Hubby and I stayed in last night with homemade broccoli cheese fondue and a great movie by the fire. I can't remember the last time we had such a relaxing night in. Lily is finally starting to display less and less constant puppiness, requiring less and less non-stop supervision. And thus, husband and I can enjoy more and more cuddle (and meal) time. Ahhhhhhhh :)
Broccoli Cheese Fondue with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and bread to dip
Today has been an ACTIVE day, to say the least. I started my day with hockey game #1. Husband and I cleaned ALL afternoon, and then it was off to hockey game #2 for the day (scored a goal, woot!). I'ddddd say it's about time for a shower, wouldn't you? Eeeewww.
How cute is this...
My hubby's family enjoys reading my blog and his aunt even reads it to his grandma. Grandma says that my husband is "spoiled" with my "gourmet" cooking. While flattering, Grandma H, I think any cooking going down in this kitchen is a long shot from gourmet. Palatable and balanced is probably more like it!
I have received LOTS of delicious-looking recipes to my inbox since yesterday. I am so excited about the "Prevention Cookbook" and I'm so happy to hear that you are, too! Don't forget to submit your recipe(s) by January 1, 2010! Mrs.RD44@gmail.com !
The treadmill has arrived! It took 2 guys, 2 hours, and a lot of patience…but it is together, operating, and ready for miles or fun. I was up at 5:30 this morning and got in 1 mile before needing to start my day. Any other morning when puppy isn’t going to camp, I’ll have plenty of time for at least 3, if not 4 or 5 miles. Needless to say, I have a steamy date (#2 for the day!) with Mr. T after work. I’m excited! Here’s what the hottie tottie looks like…
After my brief (but good!) run this morning, I was craving something cold and nutritious. So what better than a fresh fruit smoothie!? I threw in: frozen pears, peaches, bananas, pineapple, papaya, mango, kiwi, strawberries, and apple along with V8 Fusion Light (got some veggies in there, technically!), 100% apple cider, and fat-free milk.
Blend and enjoy! My morning creation even got my stubborn husband eating breakfast.
I am just beginning the book Food, Inc. So far, so wonderful! I feel like I am learning a lot (more to come, I assure you!). An interesting article caught my eye in the
Did you know that in order for an organic food manufacturer to receive USDA certified organic recognition, the farmer must sell more than $5,000 a year in organic foods? Otherwise, they are exempt from obtaining USDA organic certification.
Organic Facts:
-While evidence is not conclusive, there appears to be no added nutritional benefit found in organic fruits and vegetables when compared to their non-organic counterparts.
-Due to organic produce availability, organic foods may be sitting longer before getting shipped, or may be shipped for long periods of time. Organic produce may also sit longer before being sold due to the inflated cost associated with organic foods.
-Most experts agree that the amount of pesticides found on non-organic fruits and vegetables poses very little health risk.
-Organic farming aims to protect the environment in ways that conventional farming does not.
-Organic produce costs more due to the more expensive farming practices, tighter government regulations, and lower crop yields. Organic farming practices include more labor-intensive methods of controlling weeds and pests, as well as more expensive herbicides or pesticides.
-Seeking out local farmers can help guide you to organic produce and support of sustainable farming practices and your local communities
-Nearly everyone could improve their health by eating more fruits and vegetables, organic or not.
On a lighter note…today was my holiday cookie taste testing at work. Surprise, surprise…more people than ever signed up to taste – 16, in fact! Considering there’s only 35 in the office, that’s a huge success!
Here’s the set-up! Notice the “Taste Testers Only” sign. Lots of employees get into the goodies on taste test days. I know free food is great, but I’m holding strong to my $1 request from participants. Money doesn’t grow on trees, ya know!? And until RD’s getting a major pay raise, I’ll be needing those dollars!
(I wanted to know their favorite cookie!)
Biggest Loser Finale
I avoided Blogland last night as I didn't get to finish the last 20 minutes of BL til this morning. While I am happy Danny won (yay Oklahoma!), I am slightly perturbed at a 239-pound (239, right?) weight-loss in SEVEN MONTHS. I don't know, that's just completely...not right. From the bottom of my heart, I hope the contestants have instilled healthful eating and exercise habits that will last them a lifetime.
Did anyone else think Allison Sweeny looked healthy and...stunning?
Question: What’s your absolutely favorite kind of cookie?
Foodship -- your relationship with food. Humans make more than 200 food-related decisions every day! Talk about lots of opportunities to make a wrong move! Knowing more about food, such as how it's grown and produced, can help improve our foodship. Improving our relationship with food can also help us reach and maintain a healthy weight [1].
5 Ways to End Dysfunctional Eating [1]
1. Turn off the screens. TV's, computers, cell phones, and iPods should be turned off while you're eating. Distractions away from what you're doing -- eating -- can cause you to overeat. Connect with your food and gain a stronger interest in how food looks, smells, and tastes. Duly noted: no "catching up" on emails during lunch at my desk....
2. Broaden your concept of local food. Don't limit your local selections to fruits and vegetables. There's a good chance there is locally produced eggs, meat, poultry, milk, cheese, maple syrup, honey, and breads near you. Check it out! The more effort you make to purchase your groceries locally, the more likely you are to learn how it's produced and to have a closer connection to what you eat. Unlike commercial produce, local produce is picked at it's peak ripeness and thus, it's peak nutritional value. Nutrients found in foods are physically fragile -- the less distance to get your produce from it's origin into your system, the more nutrients are preserved. Does the same go for wine? Even in Oklahoma there are local wineries with daily tours -- make it a day trip and enjoy the fruit of the land...literally : )
3. Get closer to a farmer. Go in Whole Foods and look for information on local growers in the store. Or, become a grower yourself. Shifting the relationship with food to becoming a producer or close to the source of your food makes us more invested in what we eat and what it provides for us nutritionally. When you buy locally, it is a positive, powerful, and constructive way to encourage local farmers, as well as good production and manufacturing practices.
4. Cook with a kid. Teaching children about food, where it came from, how it was produced, and ways to eat different foods is a fun and joyful occassion. Cooking is much more commonly taken out of the home and today's children have less exposure to different varieties of foods and cooking methods. Parents also falsely assume that children are picky eaters. Don't dumb-down your child's palate by making assumptions -- offer them a wide variety of foods, even foods you personally do not enjoy. Limit snacking and poor eating habits -- children should be hungry or ready to eat when they come to the table. Being a little hungry is the best way to learn to appreciate the flavors and varieties of various foods; when kids are not hungry, they do get finicky with their food selections.
5. Don't buy into grocery buzz words. Of the terms local, organic, and sustainable found on packaging, only "organic" has a specific, legal definition with legal guidelines. If a product label does not explain its marketing terms, consider that a reason to research further. Head to the company website for details. Start by learning more about the foods you commonly purchase such as milk or cereal.
[1]. Moores, Susan. Boost Your Health by Improving Your Relationship with Food. MSNBC. August 7, 2009.
It's confusing trying to be healthy! Let me be your guide to a practical, straight-forward, and maintainable approach to a healthy lifestyle. I promise, you may even come to like it!
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