Happy Earth Day!

This cartoon is a little pessimistic, which isn't exactly my style- but I couldn't help but laugh.  Especially after seeing my results on the Earth Day Network's ecological footprint calculator.

If everyone lived like me, it would take the resources of 5 1/2 Earths to support us!  Unbelievable.

So this Earth Day, I want to celebrate by making a positive change in my life.  A choice to live a little bit more sustainably.  Over time, the small choices will snowball into a fantastically ecologically friendly lifestyle! I haven't decided yet what the change will be.  Perhaps not eating animal products before 3:00 pm... or pledging to always buy products with the least amount of excess packaging.  Carpooling? Biking more? Not complaining when I have to wash baggies?

Let's Brainstorm.

What changes will you make this Earth Day?

~Be the change you wish to see!

Dirt Makes You Happy!

Did you know that there are bacteria in the soil, namely mycobacterium, that causes serotonin to be produced in the body?  Translation: Dirt makes you happy!  Check it out.

That explains why I took to gardening when I was recovering from Mononucleosis a few summers back.  Digging my hands in the dirt felt so good.  This fact reinforces my unoriginal theory that the recipe for a happy, minimally stressed life includes a heaping spoon of the outdoors. I am still working out the other parts of the recipe.  I'll get back to you guys in 60 years.

Many have said it, and I believe it more every day, that connecting with nature is a part of our evolutionary biology and shouldn't be taken lightly. 
It's no wonder that after a career in the office many city dwellers decide they want a quite country life to "get away from it all."  Gardeners and children have it figured out.  Playing in the dirt is great!  Just make sure you wash your hands before dinner.

So if you are feeling down today, get outside!  The fresh air will make you feel great, but if you really want a dose of the happy chemical, you've got to get your hands dirty.

Getting Back to Principles

Lately life has been full of change.  Moving, leaving a job and a home, venturing into the unknown where possibilities abound- both exciting and daunting.





I often find myself in a fog, in an unclear mess where the walls quake in my spiritual "house" if you will.  When stress becomes predominant in my life, it becomes harder for me to stick to my principles.

Recently I read Fitness is Religion, a book written by Ray Kybartas.  It resonated with me.  Ray spoke the words that I had been missing every time I feebly tried to explain to a co-worker why I was going for a jog on my lunch break, or the ingredients in "that green thing" I was drinking.  It would be so much simpler if everyone understood that fitness is my religion.  It has become my way of life, my foundation, and the rituals associated with it keep me grounded.  I feel liberated when I am strong, and I feel amazing inside and out when I eat good food.

But when stress starts beating at my door, like the winds of a hurricane, the walls get a little shaky in my house.  The foundation is solid, but I feel the sway.  I may have three square meals in my day, but my nervous hands reach for the Cheeze Its in the vending machine.  They reach for more coffee to get me through my fatigue.  They "sin."

But after the storm is gone and life is a bit more settled, I get back to my principles.  Back to appreciating life in its fullness and for its change.  I take time to breathe in the smells on the wind, I recreate and enjoy.
And when I remember the hard times, they never seem so bad.  Without them, I would never understand how good the good times really are.

Learning about food: Learning about myself

Learning about food: Learning about myself

There was a time in my life when I didn't really think about food.  I did not usually eat breakfast (only coffee) and some days I didn't eat dinner either.  Food just wasn't that important to me. And I never could understand why I did not have as much energy as my friends that played sports, or why I was never excited to go do active things.  I remember one particular day when my friends and I tried running in the morning and my blood sugar became so low that I got sick and blacked out!

During college I started exercising a little through required P.E. courses and intramural sports.  I tried running and even used the gym at my university.  Along with education about physical exercise, I took some nutrition courses in college.  I started really caring about what I was eating, knowing that it was directly correlated with how I felt. 

This is where "Foodie Studie" came from.  I enjoy learning about how food can empower my body and defend against sickness.  It has also been an important part of my journey to learn how the consumption of food is tied directly to the preservation of this planet.  This blog is a way for me to reach out and meet others with those same interests and concerns.
Although I am not a university student anymore, I am still learning about life- how to maintain balance in it, and how to enjoy it fully with the things and people I love most.

So, in the spirit of continuing education, I will share a recipe for sweet potato hash that came about this morning in my kitchen, mostly by accident.

Sweet Potato Hash

2 grated sweet potatoes
1/4 cup diced onions
3/4-1 cup kale, finely chopped
2 tbsp coconut flour
2-3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
3 eggs
1 cup soy milk
garlic, salt, pepper, cumin to taste

1. Combine the potatoes, onions, kale, coconut flour, and spices

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, 3 eggs, and milk.

3. Combine the dry and wet ingredients, mix well.

4. Heat a large frying pan on medium.

5. Fry with coconut or other oil to prevent sticking- cook until browned and fluffy.

Enjoy!

Office Grub: The Diet of a Secretary

Since I graduated college and began working an office job (8 hours a day sitting on my bum), I have had to become even more conscious about what, and how much, I am eating.

Less activity = Less caloric needs

However, my tummy doesn't always like that.  She still wants to eat like I was when I walked/biked several miles each day, took kickboxing classes 4 days a week, and lifted weights on top of that!

In order to transition into this new situation without feeling grossly sluggish or overfed, I have had to make a few changes.

1.  Smaller snacks and larger meals.

I was eating 6 small meals per day, but I have found that simply eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with small snacks (of 150 calories or less) works a little better.  I don't have to bring Tupperware to the office, and I feel less anxious about when I will get to eat next because I am full for hours.

2. Strategic placement of snacks in the desk.

If I put cocoa roasted almonds in my desk drawer, you can bet they will be gone in a week or so.  This means that having healthy, appropriate foods nearby is a must.

3. Incorporating more activity in my daily routine.

Because I am no longer walking to classes every day, I have to incorporate more physical activity into my life; i.e. running up the stairs, doing squats at my desk, stretching every hour, doing leg lifts in my chair, maintaining good posture, etc.  This may look ridiculous to co-workers, but it certainly makes me feel better!

This post is a little more about the fitness/health side of being a foodie.  Feeling your best is important, and there are lots of ways to maintain optimum health in all of life's situations.

How do you stay healthy and feeling great at work?

Sweet Potatoes!

Want to know why Sweet Potatoes are so awesome?

1. Grown locally; check the farmers market!

2. High in Vitamin A, which is needed for new cell growth, healthy skin, hair, and tissues , and vision in dim light, and Potassium, which is essential for maintaining proper fluid balance, nerve impulse, muscle and heart function.

3.  Delicious - They aren't called "sweet" potatoes for nothing!  These babies taste fantastic without all the standard butter and sour cream that accompanies white potatoes. This means you can eat something tasty without the added fat calories.

My favorite ways to eat sweet potatoes:

Microwaved - cut slits in the potato and pop it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes (depending on the potatoes size and your microwave settings), and enjoy!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries- These are not fried, but rather cut Julianne style to look like french fries.  Just mix the cut potatoes with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and place them on a baking sheet in the oven!  Sound good? Check out this detailed recipe.

Hash Browns- Shredded and pan fried.  MmmmMMmm.  Here is a Paleo version!

Pan Roasted- Cube the potato and sautee in olive oil until they get crispy brown on the outside, but soft in the middle.  Mix with other nutritious vegetables like peppers, onion, and kale for a hearty addition to any meal!

What are your favorite ways to eat sweet potatoes?  Share them here and I'll try the recipe!