Anchor of my Soul

I needed a place to write. So here I am.

I got a tattoo today. It was incredible. It was empowering. And the best part is that I think it meant more to the tattoo artist then it did to me.

As I layed there, making small talk with the artist, I tried to just breathe and not think about the pain. He asked me questions about myself and I willingly talked to keep my mind occupied.

We talk about life and how I don't want to waste it watching TV or on a computer. I enjoy living my life outside and being happy (crazy concept huh?). Then he stopped. He stopped tattooing and told me about his wife and the problems they have had and how he wants to live his life but feels trapped because all she does it smoke. Our conversation went for awhile and it was incredible.

After he was done, he asked the meaning of the anchor and I explained it. He seemed touched. And it was all worth it.

I got an anchor and the words "of my soul" after it. For anybody who knew me during high school you know the significance. Anchor of My Soul by Something Like Silas, meant so much during that time. It still does.

With all the health problems and issues I have had the past few weeks, I felt it was appropriate to not be worried about what is "the responsible thing to do" and do what I want. I have wanted this tattoo for too long. I want to live my life. I want to travel and see the world. I want to love people. I want to see the beauty in everything I see. All of that is possible because the Lord is the Anchor of my soul.

I am so blessed. I am so in love with life. I am so humbled by the world and how small I am.

I wish everybody could feel this way. I think the world would be a little nicer.

New Beginnings

This has nothing to do with food. But it's about me and about life.

I am done with school in three weeks. I will finally be graduating, with a degree in Foods and Nutrition. What does this mean? I can tell people what to eat, I think...

For those of you who don't know, I am in the process of finding a job. I have interviewed twice for a position as a clinical dietary manager. I should find out this week I get the job.

The job sounds amazing, it requires assessing patients, working with families, doing MDS's going to care conference, everthing that I love about clinical dietetics. It's a grown up job...

With the future of having a career comes the idea of having money. For the first time in my life, I might be able to spend my money on more than gas, shampoo, rubios, and groceries. I think it's time for me to move out. Just the idea of it is so invigorating. To finally having things to call my own.

The anticipation of not knowing if I have this job or not is killing me. Instead of doing homework, I spend my time looking at places to live that are closer to my potential new work places. My mind is wracked with who I could live with and all of the things I can fill my new place with. It's so exciting and I don't even know if I have the job. But I do know that even if I don't get it, it's time for me to move onto the next stag of my life.

And that is so exciting. I can finally do what I want with my free time, instead of studying and writing papers about things that I hardly care about.

I can't wait to have free time...

I might go to coffee shops more

bake a lot more

take a few more walks

listen to more music

dance a lot more

smile more

laugh more

watch movies

shop at banana republic

and be a little happier.

I know it's idealistic, but if I am not forced to spend my every minute on school, then I will have a lot more time to do what I love. To find out who I am.

For that I am thankful. and excited to see where my life takes me.

Summer Nights

Tonight is the first night in weeks where I have had free time. Where I was able to get off of work before noon and have zero plans. Times like this are when I actually get to cook. So Breckon and I went through my favorite vegetarian cookbook and found the perfect recipe! We run to vons and pick up a few types of vegetables. We start cooking and I finally get to use my fresh herbs that I recently planted!

Here is a list of what this amazing dish was made of:

whole grain penne, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, ricotta cheese, fresh basil and parsely, oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper.

So easy, so healthy, and so good.

Tons of fiber with everything, the vegetables and pasta. The only things that have fat were the low-fat ricotta and the olive oil. Good fats and in great proportions. TONS of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals from the herbs and vegetables.

Energy = 316 Cal

Fat = 7.5 g

CHO = 46 g

Protein = 18 g

Fiber = 9 g

Sodium = 375 mg

Vit C = 100%

Vit A = 50%

Iron = 25%

Calcium = 25%

I found the nutrient analysis using Calorie Counts Recipe Analysis from about.com

This meal was perfect since I have had a hard time getting in vegetables with my schedule lately. The best part was getting to enjoy it on our patio looking out onto this:

For my next post I am going to make something full of protein that contain no meat! I want people to feel comfortable cutting meat out of their diet without sacrificing protein (even though they should NEVER think that).

I wish everybody a wonderful evening :)

New Post?

So I started this blog and that lasted for about 2 weeks.

I really love food, but I guess I don't really know what else to say except eat some fruits and vegeteables why don't you? Since I can't just rewrite the same thing everyday, I am going to need to be inventive.

I could write about my love for cats, but then you all would think I am crazy. Plus there are plenty of other sites for that.

I could try and be artsy, but we all know that will fail miserably.

I could talk about life, but I don't really want to be narcissistic.

I could leave all of my spelling errors on here and it give you everyone a good laugh and wonder how I am almost done with college and still can't spell miserably or narcissistic.

Which reminds me, I need to apply to graduate! Maybe I'll do that today.

So since all these ideas are just not for me I think I will cook. I will make up recipes or find recipes, cook them, and show you guys?

Let's see how this works... I don't really have time tonight and probably won't tomorrow, but if I can at least do a few a week then I am okay with that. I will end by showing you all a picture of some cupcakes I made for my Dad's birthday a few weeks ago.

Wish me luck!

Food Revolution

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is the best show on television. It is really the only show I watch besides The Biggest Loser. Both shows are inspirational and leave me in tears. The mindset that most Americans have on food is so deviated from where it is should be. Even as a nutrition student, I see the people who think as long as you stay withing your caloric needs, you are healthy. Health is not about calories. Your body doesn't care how many calories you ate if you did not give it any vitamins to support it. For those of you who have not seen the show, Jamie is in Huntington, West Virginia, the most obese city in the country. His "arch enemy" Rob, does not like Jamie being in his town and doesn't want to "sit around eating lettuce all day." Sadly, Rob's view is what most people have in mind when they think "eating healthy." Jamie not only shows this side of the town, but shows the youth who are affected by the westernized diet. A high school girl who may only have 7 years to live beacuse of the damage that she has done to her liver because of food. When people finally start to see the changes it is amazing and brings me to tears. Lives are changed when food habits are changed. You will have energy to play with your kids and go outside rather than sitting, watching television and eating. Live life how you are meant to, not inside, but outside, seeing the beauty of the world around us.

Eating healthy is not just to stay slim and look good. It's about your health and your life. Just because you are thin does not mean that your body is thriving in the inside. I was less than 100 pounds in high school but I was in the worst shape of my life. Since then I have learned how to eat, gained some (healthy muscle) weight and have never had more energy and happiness in my life. Eating healthy is a complete lifestyle change. It has to be, your mindset changes, your energy levels and everything about you become different. You view life for what it is.

Watch this show on Hulu or abc.com. Start your own revolution. Cook dinner tonight. With real food. With vegetables and grains. Have some fruit for dessert. Hell, go start a garden and grow your own food. See how amazing it is so watch food grow as you water it, rather than buying something packaged already.

You are only given one life. Live it to the fullest. Be fueled by the food that was put on this earth and our ancestors have thrived on for thousands of years. I'm pretty sure deep friers and corn dogs did not exist 100 years ago.

Eat food and be happy.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everybody. I hope you find yourself surrounded by loved ones on this day of celebration. I can't help but think about how Easter, like most American holidays have been changed into an eating celebration. I mean there is nothing wrong with gathering around a table with those that you love sharing a meal together. But why do we have to stuff ourselves until we can't do anything but sit on the couch? I guess it's an American thing. I know nobody wants to hear this, but when you are sitting down to eat today, why don't you trying filling up your plate like this.

Vegetables should take up half your play, while the other half is shared with a meat (or protein) and a starch (preferably something whole grain). I know that this sounds somewhat ridiculous. How am I supposed to get full on vegetables?? Well they are packed with fiber and nutrients, which is what your body is actually looking for. When you eat what it wants, it gets full. I don't know about you, but when I eat something delicious but has been bleached and refined of all the fiber and vitamins, I end up even more hungry. Your body is not dumb. It knows when it has received what it needs to sustain itself. If you continue to fill it with things that do not suffice it's need for nutrients, it is going to continue to be hungry and then you overeat.

So let's break some whole grain bread with family and rejoice in good health!

"Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

I order Michael Pollan's Food Rules: An Eater's Manual last week and just received it. I have browsed through The Omnivore's Dilemma but never found it too interested or profound. However hearing about him nonstop over the past year has got me interested. I must say that I love this quote:

"Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

This should be my motto. This should be everybody's motto.

Pollan looks at the issues that have occured due to "convience foods" and all the crap at the super market. I don't know how many time people need to hear this but obviously it hasn't been enough yet. Don't buy packaged foods. Buy REAL FOOD! How hard is that? With Jamie Oliver's new show "Food Revolution", Dr. Oz, Oprah, and Michael Pollan how have people not got the message??

Seeing familys who live off of Jimmie Deans breakfast sandwiches, hot pockets, frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets and all the other processed crap breaks my heart. They are sluggish, overweight, and full of health problems, yet don't understand why.

I can't imagine a life of never eating fresh fruit, never having salad with dinner, never growing a garden. These are what makes life complete. As a kid, running to the yard to pick oranges, sitting in the backyard by the blackberry bush, pick buckets full, trying not to get any worms, running to the garden to grab cilantro, avocado, or a tomato when making salsa or guacamole. I know not every kid had this and that breaks my heart. Food is life. Food makes us survive and brings us so much happiness.

Michael Pollan may not have a degree in Nutrition, but he has done his research and has got it right. I may not agree with everything. Just because you can't pronounce it doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it. Xantham gum may not be in everybody pantry, but it's from a bacteria. Food Scientists have utilized it and I think it's A-Okay.

Let's learn how to eat food again. Real food, food that comes from the ground.

Pick up Food Rules and see what you think. It's a very short read, no more than an hour, with 64 rules of how to eat.

Bon Appetit!