"We're The Same" Weekly Wisdom

What similarities do you share with the people you love?

I share the same blue eyes as my Dad.  I share hints of red hair with my Mom and Gramma Alice. I share utter and complete goofiness with my friend Carlena. I share being tall with my Grandma Josie. I share my love for onions with my Grandpa Herbie. I share a love for the beach with my friend Brenda. 

I share the desire to have fun, be with friends, giggle, watch Bugs Bunny, my love of Life cereal, playing golf (sometimes), eating taco salads and making nachos, Reese's peanut butter cups and many other things with my sister Kate - because we are more alike than different. 

While it is good to be unique and be your own person, it is even more important to recognize everyone has similarities. We all want to be loved by family and friends. We all want to feel important by the life we live through the work we do and the things we accomplish. We all want to be treated equally in the place we live. We want to be given opportunities based on our skills and abilities. We want to be paid equally and fairly. We want no problems with activities of daily living. 

But these wants are not fulfilled for everyone. 

The reason I shared about disabilities this past month is my frustration with the discrimination in the population. One that hits close to home with my sister.  My sister had an intellectual disability and struggled her whole life to find those similarities with everyone, including me. I loved my sister sooo much but still had times of frustration and sister-like differences. But, I still could have been a better sister.  

 We were more alike than different and I struggled to understand, especially when we were young. The way she felt, the things she wanted in life, how she loved, how she was sad, how she was frustrated, how she was having fun, how our parents and family loved us - we were the same. We will always be the same. There were few other things that made us different like how we learned to read and write. Nothing that would ever change my view of her or how capable she was, which is untrue of what society thinks of the people deemed "disabled."  There is nothing disabled about them. They want what we want in life and they deserve all the things in life. They deserve to share their passions, purpose and abilities with the world we live in - whatever they may be. They deserve this opportunity. 

The next time you see someone who you feel is "different" than you, in any way, change your thoughts and look at how you're the same. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Wanting to Work" Weekly Wisdom

If you knew you were making less than half of minimum wage per hour at your job, would you be excited to work?

Insert sub-minimum wage. Have you heard of this before? First, I want you to take in some numbers before I explain this more. 

There are 40.6 million people or 12.6% of total civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in the United States in 2018 per the 2018 American Community Survey

Out of that 40.6 million people, 7.6 million of the total civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 employed with a disability in 2018.

$23,848 is the median earnings in the past 12 months (in 2018 inflation adjusted dollars) of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and over with earnings and a disability in 2018.

Out of the small population of people with disabilities who are actually hired, many receive sub-minimum wages. There are many different ranges of those hired to work and what they are paid. Even as little as 3 cents on the dollar. 

What? 

The reason employers can pay such low wages is due to a loophole in the 1938 Fair Labors Standards Act. A cause allowing any company with a 14 (c) certificate to pay wages based on productivity or ability, even at rates below the minimum wage. See a list of these certificate holders here:  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/workers-with-disabilities/section-14c/certificate-holders.

One area of specific interest of mine is how employers justify these sub-minimum-wages by saying they’re providing the workers with vocational training and jobs for those who otherwise never find one. These jobs are part of "community rehab programs" or “sheltered workshops.”  These programs are supported both by non-profit and private funding. They receive both federal and private contracts allowing them to use the labor of disabled workers. Some common jobs are food preparation, cleaning, secretarial work like filing and shredding, sorting aluminum cans, or assembling items. The theory of these programs is to employ those with disabilities, teach them a skill or trade so they can transition into other jobs. There are some great programs out there doing the best they can to service the population they have, as there are many humans in need of this kind of support both mentally, socially and monetarily. Unfortunately, sub-minimum wage does not do a lot as far as monetary support while they are working in the program. However programs will also help their clients of any ability find work outside of the program and clients can earn the same wage as their co-workers. 

Currently, Alaska, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, the City of Seattle, Texas, Oregon (phasing out by 2023) all have eliminated sub-minimum wage. 

Hawaii, Washington, Minnesota, Kentucky and Illinois all have legislation out to end sub-minimum wage.

The more you know...

Next week, I will bring this all together for you. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

 

"Do Things Your Way" Weekly Wisdom

When was the last time you changed something in your routine?

The last time was when I changed my laundry detergent. I have always gotten the same laundry detergent my parents got, because they are older and wiser and that's what a daughter does. Until the daughter doesn't anymore and navigates her own way and wants to try something different. I am a creature of habit and have taken all the nuggets of wisdom from my parents and applied them to my own life. Makes sense right?  They have lived longer than me and know more than I do.  But what if I did something different or tried to do something my own way?  Would they be mad?  Will it fail?  Will I fail?

Just because things are always done a certain way, doesn't mean you can't question it and try out something new. It can be scary, the unknown always is but it can be exciting. I think 2020 has proved to us all that things don't always have to be done the same way and it is scary and it is exciting. We are not doing anything the same way, socializing, shopping, vacationing - everything is different. So why not look at everything going on in your life?

Changing things up is good!  I know I am a creature of habit and have found making little tweaks in my routine has resulted in improvements. I am saving time, saving money and eliminating excess steps or things I don't really need. I am realizing just because I have always done things a certain way doesn't mean it has to stay this way - and it applies to all areas in my life. My home, my work, my relationships have all benefitted by mixing things up. There have been some failures of course, but I can go back to what worked before. No big deal!  I wouldn't have known unless I tried. 

By all means, stick to things that are working for you but don't be afraid to try it a different way. It is what makes your life yours and yourself uniquely you. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Social Media Mania" Weekly Wisdom

Who else out there falls into the social media black hole?

It truly is a black whole. You click on one video, 2 hours and 16 videos later, poof! That time is forever gone. This is exactly why I spend very little time on You Tube. Not because I don't like it but because I correlate it to a shopping trip to Target. You go in to watch one thing and leave 2 hours later having watched 50 things. 

I grew up when there was no social media (thank goodness). I didn't have a computer or a phone when I was in high school and most of college. Think of all the time I had then! I was wealthy with time. Within the last few years, I found myself getting stuck in social media mania, playing the comparison game, having anxiety if I did have the perfect post go out, and feeling I always needed to be doing more. 

I have stopped all of this nonsense. 

Social media has so many wonderful qualities, I have met some of the most wonderful people and look forward to meeting more. I have gained knowledge about many thing that interest me. I have had the ability to share my conversation with amazing humans across the world. But social media also has that sneaky dark side which has been very troubling to me lately. I can tell it is affecting my mood and my sleep - which is not good. Just like everything else in life, I have had to set up boundaries with social media and it gave me so much life back!  With time being our biggest currency, going down the social media rabbit hole really does not have a place. 

I ask you to be careful with yourself on how you use social media in your life. To think it did not exist not that long ago and what was once trending on platforms to use does not exist anymore. What will happen in the future? It's all going to change...so be ready. If you're putting a lot of your time into social media, really calculate your return on investment. You may be missing out on things bringing true value and meaning to your life. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Opening Up America" Weekly Wisdom

The world is opening back up, where are you going first?

I officially just broke my first nail, I need a haircut. I am waiting to reschedule my dentist appointment and need to schedule my yearly lady appointment and physical. But it can all wait. I am not going to break out of my house like I haven't seen daylight in 6 weeks. 

I am just going home. 

Logically, in my head, there is nothing I need to do immediately. I am not going crazy or feeling trapped. I have not felt this way through the whole quarantine. I have actually loved every single minute. It might be because I am still working and I get that interaction with my co-workers and other humans each day but I think it is more than that. I had to slow down.  I had to go home after work each night because nothing else was open. I didn't go visit family and friends because I am exposed to a lot of people and did not want to risk being a carrier and getting my Mom or my 94 year old gramma sick. I didn't get to hop on a plane and jet set around the world at my leisure. I didn't get to go to the concerts I had bought tickets to. 

I am 100% okay with all of it. 

I am thriving now more than ever. I am getting 7-8 hours of sleep consistently. I am exercising everyday and enjoying it. I am cooking more and creating meals I look forward to eating. I am reading, watching movies I have always wanted to see and journaling more. I am feeling inspired, full of energy and joy. I am looking forward to seeing the faces of the people I love in person but I am going to be more thoughtful of how I spend my time with them. I am thinking more of what I really want to do with my life, places I want to visit and things I want to learn. I am keeping this whole "pause" in life in perspective when developing my future plans. 

But for now and for the next months, I am still planning on just going home, to do my part in this recovery effort of our new normal. Because for me, things will not go back to how they always were and I don't want them to.

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"What is Your Food Superpower?" Weekly Wisdom

What is your food superpower?

I remember when I was little, my grandpa would pick up my sister and I after dinner for a 3 wheeler ride. He would take us out to the farm and we sometimes would snack along the way. We would stop by the mulberry trees and coat our lips and fingers in different shades of purple and then we would stop by his garden and snack on fresh peas from the pod. My absolute favorite is when he would pull the long and skinny spring onions before they turned round and plump and let me eat them to my hearts content. I can still taste how delicious they were. There is nothing like food fresh from the earth.  

I have tried a few times to grow things. I really kind of suck at it. I have sustained the life of a few house plants but as far as growing food...not so much. I have managed a few herbs here and there, one tomato plant and that's about it. I keep trying each year but I have decided I am much better at eating plants than growing them. And I welcome all kinds of plants in all forms, as long as I do not have to grow them. 

There is a lot of patience and a lot of work that goes into growing and supplying our food to us. Just thinking about having to help with a garden by pulling weeds and watering is a lot of work, think of that on a grander scale?  Farmers and ranchers of all kinds are all committed to growing the food we depend on. Empty shelves in the grocery store can cause concerns but it would be even more concerning if fields weren't planted and barns were empty. Farmers and ranchers cannot stop planting their crops or stop caring for their animals. They are #StillFarming during all questionable times we go through. 

Everyday, I am beyond grateful for those who produce our food as I grab my milk, spinach, blueberries and chia seeds and make my morning smoothie. We are so lucky to have so many options of nutritious and safe food. I am so lucky I do not have to grow or produce my own food (it would be a little dicey). 

I thank them all for their food growing superpower and will continue to use mine to consume their delicious products. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"All Dietitian Jobs Matter" Weekly Wisdom

What job do you have as a Dietitian?

There are many places a dietitian can work and ALL of them are important. 

Right now, clinical dietitians are showing up each day during the pandemic for their patients and co-workers. They are on the front lines everyday and I think the world of them. I always have. I was one. Knowing what is it like being in this role, makes me sing the praises of dietitians who have a passion for clinical. There is not one clinical dietitian who ever expected to be millionaire because the job is more about the work they do and the people they serve. Not about the money. 

If you are doing a job because it's all about the money, then you're not focused on big picture. Yes, money is important but there is more to life than money. It might be time to truly look at yourself and see if there is something missing in your life if money is the priority. There are MANY dietitians working in jobs they love regardless of their paychecks. There are many dietitians creating jobs they love, regardless of the paychecks. There is no "one-size-fits-all" dietitian job and do not let anyone make you second guess the career choices you have made as a dietitian. 

There are many dietitians feeling "less than" because they are not making five figures a month or not working in an area of dietetics where it appears the person is "killing it" financially. You are not less- than, you are doing what fills your cup. And if you aren't, then it is time to find the role that will, regardless of what your bank account says at the end of the week. 

All dietitian jobs matter. 

#embracethehellyeah

AE

"Essential" Weekly Wisdom

What do you deem "essential?"

I have thought a lot about this word and definition a lot over the past 3 weeks. I have never thought about a word or definition that long in my entire life. I don't think anyone has. But have you really thought about what is essential in your life?

I am an essential worker right now. I am also an essential daughter and friend. My mom is an essential human in my life, so are my other heartbeats. In the terms of human life, that is what essential means to me. 

But then there are things, things we "think" are essential but really they are not. Pringles are not essential. Easter candy is not essential. Getting my nails and hair done is not essential. Going to movies, walking around a mall, gambling - those are not essential. And I can't believe I am going to say this, but Netflix is not essential. 

As I have been thinking of what I would deem essential outside of humans in my life, I am struggling with it. I have come accustomed to a way of life and have always thought everything I need (or do I just want it) would be right at my fingertips. This situation is an incredible hard slap in the face of reality. Nothing is every guaranteed in our lives, even people or things I have determined to be essential. I hope I will always have water to drink. I hope I will have food to eat. I hope I will have clothes to wear and a bed to sleep in. I hope my family and friends live forever. 

After my many days of how I could define essential in my life and that would be:  having human connection, just enough food to fuel my abilities I have been graciously given and being kind. 

Take a moment today (or 3 weeks if you need it) and create your definition. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Are You Bored?" Weekly Wisdom

Be honest, have you ever said "you are bored?"

I might internalize a tiny little scream each time I see someone saying they are bored or are having a hard time with finding things to do during this quarantine time. If you are counting the days, you are doing it all wrong. You're not seeing the opportunity in this time to do things you never seem to find the time to do. This time is a gift! Think of all the people who are not getting to stay home or work from home. Take that thought in for a moment. 

How many times in the past have you been concerned with your ability to find the time to read that book, or write that short story or fix a project in your home?  How many times did you wish you had more time with your special someone to talk, have dinner with your family, get that workout in, spend time with your kids or even just take a nap?  Now is the time. There is no reason to be putting anything off. There is no reason for counting the days of being indoors and not doing your best to make the most of it. 

Thank you for doing your part by staying home. Thank you for not going on unnecessary outings. Thank you for not hoarding food and supplies. Thank you for keeping your distance between other humans. Thank you for NEVER saying you are bored. 

If you feel this phrase creep up to your lips, take a moment to check in with yourself and ask "am I boring?" and remind yourself you are not. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Are Your Commitments Bringing You Joy? Weekly Wisdom

Share with me one thing you have been doing in your daily life you have realized 

does not bring you joy. 

Thank you to my friend Haley for bringing up this very important topic. 

Never before in our entire lives have we experienced anything like this. It has made us stop everything we do on a regular basis. Most of these things, we just did unconsciously. We can honestly do anything we want at any time as we have turned into "on-demand" people. If I want a chocolate covered potato chip, I could probably find one at 11:50 pm. Need some toothpaste at 7 am, not a problem. There is no need to plan or buy a back-up of anything just-in-case.  Go to the coffee shop to work and sip. Book a last minute flight for a weekend getaway, no problem!  Head to a movie on a rainy afternoon or catch a baseball game with the family because you have nothing to do on a weekend, sounds good. 

Until now. 

Right now is the perfect time to really evaluate everything you are doing in your life. Make a list of all the things that have been stopped in your daily schedule on the left side of a piece of paper and to the right of that activity right yes or no for if it brings you joy. If is it a no, then my vote is to stop doing it. Have everyone in your family do it. Maybe your kids are not loving the select basketball team they are playing on. Maybe your spouse does not enjoy getting together with the neighbors. Maybe going to the grocery store every night to grab something for dinner is wearing you out. 

Get some life back and get some joy back. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Slow Down" Weekly Wisdom

Are you following the recommendations to practice social distancing and stay home?

It is a crazy time. I truly don't think people really understand the significance of what is happening in our world right now. I also know it is hard for us to really take to heart what it means to slow down, pause and stay home. Some of us do not get the opportunity to stay home to work, be with our families, have food be delivered to us, have good health or be able to go without a paycheck. The reality is many of us will not be able to stay home. 

I do not see the need to publicly declare how self quarantine has us on our 8th bottle of wine, being already bored of Netflix, upset about sports and other events being cancelled, not getting to go on your beach vacation, not being able to have play dates or getting your nails done. 

What is so wrong with slowing down?  

You get to be home, catch up on sleep, be with your heartbeats or pets, practice some self care, clean your house, read, work on project you have been meaning to do for 4 years, learn something new, listen to music, cook and sit down for your meals, see the grass turn green, listen to the birds outside, go for a walk, help a neighbor, journal. You don't have to run here and there for practices, appointments, or accomplish the long list of errands we hammer ourselves with each day. The possibilities are endless and none of them involve negative thoughts or emotions. 

This time, right now is the clearest message we all need to slow down. We are doing way too many things that really do not have any meaning at the end of the day. We need to be home more. We need to eat dinner with our families each night. We need to be more present in our lives instead of constantly going on to the next thing in our jam-packed schedules. 

We need to #embracethehellyeah and slow down. 

~AE

"Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day" Weekly Wisdom

Will you share with me a Registered Dietitian you are celebrating today?

(It is 100% ok if it is yourself and all the other people you admire and look up to in this profession.) 

I truly believe in this profession, the people who have made it their passion and purpose in life and who start and end each day by being robustly daring.  Why are my fellow colleagues "robustly daring" in my eyes?  

1. Registered Dietitians not afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

2. Registered Dietitians support each other (and if they don't, they better start)

3. Registered Dietitians are the food and nutrition experts who translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. 

4. Registered Dietitians have college degrees, completed an internship, passed a national exam AND maintain continuing education. We are smarty pants who know our stuff!

5. Registered Dietitians help EVERYONE along their personal wellness journeys, no matter who you are, where you come from or what size or shape you are. 

6. Registered Dietitians work in the communities we live in and care about.

7. Registered Dietitians are advocates for improving the nutritional status of ALL Americans and people around the world. 

8. Registered Dietitians are not afraid to promote facts not fear, from the ground up when it comes to our food systems

9. Registered Dietitians are the most valuable and credible source of nutrition information. 

10. Registered Dietitians are my people because they create conversations that truly matter and aspire for greatness in everything they do. 

Today we celebrate all the Registered Dietitians in the world. 

Thank you and always continue to be robust, be daring and to #embracethehellyeah!

~AE

"When Change Happens" Weekly Wisdom

Have you recently experienced change in your life?

You trucking along, doing your thing in life and BAM! all of a sudden what you knew to be the norm is no longer. How did it make you feel?  

Change is an occurrence in our lives that can have a variety of reactions. It can be exciting, welcomed, happy, scary, devastating, unbelievable, sucky or uncomfortable. It can consume us in ways we didn't know was possible. We find ourselves asking a lot of "what ifs" and creating scenarios  in our heads to try to understand why this change is happening. 

The majority of us do not enjoy change. 

Change in inevitable and we have the choice to progress. Just think of all the changes you have survived in your life. Once that always amazes me is the transformation from child to teenager to adult. I still don't know what I am doing as an adult but I am doing it. And just when I think I couldn't screw up adulthood anymore, something great happens to remind me I am on the right path. 

You are on the right path as long as change is happening. Change will make you stronger and resilient. Do your best to be open to when opportunity knocks. It's the waiting and the ability to be patient while trusting yourself that will be the challenge. Believe in yourself. Don't compromise yourself when change is happening. Don't sacrifice other important areas of your life that are thriving because one aspect is not. Once you open yourself to what could be is when everything falls into place. 

Keep believing in you. If its hard right now, call on me and I will be happy to believe in you. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

2020 Intention: Deceleration Weekly Wisdom

What if all we stopped saying yes to things we don't want to do?

Would the world stop?  No. Would our lives improve?  Yes. 

In my 44th year of life, I have learned to pause before I say yes to anything. It was so engrained in me to be accommodating and say yes to everything asked of me. Until life taught me some hard lessons and saying yes to everything wasn't an option anymore. Our decisions in life should be treated just like in an emergency room.  Patients are triaged from most severe to less severe and everyone does their best to get each of them seen.

How are you triaging the asks and answers of you everyday?  Are you paying enough attention to who and what you are giving your attention too?

This is why deceleration is my intention for 2020. I am not going to say yes to everything and go full speed through another year. I am not going to forget the important things that happened because I was too focused on what was coming up next. I am going to soak up all the time I can with my heartbeats because I will never get that time back with them. I am going to go to the places I have always wanted to go and have those experiences.  I am going to be present in what I am doing at the time. I am going to put my phone away and take mental snapshots instead of the phone being between me and truly making memories.  And I am going to do this all unapologetically and on my own terms. 

We only have this one life to live and I refuse to let it pass me by. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Happy New Year!" Weekly Wisdom

How have you been celebrating the new year?

If you have been around for a little while, you may know I do not celebrate New Years on January 1. I celebrate on February 17, because I believe your new year truly starts on your birthday. 

So HAPPY NEW YEAR to me!  I am looking forward to another year of everything full of greatness and joy. As with all things in life, you never know what a new year is going to bring. 

Isn't that exciting and scary all at the same time?

That is was life is all about, being open to whatever it brings you because it is presenting itself for a reason. Which is why my intention for this new year is "deceleration."  Last year I realized I was going a little to fast for my liking and not stopping long enough to smell the roses. So this year, I will be smelling all the roses and really focusing on taking time to pause and be in the moment.

How is your intention for 2020 going?

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"The Last Words of 2019" Weekly Wisdom.

Reflecting on this past year, what 3 words come to mind?

As the year is winding down and we all set sail on the journey of reviewing our past year, how would you sum it up?  These were not the first 3 words coming to my mind when I was thinking about 2019. More traditional reflection words came to mind first like gratitude and hope but those words didn't define my past year very well. This second set is much more on point. 

Heartbeats. They have a wingspan covering a lot of miles. I am fortunate to have amazing family, especially my Mom, and friends who have become family. There is nothing more meaning than people in your life who make your heart beat and feel all the feels. 

Connection. Over the past year, I have created so many connections with people I never would have if it wasn't for my podcast. There is nothing more special to me than this tiny little space I have in the airwaves that is creating the most meaningful professional and personal relationships with complete strangers. Words being exchanged between two people is a sacred space, which I hold with much value in my life. 

Yum. It has been a tasty year! Food is at the root of everything I do and find joy in. Sharing meals with family, discussing food and nutrition with clients, loving a new recipe one of my connections created, learning something new about any certain food - including the way it is grown, harvested and engineered, trying a new food, immersing into a new food culture while traveling, and drooling over beautiful food photos. 

Whatever 3 words come to mind when you look back on the past year, don't go with your first thoughts. Dig a little deeper. 

May you have the most amazing end of the year and see you all in 2020!

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Time to Pause" Weekly WIsdom

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by everything going on in your life?

I don't even mean in a bad way, you just have soooo many things going on?  The other day, I was in my kitchen. My phone was ringing, I had a bag of trash in one hand, and a few bottles to recycle in the other. My doorbell was ringing and my fire alarms were going off because whatever I was cooking in the oven was burning. I literally walked in a circle, not knowing which thing to attend to first. That's when I knew, it was seriously time to pause. 

I am in awe of all the humans juggling a variety of things in their lives:  jobs, spouses, parenting to kids and/or furbabies, health issues, other family members, cooking, cleaning, volunteering...you get the idea. The calendars are full, reminders constantly going off on our phones and not a lot of time to be quiet. 

We have too much shit going on in our lives. 

No one gets a big award for the extra hustle in life. No one really gets recognized for having 70 different activities planned for your family at the end of the week. No one really likes to barely get 6 hours of sleep a night because they are busy. I honestly wouldn't believe you if you said you did like it all. There is more to life than going to the hot chocolate with Santa at the library or the free burrito at Chipotle while trying to buy presents for 50 of your closest family and friends. 

This is just a holiday example but what about outside of this time of year. Are you still filling your life with a bunch of unfullfilling stuff?  This is your gut check before the new year starts. 

Slow the F down. 

Put value on your time and the people in your life. Stop emphasizing the importance of activities, events and "stuff" and try to slow down a bit when you recognize it is getting out of control. Because my friend, you know when it begins to tailspin and you can't and don't want to do "all the things." Moments like mine, when you're standing in your kitchen, alarms and doorbells going off with trash in your hand. If you don't know which way to go, don't be a hero and just hit pause. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"To Dairy or Not to Dairy?" in a Plant-Based World Weekly Wisdom

Do you find yourself questioning what foods you should be consuming?

Food, nutrition, diet culture, wellness, health are important words to all of us. Each of us may have a different definition and this is OK. We are all one our own unique wellness journey. 

The wellness climate is constantly changing, this is the beauty of science and why I find this area so fascinating. I have always been drawn to what people eat, why they eat it and what it provides them from a nutrient standpoint. In the current wellness climate, sustainability, safety, and animal welfare are buzzwords. There are also a lot of conversations surrounding the term"plant-based" eating. This notion is not new. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes has been around since I have been a dietitian and way before. Except now it is sexier. It is finding a way to reinvent itself by this trendy term, new products and of course media endorsement. 

With a current documentary being released, I find myself getting a lot of questions about what being plant-based means, what my thoughts are and how can someone do it. In many conversations and digging a little deeper into each individual, there is a gaping hole of daily intake of plant-based foods.  In my own experience and practice, people love to eat anything but or very little of these types of foods it their purest form. 

How does one going to transition from an omnivore diet (where we eat plants and animals) to a herbivore diet (all plants) and do we have to?

As a registered dietitian, I do believe we need to eat more plants and there is no way around it. But we can balance them safely in our wellness journey with animal foods. About 1 in 10 adults meet the fruit and vegetable recommendations a day. If we are not eating plant-based fruits and vegetables, then what are we eating?  We are eating pasta, breads, sweets, donuts, candy, cookies, soda, granola bars, fruit snacks and a bunch of "plant-based" processed foods. All of these foods fit into balanced eating but unfortunately, not many of us are finding the balance because we are avoiding certain foods, especially animal-based food because we have heard they are "bad" for us. 

Navigating your wellness journey is very personal and important. I am happy to help anyone soundly develop their personal road map.  I also am happy to remind people understand they can lived a plant-based life while also consuming animal-based foods. I do this by educating myself on where my food comes from, so I can share this with my clients as if they are my own family and friends. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Chicago with a variety of Registered Dietitians sponsored by Midwest Dairy to learn more about dairy farming practices. This experience not only confirms my desire to continue to educate myself on where our food comes from and the safety of our food, but to educate others. Conversations about food should be positive, safe and offer informative education. This is exactly what I experienced and want to share with you. 

Chicago, IL - Who knew there were local dairy farms so close to such a big city. Did you know fluid milk takes about 48 hours from milking to hitting the grocery store shelves?

Erin Hoisington, Registered Dietitian with Midwest Dairy and Katie Smith, Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor of Sport Science and Health Education, Simpson College. 

We had a lovely dinner at The Signature Room. As I think about this menu, look at the combinations of plant-based foods and animal foods. Each food group compliments each other in taste and in nutrients, including dessert. Part of the joy of the meal was meeting the farmers, Andy and Sarah Lenkaitis whose farm we would visit the next day. 

This weekend experience took us 50 miles outside of the city to Lenkaitis Holsteins Dairy Farm in St. Charles, IL. This dairy farm is family owned by 3 generations and is managed by Andy and Sarah. The farm is home to 160 Red and White Holstein cattle.

The farm has a room attached to the barn for events and tours of the farm. Our Undeniably Dairy group gathered here for an introduction to the Lenkaitis Holsteins. 

Of course, we had an assortment of foods for breakfast including fruit, breads and different types of milk. When you think about milk, do you think about the different varieties available to us as consumers?  How fortunate are we to have many varieties of this nutrient dense animal food to meet the needs of all types of people. 

As I was enjoying my breakfast, the Lenkaitis's have windows in their conference room with a great view of their dairy operation. I was able to watch 2 cows in the robotic milkers. This is transparency at its best when it comes to a farming operation. Many farmers are willing to open up their farm and show you their operation. 

The Lenkaitis's have a robotic operation. Inside their conference room, Sarah Lenkaitis can watch this computer screen to monitor her cows throughout the day. Robotics enables them to monitor of all aspects of their cows more completely, which results in healthier and happier cows. 

    

In 2018, they built a new barn for their Holsteins, equipped with the latest technology to improve the comfort of their cows and safety of the people who care for them. This includes cameras for monitoring, large overhead fans to help cool the cows in hot summer months and curtains to raise or lower based on the weather. There is also this large robotic "Roomba" (bottom right) which goes through and sweeps the floors after feeding for cleanliness.

 There are individual pens for cows needing special attention, especially this sweet lady who is a mother-to-be. 

The Lenkaitis's grow crops to feed the cows. The cows are fed a total mixed ration twice a day and the blend is monitored by a nutritionist. Cows can eat up to 50 pounds of feed in a day. 

All of their cows have a collar with a RFID or radio frequency identification tag unique to each lady. It is like a Fitbit tracking the cows movement, rest, milking and feeding. The tag will also determine if the lady is ready to milk. The cows are the ones determining if they want to milk. The gate will open up into the milk area once the tag is scanned and then she determines when she is ready to go into the milking stall.  This health management software monitors the health of the cow more consistently and can catch changes in a cow much quicker, leading to faster treatment. 

These ladies are happy cows. They are each given a name. I graciously got to in their special space, pet them and even get some cow kisses.  

It was a mild October morning, with a rain storm going through during the visit. The gals were relaxing comfortably in their barn. The barn has an automated manure system to help keep the barn clean for the ladies. 

The barn has 2 robotic milking stations. Once the collar on the cow is scanned and she is ready to milk, the robot unit will attach to the udder, then dip her teats in an iodine-based cleaner, rinses them, milks her and then dips the teat again. While she is milking, the robot will drop pellets to encourage the lady to come back for milking. 

Sarah shows and explains to us the computer system monitoring the milking process. Along with this outstanding robotic system, they are also good stewards of the land by growing their own crops for feed, separating manure fiber and selling to a local landscaper. They sell genetics to other farmers and sell bull calves to farmers who raise beef steers. 

While the ladies are waiting in the milking area, there are back scratchers. This is part of the wellness of the cows and are a type of a "spa" treatment. Cows are happier when they can scratch their backs or necks which also encourages them to milk.

The milk produced at the Lenkaitis farm goes to Dean Foods to make cottage cheese and sour cream in Rockford, IL. This particular product, Dairy Pure Mix-Ins combines plant-based foods like fruits and nuts with animal-based cottage cheese. This combination of foods has a dietitian recommended balance of high quality of nutrition. 

As I reflect on my visit to the Lenkaitis farm, it just reassures me how sustainability is being practiced in the dairy industry, especially in family-owned farms. The Lenkaitis's are ensuring their milk is good for people, good for the planet and good for the economy. Their food is safe, nutritious and dietitian approved because of the care they provide these animals. Seeing this operation and knowing the dedication this family has in providing a healthy and nutritious food products, increases my confidence in recommending dairy being a part of everyones wellness journey. 

Think of the big picture when it comes to your health. Gather as much information as you can about the food you eat. Know where it comes from, what nutrients it provides, how it fits into your budget and how your body feels when consuming it. And when you need to know more, seek out the expert of the questions you are asking - like a Registered Dietitian or a farmer. Don't stream the latest documentary to answer your questions or question your own wellness journey. 

~AE

*Thank you to Midwest Dairy for sponsoring this post AND thank you to Sarah and Andy Lenkaitis for sharing their farm and beautiful ladies with me.