades of the class, I don’t have to push myself till I can hardly keep my eyes open and all I dream of at night are exams and professors.

There’s a reason athletes don’t push themselves past a certain point. Although it might help them do well in a particular training or game, it can lead to a long term injury that will end their career for good. It’s not all that different in day to day life. You can live each day pushing yourself to the brining, but that won’t last very long. Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you burning out in the beginning is just not worth it.

So I decided to come home for the weekend. I went to a fitness class, spent some time talking with my parents, and I think I’m gonna call it an early night. Because you’ve just gotta treat yourself once in a while:

It can be as simple as a decent lunch when you’ve been living off sandwhiches for the past week.

Or a special breakfast

                                                                          I never understood what all the hype about “oats i jar” was. That was until I tried them myself. By far the best breakfast of the week.  This particular combination was banana oat bran in a raw almond butter jar – topped with banana and cinnemon

Or a trip for a special coffee to the local café (complete with dessert of course)

Or a manicure, pedicure, hot shower or bath.

These simple little things make more then just a drudgery and a chore. Because it’s not all just about how fast you can get there,  but enjoying the journey along the way.

Do you ever feel you need to push yourself to the brink?

What little pleasures do you indulge in?

Ever try oats in a jar? Were you as wow-ed as I was ?

So have any of you guys out there in internet land ever experienced the “joys” (yeah,note that joys is in quotes because I am saying that with about as much sarcasm as my food-deprived self can muster) of food poisoning?

It’s awful. Horrible. Literally the worst illness/ailment I have ever experienced aside from shingles (yeah, had that at 18; that was a bummer in a much different way).

It couldn’t have come at a worse time, considering that spring semester started for me yesterday. So that was fun. Luckily I have online classes, but seriously try concentrating after an all night experience like food poisoning. It is no fun.

But anywho, part of the reason I really wanted to blog about my horrific experience is because I needed to share all of the yummy things that I wish that I could eat right now! I figured at the very least I could live vicariously through you guys…*sigh* Also, with the super bowl coming around the corner (yes I’m one of those typical people who only watches the super bowl game even though they don’t know a thing about the teams or football) I can’t stop thinking about chicken wings dang it!

Ok so firstly I have to start with this dish from bonapetit.com, I get weekly(ish) emails and they always have the most amazing stuff on there!

I hope you guys don’t get squeamish about fish…

[photo from bonapetit.com]

Holy yum does this Thai steamed fish with lime and chile dish not look amazing? I’m a huge seafood fanatic and I have been wanting to try my hand at some Thai type food for a while, so there you go.

Alright, do any of you guys watch Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory? I feel annoyed with myself at even admitting that I do, but lately I can’t help but think about the episode where he tries to make the most expensive grilled cheese sandwich and the whole posse enters that contest…mmm grilled cheese…

[photo from remotecontrol.mtv.com]

So I don’t think I have to say much regarding the deliciousness of this buffalo chicken wing dip, although I do have to admit that I’d probably split the recipe in half so that way I could not burn my tongue off with hot sauce (this recipe calls for a WHOLE bottle) since I’m a little bit of a lame-o when it comes to the stuff.

[photo and recipe from http://www.food.com/recipe/buffalo-chicken-wing-dip-116266]

 Alright, I think this is about all I can handle as far as this food talk is concerned, but I hope you guys have been enjoying it!

My camera batteries died recently – so no photos for now . Not that I have much to show anyways. I’ve been going between my classes and my books for the past week, so it’s really not all that exiting

Things are kind of coo-coo crazy before all the exams, so I might not get back to regular posting till Febuary – sorry about that.

In the meantime I have a quiestion…

I’ve finished my last bit of nut butter next week .  And I’m thinking I need to replenish my stock so I have some quick “on the go” fuel for days I don’t have time to cook a decent meal (more often then I’d care to admit). Peanut butter is the only option at the moment, and althought it’s not my favorite, it’ll be a good thing to have on hand.

So the quiestion is : salted or unsalted? I’m really not a expert , so I would love to hear which one you guys think is best

Oh yes, and any easy, make ahead go to meal ideas that don’t spoil easily would be greatly appreciated as well

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Here are nine tricks for cutting out the calories and fat from your diet while still enjoying your food.

Jarred Salsa – Yes, I eat salsa from a jar.  I buy a variety of jarred salsas, a traditional tomato-based salsa and a tomatillo salsa, to name a few.  Salsa is mostly … VEGETABLES! Very healthy and low cal – just check out the label to make sure it doesn’t have added sugar or oil.  Salsa is a great topping for a baked potato and also a simmering sauce for boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Avocados – These creamy, delicious, green packets of goodness are high in fat but they are very low in saturated fat and have a lot of nutrients and vitamins that are good for you, including Folic Acid, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Potassium and fiber.  They are a great substitute for another fatty, delicious condiment, mayo.  I spread mashed avocados on sandwiches and burgers in lieu of mayo or sandwich spread.

Mustard – I’ve talked about my love of mustard in other posts, but it is a flavorful, low calorie, usually fat-free condiment that can spice up a variety of sandwiches, sauces and entrees.  Open my fridge and you will see a yellow mustard, a Dijon, a whole grain, a tarragon and a Chinese spicy mustard.  I add mustard to anything I need to boost up the flavor.  It makes a great coating for baked boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I even add a pinch of mustard to my mac & cheese sauce. Don’t say ewwww – you never would’ve known if I didn’t just write this.

Citrus Juice – When you take out the fat in dishes, they often fall short in the taste department.  Many of your frozen diet foods increase flavor by adding a lot of sodium (salt) to your meal, salt that is bad for your heart.  A way you can add that zip back to you food is by a quick squeeze of citrus juice, such as lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit.  The sharp, acidic juice adds flavor without any fat and very few calories or sodium.  You can also add the zest of the fruit to the dishes.  Simply grate the zest, the colored part of the peel without any of the white pith and add it to your dish.

Vinegar – Just like its fruit juice friend above, vinegar adds acid and punches up the flavor of a dish without the fat, calories or sodium that other ingredients add.  I like white balsamic (regular balsamic is good too but the white doesn’t make everything all brown), Champagne, Tarragon (yes I like tarragon), Rice and Apple Cider.  Each has a different flavor, some sweeter, some more mild, some with more bite.

Fresh Herbs – Yes they can be expensive but they are cheaper than angioplasty or probably even your health insurance co-pay.  They are green but if you chop them up finely, you won’t see them. Cilantro, basil, tarragon and parsley are my go-to herbs. Here are a few of my favorite herb combinations:

• Tomato and Basil, Tarragon and Parsley – throw in a chopped garlic clove and this makes a tasty pasta sauce
• Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese and mint and parsley – mix some plain, fat-free greek yogurt with part-skim ricotta cheese, add some chopped mint and flat leaf, Italian parsley – it makes a great dip for crudite or a topping for a baked potato
• Olive oil, lime juice and cilantro – combine in a gallon-size, freezer baggie and marinate chicken, fish, shrimp or pork chops.  If you’re feeling really spicy, chop up a Serrano chili and add to your marinade.  I wouldn’t marinate your protein more than 20 – 30 minutes though (15 – 20 for shrimp or fish) as the acid from the lime juice will cook it similar to ceviche.
• Broccoli and red pepper flakes – OK red pepper flakes aren’t an herb, but you probably have a jar sitting in your spice rack next to that dried basil and garlic salt.  If those flakes are still red, not brown, you can toss some along with some extra virgin olive oil into some steamed broccoli for a zesty side dish.  You could add some grated ginger or garlic too if you’re feeling really caliente.

Aromatic Vegetables – Vegetables like onions, bell peppers, carrots, celery, garlic, chili peppers and ginger can add a ton of flavor to your dishes.  This is why practically every cuisine of which I am aware makes a base, called the trinity, mire poix, etc… of a combination of these veggies because they bring a ton of flavor.  Oh and if your significant other, children, whomever doesn’t like onions, peppers, etc… instead of chopping them, try pulsing them in a food processor.  Many times it’s not the flavor they don’t like, it’s the texture or the idea of the vegetable they don’t like.  If they can’t see it, they might not know it’s in there.  Store your garlic in a cool, dry place, not your fridge or the top of your fridge.  You can store ginger wrapped in foil in the freezer. You can roast your own garlic and peppers and save those in the fridge, covered in olive oil.

Iceburg Lettuce – If you’ve been to PF Changs and have ordered the lettuce wraps, you know where I’m going with this.  Normally iceburg lettuce is maligned and passed over by many a foodie – however, it adds a nice crisp and cool element to a spicy dish.  Also, its cup-like shape makes iceburg lettuce a great pocket for tacos, sandwich wraps or delicious spicy chicken.  If you can wrap it in a tortilla, try wrapping it in iceburg lettuce or even leaf lettuce.

Grill pan – One of my favorite pieces of cooking equipment is my cast iron grill pan. Besides giving you those cute lines on your food, you don’t oil to cook your food if the pan is seasoned properly.  I use mine not just to grill meat but also to grill veggies such as red peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggplant and zucchini.  I also use it to heat up tortillas.

I hope these tips help you cut back some of the fat, but not the flavor, to help you meet your health goals for 2012.  If you have any other tips, I would LOVE to hear them.

Poutine!

I adore poutine. I really don’t even say the word as much as I squeal it in sheer delight.  And no, it’s not a euphemism for a female sex organ, poutine is the classic Canadian comfort food of salty, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside French fries, smothered in a brown gravy, topped with cheese curds.  For my friends who’ve not experienced poutine, think of it as the Canadian version of Chili Cheese Fries, but with more sophistication.

Diving into a bowl of poutine, I am transformed through each stage of the deliciousness.  The first note that hits you is the crispy, salty fries.  Who knew a humble potato could taste so delicious when blanched and fried properly?  Then you’re hit with the gooey, stringy, melted fresh cheese curds. Since that dairy delight is not enough, the lily is gilded with a rich, meat-flavored, earthy brown gravy that pulls the whole dish together.  No ketchup needed.  My favorite part though is to uncover those fries at the bottom that have been swimming in that delicious pool of gravy and are now saturated with beefy goodness.

Every time I go to Canada, I find a way to indulge in my poutine fix at least once. OK, it’s probably more like four or five times, but it’s not like I go to Canada every other week. Poutine is one of those dishes that people like to get creative with, adding some personality to it. You can change up the sauces or add other toppings to boost up the flavor.

Montreal Chef and Cooking Channel star, Chuck Hughes, in fact defeated Chef Bobby Flay in the Iron Chef Battle Lobster with his famous Lobster Poutine, one of the most popular dishes on the menu of his restaurant Garde Manger.  Not to be outdone, the famous Montreal restaurant, La Banquise, has 28 varieties of poutine for your dining pleasure, including a vegetarian version and the T-Rex version that contains ground beef, hot dogs, bacon and pepperoni. Your angioplasty will be courtesy of Health Canada, well only for Canadians.  My American friends, don’t order the T-Rex unless you have great out of network coverage.

I even make my own poutine, with frozen fries, gravy and shredded mozzarella cheese.  If I’m feeling spicy, I make a Texas poutine where I use shredded pepper jack cheese and jalapenos.  For years, my feeble attempts at poutine have usually come short of satisfying the intense craving for that gooey, cheesy, salty deliciousness that can only be quenched in Canada.

Until now…

While bored and playing on Facebook, I stumbled upon the fan page for Senate Pub in the Gateway District in Cincinnati.  I’ve heard good things about Senate from a few of my friends, but let’s face it, people in Cincy are notorious for not wanting to go downtown when they live in the suburbs.  I plead guilty to that.  So it takes a lot to get me to pay for parking and other safety issues once you’re north of the Aronoff Center entertainment district.

While perusing Senate’s menu I saw it, shining like a beacon in the night or at least sparkling like my party shoes, one solitary word, “poutine.”  I knew I had to try it.  Luckily, my friend Shauna was available for dinner and since she also got addicted to poutine on our recent trip to Toronto, we decided to check it out.

I was pleasantly surprised to see there was a parking lot located beside the restaurant.  It’s a pay lot but it was reasonably priced at $3 for the evening.  Upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the host and informed there was a 45 minute wait for a table, or we could sit immediately at the bar.  We chose the bar.  I can’t tell you the last time I was told I’d have to wait 45 minutes for a table for two on a Wednesday night.  I don’t think Senate takes reservations. So if you go, be prepared for a wait.

I usually don’t like to sit at the bar on my first visit to a restaurant.  I don’t think it gives you the true feel of the restaurant, but I didn’t feel this way at all at Senate.  The bar staff was very friendly and was able to answer our questions about the menu.  The restaurant is wicked narrow so if you sit at the bar, or in the tables beside the bar, be prepared for some bumps.

Now on to the food and most importantly, the poutine! Did you squeal it with me?

It’s not a traditional poutine. Senate’s version is a jazzed up version with a braised short rib and fresh cheese curds.  I’ve spent years looking all over Cincinnati for fresh cheese curds to no avail.  Apparently, I need to open a restaurant to get fresh cheese curds or befriend a dairy farmer.  You can all add a poached egg on top for an extra dollar.  I’m not a big poached egg fan so we opted not to add the egg.

After what seemed liked HOURS, not really, I was just hungry, the poutine arrived.  I think I clapped briefly I was so happy.  It was beautiful to view but would I finally be able to enjoy this Canadian guilty pleasure so far away from the Great White North?

For my first bite, I ate just a plain fry.  I nearly fell off of my chair it was so good. It was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside with a nice briny salt bite to it. I could eat a whole basket of those fries plain they are so good.  On my next bite, I scooped into some of the short rib and cheese.  The short rib was tender and moist and the cheese was fresh and creamy.  There was a light sauce on the bottom of the plate that tasted like a warm mayo, adding some extra richness to the dish.

Here’s where I’d like to tell you that I spent hours, luxuriously enjoying every morsel of this poutine.  But no, I think I inhaled my half in about 10 minutes of pretty much non-stop shoveling food in my mouth.  I may have stopped to breathe, twice.  I would’ve licked the plate, but I’d like to go back and they might not let me in if I’m that freaky plate-licking chick.  As we sat at the bar, we saw probably another five plates of poutine, some with egg, some without, come out to the dining room.  I did refrain from snatching fries off of those plates.

Now a few people have argued that it’s not really poutine because there wasn’t enough gravy.  While I agree that it’s not the traditional poutine, I think every Canadian I know would enjoy sharing a plate of this version with me.  I thought it was a good proportion of saucy meat to fries.  I don’t like poutine that has been drowned in gravy.  There was actually more saucy meat in that pile than how it appears in my poorly lit photo. I really need to get a smart phone with a flash. So much for the free smart phone Sprint.

Of course, Senate does have other items on its menu, including the My Wife’s Salad that Shauna ordered as her entrée and the lobster BLT that I had for my entrée.  Don’t judge, it’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s – eating healthy is frowned upon during this time.  Both entrees were good.  The lobster BLT had a nice portion of lobster and bacon.  The brioche bun was tasty but a bit big I thought. I didn’t eat all of the bun.  The tomato was OK. It’s winter, it’s hard to find good tomatoes at this time of the year.

Senate also has a nice selection of craft beer and drinks.  I had the Lexington beer, which is aged in bourbon barrels, giving it a slight caramel sweetness to the beer.  There is another drink I want to try there, the Kitten Fizz.  OK it’s pink and probably a girly drink that I would normally eschew but it sounds really good.  It consists of a shot of St. Germain, an elderflower liquor, Tito’s vodka, raspberries, soda and simple syrup.

If you’re ever in Cincinnati, and you don’t mind getting up close to your fellow restaurant patrons, you should definitely check out Senate.  Try the poutine – you will soon be squealing just like me.

The first salad that caught my eye was the Beet and Blood Orange Salad with Mint.  First off, the salad is beautiful in its composition.  Second, beets and blood oranges are in season right now.  Since it’s winter here, not a lot of vegetables are in season.  Eating what’s in season is healthier and also a little less expensive.  So I decided to make this salad.

I cut the recipe in half as it serves ten and well, I am only one.  I made a few additional substitutions, replacing the shallot with chopped red onions (it’s what I had in my fridge), a half teaspoon of agave (I didn’t have any honey) and I omitted the feta and sumac – as I didn’t have any.  My final substitution, I roasted the beets instead of steaming them.

That’s a big lesson you should all know about cooking – it’s OK to substitute or omit/add ingredients to suit your tastes.  While baking requires you follow recipes to the letter, cooking allows you more creativity and freedom to customize your dishes.

Back to the salad, the blood oranges have a lovely sweetness, with a bright acidity that really balances out the earthy, sweetness from the beets.  I love eating citrus in the winter because it has a light, tropical feel to it. It’s also high in Vitamin C to help keep your immune system up during the cold weather.  The olive oil and parsley bring a more savory component to the dish so it’s more like a salad than a dessert.  The mint ties everything together with a refreshing taste.

One thing I would probably add is a crunchy element, such as toasted hazelnuts.  I think there is a crispy, crunchy element missing.  Overall, I really liked this salad and will definitely be making it again.

Food & Wine's Beet and Blood Orange Salad

It’s been a total ED test, because I’ve been eating foods I haven’t eaten in years – and so far it’s ok. Some days my stomach is messed up, or I end up overeating because my meals aren’t balanced properly – but I take it all as “real life training”. You can’t eat healthy and the way you’d like to 100% of the time – you’ve just gotta take it as it comes and work with what you’ve got.

Anyhow, today was a slighly dramatic last intership day – but it’s over! And since I like keeping it positive around here, let’s talk about the things I’ve been enjoying this holiday season.

Holiday banana-oatmeal pancakes (ala Kath)

Ginger-bread topped oatmeal

Experimenting in the kitchen:

(“Blondies” based off this recipie – but I subbed the peanut butter for a banana. I don’t know if they tasted much like a real blondie – but I do know I couldn’t keep myself from eating them )

At home dinners:

Oh She Glows chickpea bites, with brown rice, peanuts and a carrot/cabbage salad.

Stealing my little brother’s gummy bear vitamins

Biscuits and hot chocolate with a dash of chili pepper (I promise it tastes amazing)

What are you loving this holiday season?

Thank you all for the Christmas greetings. One of the things I love most about blogging in the community you get to know here. It’s weird, but even though I’ve never met most of you in person, I still feel like I “know” you all in some way. It’s a hard thing to describe, but I just want you all to know that I consider you my friends and I feel privileged to have you in my life.

Ok, enough with the cheesy stuff.

I wish I had some Christmas pictures to share with you, but after cooking dinner, no one was much in the mood for taking photos. Plus the young ones were far too hungry to be good photo material J

But even though I don’t have any photos to share, I would like to tell you a bit about the Christmas traditions.

My family is Easter European , but I’ve grown up travelling. So our Christmas is a mix of typical Easter European traditions and some foreign ones we’ve picked up during our travels.

Traditionally , the main meal is eaten on Christmas Eve.  It’s a vegetarian feast (no meat aside from fish) with 12 different  dishes. You’re supposed to have a small taste of each dish, and enjoy a long, drawn out dinner. After dinner is finished and the dishes have been cleared, it’s time for caroling and presents.  This is supposed to happen as close to midnight as possible, so technicaly you’re opening presents on Christmas day. Then there’s usually some kind of dessert,  festive drink and it’s off to bed.

The next day is usually more laid back and relaxed (everyone is resting after a day full of cooking).  Leftovers are typically eaten most of the day, and if anyone if feeling really ambitious ,  they can cook a “meaty dinner”.  That would be something around the lines of chicken and potatoes. But mainly Christmas is a day to relax with family and friends and enjoy each other’s company.

My family Christmas traditions vary slightly from the ones mentioned above. We don’t go for the 12 dishes – with a family of 9 and most of them being under the age of 16 it’s a bit extreme. But here’s the dishes that were present on Christmas Eve dinner:

Borsch with  mushroom filled dumpling.

Potatoe salad

Fried fish

Pickled herring 3 ways (I made a contribution to this one)

Pierogi (a dumpling of sorts) with cabbage and mushrooms

Gnocchi with a sweet poppy seed topping (I love this dish)

Christmas cookies as dessert

And my contribution to the feast – a mushroom, spinch tart.

I also made a Christmas spiced fruit salad with a rum syrup for dessert. But we were all too stuffed from dinner to eat this.

After dinner we cleaned the table, did about 5 minutes of Christmas carrolling (it was all the little ones were up for) and we opened presents. There was nothing extravagant this year – we all got one present each (the kids got a few more) – but it was great.

The evening was concluded with a movie and some tea (glow wine was served but I was still feeling too full after dinner to enjoy it).

Today’s brunch was leftovers, although I was in the mood for banana overnight oats – so that was my treat. My dad made his famous cheesecake for later on today and the family dinner will  be chicken (or fish for me), potatoes, a Greek salad and some cookies and cakes.

On my personal agenda for today:

-          Get out of bed (in another hour or so)

-          Take a long shower

-          Have a game afternoon with my family

-          Eat a lot of Christmas desserts

-          Watch a Christmas movie.

-          Give everyone a hug and tell them how much I love them.

I think today is going to be a good day

 6:30 AM revile – a sleep in due to the fact there are no upcoming exams today (a rarity mind you).

6:30- 6:45 – Dressed and hair brushed (I’m a speed demon I know ;P). Breakfast time.

The usual week day breakfast – overnight oats (made with soya milk, yogurt, raisins, and apples. Garnished with almonds).

6:45-7:10 – Morning “peacefull” time (most mornings this alternates between studying )

7:10- 7:30 – Triple check if you have everything packed and ready for the day, pack food (if needed), put on finishing touches of makeup.

7:30 – 7:45 – Leave dorm and hurry to class. (All my classes start at 8:00 AM, aren’t you all jelous)

8:00- Start class – today it was ecology – my favorite – NOT!!!

9:30- Finish class. Take a moment to appreciate the fact that your schedule isn’t too packed and you get to go back to your dorm for snack

10:30 – Snack (more like second breakfast)with a side of parasite study – always great for the appetite.

All natural multigrain cereal with sunflower seeds, an apple and coffee.

10:30-13:00 Study time, make lunch – once again enjoying the fact it’s something other than sandwhiches .

Scarry looking, but extremely tasty mixture – brown rice with beans,spices and nutritional yeast. Side of carrot sticks.

And dessert just cuz I can – almond butter, banana and crackers.

13:30- 18:00 – Afternoon classes with an early dinner (can’t escape those sandwhiches). At least they were delicious – sourdough sunflower-seed rye bread sandwhiches with hummus, tomatoe and cheese.

18:30- 19:30 – More studying.

19:30- 20:00- Shower and SNACK TIME. (Although I’m sure my roommate already thinks I’m odd due to the fact I eat beans and grains and veggies on a regular basis – this is a rarity amongst students, I decided to try to keep some form of normalicy and not take pictures of my food in front of her.) So this was the best I could do.

20:00 -20:30 More studies. 20:30 – Make tomorrows overnight oats, clean room , pack notebooks for tomorrow.

21:00 – 21:30 – Spend far too much time drawing a silly picture on pain of your night snack, editing photos and writing this post

21:30-22:30 – Due to a pending Parasitology exam I see more studying and an early night of sleep, so I can get up early and do a bit more studying before the day begins. No late night parties for me people – dietitian studies are no joke.

What’s your favorite/least favorite subject at school?? I really enjoy psychology and anatomy. I strongly dislike ecology – mainly because I don’t understand how learning about the biological structure of the ecosystem will help me in my future profession

. What’s your favorite sandwhich combo? I have to say hummus, cheese and tomatoe are tops in my book, followed by hummus and grilled veggies (zuchinni, eggplant).

When do you prefer to study, in the evenings or the morning? I usually end up going to bed early so I can study in the morning, my brain just works better then.

Life is about flexibility – there are always new situations around the corner,  unexpected decisions ready to jump out and surprise us, and unplanned happenings. With time we all learn that nothing goes 100% according to plan, no matter how much we would like it to. We can’t always control the situations around us, there’s no sure-fire way for making sure something works out. All the remains is to wake up each morning, not with a sense of fear and dread, but with a sense of excitement and eagerness for the new challenges life will present us with.

I used to be very rigid in my food rules. Recovering from an ED means I’ve had to part with a lot of food rules. There was a time in my life that eating had NO spontaneity in it. I knew days in advance what I would eat, at what time, how many calories were in it, who would be around when I ate it etc. Even typing this out is difficult for me, because  its so sad to look back and see how bound and controlled I was by this horrible disorder.

Recovery has been a process of letting go of all these rules and regulation. Some things were easier, others took longer, but I am now proud to say that most of these aforementioned restrictions are no longer a part of my life. An old habit will creep up now and then, but I try my best to recognize these thoughts when they come in, and stop them before they have a chance to take a hold on my mind once more.

I believe 100% in healthy eating and living. I believe both of these components are essential to a productive and happy life. I believe that what you fuel your body with has a direct connection with how it will work for you, so it is worth it to put some time in effort into ensuring you have the right “tools to do the job”.

On the other hand, sometimes life has a way of putting us in unexpected situation where we CAN’T keep up with our health ideals. Let’s say the food we are used to eating is not available, or we are put in a situation where we are expected to eat something that isn’t entirely “whole food”. And then we are faced with a dilemma – what to do? Will it do our body more good to just skip the fuel all together, or is it better to make an exception?

I’m definitely more in favor of the second option. I think your body won’t suffer horribly if you eat a slice of white bread once in a while, or have a bit of cream in your coffee. You might even have to eat cheese if it’s the only thing available, or skip on your  regular salad. But my theory is that your body won’t really tell the difference if you eat white bread over whole wheat ONCE, but it sure will let you know if you skip your fuel all together. A few hours later you will feel tired, cranky and lacking in energy. So although we should strive for healthy living, there needs to be an element of flexibility as well.

If a dessert is offered that is made with white flour and sugar, it won’t kill you either, particularly if it’s socially inappropriate to refuse (cake at a wedding perhaps). Sometimes being so rigid in your food beliefs has consequences other then just physical ones. Food and meals in our culture is so much more then the process of providing your body with energy – it’s used to bond, to celebrate, to welcome, to appreciate, to get aqainted and so much more. Missing out on these vital elements of life just because of rigid food rules just isn’t worth it.

This weekend I had to make several exceptions to my ideal “health standards”. I ate a soup with white pasta (the horror) because it was what I was served at my internship. I ate a slice of white bread twice in one day, because it was all that was available. And I ate eggs (yolk and all) two days in a row. Did it kill me? No it didn’t, but it also showed me that it is possible to be flexible and live healthily at the same time. It’s just a matter of treating your diet the same way you treat life – roll with the punches, enjoy the journey, and take each opportunity as it comes.

(A brocolli and egg scramble topped with nooch and white fresh bread with cottage cheese and butter

- this was actually really delicious )

(A quick dinner the next day – a warm bean, carrots corn and pea salad with a sunny side up egg)

Any thoughts on the matter?

Ultra busy seems to be the story of my life right now – I have internships in my schedule in addition to my part time job and constant test/exams – and although internships might be the funnest part of the whole study process, they cut a good 8 hours out of a week that already seems to have far too few.

In case you were wondering my internships are just a general introduction to the “dietitian” business. This year I will be interning in a hospital, catering site and kindergarten. Basically this year will be more of a watch and learn experience – I’m learning about all the paperwork that goes into the food storage and production in these facilities, as long and the rules and regulations of food preparation and the safety procedures. I will be working with the dietitians/meal planners in these different institutions and just seeing what their job entails and helping with some general meal plans. Nothing fancy, but it beats sitting in hours of ecology lectures that’s for sure

Anyhow, I’m realizing as time goes on that there is no such thing as having “time” for something. For instance some people with seemingly endless free time don’t have time for such simple things as exercising – because they fill their time with other things that are important to them (playing hours of video games for instance). On the other hand there are people that lead extremely hectic, fast-paced lives and manage to find time to squeeze in a  quick run or spin class at least a few times a week. How does that work?

It comes down to a matter of priorities, you have time for the things you make time for. For some people it’s exercise, for others it’s blogging, for others it’s fancy food prep and amazing photos. Other people make time for novel reading, or gaming, or sports, or partying. I think people SHOULD make time for the things they enjoy and that make them happy, but we shouldn’t use the excuse that we “don’t have time for something” if it’s really important to our health and well being (a balanced diet, a reasonable amount of exercise, getting enough sleep) – because we do. Keeping ties with families and friends are also an important aspect of a balanced life in my opinion, so I’d include this as  a priority as well.

As much as I try I don’t manage to make all the things I would like a priority, and I could definitely make some changes in this area.  But to start off on a positive note, here are some things I always make time for:

Breakfast – this is something I NEED to start my day. If I try skipping or skimping on it – I feel my energy levels dropping almost immediately and I’m cranky and in a bad mood. So I’d say it’s a good time investment.

(chocholate overnight oats with banana, almond butter and a bit of cherry jam)

Study. I don’t understand people that don’t feel like studying or  “don’t have time” because they have more important things to do. I feel like since I’m a student, studying is my “job” and I try to do it to the best of my abilities (I may even overdo it sometimes)

One warm meal a day. In between classes it’s usually sandwiches and fruit, but I try to cook (or heat up) at least one meal a day. Although I have had “cereal dinners” in times past, I usually am able to squeeze in one decent meal a day – involving a grain, a protein and a veggie (even if it is out of a can )

(Fancy photos are not exactly high on my priority list – as you can see. A quick buckwheat, kindey bean bowl topped with nutirional yeast – with a side of tinned tomatoes )

At least 15 minutes of down time. Time when I can sit on my computer, check my mail or read blogs. Sometimes I spend it chatting up my “dorm mates” or talking on the phone. Whatever I do though, that is my  “me time” and I don’t try to multitask or squeeze in extra work.

Time with my family while I’m at home. I usually still have a bunch of studying to do at home, but I always try to at least spend the evening catching up and chatting. I do feel bad I can’t really relax 100%, but I figure at least a little bit of time is better than nothing – right?

Here are some things that I feel I’ve been “too busy” for, but it’s really no excuse and I aspire to do better in:

• Exercise. Aside from a LOT of walking I haven’t been devoting much time to this, and I know I should. Last week I went to an ice-skating ring with some friends and had a blast! I actually worked up a sweat, but was also able to relax and de-stress a bit at the same time.
• Socialize. I tend to be a bit anti-social, because I get so caught up in the world of tests and assigmets I forget I deserve to have a life too. I think that spending more time with others would make me a lot less tense and able to enjoy life more. Also I need to remember to keep in touch with my friends abroad as well, because I’ve been slacking in this as well.
• Sleep – I do better and worse at this, but I often feel like sleeping is a waste of time. But I know that when I’m overtired I only accomplish about 50% of what I could if I was well rested. So sleeping really is a good investment.

What are some things you always take time for? What’s the top on your priority list?