Aloha from Maui, blog world!
Thank you all for your well wishes about the trip. It has been amazing so far! My mom and I have really been enjoying our time together. Since I will be living in Chicago, we want to make the most of it.
This post will be the first of several installments about our trip. I hope you enjoy!
We arrived in Maui on Sunday afternoon. I was fortunate enough to have the window seat, so I was able to snap some pictures of the greenery from the plane.
It is so green here! Absolutely gorgeous. After we landed, we picked up our bags and headed to our first destination on the island, a little town called Paia (also known as “Maui’s Coolest Little Town”). We got to our room at the Paia Inn and were greeted with a cute basket of chocolates on the bed.
Not just any chocolate. This chocolate was organic, and I have found that the longer I stay here, the more I have realized that the island of Maui is very committed to serving the freshest, most organic ingredients possible. Let’s just say that the land isn’t the only thing that’s green around here 
Keeping with the green theme, my mom and I headed out to explore the little town and find a place to eat dinner. Papa Bender had provided us with a travel guide he found online that discussed some of the best eateries in Paia. We eventually settled on the Flatbread Company.
This restaurant features pizza that is wood-fired and uses all natural and organic ingredients. My mom and I started the trip off right by ordering a pair of margaritas These were made with squeezes of fresh orange juice, lemon and lime. In other words, they were the perfect fruity cocktail!
My mom and I then split the restaurant’s Organic Salad, which consisted of sweet leaf lettuces tossed with organic celery and carrots, toasted sesame seeds, arame seaweed, blue cheese and a homemade berry viniagrette dressing. It was excellent!
For our main course, we decided to split our pizza in half so that each of us could get what we wanted most. For my mom, that meant the homemade sausage, which came with maple fennel sausage, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheese and herbs. For me, that meant the vegan pizza, a cheeseless delight with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and tomato sauce.
Yes, it was quite the combination. 1/2 sausage, 1/2 vegan please 
But both sides were delicious!
(Sorry for the bluriness, but the lighting wasn’t the best!)
Here’s one of my vegan slices:
This pizza was so good! The crust was homemade and so doughy – you know I was a big fan We ate as much as we could until we were full. It was a great meal, and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who ever visits Paia.
We spent the rest of the night walking around the town and seeing what else it had to offer. It had a health foods store that rivaled Whole Foods in terms of what it had in stock, as well as plenty of cute little shops and restaurants. And so ended our first night in Maui!
I will be back soon with another installment. Here’s a preview:
I hope all of you are having a great week so far! Please know that I am still reading all of your comments, but I won’t be able to answer any specific questions or emails until I return from my trip. I’m trying to catch up on your blogs where I can, but won’t have much time to comment until I return, either!
Mahalo (Thank you),
As I type this post, I am watching fireworks on TV from the East coast as I anticipate the fireworks here in Arizona. In other words, life ain’t too bad Happy 4th of July, everyone!!
I’ve got to keep this post somewhat short because I am in the midst of packing for my trip to Maui – I leave TOMORROW! I hope to have Internet access while I’m there so that I can blog about the restaurants and activities my mom and I will experience, but if not – expect a full recap when I return next Saturday!
Our 4th of July feast was nothing short of magnificent, and I’m sure that you all know by now who that can be attributed to: none other than Papa Bender!!
Our meal included the American classics in honor of the holiday. There was corn-on-the-cob.
Fresh watermelon balls (this was my contribution to the meal – ha, the easiest part!!).
And the all-time fave, Chicago hot dogs, with grilled veggies on a pretty plate thanks to P. Bend.
Here’s my hot dog on a whole wheat bun, covered in veggies and ketchup.
And in order to get into the proper “spirit” (get it?!), some white wine was also involved.
It was a delicious meal, with good company and good conversation. I love holidays 
But the best was yet to come. You know, I’m always up for life-changing opportunities, and when Gena presented one the other day and Kath confirmed how amazing it truly was, I knew I had to give it a try. So just what did I decide to make?
Banana Soft Serve! And wow, Gena wasn’t kidding. I actually ended up using the Vita-Mix for this one because we don’t have a food processor. I kept the speed on variable low (1 to 3) and it only took about one minute before it was ice cream-like in texture. I then found a parfait glass in my parent’s cabinet and knew it would be perfect for the occasion.
This was simply two bananas, but the result was FANTASTIC. Seriously, try this right now! It tastes just like ice cream, but it’s all fruit – I don’t think it gets much better than that! If you need further proof, I just so happened to document one of the bites…
Heaven.
Speaking of parfait glasses, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, K!! Love that your birthday is also America’s
And that, my friends, was the highlight of my holiday. I hope all of you enjoyed yours! And even if you’re not in the U.S….I hope you still had a very happy 4th of July
Time to pack…ahh! I hope to still be able to read your blogs while I’m gone!
Happy holiday,
Hello there!
Thank you for the feedback on my first official book review. I’m glad that many of you enjoyed it and want to see more! I love reading, so I am more than happy to oblige
It’s hard to believe that it’s Thursday already! My trip to Maui is drawing ever closer, and I could not be more excited. But I still feel so behind! Easy button? I could use a “Catch Up” Button right about now.
The good news is that, while I’m jumping from project to project, I have also been enjoying some delicious food! Do you remember when I reviewed Vega Smoothie Infusion? Probably not Well, not to worry, because Kelly from Sequel Naturals hooked me up with a box of smoothie packets.
The Smoothie Infusion is made from natural plant-based whole foods that are alkaline-forming and easy to digest. It includes protein, fiber, omega 3 EFAs and green foods. You can read more about all of the health benefits here. I’ve been combining the packet with 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water and handfuls of frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries for breakfast every morning.
[Shout out to U of A beauties Gina and Jess for their school pride...in a glass!]
Now for someone with a sweet tooth as sweet as mine to like a “green” smoothie is really saying something. Granted, it doesn’t really look green at all thanks to all the sweet fruits I add to the mix But what I’m trying to get across is that even if green smoothies seem scary, you can dress them up enough to make them taste like something straight out of Jamba Juice. Trust me 
My family and I have also been playing a few rounds of golf here and there. It gets pretty hot pretty quickly in Arizona this time of year, so we head out for our 7:33 tee time and get done before high noon So before I left for the course, I snacked on a piece of Nature’s Pride 100% Whole Wheat Bread topped with 1 tbsp. peanut butter.
I received three free loaves of bread from Nature’s Pride after tweeting with them a few days ago. Have I mentioned how much I love Twitter? Their wheat bread certainly did not disappoint. It was hearty, voluminous and grainy - three qualities that are essential in a good piece of wheat bread. Thanks, Nature’s Pride! I’m looking forward to trying the other loaves, too.
But walking 18 holes of golf really does work up a sweat, so we are always ready for a Papa Bender lunch by the time we get home. Yesterday, he decided to make egg burritos, which as you may or may not know, are one of my staples when I’m cooking for myself! So how did his compare?
Let’s just say they were a lot more colorful than my egg + spinach combo! We also had green onions, tomatoes, diced chicken, cheese and salsa. Papa Bender used My Nana’s brand tortillas, which I am going to go out on a limb and officially call the best flour tortillas I’ve ever had.
After lunch lately, my mom and I have been heading out to do some errands, some of which may or may not include a little research on wedding venues I can’t wait until we secure the location – I’m getting antsy just thinking about it. While we were researching, I sipped on another new product that was sent to me by Amy, who represents SoBe Lifewater.
The new zero calorie line from SoBe is sweetened by PureVia, made from the stevia plant. This was the “Black & Blue Berry” flavor. I had everyone in my family take a sip, and here’s what they had to say:
Papa Bender: It’s alright. It kind of tastes like Kool-Aid. But it’s got a good taste overall, though I wouldn’t pay more for it than I would for water.
Mama Bender: It was really good. It’s hard to believe it doesn’t have any calories or bad sweeteners, but I’ll take it. I’ve had the other SoBe Lifewaters before and liked them, but the natural sweetener option is great.
Me Bender: I usually love berry flavored drinks above all others, and this one was no different. I could really taste the blueberry! It tasted like a sweeter version of Propel, and makes for a great drink option when you’re in the mood for something a little more flavorful than water, but don’t want all the liquid calories.
I’m looking forward to trying the other flavors. I’m excited that more and more drinks are now being sweetened with stevia, too. What’s your opinion of the new stevia-based options?
And just because it wouldn’t be a trip home without it, Papa Bender made his infamous steak + potatoes dinner for us last night. The steak was marinated and grilled, while the potatoes were wrapped in aluminum foil and put in the oven at 350* for about an hour, or until they are fork tender. We also had steamed zucchini + onions topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
And you can’t go wrong with a little vin rouge when eating steak. Gotta get those antioxidants
Alright, I am off to the gym for the first time in a couple of days! I’ve been doing the P90X DVDs with my brother this week because he was interested in seeing what they are all about. So far, he loves them!
Your friend in the desert,
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
I’m still doing some catch-up in the blogosphere, so please and thank you for bearing with me this next week or so! I want to catch up with all of you!
Today I want to introduce a new feature on Eating Bender: book reviews. I’ve talked about many books in the past, and there is also that Food Blogger Book Club (I posted a discussion today!) for those who would like to get new ideas for good reads. But recently, I decided that since I have so many books to talk about, it might be fun to create an entire “book review” section on the blog. They won’t necessarily be food-related (although most probably will be), but I hope you enjoy!
The inaugural review is one that I have been meaning to get up for quite a while. A fellow blogger, Alisa Fleming, contacted me a few months ago and sent me a copy of her book, Go Dairy Free.
Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org and has quite the story, which you can read more about in her book. I was very intrigued when she first approached me because in the past two years, I have had a long and painful bout of unresolved stomach issues. Having had an endoscopy and several food allergy tests that have come to no solid conclusion, I still struggle to figure out what the root cause of my occasional bloating, cramping and overall “disgusting” feeling after a meal can be attributed to.
I found it interesting that Alisa has had her own history of health issues caused by what she was putting into her mouth. She consumed dairy products despite being diagnosed with a milk allergy as a baby, in order to ensure she was getting enough calcium. As a result, her health continued to suffer, until one day an alternative doctor made the “insane” suggestion to try giving up dairy. After her husband convinced her to try it by going dairy-free with her, Alisa found that her symptoms had disappeared within three days. She has been healthy and dairy-free for over five years now, and this book is her way of sharing what she has learned with others who will benefit from her expertise.
The book is broken up into several chapters that fall under the following key sections:
- Understanding Dairy & Dairy-Free From a Health Perspective
- Eating Away From Home
- Grocery Shopping & Preparing Your Kitchen
- All You Ever Wanted to Know About Dairy Substitutes
- Time to Eat! – Recipes & Recommendations
- More Recommended Resources
Breaking the book up in this way makes Alisa’s book easy to navigate, and each section is full of valuable information regardless of whether you have a dairy allergy or are just looking to learn more. In the first section, Alisa goes through the basics of dairy and dairy allergies. For me, what stuck out most was her chapter on autism.
If you’ve been reading the blog long enough, you’ve likely seen me talk about the fact that my brother is mildly autistic. He is very high functioning and if you met him on the street, you would likely never make such a connection. He has come a long way from when he was first diagnosed, and our family attributes this to many different factors, one of which was a special diet that he was put on when he was about five years old: gluten- and dairy-free.
As Alisa points out in her book, 49% of parents who chose a dairy-free treatment option found it to improve their child’s symptoms, and the gluten-free/casein-free diet is becoming more and more mainstream as well. I thought it was incredibly thoughtful and meaningful for Alisa to include this aspect of dairy-free living in her book, and the attention she gives to other areas such as ADHD, weight loss and other general health topics is just as well written and researched.
Alisa’s book goes on to describe easy ways to live the dairy-free lifestyle, from eating in restaurants and at social events to buying and preparing your own dairy-free foods. The end of her book provides more recommended resources as well as an entire section of incredible recipes, many of which I have bookmarked for when I get back to Chicago How does this sound: Oatmeal Blender Waffles, Cocoa-Nut Scones, Perfect Peanut Butter Bread…and that’s just a small part of the first two recipe chapters! Like all good books (in my opinion), this book is worth picking up just for the ending!
Fortunately for you, the entire book – beginning to end – is well worth your time. Whether you are thinking about going dairy-free or are just interested in reading about a delicious and healthful way of living, Go Dairy Free is a must-read for a foodie. In the past couple of months, I have been eating less dairy (cutting out Greek yogurt and eating a lot less cheese, for starters), and have seen a dramatic improvement in terms of less bloating and cramping. Without going into too many details, I can honestly say that while I have never gone completely dairy-free (since I have never been officially diagnosed with an allergy), limiting my intake has helped me considerably. Big thanks to Alisa for giving me the chance to read and review her latest work. For more information, check out GoDairyFree.org or visit her blog, One Frugal Foodie.
I hope you all enjoyed my first “official” book review. I’ll be back later with some more Papa Bender treats and a couple of new product reviews!
Your book worm,
The title of this post is how I characterize all of you. Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my graduation, move, etc.! It means so much to me that I can share pieces of my life with so many genuinely kind people. I truly appreciate all of you!
I will definitely be posting some pictures of the apartment once I get back to Chicago. So far, I don’t have too much to say since we’ve only had one day in the new place before we left! But I can tell you that we did pop open a bottle of champagne that my aunt gave us and it was very fun to sit on the balcony up high in the sky and stare at the Chicago skyline while sipping I think I could get use to being a city girl for a few years!
Also, for those who asked, I will be starting an internship with a PR firm downtown in mid-July. I am really excited about it because the company works with a lot of food-type clients, and the people there are all very nice. More to come on that once it starts!
It has been such a treat to have this time in Arizona with my family. Yesterday was a Papa Bender delight, by all standards. Well, except breakfast. That one was all me.
Yes, you know it was made by me thanks to the lack of creativity, right? I had a simple bowl of Kashi Go Lean and unsweetened vanilla almond milk topped with banana and blueberries. So glad that it’s summer fruit time!
There was also some Coffee Cocoa action in one of my favorite mugs.
I spent the morning catching up on the more than 300 emails I received during my little “hiatus” – I basically had no Internet access this past week, and between all the good emails and the junk (mainly) mail I subscribe to – I sign up for way too many newsletters! - it all added up! That took quite a while, but then I got distracted and started looking at wedding dresses and brainstorming ideas We are going to have the wedding in Arizona and starting to figure out where and when. Details to come!
Before I knew it, half the day was gone, but Papa Bender saved the day by calling everyone to the kitchen for lunch! Turns out, he made a little sandwich buffet for us. We decided to take our sandwiches and corn-on-the-cob outside to enjoy the sunshine.
My sandwich was made up of salmon, turkey, provolone, pickles and honey mustard on a whole wheat roll. I also had a little extra salmon and turkey on the side
After lunch, my brother and I went to the pool for a bit and I caught up on one of my Eating Well magazines that Karla was kind enough to supply me with. When we got back, we decided to head to the gym. I did 20 minutes on the Stepmill followed by an arm workout. I was feeling tired for some reason, so it wasn’t anything special.
Dinner was my all-time favorite Papa Bender meal: fajitas! I swear that my dad’s fajitas are better than any I have ever tried at even the best Mexican restaurant. And so fashionably presented, too
Several different protein, veggie and topping selections…
I had two of what you see in the next picture! So nice I had to have them twice.
And Papa Bender also made up a batch of…MARGARITAS!!
Home is where the heart is We let our food settle by sitting outside for a while and then it was time to celebrate my brother’s 16th birthday! It was actually his birthday back on June 17, but because of all the graduation craziness, we decided to wait until we could have a proper celebration.
What a cutie! I can’t believe that he is now officially taller than me. It’s so unfair! We got his favorite red velvet cake from Cold Stone, complete with vanilla ice cream and chocolate shavings. SO GOOD. And my mom didn’t skimp on my gigantic slice. But I had no problem eating it all
I was pretty stuffed after a big dinner and dessert, but it was all delicious. I received a few freebies in the mail yesterday, too, so I’m excited to review those soon! I have so much stuff backlogged that I need to tell you about! For now, I would like to share with you my final project for photojournalism: Phoebe’s Cupcakes. You may have seen a preview of this project when I did a guest post on Angela’s blog (thanks for the sweet comments on that post!), and now, here is the finished project. Enjoy!
Phoebe’s Cupcakes (may not show up in Google Reader, but the video is below!)
doneI am slowly making my way around to all of your blogs. Life feels “normal” again when I’m reading about what everyone had for breakfast I’ve missed you!
Happy weekend,
Hi blog world!
Where to begin?! These past two weeks have been such a blur! I could not have asked for a better Senior Week or graduation ceremony, and now I can finally say, I’M DONE!
The festivities during Senior Week were amazing. They included:
- Senior BBQ
- Goose Island beer garden
- A trip to Dave & Buster’s
- An architectural boat tour of Chicago
- A hilarious excursion to ComedySportz. My friend got on stage! Here’s Bobby and me.
- Senior formal at the Aragon Ballroom. It was so beautiful!
I had such a blast with my friends and with Bobby. It was strange being done with school and having no obligations, but I wasn’t about to complain! I also did a lot of packing. It was crazy busy!
The weekend following Senior Week brought graduation. Friday’s all-school ceremony was a funny story. It absolutely POURED all morning long, but at 11:30 am, we received word that the ceremony was still to be held outside. They said there was a “window of opportunity” and that, combined with a slightly abbreviated ceremony (shorter speeches, etc.), we would be fine. It all seemed alright when we first arrived. It was even sunny outside – hence the squinting!
But as time went on, we soon realized that it was just the calm before the storm. When our commencement speaker, Wynton Marsalis, began his speech (he condensed it from 6 to 2 pages!), the thunder started rolling in. At least we were still able to hear some great music at the end of his talk!
Our school president rushed to have all of the deans of every school stand up and recognized the graduates all at once, instead of one school at a time. It felt a little rushed, but we were all just happy to be out of there! Immediately after we started exiting the stadium (which has metal bleachers, by the way!), the storm hit. My family and I quickly raced to the car. There was no escaping the fact that we all got soaked, even with a poncho on! But I was quite elated to be a college graduate
Saturday was my Medill School of Journalism convocation. Without meaning to sound as though I’m boasting about myself, I was very excited to find out that I was one of 5 students to graduate summa cum laude! It made it hit home that all of the hard work I did these past four years really did pay off. I was given a cord and pin to wear, and they wrote it on my diploma Here’s a picture of me and my family!
And here I am with Bobby and my brother after the ceremony! As it turns out, Saturday was about 90 degrees and sunny with what felt like 90% humidity. I got very, very hot waiting outside in my cap and gown! So I’m not exactly looking sweat-free But still very happy!
I couldn’t have asked for a better end to the year. But I already miss my friends! It is so strange that this part of my life is coming to a close. I just posted an album on Facebook and realized it was my last-ever college album! But of course, I’m looking forward to the future. Bobby and I moved into our apartment in downtown Chicago on Sunday. We worked for a few days and everything is now mostly unpacked!
I say mostly unpacked because yesterday, I flew back with my family to Arizona for a little break before the “next stage” of life begins I will be here for about 10 days before my trip to Maui with my mom! I’m looking forward to getting caught up on life: emails, blog, and everything in between. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope you enjoyed this little recap! I will be back soon!
Lots o’ love,
Hi blog world! I just wanted to write an official post letting you know that I am taking a brief “vacation” from blogging in order to graduate, move out of my apartment, etc. I will be back around June 24 (some v. important blogger birthdays are that day!) and ready to update you all on everything!
I would like to also give Fit Bottomed Girls a huge shout out and thank you for featuring me in their FitLinks last week. If you’re just now reading my blog for the first time, WELCOME! I promise I’ll have more exciting things to say in a week or so
See you soon!!
Hi everyone! I am actually doing some serious packing today so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do a full post, but I wanted to make sure I let you know that the lovely Angela is currently hosting a Shop 4 A Cause, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. There are so many great items up for bidding that you should be sure to check it out as soon as you can! It runs from now until 10:30 pm EST!
I hope you all have a great day! I just want to thank all of you who congratulated me and have been so kind to me these past few days with the end of college If I haven’t responded, etc., just know that I will eventually and that I am grateful! I just gotta finish packing…oy!
Until next time!
Alright, you knew this was coming.
I AM OFFICIALLY DONE WITH COLLEGE!!
I’m ready to shout it from the roof tops But I’ll settle with my best friend’s birthday celebration, which just so happens to be tonight. Quite the happy coincidence!
On Monday morning, I had the opportunity to interview Holley Grainger, M.S. R.D., a food editor for MyRecipes.com. With an upcoming graduation and vacation to Hawaii, there are going to be a lot of opportunities to try great food in social situations, and I thought it would be fun to get her take on some of the best tips for staying healthy while still enjoying yourself! I hope you enjoy the interview!
***
Could you tell me a bit about yourself and the work you do for MyRecipes.com?
Sure! I went to school at the University of Alabama and did an internship in Charleston to become a registered dietitian. I then came to Oxmoor House and worked on cookbooks for Weight Watchers and Cooking Light, then went over to Southern Living. MyRecipes.com launched May 1, 2007, and I started in late March/early April and have been here since then. My main responsibility involves healthy diets. I oversee the site, write new content, and hire freelancers to write stories. We develop new topics each week and try to stay seasonal and current with what is going on. I also oversee the grilling channel, which the staff works on as a team, so everyone is assigned to different subchannels that are updated weekly. There is also a daily video series for Cooking Light called Dinner Tonight, where we make a Cooking Light recipe that takes 45 minutes or less to prepare. I also do a lot of spokesperson work for the site and do a lot of traveling to help promote what’s going on.
(Jenn’s note: Whew! She has a lot of responsibilities – I am very impressed!)
It’s graduation time for me, and that means a lot of social gatherings, food and did I mention, food? How do I navigate these events and avoid overdoing it?
There are a few key tips to keep in mind:
1. Keep alcohol in check. A lot of the parties will have many different beverages. Try to drink a glass of water in between each beverage. It gives you something to have in your hand while talking. If you have a mixed drink, try diet soda, soda water or something that’s calorie free. Stick to light beer and watch out for creamy drinks. Basically, stick with the lighter options.
2. Stick with small portions. Try to eat a small meal even if it’s some soup or salad so that you’re not ravenous when you get to the party and reach for the first thing in sight. Stick with small portions and try not to graze. If there are dips, use veggies versus chips for dipping.
3. Don’t deprive yourself, but try to keep everything in check. You can eat your favorite things, but try to take little bites. Sit down and eat mindfully so you know you’re eating and try not to hang out by the food so that when you’re finished, you know you’re done.
(For more tips, check out this link: The Party Girl’s Guide to Staying Slim During the Holidays)
Alright, once I make it through graduation, I’m going on a vacation with my mom. The tropical drinks are tempting! First of all, in your opinion, how hard is it to stay healthy while on vacation?
It really starts in the airport or in the car if you just have to sit for a while. Pack some healthy snacks, even if it’s some nuts or peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers. Go ahead and pack or check those things. There’s an article on the site called Beat Those Airplane Hunger Blues which has rules for when you’re traveling. We also have an Airline-Friendly Snacks slideshow of seven different recipes you can make, bring with you and have no trouble going through security. Plan before you go, and that will keep you from jumping in.
What are some of the best ways to stay mindful and healthy once I get there?
Try to stay hydrated throughout your travels. It helps keep you feeling awake and not feeling fatigued. It also keeps you from feeling hungry during the trip. When you are on your trip, try to have a salad or soup at the beginning of your meal and lay off the bread plates. Get the soup or salad ordered right away so that you don’t overindulge. When possible, split meals and then if you want something sweet, split a dessert, so you don’t have that much food in front of you. Portion sizes are so huge these days. And again, watch the alcohol consumption.
And of course, if we’re talking about a beach vacation, I have to mention swim suits. What are some of the easiest ways to translate a bikini body diet into a more permanent way of living?
We have an article on the site called Sexy Bikini Body Foods. With MyRecipes.com, we never try to make any claims that you are going to lose a lot of weight quickly. We try to focus on those healthy foods you need to load up on for a healthy body. But in general, these are some great tips:
1. Get in the gym. Get outside and walk. Just be active. Start small. Even if you do 10 minutes a day three times a day, it adds up to 30 minutes a day of activity. If you’re routinely active, bump it up a little more and change it up, try something else.
2. Try to stock up on the foods that are known to help keep you full. I’m a big proponent of lean protein. It’s a great way to help lose weight. There’s a strong link between weight loss and fish, low-fat dairy, etc. If you combine that with a high fiber diet, it helps keep you full. Whole grains is another one. Cut out refined sugars and put dessert on hold for a few weeks. Really try to stick with whole grains such as brown rice, oats, barley, bulgur, or whole wheat pasta. Stay away from white starchy foods. The whole grains are so high in fiber that they help keep you full and slow down digestion.
Pack in as much as you can non-starchy vegetables and high water content fruits and vegetables so you’re still getting in the fiber and nutrients without all of the calories. There is also a big link between dairy and weight loss, so choose low-fat cheeses, milk, or yogurt.
3. Fill up on the water. Whether it’s high water content foods or sipping on water throughout the day, drinking a lot of it prevents fluid retention and hydrates your skin.
These are all great tips! Last question, how do you come up with all of this?
A lot of the time it’s just looking at blogs or looking at what’s in magazines. It’s also through experiences. We hear from our viewers and try to respond to that. The airplane tips came out last year when they started cutting out snacks. We wanted to provide our answer to what was going on. Other than that, it’s just paying attention and trying to follow trends. We go to food conferences and always try to stay up to date with what’s going on and find our special twist on what that might be.
***
Thank you so much to Holley and to Miranda, who organized our interview! I learned a lot of valuable tips and am very impressed by MyRecipes.com. If you have a moment, check it out!
Be back soon with a book review that I am very excited about!
Tubular Tuesday? How about Wild Wednesday?
Good eveeeening! And happy birthday, Sarah!
I am currently catching up on my DVR shows before I have to get rid of Comcast. I missed a lot of season finales, so this has been a cliffhanger kind of night. Today I started packing my things, which feels very odd! It’s also a bit overwhelming – you never realize how much stuff you accumulate until you have to box it up! It’s time to figure out what the most important things are
Today was a pretty great day in terms of eats – something “blogworthy” for once! I woke up this morning craving a smoothie, so I decided to make use of my Amazing Grass samples that I received recently.
This was the berry flavor of the “Green SuperFood,” and you can read about all the benefits here. I decided to make my own version of a green smoothie.
Ingredients (serves 1):
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 medium banana
- 1/2 cup frozen sweet cherries
- 1 tbsp. ground flax
- 1 packet Berry Green SuperFood
It wasn’t really green, per se, but a nice brown color…ha.
It was excellent! It really gave me a boost of energy, and I didn’t even notice the powder in there at all. I felt so light and summery while drinking it I’m looking forward to trying some of the other samples. Big thanks to Teri Jo from Amazing Grass for the samples! And Caroline for hooking me up, too!
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- 285 calories
- 5g fat
- 66g carbohydrates
- 18g fiber
- 9g protein
The only downfall to drinking a smoothie is that it makes me cold! A little while later, I made myself a mug of Coffee Cocoa to warm back up.
I spent the rest of the morning putting the finishing touches on my photojournalism project. I can’t wait until class is over tomorrow and I can finally scream, “I’M DONE WITH COLLEGE!!” I’ve been waiting for that moment for a few weeks now. I also had a great interview with a dietician for the blog – more on that in an upcoming post!
Then I started the daunting task of packing. Oh boy. I snacked on an apple while I got to work.
But it didn’t take too long before I wanted lunch.
I didn’t realize unti later today that my lunch was very…beany. Ya.
I found a can of green beans that needed to be used up, so I heated them on the stove and added some sliced almonds and a sprinkle of Goya. They were great!
I also had a Morningstar Black Bean Burger on an Arnold Sandwich Thin. I missed these!
It was a very filling and beany sort of lunch. Good for the digestion
After lunch, I yelled at myself – VeggieGirl can attest – to get a move on (literally!) with the packing. I actually filled about 4 boxes and made a pile of donations, so I’m going to call today a success. I took a break for another snack of fresh fruit: blueberries, blackberries and dark cherries. I am so happy that cherries are back!! Last summer, I bought a bag of Rainier cherries almost every week.
Packing took up most of my afternoon. Then I decided to hit up the gym for some more intense cardio. I did 30 minutes on the Stairmaster and then came home and did some ab exercises. By the time I got cleaned up, I was hungry for dinner.
I’ve been using up all of the stuff we have left in the fridge/freezer lately, and tonight, that meant tilapia. I coated the tilapia with mesquite seasoning and cooked it in strips on the stove until it was nice and crispy. They were so good!
On the side, I had a whole wheat tortilla filled with almond butter and raspberry jam.
After dinner, I went on a walk around campus with two of my best friends. We’ve been doing this a few times when the weather is nice, and it’s so much fun! I just wish we would have thought to start it sooner. It gives us a chance to take a break from it all and catch up.
I can’t believe another day is over already! Last day of class tomorrow – I better get some sleep
Have a tubular Tuesday,
