I’m Going To Philly!

By the time you read this, I’ll be in a car that’s bound for Philadelphia!  Two friends and I are making the drive so that we can attend FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ national conference.  There will be loads to learn, and hopefully some swag too.  And with any luck, I’ll find time to eat another vegan cheesesteak.

For people who actually want to read about me every day (hi, mom!) –

I will not be blogging from FNCE.  I am unable to bring my laptop and I’m not sure that I’m comfortable taking pictures of my food at a professional conference (i.e. 75% of what I’ll be eating this weekend).  I will do a highlights post of any amazing eats when I get back.  Keep your eye out for a few recipe posts that I’ve scheduled to pop up early next week!

For people who are down with the technology (bye, mom!) –

I will be making somewhat of an effort to be active on Twitter and Instagram (my user name is “emilywax.”  Are you following me yet?

For other Dietetics students –

I’m going to be at FNCE with a great group of students from Buffalo State.  Shoot me an e-mail if you’d like to hang out and please say hi if you spot me!

I’ll be back on Wednesday.  I’m going to miss you guys!

I’m Packed, With Pizza

In less than 12 hours, I’ll be headed to Philly!  Guess I should be getting in bed, huh?  Between clinic, packing, and baking what felt like a million things, it was a busy day.

Food at the hospital.  GoGo Squeez cinnamon applesauce packet and a vanilla Stinger waffle.

1 serving of Vanilla Almond Special K with Tempt vanilla hemp milk, chopped plum and nectarine, and 1.5 Tbsp chunky honey peanut butter.

Taste-test #1; look for the recipe on Monday.

Here’s a hint –

Taste-test #2; look for the post on Tuesday.

Taste-test #3; my Buttered Rum Raisin Cookies.

Actually, I “tested” two cookies.  Adam and I have decided that these cookies are the best I’ve ever made!  My friends and I are staying with a high school friend of mine for a night before the conference starts and I’m saying “thank you” with a big box of cookies.

Grocery store sample.

Adam and I split this plate of carbs and veggies (lasagna, mac and cheese, kale, tofu, and broccoli).

I ended up mostly sticking with the greens.  I realized two bites in that the “vegetarian lasagna” was loaded with pork!!!!  So sad; but on the plus side we got our food comped so Adam ate for free.

I tried again with pizza plate for dinner.

Veggie slice, buffalo chicken roll up, baby carrots, and blue cheese for dipping.

When was the least time you ate something you didn’t mean to?

Even My Food Was On The Move!

Oh boy!  I don’t have a lot to show for today because the whole day was crazy.  I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off from 7 am to midnight.  Going out-of-town for five days will make your to-do list a little insane.  And I haven’t even started to pack; mostly I was taking care of school errands.

Breakfast was an energy drink during class.

And I drank 4oz of Chamaeleon Cold Brew coffee over ice with skim milk and a chocolate pb magic straw on my walk to work.

Solid food didn’t happen until dinner; I was honestly too busy to eat all day!

Thankfully dinner was fun, filling, and a line through my to do list birthday goal list.  Adam came into the store just before we closed and told me to hurry because he had a surprise for me.  My bosses guessed a new puppy (if only!), I figured it would be something pumpkin flavored, and my co-worker had her money on booze.

None of the above.  He hurried me over to Delaware Park because he had spotted Lloyd’s Taco Truck and knew a food truck visit was on my list.

Thanks, honey!

I ordered the Tricked Out Nachos and was not disappointed.

White corn chips served with salsa roja, homemade Lloyd queso, chimichurri sour cream, brined jalapeños and pickled red onions, topped with stewed black beans.

Even with a day’s worth of hunger I couldn’t quite finish that monster serving!

For dessert we split the Puddin’ Cup.

Rich chocolate puddin’, dulce de leche caramel, and pumpkin seed brittle.

I guess I got my pumpkin after all!

Are you a food truck fan?  What’s the tastiest item you’ve gotten on the go?

Hello, Pumpkin Month!

I realize that open season on pumpkin began a few days ago, but work with me here.  My first day of the month was so fabulous that I couldn’t skip blogging it, even if a few days have passed.

I did, however, have my giant (soul-crushing) exam that morning so I started my day with a coffee energy drink from the vending machines.

But then I moved on to the juiciest, crunchiest, crispiest Jazz apple of the year.

Once home, I put the first wave into the fridge.

And made myself a salad.

– romaine topped with a heaping Tbsp each ground flax, buckwheat groats, and peanut sauce –

And soup.

– seaweed ramen –

I picked up a short, non-fat pumpkin spice latte on my walk to work.

Adam met me at the end of my shift and we walked over to Blue Monk so I could get the beer I’ve been coveting since September.

Southern Tier’s Pumpking!

It is sweet and squashy and smells like the best dessert you’ll ever eat.  <– which is funny because I actually hate pumpkin pie

And then I was wasted because apparently I’m a light-weight like no other.  In spite of my obnoxiously loud giggles, we forged ahead and got food too.

An appetizer of marinated olives and pickled veggies with sourdough bread.

I ate ~25%.

And we split the veggie burger.

Artichoke and chickpea patty with fresh tomato jam, cilantro aioli, on a whole wheat bun and sweet potato fries

I ate 50%, minus most of my bun.

On the walk home we stopped at Spot for fallish desserts.

My caramel apple cupcake was old and stale (I ate ~33%), but it was still a fabulous end to the evening.

….

And then Tuesday was my first clinic day at the hospital and it was ridiculous and I ate all of my meals on the go, with no camera, the end.

Brain Overload

Holy frick, guys, this weekend.  It was not the weekend that I was hoping for.  What I needed was to cram for today’s exam (<– the exam so hard my teacher warned us all that we should probably quit our jobs!).  But after a week of little-to-no sleep and several major assignments, I also needed to catch my breath.  In the end, I caught up on relaxation and sleep and hoped for the best.

Today’s exam was not “the best,” but I’m hoping that I didn’t score so poorly that I can’t make it up over the rest of the semester.  Fingers crossed.

I won’t be blogging next weekend either, since I’ll be in Philly for a professional conference.  Eeeeee!  But the rest of the week I’ll be posting on a normal schedule.  Monday through Thursday, here I come.

In the meantime, here are some nutrition-related articles I though y’all might enjoy –

Study shows that physical activity programs are not getting kids moving:  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/27/physical-activity-programs-fail-to-get-children-moving-study-says/57849062/1

Five things to know about pediatric supplements:  http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/5-things-to-know-about-supplements-and-children/pediatric-health/

Is it possible to improve self-control with practice?:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/09/27/decision-to-make-healthy-food-choice-hinges-on-brain-competition/45211.html

Are celebrity health endorsements a good thing?  (I say no!):  http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-celebrity-health-endorsements-20120925,0,2744476.story

Gluten-free diets are not for weight loss:  http://lubbockonline.com/health/2012-09-26/local-health-experts-gluten-free-diet-treats-medical-conditions-not-weight-loss

Tips for discussing weight with children:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-checkup/post/tips-for-talking-weight-with-kids/2012/09/24/6db37136-069d-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_blog.html

The bacon shortage is unavoidable:  http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-pork-bacon-shortage-20120924,0,5901787.story

Teenagers who cut back on sugary drinks slow weight gain:  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/21/heavy-teens-who-cut-out-sugary-drinks-slowed-weight-gain/57821198/1

HFCS is misunderstood:  http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science/Cardiologist-High-fructose-corn-syrup-is-one-of-the-most-misunderstood-food-ingredients

All I Need Is Popcorn

I had to work this afternoon but I did manage to get in some nutrients first.  Cereal and milk (cereal and milk, cereal and milk!) for a late breakfast.

That’s 1 serving each Vanilla Almond Special K and All Bran Bran Buds with sliced plum and nectarine and Tempt Vanilla Hemp Milk.

I did co-op hot bar for a late lunch.

A tiny bit of bbq seitan, 1 stuffed grape leave, and 2 kinds of massaged kale salads.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, fruits and vegetables are so good!!

That’s not to say that I’m not still excited about junk.  Like this caramel apple cookie from the giant box my mother-in-law sent.

Or some of the Chocolove Salted Peanut Milk Chocolate Bar I bought for Adam.

Holy frick; guys, this tasted just like Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut chocolate bars from my childhood.  I loved it and definitely plan on buying more.

Something else I’m excited about?  I got to leave work early!  I pretty much look like a** and my bosses told me to go home early and get some sleep.  Instead of sleeping I’m staying up late to watch tv, but the extra time with the husband and dog feels precious.

Dinner was an Asian-style feast.

This baked sweet and sour chicken with sweet and sour sauce from Wegman’s,

roasted broccoli,

and Adam and I split a serving of Annie Chun’s Sprouted Brown Sticky Rice.

Everything was delicious!  The chicken recipe is a keeper (not exactly healthy but much healthier than the traditional) and the rice acheived perfect texture in 90 seconds.

My thoughts on tv?  Bones was touching, Grey’s was ridiculously sad, and New Girl seems like it is going to be awesome.  All that’s left to do is pop a bowl of ‘corn.

Yesterday I, Today I, Tomorrow I

I’m almost done with my Study Hell Week!  Almost because I have one test to go on Monday that is going to eat my whole weekend.

I Enjoyed –

Mingling with local RDs at a meet & greet.

The free wine at a fancy hotel didn’t hurt.

I Discovered –

If you order a burrito “naked” at Moes, you end up with a slightly small, slightly cheaper rice bowl.

She even offered to add romaine lettuce to my base.

I Got Too Much –

Food! The following were all consumed en mass:

The only way I could stay awake was to keep eating, so I was popping bags of popcorn like they were Tic Tacs!

I Didn’t Get Enough –

Sleep.  At all.  Like, I’m going to die.  9 hours total over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night.  Yikes!  The more tired I got, the slower I moved and the longer things look and it just snowballed out of control.

Today I –

Got my free large (blue cup!) coffee from 7-11

and tried to pretend like I wasn’t still asleep.

Then I gave a major presentation and took a Microbiology exam, all within a 2 hour span!  My presentation was on a study that looked at the effect of fat supplementation in an enteral diet for the early stages of sepsis.  It went very well.  My Microbio exam was on god-knows what and didn’t go quite as well.

Now I’m off to eat something with nutrients!

Spinach And Artichoke Egg Pie

I know I promised you guys this recipe yesterday, but just wait until you read my recap post tonight.  Mostly you’ll just feel sorry for me and/or think I’m stupid.  But I promise, this recipe was worth the wait.

Spinach and Artichoke Egg Pie, serves 8

  • 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed
  • 13.75 can artichoke hearts in brine, drained
  • 15 oz fat-free ricotta
  • 1 cup shredded 2% sharp cheddar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 8 large eggs
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.  Prepare two 8-inch pie pans with baking spray.
  2. Get as much liquid as possible out of the both spinach and the artichoke hearts.  If your artichoke pieces are large, break them up with the side of a fork.
  3. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well-combined.
  4. Pour into pie pans, filling each tin about 75% of the way full.
  5. Bake for 45 minutes.  If you have a small oven, or an oven with hot spots, switch location of pie tins at the 20 minute mark.