#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 #HellYeah Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom.

What do you always say no to but you really want to say yes? 

Hmmm, what does that mean you may be asking. I have always kind of lacked the ability to notice what is happening all around me. Not because I am unfocused but because I have struggled with thinking great things just don't happen around or to me.  Until I paid attention and understood great things are not going to happen unless I start making them happen. We cannot wait around for someone else to make greatness happen in our lives. We must make decisions, seize opportunities and starting embracing what is in front of us just waiting for us to reach out. 

We can put off a lot of things because we create every excuse we possibly can imagine. We tell ourselves we don't have time, we don't have the money, someone in my life thinks it silly, I can't take off work, I don't want to do it alone, I just can't.  There is no time like right now to embrace the hell yeah. Embrace the timing of your life as being the right time and don't hold back on anything you want to experience in your life. Don't pass up on the dessert, don't pass up on the concert you have been wanting to see, apply for the job, buy the shoes, go on the road trip, kiss that special person. If it makes you say hell yeah" you must embrace it. 

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation.

Today’s conversation is with Caroline Weeks, a Registered Dietitian who discovered dietetics through a unique journey while studying music performance.

Caroline and I met through the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics when she joined our team of media spokespersons. When we met, I knew this dietitian was going to be a mover and shaker in our profession. It was great to have this conversation with her because of how she discovered dietetics mid way through her college career, while she was studying music performance as a classically trained violist. Caroline shares her journey so far and how she is using all aspects of her education and experiences in  her life as a Registered Dietitian.

Please enjoy my conversation with Caroline

Connect with Caroline on Facebook, Instagram,  Linkedin and Youtube.

Nosh Three. Weekly #HellYeah. 

My friend Bri from @abitofnutrition shared a post on Instagram saying "Hype Yourself Up Before You Psych Yourself Out" yesterday and this really resonated with me this week. You know I like to find the joy in each day but I was kind of forgetting it because I was so overwhelmed with everything I had going on this past week. Burning to many candles at both ends, so to say and not feeling I was doing any of it very well. But then I got these lovely flowers in this powerful red color, which helps psych me up instead of telling myself I can't handle the craziness of it all.

I also thought it might be a good idea to try out the new burger place in town, Wahlburgers. Can you tell it was so hard to choose?  I wanted a little bit of everything so luckily by burger partner in crime agreed to share the Triple Decker Burger with me and then enjoy the french fries, sweet potato tots, mac and cheese and onion rings. All of it was delish!  The burger was perfectly cooked and the government cheese with Wahl sauce was the glue to hold it all together. Make sure to read all the toppings, they do put fresh jalapenos on some of their burgers and they are spicy. The onion rings, french fries and tator tots were crispy and tender in the inside and the mac and cheese was just the right amount of creamy and salty. I really wanted to try one of their milkshakes but I knew I couldn't handle the food and the milkshake, so there will be another trip in my future. 

Part of psyching myself out this week was having this lovely lady and RD2Be, Becca as my intern. I love having interns and being a preceptor, but I always worry I am not doing the best job or maybe they are not getting the experience they were looking for. We had a lot going on during her time with me and I hope she enjoyed being exposed to what a retail dietitian does. What I thought was so great about having Becca is she wanted to be here, but didn't need the contact hours. She did this all on her own time to get exposure to other community opportunities. Mind blown. Anyone who has ever been a Dietetic Intern knows how much madness there is during their internship and are wishing for some downtime. She mad the most of her downtime and hung out with me. Becca, I wish you all the best in the near future and will absolutely enjoy following your journey. 

As this is being released this morning, I am probably standing in my bathroom mirror going over my presentation today for the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAND) Annual Meeting starting today. I have been visiting other states and it feels so great to be a part of the meeting this year in my home state and helping my fellow Iowa RDN's to #embracethehellyeah!

In honor of this week, I am doing a special IAND discount on my book for anyone who might be interested. You can go to my website and get the book for $9.99 and free shipping, I'm A Registered Dietitian...Now What? starting today through next Wednesday. 

Nosh Four. Weekly Kick Ass Jams. 

With the time change, I am struggling to get out of bed so I am hoping this weeks playlist on Apple Music and Spotify will do the trick. It is a unique one and I really enjoyed listening to it this morning to get me psyched up!

Nosh Five. Things I Love Right Now. 

Last weekend, I went home to visit my family and celebrate my cousin Christine's birthday a little late. I found this bag of Reese's baking toppings and knew I had to make something with it for her. I also made some barbacoa tacos with fresh cilantro, tomatoes and onions but I didn't snap a photo because I wanted to leave the phone at home and be present in the moment with my family. However,  I did snap a photo of these brownies I baked prior to the trip home. I am still shocked I didn't eat any on the way because the smell was ridiculous!  I highly recommend this as a quick and cute dessert. All I did was make my aunties brownies with chocolate frosting and sprinkle it with the Reese's topping mix. A box mix and already prepared frosting would cut your time in half. I highly recommend making them in an 8x8 pan to get a thick and delicious brownie. It makes just enough for everyone to enjoy.

~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.

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 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!

#WeeklyWisdom and Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes

Nosh One. Wisdom. 

What are you waiting for?

What have you been putting off?  Is it a project at work?  An assignment in school?  Balancing your checkbook (do people even do that anymore)? Replacing a burned out light bulb?  Home improvement projects (like me)?  Living your dreams?

All these "tasks" go together believe it or not. If you are putting off simple things how in the world are you ever going to accomplish the big things?  You have to deal with the WHOLE to-do list, crossing each task off to live the life you want. If you're not taking care of things needing attention (including a burned out light bulb) you're living in a state of scatter.  It will be very difficult to keep your eye on the prize of the life you want to live because everything else is distracting you. Do not put things off, don't tell yourself you will get to it later. 

Get shit done. All of it. Even the stuff you don't want to do. If you don't know how to do it, figure it out or hire someone to help you.  Everything you cross off the list is just getting you one step closer to the deep down true life goals you want to crush.  

Nosh Two. Weekly Conversation. 

Each week, I put out my Weekly Wisdom Blog which includes my Top 5 Inspirational Nutrition Noshes: Wisdom, Weekly Conversations, Weekly Inspiration, Weekly Music Inspiration 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. September is one of my favorite months because I have been enjoying being home, spending time working on all things me and looking forward to fall. I also talk a little more about what authenticity means to me.

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

Nosh Three. Weekly #Hellyeah. 

I am a procrastinator by nature and it is an awful trait. I have tried to change it repeatedly and it never sticks. Sooo, I'm embracing it and rolling with it. But this week I did not procrastinate. I planned it and it was amazing. I had time off and had a honey-do list of home projects and things I wanted to accomplish. Then it rained and derailed my outdoor things I needed to do. Instead of putting it off after a minor setback, I rocked it out and feel so accomplished. I also look back on the week, wonder how I got it all done and confirmed with myself I probably never want to do it again. 

I have never made so many trips to Menards. Thank goodness it is right down the street. 5 trips, 4 days is a new record. I appreciate my Mom helping me with one trip to keep me calm. Did you know they have snacks at Menards?  That might have helped keep me calm too. 

I decided it would be a good idea to pain the concrete foundation of my house after living there 9 years. I also decided I needed 45 bags of soil to even out some low spots. Then I decided I needed a lot of energy and hydration to get me though this project. Thanks to Perfect Bars and MOCU Kombucha. 

After 5 rounds of paint removal, concrete wash, primer and 2 coats of paint, 45 bags of dirt and 1 bag of grass seed. I completed my outdoor project. Then it was time for a TV segment on KCCI for Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics bright and early Sunday am. 

September is #FamilyMealsMonth and it a great time to focus on planning more meals with your family at home each week. I shared one of my favorite meals we would make as a family. 

Tacos was a meal my family would make together, with each of us taking a task. I loved to grate the cheese because then I could "sample" it to make sure it was ok. You can find the recipe for these delicious tacos thanks to Hy-Vee:  https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/tricked-out-tacos. I also love how Chobani created this new way to deliver plain Greek yogurt to my tacos.  

Nosh Four. Weekly KickAss Jams.

I don't know about you but I need music to pump me up to accomplish hard things. It gets me in the right mindset to get shit done and keep me doing it. Here are some of my favorite "pump me up" songs to help you accomplish any task this week - on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Nosh Five. What I Love Right Now. 

I was excited to receive this in the mail this past week and a signed copy too!  I just started reading it and hope to have the author, Dan, on my podcast. It is so great to see Registered Dietitians writing books! Now, I am off to put my feet up after a long week of being a domestic goddess and dive in. 

For those of you who might be interested:  Food Sobriety by Dan Fenyvesi, MS, RD 

Registered dietitian, chronic disease specialist, and Fulbright Scholar Dan Fenyvesi was inspired to write Food Sobriety after years of working on obesity and weight loss in Nicaragua and the United States. After his own experi­ences with diet — and seeing his patients’ successes and failures — he understood that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, he developed a simple, inexpensive method of sustainable weight loss based on solid science and the traditional diets of Latin America.

~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!