Green Pancakes

I’m feeling a bit distraught.  I had this blog entry planned out in my head with a particular photo.  Last year I had the pleasure of helping out at school with “Green Pancake Day.”  I’ve looked at the pictures since but now that I am trying to find them, I cannot.   I’ve looked and looked in all of the places I think the photos should be and I cannot find them.  Has this ever happened to you?  It might not be a photo you are looking for, but something that is engrained in your memory, something that you are having a hard time getting past. 

So my thought process has taken a turn from green pancakes to a children’s book.  I know “random” as my daughter Amelia would say.  It has been a week of observation for me.  This has been a week of insecurities, not only my own but those of friends, family and clients.  We second guess ourselves and our choices.  We doubt our bodies, minds and some days, where our heart lies. 

I often think a degree in psychology would have been handy to go along with dietetics.   Our health and wellness goes far beyond cookie cutter food plans and exercise.   I’ve come a long way in my thinking.  Between text book knowledge to real life is a cavern.  Within that cavern are agates.  Have you ever read the book Agate?  It is a favorite of mine.  What good is a moose?  Do you ever feel like a self-conscious moose when you are surrounded by sparkling gems?  Not only is this book beautifully illustrated but it has a message that rings true.  Be glad they’re them and you are you…each a gem in life’s marvelous zoo!

Embrace who you are and take time to embrace your specific wants, needs, desires.  At the same time embrace others and be sure to let them know what you see.  I see friends’ strengths, beauty and individuality.  I’m getting better at telling them and in return I am getting better at receiving the complements they pour into me.  We all need to hear it from our friends from time to time, Agate, you big galoot, If we are gems, so are you.

http://www.lakesuperiormagazine.com/cat/agate.html#poster 

Be good to yourself.  Just do what you’re good at, like being a moose.  Eat green pancakes today if your heart desires and encourage a friend or loved one to do the same if they feel that path is leading them in that direction.  If your teeth turn green, laugh it off and try a different path next time.

~Be Well!  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
For more nutrition and wellness information visit my face book page http://www.facebook.com/lizblom.nutritionandwellness.

The Food Network vs. Hunger Games

How many of you watch Food Network TV? Fitting isn't it? We have access to food in some way, shape or form from the comforts of our couch 24/7 in a society that continues to grow larger and exercise less. I'm just making an observation. I'll admit I've enjoyed a good episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on occasion and was excited to have found one of the gems featured on the show, up north called Gordy's.  As you can see they are known for their "famous hamburgers."  Honestly, they are pretty tasty.  Lucy thought so too.

Lucy vs. the Burger

Eating is meant to be a pleasure.  It is also needed to sustain life.  Unfortunately, we have taken the pleasure factor and super-sized it to not only sustain life but to bury it in fat, sugar, preservatives and increased risk of disease, often without a thought.  Too much of a good thing is really not that good.  I guess what I want you to think about while reading this is how often are you thinking about food?  How often are you acting on your thoughts about food? And, how hungry are you really when you are eating it?  I sure hope you enjoyed it.  I personally think the discomfort of overeating can be as uncomfortable if not more so than hunger.  When was the last time you were truly hungry?


Have you lost track of your hunger? If so there is a handy tool called a Hunger/Satiety Scale.  It's been a while since I have come across one so I'm suspecting this is might be new to you. I found one to use from the McKinley Health Center.  Simply put, the scale is a way of rating your hunger, with #1 being famished/starving, #5 being neither hungry nor full, and #10 being painfully full.  Again, with food on the brain or in our face 24/7 it is simple to lose focus. Give it a try. Print it out and hang it on your pantry or refrigerator door. Other Tips from McKinley Health Center in relation to the hunger scale include:

• Aim to stay between 3-7. If trying to lose weight, try to stay between 3-6.
• Plan ahead.
• Train your body to be hungry and ready to eat when you have a break.
• Prepare healthy meals and snacks so you don’t have to rely on fast food or vending machines. You will save money too.
• Have a snack of 150-200 calories available if you get hungry and must go longer than 3-5 hours between meals.
• Try to eat without distractions (such as work or TV), which promote mindless eating. A better awareness of what you are eating will help you eat appropriate amounts.
• Eat with others, if possible. Sit at a table and use plates and utensils. Intentionally creating a pleasant and relaxed dining experience may help you appreciate your food and regulate your intake.

That's a wrap for today.  I'm getting hungry. I would say I'm at a 4.  Have a great day!

And if the mood strikes you, visit my face book page for more nutrition and wellness information http://www.facebook.com/lizblom.nutritionandwellness .  ~Be Well!

Basic Fundamentals

If you have kept up with me so far in this blog, you know I believe in balance.  I’ve tried to define it but know there is much to share on how to achieve it. I think of all of the things we are educated on as children both in the home and in school.  We are educated first on the basics and then the more complex. Regardless, we must master some fundamentals before moving on. How this applies to nutrition is much the same. If we do not learn, practice and master some basics, we will find it difficult to move forward.  I’m not going to go into the Food Groups, however if you are unfamiliar, it is something you need to look at.  What I would like to help you with today is how to navigate the grocery store to reach a healthy destination.

I will first suggest a grocery list. This is where those food groups come into play.  On your grocery list you are going to want to make sure to have a variety from each food group.  Some food groups will outweigh others based upon how we fill our plate.  If you have not heard it prior to now, you will want to make your list with focus on foods found around the perimeter of the store.  Think about it. You will find your whole fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh deli, grains, and dairy here. Again, the more you shop in this manner the easier the list becomes. 

Now what? It’s time to head to the “inner isles” where danger lurks. Not really dangerous, however it does require more thought, some reading and therefore some extra time. Yes you must learn to read a nutrition label.  These handy little guides can help you determine if you are choosing wisely for your waist, heart, blood pressure and overall health. I cannot count the number of times the knowledge of that little label has saved me from disaster. Ok, so maybe I’m embellishing a bit.  They have however prevented some guilt or provided me with some guidance on whether that food is to be shared or left behind.

I will tell you things that I look for and find most fascinating just to give you a preview of what you are about to learn. I almost always look at the serving size. It prompts the question "Is it worth it." The saturated fat content intrigues me more so than the total fat, based on family heart history. I’m always in search of more fiber. I look at salt (sodium) and if I can I will try to make sure to choose reduced.  I’ve also learned to look at the ingredients.  Did you know the first ingredients listed are contained in the highest amounts? Again, all of this will come into play based upon what the rest of your grocery cart or day consists of.  What’s most empowering about reading labels is that once you know what you are looking for it gets easier, faster and it travels with you to places outside of the grocery store, for example, a restaurant. So to save much time and typing I found an Interactive Food Label that will teach you how to master the skill of reading the label.  There is much to learn so please take note.  Some parts will resonate with you more than others especially if you have special dietary needs in your home. 

If you enjoy this blog visit my page on Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lizblom.nutritionandwellness for basic meal and snack ideas and more about my nutrition philosophy.