Wisdom Wednesday

I had a revelation this weekend. Maybe it is because I am older and wiser, maybe it is because I have decided to just be exactly who I am. I was sitting in a restaurant in Boston during FNCE, our national dietitian conference, and I decided I was not going to eat anything I did not truly enjoy anymore. As a registered dietitian, people think we eat a certain way and all like healthy foods. Nope. Guess what? I do not like salmon and I decided at that particular moment, I will not eat salmon anymore. I am not going to fit a certain mold. I am truly going to enjoy the food I like, regardless of what people think I should eat. Never ever eat anything you do not enjoy. "Just because" you think you are suppose to, whether it is healthy or trendy, it does not matter.  From this moment forward it is all about truly enjoying my food and making sure I truly enjoy the company I keep when I dine. 

Week in Review

Besides my revelation, Boston and FNCE were amazing!  This city is beautiful and was fun experiencing the history all around. I am not sure I have walked this much in my entire life, but it was all worth the many miles my feet put on. I was also especially excited to be there t in the members showcase to debut my first book. I still cannot believe I wrote a book!

2015 was a crazy, life changing year in so many ways. During the moments of deep sadness, I did something very personal and important to me to get through all the madness. I'm a Registered Dietitian...Now What?  Is a book about all the things I have discovered along the way so far in my career. It is for new RD's and RD's who are maybe stuck in their career and need a little boost. If you are a Registered Dietitian or know one, please get this book and bring back the inspiration and passion! I am looking forward to hearing registered dietitians tell their stories of passion and purpose through my very own podcast, Conversations with Anne Elizabeth.  I am so proud to be part of such an amazing and inspiring profession. I did this for me. I did this for my peers. I did this because we all have a story to tell. Hell yeah!!!

Along with the book release, my dear friend Jen Haugen and I decided this year to premier both of our books in the Member Product Showcase at FNCE. It was awesome networking with other dietitians and getting inspired by their interests and passions. Jen wrote a book this year too: The Mom's Guide to a Nourishing Garden. It is a wonderful and inspiring resource for mothers, gardening and also creating a nourishing life with your family. She has been such a great friend and inspires me in many ways to live out all dreams. It was a great experience doing this with someone who shares a vision of the future of registered dietitians.

A trip to Boston could not be discussed without a picture of my most favorite food experience. Believe it or not, it was raw oysters.  Our waitress at Atlantic Fish Company recommended these creamy delights along with their specialty Pear Martini. It was a perfect pair. Cold water raw oysters are the way to go. I had a ton of other wonderful food, but this wins according to my taste buds, hands down.  It was a beautiful night on the patio, with great company, delicious food and a perfect ending to a great trip!

Workout Playlist of the Week

In preparation for being on the road, I got as many workouts in as possible.  Guess I had a bit of house dance music in my head this week!  You can get my playlist HERE. 

What I Love Right Now

When I travel a lot, it does a job on my skin. I am no spring chicken anymore!  I also seem to get out of my skincare routine when I am having early morning meetings and late night dinners. To get my skin back in order, I am religiously preparing for the cooler temps and getting back on track. To do so, I use Arbonne F5 Hydrating Cleanser. I have oily skin, but it tones down in the fall and I need a little more hydration. 

I also have notice my eyes getting a little more intense from all the smiling I do!  The Arbonne RE9 Advanced Lifting and Contouring Eye Cream helps my concealer go on smoother and not settle into my laugh lines. I will also not go a night without my Tretinoin Cream. Since summer is over and the sun is less damaging, it is time to do some repair. Dermatologist recommended as the best anti-aging skin clearing and smoothing formula on the market!

It has been a great week and I know there is nothing more than greatness ahead!

~AE

Wisdom Wednesday

One of my worst defense mechanisms is getting a bit scary when I am scared. Actually, I get really scary. My fears get manifested into everything but what they actually are. I take out my fears on those I care about by lashing out, not making sense with my words and actions and just being off my rocker. The key to being scared is just admitting it. Those who know you and care about you will understand and do everything they can to ease your fears. What they do not need or deserve is to deal with your scary, scared self. You need to deal with it and let them help you along the way. 

Week in Review

This past weekend I took a little trip with my friends to New Orleans for the first time. I had no expectations and was excited to experience the city, try some new food and experience the culture. The area we stayed in was busy and bustling with tons of people, music, cocktails and entertainment. We ventured around French Quarter and wandered through the streets and shops. The architecture is beautiful and there is so much history around every corner. 

I experienced my first and beignets. Holy deliciousness!  I had them 2 different ways in 2 different places. The first was beignet fries with a caramel bourbon sauce and sliced bananas, similar to a version of Bananas Foster at Pere Antonine Restaurant. I got these first before my breakfast sandwich and I am glad I did because they were a lot tastier than my sandwich and paired perfectly with my coffee. 

The day I left, I got my steps in by wandering to the infamous Cafe Du Monde. I saved the best for last, hands down. 3 lovely fluffy fried rectangles of dough and sprinkled powdered sugar, perfectly paired with a Cafe Au Lait = Priceless. I am glad I had to walk a bit to get there so I could take the long way back to my hotel to burn off some of those calories. I would be in trouble if I lived there. The Cafe Au Lait would be just as troublesome. 

The other food I had to experience when I was in NOLA was a good shrimp poboy and my friend Kevin took us to Killer Poboys. A little bit different from a traditional poboy, but really good. They have a collection of different menu options like smoked salmon, sweet potato and pork belly poboys. The shrimp was amazing, along with the tangy smothered greens. I also indulged in their aged cheddar grilled cheese on crunchy, whole grain bread with a 7th Street Wheat Lemon Basil Beer from NOLA Brewing Company. 

Workout Playlist of the Week
Here are the tunes I jammed out to while doing a couple workouts in NOLA and much needed workouts when I got back.

Listen to Workout Playlist of the Week by Anne Elizabeth on Apple Music.

What I Love Right Now

When it comes to snacks, I always strive to make sure I am balancing my protein and carbohydrates each time. When I am busy working or traveling, I have been taking apples with me and pouches of nut butter. My favorite is still peanut based butters. 

My favorite apple this fall is Jonagold. This beauty is from Michigan and has a delicious crisp sweet and sour taste. This is the perfect time of year to experience a vast variety of apples and they will keep in your refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The Jonagold travels nicely and holds up to a few bumps along the way.

To pair with my Jonagold, I am really liking Buddy's Small Batch Nut Butter portable peanut butter packages, especially the Cinnamon Raisin flavor. These packets are perfect to have with you at all times when you may need some healthy protein and fats. Sometimes, I might even eat it alone!  Very satisfying and healthy.  These will be an addition to my carry on while packing for my next trip to FNCE, my National Registered Dietitian Convention in Boston this weekend. 

~AE

Dietitians, FNCE, Nashville and Passion

 

This past week, I took a little trip to the FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, aka Dietitian Heaven) in a little town called Nashville, Tennessee. I have never been to the city and  I got in really late on Friday night, but right outside of my hotel was this adorable park. The weather was really chilly but I had to get out to see the sites before it was time for business.

I am a little bit of a nerd. I have to keep up my routine while away from home, so every morning started out with a workout and some warm tea. I was pretty jazzed because I was the first and only one in the gym this morning, which is VERY rare at a dietitian conference.

Each year of the this conference, I get the joy of working with Kids Eat Right and informing other Dietitians about this great resource. Another joy of working this booth is meeting young, inspired and passionate Dietitians to be!  If you have not checked out the great resources for families and educators, please go to Kids Eat Right. And if you're a dietitian, take advantage of the many professional resources by becoming a volunteer today Kids Eat Right for Dietitians .

 

Meet the sweet Kristen who is an RD and Ph.D. student at Texas A&M and Genevieve is getting ready to apply for her internship AND getting married!

 

Antonio and Jen were awesome to hang out with. Antonio is passionate about all things nutrition and dietetics. I think he would specialize in everything he could. Jen is in her internship now and enjoys working with Pediatrics.

And my last day was with these beauties, Katie and Samantha. Katie is very passionate about diabetes and Samantha has worked in a culinary setting and enjoys retail nutrition.

 

Of course with hard work, there is a little bit of fun. I attended the Food and Nutrition Magazine, of which I am a guest blogger for their online blogging community, Stone Soup. It is a great area to find awesome articles from Dietitians. Feel free to check out my profile Stone Soup Blog.   They had a wonderful rooftop party with fabulous food and an opportunity to spend time with new and old friends.

 

Hello, yes my name is for sure Awesome!

 

 

 

 

I always love hanging out with my friend Jen Haugen.  She is seriously one of the most creative, talented and passionate dietitians I know. I always love catching up with her and all the exciting things her mind has wandering around. For some great inspiration about food and family, please check out her blog at Down to Earth Dietitian.

 

 

I was also surprised by winning the Top Blog Award for 2015. So fun!  I think I may have been sipping on a cocktail or eating food when my name was called. Not expected, but very much welcomed. Catch up on the 5 Reasons You Should Be Eating Frozen Foods.

 

Nashville is a great mix of everything. There was a ton of nightlife, great live music and food. Whenever I head to a city, I like to find out what is the signature dish.

 

I wandered by Savannah's Candy Kitchen just a few blocks from my hotel and found sweet treats everywhere. No, key lime bark is not signature, but if you no me, I never pass this up. And it was delicious.

But these caramel apples were on the list for homemade deliciousness using their signature pralines in the caramel mixture. Sugar coma that was well worth it.

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Of course, I had to indulge in some Tennessee whiskey. I asked the handsome waiter to pick it out for me, so I have no idea brand it was. I just wanted it on the rocks.  

As I listened to some live music and dined with my friend Kathryn, we enjoyed some fried green tomatoes (this is a must have in Nashville).

 

I also attempted to dine on the signature Hot Chicken, but wow. This was hot!  I later found out that some restaurants offer a level of hotness. I did not have a level choice, but I was thankful for the whiskey to calm the burn.

 

 Had. To. Do. It.
(and I decided it I don't think I will do it again).

On the last day, I found myself in the same park that I started exploring Nashville in. At the time that I took this photo, I was peaceful and feeling inspired. By the conference, by the other AMAZING Dietitians I had met and by this beautiful city. So much to see, so much to learn and so much to do!

 

 

Goodbye FNCE and Nashville. Thank you for a great experience and renewing my passion!

 

 

 

Week in Review

This past week, my travels took me to Atlanta, Georgia for our national dietetic convention. It was humbling to be around that many peers in my profession. So much knowledge about the career I love. 

I got to work and recruit volunteers for a program that is very close to my heart, Kids Eat Right and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. Kids Eat Right encourages dietitians to educate and assist children, parents and childcare providers to promote healthy eating, cooking and shopping. This program also funds scholarships and numerous grants to promote this effort. 

I got to attend some stellar lectures, sample new and exciting food products and indulge in amazing food. The opening ceremony was inspiring. 

I ventured out into the city and had legit southern food: shrimp and grits, collard greens and black eyed peas. And I couldn't have this delicious meal without corn bread, biscuits and peach cobbler. 

The finally night was a great experience as a fundraiser for Kids Eat Right.

 The gala gave us a reason to dress up and be among the greats who work hard with this effort. I feel lucky to work with this great team of women!

  

Thank you Atlanta for a great experience!  And thank you to all the amazing dietitians in this world who keep me going and knowing we are the nutritional professionals! 

Week in Review

Another week has flown by and I have had a little time lapse in between my posts. I am going to work really hard to get back on track. 

I had my first trip to FNCE (largest meeting of dietitians in the world) in Houston. I had the opportunity to spread the message of Kids Eat Right (awesome resource for kids and families to help them...well eat right) and sign up volunteers to help spread the love. It was a great experience and overwhelmingly inspiring to be surrounded by so many dietitians. Congratulations to all of our new Kids Eat Right volunteers!

When I returned, I tried my hands at rolling sushi that our Chef and Sushi bar put on at the store. If you have never done it...you should!  The best part was that it did not need to look pretty to taste good. Oh and the other best part was getting to eat the fruits of my labor!

I ended my week with the honor of being the godmother to this cool little guy. Charlie did very well during the whole thing and I not only felt very fortunate for this new job, but renewed in spirit and hope. Baptism of a little one always reminds me of the spiritual journey that lies ahead for the little one and the spiritual journey that lies in me.  Can't wait for our journey together.

Another great week full a memories, hope yours was too!