#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom.

Does aging bother you?

The only time age bothers me is when it takes a little more stretching to get out of bed in the morning or when I get pooped a little bit earlier in the day - otherwise, it doesn't bother me at all. The year I turned 25 was a lot harder for me than the year I turned 40. I know why. I was a lot of things but mostly the fear of the unknown. I was young, starting my whole life after college and had not a friggin clue what I was doing. But age 40, yeah that felt good. I finally felt after a brief intermission of 15 years that included a little bit of good, a little bit of so-so and too much shitty, I really like how 40 fit. It was finally a time in my life I felt good in my skin and was looking forward to the road ahead. I truly 'leveled-up."

It all honestly, you can tell people whatever age you want to tell them. Sometimes I tell people I am 10 years older. It really doesn't matter. What does matter is how you feel at this time in your life. A few aches and pains are tolerable as long as they are not in your mind or in your heart. Don't wait until the next level to make it the best level. 

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

Top 5 in 5: Up Close and Personal Conversation with Anne Elizabeth

Each week, I put out my Weekly Wisdom Blog which includes my Top 5 Nutrition Noshes: my Weekly Wisdom, my Weekly Conversations, my Weekly Hellyeah, my Weekly Kick Ass Jams  and What I Love Right Now. At the end of each month, I want to get more up close and personal with you all on the other side of the airwaves. I will be recapping my crazy, delicious and random #hellyeah adventures in my  Top 5 in 5. This month, I’m sharing with you why I didn’t attend FNCE and some random thoughts on human connection.

Connect and let me know what you think by emailing me or connecting with me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Nosh Three. Weekly #Hellyeah. 

My sweet, sweet friend Jason 'leveled-up' to a new decade and his significant other Justin set up the best surprise for him. I picked him up bright and early in the morning to entertain him for the day and it had to be the most awful day of his life. I tried to play it off like I had some amazing day of birthday fun planned for him, when really it was him helping me run random errands, going to a Cross Country meet and watching random TV shows...without any cocktails. Then I asked if he was ready to get home and I am pretty sure he said yes before I even finished my question. 

As we pulled up to Jason's house, the front was plastered with a little surprise. 

All the amazing family and friends who came to celebrate Jason. 

This cake is 100% on the money for Jason's Birthday and I am still in awe of the detail of this cake. I also just realized I didn't get a taste!

Hallway shenanigans before the party bus arrived. I get so much joy from seeing these smiling faces. 

Jason getting a little birthday song at Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar. Such a fun place to go in West Des Moines to celebrate any occasion and there were A LOT of celebrations in the crowd. 

Always take photos of any special events in your life. These are the moments you will cherish and will brighten any day you need a pick me up. My heartbeats are priceless. 

Nosh Four. Weekly Kick Ass Jams. 

My "Level Up" Kick Ass Jams of the week are available on AppleMusic and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

I couldn't choose between what I was loving right now. October is National Pork Month and Halloween, so my things I love are a combination of both. The National Pork Board has a wealth of information about the health and nutrition of pork. My favorite, Pork tenderloin, for example, is just as lean as skinless chicken breast and meets the government guidelines for “extra lean”. In total, six pork cuts meet the USDA guidelines for “lean,” with less than 10 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. Any cuts from the loin — like pork chops and pork roast — are leaner than skinless chicken thigh, according to USDA data. Pork steaks or roasts from the leg (“fresh ham”) are also lean choices.  And don't forget to cook it to the internal temp of 145 degrees for the perfect pork that stay juicy and tender, especially for the leaner cuts. 

I made this delicious Jerk Seasoned Pork Tenderloin, get the recipe here from the Pork Checkoff. 

Last month, some friends and I were talking about our favorite cereals and mine were Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Kix and Life. They mentioned these 3 cereals and I had no idea what they were talking about nor have I ever eaten them. Needless to say, I got a box of goodies on my doorstep this past week and guess what I am having for breakfast, lunch and dinner today for Halloween? 

The final thing I love this week is one of our Dietitian Picks this month:  USA Pears. I always feel good about giving kids fruit for Halloween but I think they were a little more accepting because USA Pears sent these adorable sticker sheets for the kids to make their own #PearMonster during our Trick or Treat event at the Fleur Hy-Vee. 

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One.  Wisdom.

Do you actively purchase local foods and products?

There is something about buying a product from a person or business in your community. I grew up in a small town and there were not a lot of options when it came to places to shop. We would usually need to drive more than 15 miles if not more to get the things we needed as a family. Now, I live in a city where everything is at my fingertips at anytime of the day.  I am fortunate enough to work in a grocery store and can grab anything I need right after work. I have food, clothing, home goods, pharmacy, mail, dry cleaning...seriously, almost everything. I used to find a day of shopping and going to different places to get different things fun...but I don't anymore. I always go back to my biggest currency of time and I really do not want to be spending it driving around town to get paper towels here or a bag of almonds there. 

I shop local where I work, which is also a local grocer. I also like to support businesses and restaurants which are not chains and are in my community. When I know the person creating the product and I can tangibly talk to them or reach out to them at anytime, there is something special about that. Going to my local farmers' market, seeing produce someone loved and cared for and then being able to enjoy the nourishment it provides, this is truly really special. There are endless choices of how we shop, but there are not endless local choices for how we shop. We can do our part by keeping our community thriving and surviving. 

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation. 

Today’s conversation is with Andres Ayesta, a registered dietitian who fell into dietetics by chance and is currently specializing in nutrition education for athletes and running his own private practice.

I was graciously introduced to Andres through Libby, a mutual dietitian friend, because of his very unique journey into the field of dietetics as well as his insane hustle and work ethic. Andres has had a winding road to becoming a dietitian but has the most sincere passion for our profession. What I enjoy most is his videos where you can catch him delivering some great information on intermittent fasting and the ketogenic diet on his website and facebook page. Through his journey, he has had some amazing opportunity but has also dedicated much of his life toward succeeding and helping others succeed, by working a full-time job and running his own private practice.

Please enjoy my candid conversation with Andres

Connect with Andres on his website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

Nosh Three. Weekly #HellYeah. 

The temps have dropped, fall is in the air and I finally made it to The Downtown Farmers' Market thanks to my friend Stacey and her kiddos. Yes, it has been open all Summer and yes, I suck at making the time. So we bundled up and braved the cool breeze for some warm drinks and food and to grab the last of the delicious local produce. It was also a great time to spend with these fun-loving, crazy weirdos!

Grabbed a quick photo with Cyril, Piper and Paxton #DTFM to kick off the morning.

THE BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO from HOQ. The owners of this delicious, farm-to-table restaurant in Downtown Des Moines used to be Stacey's neighbors. They make the wrap themselves (which you can also buy separately) and fill with local sourced sausage, eggs, kale and sweet potatoes. There is a spicy sauce to put on top and with a warm cup of coffee...this is a two thumbs up!

Grade A Gardens sells organic produce, even at this time of year. They had beautiful squash, potatoes, onions and garlic. 

Stacey and Piper loading up on all the kale. 

Brussels, lettuce and green beans still looking delish. 

I couldn't pass up the opportunity on these roots!  I am excited to try 2 different types of radishes and I got a couple turnips for beef stew later in the week. 

Hello lover. This watermelon radish was almost to pretty to eat. Almost. 

It is also the time of year where my favorite store the Fleur Drive Hy-Vee creates gourmet caramel apples. My friend Mel made some delicious Heath and chocolate ones for me. 

I had to enjoy mine outside on the patio amongst the fall leaves. 

 Nosh Four. Weekly KickAss Jams.

My "Love Local" Playlist can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

There are usually aisles devoted to endless candy for the upcoming holiday, but there are some kiddos and adults who are not able to enjoy these kind of treats. The Teal Pumpkin project was created to not single out kids who suffer from food allergies and provides a way to provide inclusion and joy for everyone. I think this is such a great idea by offering non-food items as trick or treat goodies. There are so many fun things out there to give away, why not choose those instead?  Since I have been a dietitian and have worked with helping schools get healthier, they are also trying to get away from using food as a reward so this would also fit right in.  Hy-Vee and my store has embraced this concept and my friend Tonette painted some adorable pumpkins, including this polka dot one. Place a teal painted pumpkin on your doorstep if you would like to offer non-food items as well as candy to make all kiddos smile this Halloween. 

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom.

Tell me about a time you celebrated you?

A few weeks ago, I had the honor to attend one of the most fun 40th Birthday parties for my friend Lori. She embraced and owned this unforgettable milestone in her life fabulously. It made me sit and think about the last time I really celebrated myself, which takes me to 2 years ago this week.

2 years ago this week, I was celebrating publishing a book, releasing a podcast and attending The Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Boston to debut them both. It was a something I was really excited about and proud and celebrated all my hard work by taking myself out to an amazing dinner and night on the town.  2 years has been too long in between my celebrations though.

Just being you is a reason to celebrate. Whether it is your birthday, completing a passion project or breaking your caffeine addiction - it doesn't matter.  It doesn't have to be big things. You don't have to wait for someone else to create or organize the celebration. Just celebrate you.

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

Today’s conversation is with Melissa Joy Dobbins, also known as the Guilt-Free RD®, who has a passion for education through good communication of sound science, smart nutrition and good food.

When I transitioned from a clinical dietitian to a retail dietitian, there was a very new and unknown aspect of my job I was completely unfamiliar with and that was media. I remember when I learned I was going to provide nutrition communications via television, radio and newspaper articles, I about fell over. As I got into doing more with media, I also stumbled upon a few videos of an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Spokesperson and I started watching more of her work to learn more. We then connected through Midwest Dairy a few years later and I truly have been a fan ever since, following her great work and resources she provides dietitians. Her Sound Bites Podcast inspired me to start my own and I feel extremely lucky to be able to have had this conversation with her.

Please enjoy my conversation with Melissa

Connect with Melissa on her website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Nosh Three. Weekly #Hellyeah. 

I was very lucky to be included in Lori's special birthday. Lori has been through a lot over the past couple years and I know this was a special time for her, knowing she can do hard things and still celebrate the awesome life she has.  All of us girls enjoyed seeing each other, catching up, dancing, drinking and creating some great memories. I hope Lori has 40x40 many more happy birthdays full of balloons and pink!

I love this pink cake! I wish I had a piece. I was too busy taking a Jello shot. Oooppss. 

Always good to see these fine ladies!  We share some pretty amazing stories from all our adventures. 

Heading out on the town. 

This was take two, the first one was a mess because we couldn't figure out the signs. Shocker!

The Beautiful Birthday Girl, Lori!

Nosh Four. Weekly Kick Ass Jams.

Find this weeks "Celebrate You" Playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

This memory is what I love right now. It was the day before I hopped on the plane to Boston and had my freshly new book printed and ready to share with the dietetics world. What a great memory and such a passion of mine to accomplish. I hope everyone going to FNCE this week enjoys every moment because there is no other experience in the world than being around 10k of your peers. And I am looking forward to the future and creating more celebrations of me. 

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One.  Wisdom.

Do you take enough time each day for human connection?

There is this new feature on my smartphone telling me each week my amount of screen time. Anyone else shocked by their stats?  This was a wake up call for me. There is nothing, I mean nothing, in this world more important than daily human connection and I feel we are slowly drifting farther and farther away from it. And no, a simple hello to someone as you are walking into work does not count as the human connection we need to be embracing. 

There must be a plan to put your phone away to give you the time to connect with actual humans that you can see, smell and touch. Social media is not going to love you at the end of the day. Hug you when you when you are sad. Talk with you about things on your mind. Be there for you when you are most happy. It is merely a glimpse into the lives we lead and if we are living there inside our social media, we are missing out on our actual lives. 

Make a plan for your daily social media but also make a plan for daily human connection. 

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

Today’s conversation is with Danielle Bertiger, a communications expert who fell into health coaching, fitness and food and is now on her way to a masters in Nutrition Communications and her RD.

From time to time, I always love to podcast with future dietitians and Danielle was a great person to meet. She shares her personal story of falling into the food and fitness world while working after she complete her undergraduate degree in communications. During that time she decided to become a health coach, found a passion for food and recipe creation and also pursuing her certification in group fitness classes. And then, she thought, hey, I also want to get a masters in nutrition education and become a Registered Dietitian. This woman is passionate about her future profession, is  great at multitasking and is looking forward to starting her internship.

Please enjoy my conversation with Danielle

Connect with Danielle on her website and Instagram

Nosh Three. Weekly #Hellyeah

One of the ways I like to connect with humans is through a variety of activities with other Registered Dietitians. There is such a great variety of us in our state. I have made great relationships with dietitians at a state level and now I am excited to get more involved on a local level with my district, Central Iowa District Dietetic Association, CIDDA.

Our first CIDDA meeting of the year was at Della Viti Wine Bar in downtown Des Moines.

Have you ever had a wine bar experience?  All you need is a card that you load with money and then you can choose wine by the glass. 

CIDDA Leadership L to R:  Ali, Anne and Erin

#UndeniablyDairy cheese deliciousness to go with our vino!

The night was a success and I highly recommend seeking out your local District Dietetic Association or State Affiliate to create connections with other RDN's in your community.  Not all meetings are formal so there are options!

Nosh Four. Weekly Kickass Jams.

Find this weeks "Better Together" Playlist on Apple Music and Spotify 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

I work at the Fleur Drive Hy-Vee (which is right by the airport if you ever fly into Des Moines) that conveniently has a clothing store called F&F Clothing. Cutest and most reasonably priced clothes, for the whole family: baby, kids, men and women, that are well made. It just so happens they created a shirt specifically for me. Just kidding. But I like to think they did. I am on a no-buy-until-next-July but I couldn't resist a white, polka dot and cherry shirt. Soooo excited to wear this!

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom.

What kind of music or artists inspire you? 

I am a music junkie. When I was in the "upper grades" aka junior high at Saint Mary's Regional School, my slumber parties consisted of homemade pizza and lip syncing Cyndi Lauper with my friends and my sister. We also did a pretty amazing rendition of "These Boots Were Made For Walking" that won us second place in a local talent show.  Those were crazy fun times. And it only continued to be an intricate part of my life from there. From family vacations, still have fond memories of my personal cassette tape player or my high school days of driving around with a boom box in the back seat because my 1981 Pontiac Bonneville only had the radio. You can still find me with a set of headphones in my ears no matter the task. I never go anywhere without my music. 

Music is like a forever hug. It is always there for you and can catch your emotions and feelings exactly when you need it. It also helps me be creative and driven when I need to complete goals and projects. It reminds of people, places and happenings I love. It also reminds me of people who have chosen to not be in my life anymore. 

I hope you have many volumes of music you love creating the soundtrack of your life. 

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation. 

Today’s conversation is with Jill Coleman, a fitness expert who is living her best life all through her passion for coaching in the areas of mindset, body and business.

In the midst of my dietitian career, I did what we all sometimes do, take a step back from all the things we learn and see what other approaches are out there to best help our clients. During my research, a website called Metabolic Effect caught my eye, in which Jill Coleman was a co-founder with a degree in exercise science and masters in human nutrition.  Her contributions to this site lead me to (a slight girl crush) and following her own business JillFit where she shares her down to earth approach to living a healthy lifestyle, awesome workout programs, inspiration and mindfulness coaching, her Moderation365 approach to eating and the podcast she does with her friend Danny Johnson: The Best Life Podcast.

Please enjoy my conversation with Jill

Connect with Jill on her website, , Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Youtube.

Nosh Three. Weekly #Hellyeah!

A night out with the girls sets my soul on fire!  Amanda and Brenda are such great friends. As Brenda would say:  we had a lot of funsies tonight. 

We started the night out early by going downtown Des Moines and tried out a new restaurant Dumpling Darling. It so happened to also be happy hour and I tried their seasonal Whispering Maple cocktail with pumpkin notes.  

Darling Dumpling

We were a little focused on cocktails but had to try a few bites so we got the pork&cabbage steamed dumplings and the cashew tempeh bao. Both were great and you can tell everything is made my hand. The dumplings were bursting will fillings and I really enjoyed the cashew tempeh mix and the spicy honey sriracha sauce it was served with. Highly recommend a visit!

Next stop was the Iowa Taproom, which is a little tradition Amanda and I started for our downtown concert experiences.  If you have read the blog before, I am a huge fan of anything in a flight and they have a cider flight. We will take 3 please! 

Mat Kearney did not disappoint!  I have been wanting to see him in concert for a long time and was very excited when I heard he was coming to Des Moines. He played at least 22 songs, all dance worthy. I will see him again in the future. Atlas Genius opened up for him and they were great too. There is just nothing like the vibes of live music with performer leading the crowd like Mat did.  

Nosh Four. Weekly KickAss Jams. 

That's right friends, the whole music playlist this week is devoted to Mat and my favorite songs from the concert. Find the playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

I follow Sugar Makery on Instagram (you should too) just in case I need a sweet fix.  Knowing Brenda was headed my way, I saw they had posted their caramel apples and put in my request. I also requested a bag of their cheddar cheese popcorn because it is one of my favorites and I knew theirs would be amazing. Brenda did not fail me and showed up with 2 caramel apples, a bag of popcorn AND their macaroons. I was and still am speechless. I couldn't stop eating all of them. I still haven't made it to their store but I just downloaded their popcorn menu and I am going to have to pick and choose each time I go. 

The caramel apple was drizzled in white chocolate and then dipped in cinnamon sugar. Just to make you jelly!

~AE

*All views and opinions on products, food and businesses in this blog post are my own and are not sponsored in any way. I just love to share great things!