What's Really In Your Favorite Chinese Dish?

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.

This week, I'm keeping it short, sweet (& spicy) and to the point. I've come across a nice resource I want to share with you, called Restaurant Confidential: Chinese Restaurant Food - Wok Carefully. This guide from Nutrition Action Healthletter breaks down the nutritional profile of "a few dozen popular dinner-size dishes from a typical Chinese restaurant menu." Find out the calories, saturated fat and sodium content of some of your favorite Chinese menu items so you can make an informed meal-time decision the next time you go for Chinese food.

This informative piece by Jane Hurley and Bonnie Liebman also provides some useful tips, like this one:

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.

This week, I'm keeping it short, sweet (& spicy) and to the point. I've come across a nice resource I want to share with you, called Restaurant Confidential: Chinese Restaurant Food - Wok Carefully. This guide from Nutrition Action Healthletter breaks down the nutritional profile of "a few dozen popular dinner-size dishes from a typical Chinese restaurant menu." Find out the calories, saturated fat and sodium content of some of your favorite Chinese menu items so you can make an informed meal-time decision the next time you go for Chinese food.

This informative piece by Jane Hurley and Bonnie Liebman also provides some useful tips, like this one:

Piece o' Pumpkin Pie: 10 Tips for Tackling Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is less than a week away and all around me people are starting to put their holiday plans into action, heading out of town and picking up their groceries for the big meal. The long holiday weekend and going back home can mean slipping back into old habits, for better or worse, but spoiling all the work you've done for your body and health doesn't have to be a requirement of Thanksgiving Day. In fact, it's a great time to practice enjoying yourself while still maintaining your healthy habits. You should absolutely enjoy the foods you have been waiting for all year long but that doesn't mean you need to end up feeling bloated & regretful a week from now! So, let's check out some of my tips for Turkey Day. 

Thanksgiving is less than a week away and all around me people are starting to put their holiday plans into action, heading out of town and picking up their groceries for the big meal. The long holiday weekend and going back home can mean slipping back into old habits, for better or worse, but spoiling all the work you've done for your body and health doesn't have to be a requirement of Thanksgiving Day. In fact, it's a great time to practice enjoying yourself while still maintaining your healthy habits. You should absolutely enjoy the foods you have been waiting for all year long but that doesn't mean you need to end up feeling bloated & regretful a week from now! So, let's check out some of my tips for Turkey Day. 

Join Me on the Next Step of This Voyage!

Hello Friends,

I hope that you and your loved ones made it through Hurricane Sandy safely and are receiving the support you need.

It has been a few weeks since my last post so I'll catch you up on what's been going on.

At the end of October I took a short break from posting to focus 100% on studying for my Dietitian Registration exam. That break was extended when my husband and I ended up temporarily moving out of our apartment as an indirect result of the hurricane. My test was initially canceled due to the storm but eventually I did take and pass the RD exam. So, now I am officially a Registered Dietitian!

It has been a long road to get to this point.

Hello Friends,

I hope that you and your loved ones made it through Hurricane Sandy safely and are receiving the support you need.

It has been a few weeks since my last post so I'll catch you up on what's been going on.

At the end of October I took a short break from posting to focus 100% on studying for my Dietitian Registration exam. That break was extended when my husband and I ended up temporarily moving out of our apartment as an indirect result of the hurricane. My test was initially canceled due to the storm but eventually I did take and pass the RD exam. So, now I am officially a Registered Dietitian!

It has been a long road to get to this point.

In Season: Brussels Sprouts

Last week I discussed one of my two favorite fall foods, sweet potatoes. This week I'm back to talk about the other food I get excited for every autumn: brussels sprouts. 

Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable. This family of plants also includes broccoli, kale, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, kohlrabi, collards, mustard greens, radish, rutabaga, watercress and turnip. Existing research has shown a link between cruciferous vegetables and protection against cancer, just one of the reasons brussels sprouts are so great.

Last week I discussed one of my two favorite fall foods, sweet potatoes. This week I'm back to talk about the other food I get excited for every autumn: brussels sprouts. 

Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable. This family of plants also includes broccoli, kale, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, kohlrabi, collards, mustard greens, radish, rutabaga, watercress and turnip. Existing research has shown a link between cruciferous vegetables and protection against cancer, just one of the reasons brussels sprouts are so great.

The Food That Tames My Dark Side

Believe it or not, I have a little bit of a dark side. Yes, I do my best to stay positive at every turn but when the cold weather and the frenzy of the holidays comes around, I have to admit, even I can get a little cranky.

That said, there are definitely some things that get me excited for the holiday season. I don't know about you, but many of the things that get me in the wintertime mood are food-based (of course!). As my boots and sweaters get folded back into my regular wardrobe, I start fantasizing about fireplaces (a rare treat), red wine and traditionally cold-weather produce like sweet potatoes & brussels sprouts. I know, I know, it's not cookies or cakes or giant birds, but I really do just melt at the thought of a bowl of mashed sweet potatoes - - nature's candy! 

Believe it or not, I have a little bit of a dark side. Yes, I do my best to stay positive at every turn but when the cold weather and the frenzy of the holidays comes around, I have to admit, even I can get a little cranky.

That said, there are definitely some things that get me excited for the holiday season. I don't know about you, but many of the things that get me in the wintertime mood are food-based (of course!). As my boots and sweaters get folded back into my regular wardrobe, I start fantasizing about fireplaces (a rare treat), red wine and traditionally cold-weather produce like sweet potatoes & brussels sprouts. I know, I know, it's not cookies or cakes or giant birds, but I really do just melt at the thought of a bowl of mashed sweet potatoes - - nature's candy! 

Piece o' Cake Has An Official Look!

This week I traveled to North Carolina to meet the students of Guilford Technical Community College who, for the past month, have been working hard on designing potential logos and branding packages for the Piece o' Cake brand. To your right, and above, is the winning logo, designed by Nathan Smith. Nathan's work can also be found at the Piece o' Cake Facebook page and will be featured on future business cards and other promotional items. As a whole the students impressed me with their professionalism, creativity and talent and I was blown away by all their hard work. 

This week I traveled to North Carolina to meet the students of Guilford Technical Community College who, for the past month, have been working hard on designing potential logos and branding packages for the Piece o' Cake brand. To your right, and above, is the winning logo, designed by Nathan Smith. Nathan's work can also be found at the Piece o' Cake Facebook page and will be featured on future business cards and other promotional items. As a whole the students impressed me with their professionalism, creativity and talent and I was blown away by all their hard work. 

What's With This Juicing Trend?

If you've been asking yourself that question lately, here are a couple of good reads for you:

Food & Nutrition Magazine - Juice: From Weight Loss to Detox, this Trend Is Taking Off by Jessica Cording. May 5, 2012

Redbook Magazine - The Skinny on Juicing by Betsy Stephens


Here are the bullet points:

If you've been asking yourself that question lately, here are a couple of good reads for you:

Food & Nutrition Magazine - Juice: From Weight Loss to Detox, this Trend Is Taking Off by Jessica Cording. May 5, 2012

Redbook Magazine - The Skinny on Juicing by Betsy Stephens


Here are the bullet points: