Rant about Nutrition and Media. And then a picture of Ellie.

I was driving in the car the other day and the radio announcer said that if I stuck around I could find out the 5 foods that I could eat to make "belly pooch" disappear. I turned the radio in disgust. The idea that you can eat something and fat goes away is ridiculous, and yet this is what the majority of the country is bombarded with constantly - and people wonder why our country is confused about nutrition. This information might have somewhere come from a scientific study, and like the old game of telephone it has gotten horribly distorted --- or it could just be insanely wrong. I know girls who have posted transformational weight loss pictures on instagram, and then the next thing they knew they saw those very pictures as ads for weight loss drugs.

I read in my Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, that the FTC came out with a guide for evaluating weight loss claims. This! This! If you see any of these - run, so fast.

1) 2+# weight loss/week for more than a month without dieting or exercise
2) Weight loss, no matter what you eat
3) Permanent weight loss, even after you stop doing the plan/product
4) Blocks the absorption of fat/calories for substantial weight loss
5) Lose 3+#/week for more than a month
6) Substantial weight loss for all users
7) Weight loss by wearing a product or rubbing it on skin

Bottom line is use common sense --- if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Ok rant over, here's a picture of Ellie to make up for my crazy nutrition opinions! She hates suitcases/traveling/leaving.

Shrimp and Roasted Corn Salad

Summer is the time for salad!! I have a great recipe for you - light and delicious! Adapted from this Epicurious recipe. 

Shrimp and Roasted Corn Salad

4 ears corn

2 T + 1/4 c olive oil

1# cooked shrimp, tails removed

1/2 red onion, diced

1/4 jalapeno, minced

3 T coriander

juice of half a lemon

1 T white wine vinegar 

4 c romaine lettuce, washed and torn

... Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut corn off cob and toss with 2 T olive oil, sprinkle with salt. Place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Combine corn, shrimp, onion, jalapeno, and coriander. Whisk together lemon juice, white wine vinegar, 1/4 c olive oil, and salt/pepper. Place corn mixture on top of romaine and then top with dressing. Enjoy!

http://idontwantrealism.tumblr.com/post/77427282376

I saw this last week and I thought, "Oh yes, I have a blog"

I know, I know - but, Tortilla Soup!

Remember how I have a blog? Maybe not to much lately. Work has been crazy - but I guess that's what happens when you quit your job of almost 8 years. More on that later.

I have neglected this, however, I come bearing gifts - the best Tortilla Soup recipe ever. This recipe comes to me by way of my mother (all the best ones probably will), and I think it is actually from Neiman Marcus...? Don't ask me in what capacity, I'm just trying to give credit where credit is due. So, I realize that it is summer - and tortilla soup doesn't really scream summer (especially in Arizona) - but sometimes you just want some soup.

So, I haven't posted in forever. I am posting a recipe out of season. ANNNNND I didn't take any pictures of said soup. I ate it too fast. I blame the fiance, but then again, I am much to blame as well. But, know that the no pictures thing, indicates that it is the best soup ever, and even though I made a ton of it, it was gone in a matter of days. Each time I heated some up, I was like - oh, I need to take a picture of this, and then oops, it was gone. So, here you go!

Tortilla Soup
2oz taco seasoning
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stick, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 stick butter
49.5oz broth (chicken, veggie, whatever)
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 c picante sauce
6oz shred cheddar cheese
1 large raw chicken breast, diced
1 c heavy cream
10 corn tortillas, shredded
... Saute onions, celery, carrots, pepper, garlic, and taco seasoning in butter over medium heat. Add chicken stock, corn tortillas, and diced chicken and boil for 15 minutes (watch soup pot, so the tortillas don't sink to the bottom and burn). Add picante sauce, tomatoes, and cheese. Simmer 30 minutes (again watching that tortillas don't sink and burn on the bottom). Add cream and simmer another 30 minutes. Garnish with crumbled tortilla chips.

Here's a picture of Ellie to make it better. 

Momma's Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad is delicious. But my mom's Caesar salad dressing --- that is a whole 'nother level. I made it the other night to sit along side turkey cutlets and buttered egg noodles and the salad stole the show. Maybe because it is 100+ degrees outside. But none the less, you need the recipe. Don't be scared by the anchovy paste. It's worth it.

Momma's Caesar Salad Dressing
3 inch anchovy paste
1/4 t salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c olive oil
juice of half a lemon
1 T dijon
5 dashes worscheshire
3 T parmesan, shredded
Fresh pepper
... Add the last 2 ingredients to washed and dried lettuce. Mix the remainder of the ingredients well. Toss on salad (do not "serve on the side" - gross), serve immediately.

So easy, so delicious!

Go-To Chipotle Order

This blurry photo is my ultimate chipotle bowl. I thought I would share my go-to bowl with you guys, because we all have one ----

• Veggie bowl to go
• White rice .... I love brown rice in general, but it is a sin to choose this at Chipotle. You've been warned.
• Black beans
• Fajita veggies (if you are ordering this on a date, you better have your signif other eat some of these too...)
• Mild and corn salsas
• Sour cream
• Guacamole (not extra if it's a veggie bowl!!)
• "As much lettuce as you can stuff on there" -- as you can see above. I find that this makes me feel better about eating the whole thing. It's like salad!

What's your go-to chipotle order?

PS - I've heard their margaritas are delish -- true?! I don't know, I've never tried them... 

The Intentional What?

The idea of a blog title was often something that kept me from starting a blog. "But what will my blog be naaaaaamed?" she thought in a whiny voice. Then she went and had some ice cream because she couldn't think of a name. The intentional plate is something that came to me out of a common conversation that I have with many of my patients. As a registered dietitian, I often talk about intentional eating. This is directly in opposition to going into the kitchen and grabbing a handful of walnuts/craisins/cereal/etc and then going back to whatever you were doing. This grabbing and eating and going often leads to more grabbing and eating and going and is the source of many an extra pound. Because one handful is not bad. But it is also not intentional. A fitness instructor of mine once said, "Eat things because of what they have in them, not because of what they don't" -- this is the truth. I don't care how much is NOT in diet soda, but what are you getting from it? Nada. Eat intentionally, things that are going to make you feel better after you eat, not worse.

This is a sentiment that I like to try and apply to all parts of my life. Not to let anything just be in life because it is - but have it be intentionally there, to make you better. And if there is something in your life that serves no purpose, that is not filling you up, that has no greater meaning - get rid of it. Make room for something else in your intentional life. I often encourage patients to go for a walk first thing in the morning or to be active in anyway, to set a tone and an intention for the day. Often this leads to an overall better, more productive day. Not to be confused with busy. I have to work to keep the glorification of busy OUT of my life.

So, the intentional plate it is.

Also this is a picture of my dog, Ellie, holding one of her toys. I am intentionally putting it here. Because I like it. The End.