Books for fun and cooking up a storm

Look! I can make chili (actually not that hard) with organic brown basmati rice!

This is my first, last, and only vacation where I can legitimately do whatever I want. The reason behind this is because I am home in CT for only a month and am not re-committing myself to a place I do not permanently live job-wise, and I could not stay in NYC for the time between the end of my semester and studying abroad in Italy.  Therefore, I have been spending my time doing a bit of freelance work, hitting the gym, cooking, writing, reading, and watching tv. I think I have become TV-saturated and have been going to the gym regularly. I need to go to the rink soon to skate... maybe tomorrow. I keep putting it off for multiple reasons. In terms of cooking, I am proud to say that I have made socca bread from the Pure2Raw girls, vegan cupcakes (for fun, even though no one in my family is vegan), vegetarian chili, veggie udon, popcorn (so obsessed), museli (I like mine with almond milk and diced figs- I really love figs), tea, coffee, and several other things I can't think of at the moment.

Steamed parnip became pure mashed parsnip -yum!

I am planning on executing a smoothie in the near future from Pooja's delicious recipes online at PoojasWay.com like her Blueberry, Cardamom & Coconut Protein smoothie:

Photo courtesy of PoojasWay.com

I am definitely not a regular cook so some of these simple recipes took me a while, but they all worked out ok :) I have been using my new Korin knives from Pooja and they are magical. Not yet sure what I am doing for New Years, but I spent Christmas with a childhood friend who attends Barnard. It was nice to catch up. We got Chinese food and saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I highly recommend the movie, but my parents who read both books said the books are better. I find the person Stieg Larsson very fascinating. Anyways, my life in CT is much less exciting than in NYC, where I am also randomly seeing celebrities go home (I creepily know where Mario Batali lives), eating at awesome restaurants, and chilling with my jaded New York friends.


Goal-wise, I have been drinking more water, but not nearly enough. I have successfully been avoiding drinking liquid calories. Mostly just tea.

Thanks @RishiTea!

 I think I still need to cut down on my overall food intake and eat slower. I have been going to the gym, but I know I really need to switch up my workout a bit more. I am getting hooked on jump roping and am half-jokingly considering trying a kick boxing class. I really need to skate. I am full of excuses. 


In terms of books I have been reading (my library is awesome!), I read a fantastic personal finance book "Hot Broke Messes" by Nancy Trejos and am figuring out my finances and all that jazz. I figure that since I am becoming a real-live adult I should know how these things work to the n-th degree (because that is how I roll). Speaking of finances, I had a near mental breakdown today when there was a misunderstanding with my bank that led me to believe that all of my money had been wiped out of my account due to identity theft. It wasn't true and all is taken care of, but that was a scary moment.

I am literate!

I also finished Mindy Kaling from The Office's new book "Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me (and other concerns)" and it was hilarious and cute. Very easy and fun read. However, I wasn't a fan of Bethenny Frankel's book because I felt like it was too basic for me, which means I must know something about food/cooking! I really like the idea of brunch from Post Punk Kitchen and my inconstant aversion to meat makes veganism/vegetarianism all the more appealing.  Starting the new-ish Chelsea Handler book, but since I love her other books ("My Horizontal Life" is the best), I expect to like this one, too. 

 Learning should be fun and not solicited. For example, my nerdy self chose to watch some TED talks online to learn something from some smart people and because I was genuinely curious. 

I really like getting to read something without the pretenses of having to write something about the piece or get graded on reading something I may or may not be interested in. Plus, the library facilitates this healthy habit of my compulsive reading for free. Fantastic. I was looking for an easy-to-read, attention-grabbing book on the art of marketing, but I think I am either going to have to search really hard or to write it myself. Speaking of writing, I am considering writing a book that will be self-published to avoid the legal and time drama. Thoughts?

Bye for now :) I wish you all a healthy and happy new year!

New-found inspiration for my fitness regimen!

Going to the gym went better today. I went to the 'women's area,' which I thought would be weird because the connotations of a women-specific section that exist in my mind led me to think of fannatical religious people. However, the person at Gold's Gym justifiably explained that a woman who is 50 pounds overweight is more comfortable working out in front of women only, instead of feeling added pressure from men- fair. The machines were basically the same (maybe a little nicer), but I doubt I am commiting to the women's section for now- it was more of a curious experiment.

While at the gym, I really felt like I was doing something good for my body and felt more motivated (with a fantastic playlist via Pandora). I did the elliptical for an hour, treadmill for about 15 minutes, some weight training (I know it is better to do weights one day and cardio another, but I was inspired), a bit of jump rope, and stretched. In terms of food, I ate an over-sized vegetarian salad (I think the only foods that you should eat more than 1 traditional serving of are veggies, fruits, and water in order to get your full fix of nutrients for the day) for brunch with pure tea. For a snack, I ate dried dates, which I am equally as obsessed with as figs.  For dinner, I ate veggies, purple potatoes, and home-made (by me!) popcorn with canola oil- not so healthy, but I wasn't really hungry and I am not really eating meat right now (though my mind could change tomorrow). Since I woke up late today, I might eat again, but not that much. In terms of improvement for next time, I would have liked to steam the potatoes- not fry them and will make the popcorn oil free by popping it in a bag off the cob (a tradition that we carry from our local CT farmers who sell the dried cobs). Usually, I eat way more food, but I think I really need to slow down and be conscious of what I am eating. Now that I am out of class and work for a bit, I can better focus on my health and fitness, which I think I have been allowing to fall by the wayside. I did gain a bit of weight since the summer, and I am hoping to lose it by amping up my regular exercise routine, drinking more water, and making better food choices (like sticking to whole foods, cutting down on my sugar intake, eating less meat, and eating at consistent times). One of the difficulties of college is the lack of consistency in one's schedule- eating becomes a bother and never happens at the same time from one day to the next. I really want to regulate when I wake up, go to sleep, eat, and exercise. I am planning on waking up a bit earlier tomorrow (though I don't have to) and working out in the morning, like I prefer to do. I also talked to my mom about making more of my family's food and she seemed happy (though the lack of meat won't fly for my mom, dad, or brother). I will keep you updated on that. I think part of why I was inspired today is because I realized that even though I did gain a little weight, I don't have to make it a big deal- I control myself and decide how things will go and no one else does. If I want to lose weight, I have to decide to lose that weight. If I don't do anything about it or eat a ton of cookies because I feel stressed (I am totally an emotional eater), it is my own fault that I don't have rockstar abs. I was watching a re-run of MTV's "I Used to Be Fat" (yes, I am a bit addicted to reality tv) and realized that anyone can do anything and achieve anything, as long as they set their mind to do so and make changes to their lives to welcome that change. I would not have gotten into NYU, passed my Senior Moves-in-the-Field ice skating test, become a certified ice skating coach and judge, or even ran my 1st 5K in the Fall if I didn't decide that my goal was important and make steps towards achieving it. I am serious about taking control over my body and am on yet another self-improvement binge, which is a good thing.

Also, I received some lovely gifts in the mail from Pooja today! Besides her kind words in a card, she sent me Endangered Species dark chocolate (which I  shared with my dad), Alter Eco dark chocolate, and Korin knives. It was nice to receive a gift that I can use.

I wanted to also make a side comment that I love coming home to my dogs (both miniature poodles). Dog owners live longer than non-pet owners and it is probably because they get a friend to love them unconditionally and play with all of the time. My dogs are crazy and full of energy most of the time, always seeking attention, but I love them to death. Basically, having a pet is healthy! My pooches got groomed today and look extra cute!

As for tomorrow, I may skate (after a long time of not skating, which is a bad habit I have taken up) and see my coaches after not seeing them for a while. I also want to focus a lot on my abs so I have a super strong core, and I am planning on using Pooja's secrets to sexy abs!

Photo courtesy of PoojasWay.com

Trying Gold's Gym, Rethinking cooking for the family, and GIFTS!

I tried my local Gold's Gym for the first time today and truthfully, I am not sure if I am going to stick with them for my holiday break because I have LA Fitness and my local community center gym on the back burner. I realized that I am spoiled by my gym in NYC, which has TV's on each individual machine. At the gym I went to today, the tv's were posted on the wall, which is fine... except that I kept looking off to them  to my left and right, and I could feel myself veering off to the side. No good. I am fine, but I ended up focusing on my music and declined reading my magazine because I really wanted to read it carefully, not look through it shallowly. In conclusion, I spent about half the time I regularly do at the gym on the elliptical and the treadmill because I noticed how much harder it is to run/ jog/ move without the distraction of a television with a show that you really like. Keep in mind that my entire Freshman year of college, the only time I watched tv was when I went to the gym, so not having a tv is weird for me- again, I am spoiled. However, my local community center's gym is a 15-25 minute drive away and they have machines with tv's. The only problem is that I need a membership for just the month and I really want to like where I am going to commit to. I am going to finish my trial at Gold's and see if my mind changes- I didn't explore half of the gym because I wasn't feeling adventurous and decided I would do so tomorrow.

In terms of food, I realized that I am going to have to make more of a effort to make my own food and likely make food for my family. Yesterday and today, I have been eating leftovers from my mom's cooking, which is healthy and all that jazz, but to control what I am eating, I am going to have to prepare the food myself. My mom is the type of person who gets offended when you don't eat EVERY SINGLE THING that she makes, so you MUST eat it. Yet, she is open to other people cooking, so I think I will be doing that- another lifestyle change for me. This way, I can really stick to my food/ nutrition goals. In terms of goals, I should also add that I need to drink more water. This summer, I drank a ton of water and I am not being as consistent with that habit right now.

Also, I finished unpacking today, which was exhausting. I have acquired so many things from friends and roommates, while I also still had many things in my old room that needed to go. In addition to moving in my things that I live with in NYC, I separated and went through/ trashed my old things that I don't use or need anymore. For example, I am donating t-shirts and jeans that no longer fit me and are not appropriate to my lifestyle as I have owned them since my freshman year of high school (like a bright pink cut off shrug with a matching sparkly tank- terrible). Getting rid of the clutter was very cleansing, like I was removing dirt from my living space. Also, moving large boxes should count as a workout because I was exhausted after- it took about 5 hours of my day. Yikes. At least it is done. Now, I am focusing on preparing things for my trip to Italy... like figuring out what I am going to do with my cell phone :-/

Finally, in case you are like me and get gifts last minute, here is a fab list of 10 gifts under $100 for your health-conscious family and friends from Pooja: http://poojasway.com/article-tips/december-21st-2011-poojas-top-10-last-minute-healthy-living-gifts-under-100/

Photo courtesy of poojasway.com

Moving back in and heath goals for Winter Break

It is official. As of yesterday night, I finished my last exam (which I believe went well) and I came home to Connecticut late last night. I have spent my first official day of vacation sleeping, relaxing, and writing. Yesterday night on the way home from the city (I miss it already!), I wrote out my goals for winter break and tried to be specific so I could tangibly accomplish these goals. I will likely not have an official job over winter break, but I am on a self-improvement binge (again).

Daily goals:

• 1.5- 3 hours exercise (1 hr skating, 30 min run, 30 min stretch/ yoga, 1 hr class/ workout/weights, etc.)... Now, I just need to join a gym at home. I am thinking Gold's Gym because I could walk to one nearby to me :)
• 1 hr studying Italian/ reading/ watching Italian tv. I am going to Italy, so I don't want to forget the language and I want to study up on the history. I think when you know information about something, it enriches your appreciation of that experience, so I hope by increasing my knowledge of Italy, I will appreciate my time living there more!
• 30 min-1 hr writing- whether a book or my blog
• 1 hr reading. I really didn't have that much time to read for fun, so I am hoping to catch up!
•  Make better whole food choices. I want to really break down and plan what I am going to eat everyday. Here is a plan that I hope to stick to:
• Breakfast: Smoothie (from Pooja's smoothie recipes)
• Snack: fresh or dried fruit like a banana or apple 
• Lunch: salad
• Snack: tea and fruit juice, maybe a few nuts if I am hungry
• Dinner: soup, steamed veggies, organic whole grain like brown rice or whole wheat couscous
• Dessert: Frozen fruit with tea
• Track my food daily in my food log. I haven't been consistent with this and I see it as something that I should stick with because it helps me stay on track

Today, I was going to start this plan. However, I think I woke up too late and went to sleep too early and had too many unpacking/ life-related things to take care of today that interfered with going to the gym today. I did make popcorn straight from the kernels, and ate my mom's whole food cooking (my mom should legitimately open a restaurant).  After publishing this, I am going to finish unpacking my tons of stuff (most of which I realized I acquired from other people and didn't start with so much stuff!).

My excuse for no gym today: I am mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted from moving and traveling. Most of all, I think it is going to be really hard for me to adjust from living in NYC. I love the noise, speed, and excitement of the city, which are all completely absent from the suburbs where I live. Additionally, I feel like I am leaving a lot of friends, memories, favorite restaurants, and overall part of me in the city. I spent the last year and a half living in a place that I will not return to for the next 5+ months. However, I do hope to move back into the city over the summer. I grew up a lot in the last 2 years or so (becoming a real live grown up and all of that) and most of that time was living in the greatest city in the world. My sadness for leaving is also met with excitement for new adventures in Italy and appreciation of the opportunities that I have had in NYC and am going to have abroad. For now, I really want to get my body in tip top shape because I think that it could still use a bit of refining now that I can focus more directly on my fitness goals without distractions (a big benefit of suburban living!).

Finishing finals and indulging in salad

I am finishing up with my finals and moving out this weekend. My birthday was nice and I saw my friend Wei last night and we went out for Indian food at Brick Lane Curry House (aka delicious). I love spicy foods because they are full of flavor, and not necessarily huge on calories. After working out this morning, I got salad and orzo as a side dish, so I put the orzo in my salad -> so much better! I also had coffee with skim milk after drinking at least 2000 ml of water (according to the markings on my water bottle). Also, getting proper amounts of sleep has been very helpful. My current attitudes to moving from NYC is bittersweet because it has been my lovely home for 1.5 years, but the suburbs will be a quiet change for a month until I move to Italy. #excited

 In the meantime, I think I am going to start off my time at home with a new exercise regimen and put Pooja's Ab workout to work: http://poojasway.com/article-fitness/november-8-2011-the-truth-behind-year-round-sexier-abs/. I am really looking forward to getting my abs super sculpted ;)

Photo courtesy of poojasway.com

Rishi Tea and Pomegranate Basil Apple Cleanser for Me!

I dropped the ball and forget to tell you all about my recent gift from Rishi Tea (@rishitea)given the hecticness of exam-time! I got green, mint, red, and black tea from them as part of Pooja's team. Check it out: 

Red tea!!!

The red and black teas are really good, but I am obsessed with the mint. Usually, I am not a big mint tea fan because it tends to be overbearingly minty- like a bad candy or mint oil. I just wasn't a big must-drink mint- that was until I drank Rishi's mint tea. Legitimately, they have the best mint tea out there. It is minty, but in a peaceful way that is complemented by its natural sweetness, which is why I like Yogi Egyptian licorice tea so much- it is naturally sweet (but not in a sugary way). I am obsessed (and I also started devoting more time to boiling the water for my tea and not microwaving it- I know, it is lazy to do that- and my tea tastes so much better!). Really, doing things slower pays off!

Also, I am really lusting after making Pooja's newest creation- a Pomegranate Basil Apple Cleanser:

Pomegranate Basil Apple Cleanser. Photo courtesy of poojaway.com.

I am super excited to make this recipe, but because I am moving out of my apartment in a week, I think I am going to hold off buying and making this. It will be made in the next week or so.

Also, since my birthday is tomorrow, this weekend was filled with going out to dinner with friends- which is awesome since I live in the delicious food mecca (aka NYC). I recommend all of these places, which I had eaten at before: Piola, Vapiano, and Friend House. So good! Now, back to studying ;)

Healthy Lunch and Siggi's Yogurt

I just went to Whole Foods to get lunch, unsweetened soy milk, and yogurt.

Lunch= brown rice with salsa, guacamole, mixed greens, beans, and super whole grain tortilla bread (I added all natural hot sauce and pepper- I love spicy!)

In terms of yogurt, Pooja  (@poojamottl, @poojasway) wanted me to try Siggi's Yogurt since I wasn't really a fan of full fat unprocessed yogurts.  Siggi's is "Icelandic style skyr strained non-fat yogurt" that is all-natural from grass fed cows, without any added chemicals/ preservatives/ additives/ hormones/ grossness. Plus, with no fat and low calorie servings (100 calories/ serving), this is an awesome healthy choice. I have actually had Siggi's Yogurt before and I am a huge fan! It is thick, but in a good way, and tastes dreamy. I added honey and flax seeds to my plain Siggi's yogurt.

I took these pics, but you can follow @siggisyogurt

Also, I was out of milk, so I got my unsweetened soy milk!

Loves me my unsweetened soy milk!

I think of unsweetened soy milk like regular milk- I don't add sugar to my regular milk because doing that would be gross. 

I think Siggi's is my new favorite yogurt (next to Wallaby, of course). #obsessed. Also, now I have a new yogurt to dip figs into!

Excited for my birthday dinner tomorrow with some friends!

Hugo (without the popcorn) + #SustainableMeals

I love popcorn. I don't even think that I can explain how much I love popcorn. It is one of my favorite foods (next to figs, cookies, licorice tea, pho, samosas, pickles, chickpeas, corn, and black beans), but happens to be a food that is eaten unhealthily most of the time. Obviously, traditional movie theater popcorn is loaded with fake butter (it is squirtable at room temperature- ew!?!) and drowned in salt (enough to constitute an entire mine).

Photo courtesy of themovieblog.com.

Being a classic tradition, going to the movies ( among all good things) is somehow tied in to eating- in this case, popcorn. I actually never get popcorn at the movies because of the poor quality and overall unhealthiness of the way my beloved popcorn is prepared. I went to see the movie "Hugo" in 3D this weekend with some friends, and needless to say, I really liked it. The premise is that an orphan boy lives in a train station fixing clocks, but believing he can uncover a secret message left by his father. The cool part of the movie is that it was about the movies (very meta). Parts were cheesey, but it was good.

Photo courtesy of badassdigest.com.

Anyways, I didn't eat anything while I was watching the movie because when there is a big screen distracting you, you tend to eat way more than you would in day light if you were paying attention. Also, in general, it is a bad idea to eat in front of a television screen because presentations of food are shown to increase appetite or at least make you think you should eat when you aren't even hungry. On the flip side, watching videos of food while you are eating (a meal) actually makes the food taste better- advertisers are really smart, guys.

I missed my popcorn, but I wasn't hungry or missing out on the movie experience (plus 3D is kind of awesome). The next time I will make popcorn will probably be at home where I pop kernels in a bag from the dried cob or in a closed pot (whole versions of food are always better). That way, I choose what I add. Usually, I add splashes of cinnamon, sugar, salt or throw in small chocolate pieces or crushed candy cane pieces to melt over the hot popped kernels- yum. Making your own versions of any food help you control how much of what ingredients go into your body without the chemicals of prepackaged (yellow-orange tinged) popcorns.

Also, make sure to catch the twitter party today hosted by @PoojaMottl! I am participating, too.

poojasway jane adams 

join @PoojaMottl @eatsustainable and @GoodGuide at 4pm EST today for our #SustainableMeals twitter chat! use the hashtag to join the convo

YOU CAN WIN TONS OF FREE STUFF! #SustainableMeals

Counter Culture Coffee and Aztec Quinoa Salad

I went to Counter Culture Coffee with Jane and Pooja today for a 'cupping,' which is basically a coffee tasting of high quality beans. We wanted to try high quality coffee and learn about the food. Basically, I learned that organic coffee taste different from themselves (slightly) because their flavors may be more potently concentrated in certain bean grinds than others of the same variety. Also, I learned that I have issues with black coffee- I enjoy my splash of unsweetened soy milk- call me faint of heart. I was also in coffee shock after trying all of the different coffees black and decided to slow down. We smelled dry and wet coffees from Kenya and other parts of Africa, all of which smelled very earthy. Strangely, one smelled and tasted like tomato soup, while another was more flowery and fruity. The adding of the water and settling of the grinds in the coffee entirely changed the flavor of the coffee. I definitely liked the more traditionally flavored type of coffee. The entire experience reminded me of a wine tasting- very exploratory and best for those who are OBSESSED. I like coffee a lot, but I would not die without it either. I am thankful for the experience, nevertheless, and I am happy I had this experience. It was very interesting.

After, I went to Eataly with Jane to grab lunch. I got a Gus's pomegranate soda and a freshly made mushroom pannini. It was delicious. 'Nough said. Since the Union Square Greenmarket was open today, I made sure to stop by and buy foccaccia from Our Daily Bread (it is $3 and delicious- I am obsessed!).

Currently, I am preparing organic brown basmati rice with lentils and spices. With the leftover rice, I am considering making to psudo- rice pudding with my leftover unsweetened soy milk, honey, brown sugar, flax seeds, and cinnamon. Soon, I plan to make this recipe for Aztec quinoa: http://poojasway.com/article-cooking/december-1st-2011-aztec-quinoa-salad-wpinto-beans-chili-avocado-lime-dressing/

AZTEC QUINOA SALAD W/PINTO BEANS & CHILI-AVOCADO-LIME DRESSING. 

PHOto courtesy of poojasway.com.

It's almost December! And other thoughts

I am almost done with this semester in school and it is almost officially December. I am anticipating my winter break being filled with exercise. I also envision myself cooking super fresh, whole foods to continue eating healthily. However, as the end of the semester approaches, I am feeling stress and pressure to get my work done. Now, I just have to resist the urge to eat my stress in the form of baked goods and to 'just say no' when I am offered a lovely homemade pumpkin muffin from my friend Kate. A kind offer and super yum, but I now regret eating it (muffins and cookies are my weakness). However, my lunch consisted of organic brown basmati rice and black beans, while dinner was whole grain couscous and tons of veggies like squash and carrots- yum! I am also trying to cut back on my impending coffee addiction, because I think it dehydrates me to the point where I don't want to drink water, but feel super hungry and eat more than I should because I did not drink enough water in the first place.

In terms of week plans, I am going with Liz and Pooja to Counter Culture Coffee for a tasting and Rishi Tea for a tea party on Friday! #excited

Also, I wanted to share my favorite odd-food combo story that was published yesterday: http://nyunews.com/life/2011/11/29/29odd/ (it has healthy and not-so-healthy items).

Burgers in pasta! And ice skating!

I just wanted to share some pictures of the pasta I made myself. I know it isn't too fancy, but I am proud of my macgyver-ness! I cooked 1 serving of whole wheat pasta (yes, I measured my food for once) and added frozen veggies, curry sauce (all-natural and crazy delicious), and added small pieces of organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed beef burger from Rocky Mountain Organic Meats (I made this well done with olive oil). I have never cooked a burger myself before, so I was excited that this worked out, too! I felt like I was a cooking machine. It was a small victory over the larger cooking world. Like I said in my last post, I don't eat much meat, but this was fairly easy to prepare and by cutting the meat into smaller pieces (I know it is a burger, which defeats the purpose) so it was easier to eat (and also made it seem like I was eating a lot more)!

I like my food well-done! (Not actually burned, just poor lighting because I am no photographer- just a writer!)

Last night, I couldn't sleep for a while and decided I would just be awake and go ice skate at Chelsea Piers' Sky Rink because the freestyle sessions (high level skating) starts at the crack of dawn. I haven't skated for myself in a while, though I have continued to coach, and I was terrible. Like really terrible. But, I am so happy I skated. It helped me feel good that I did something fun and important to me, and that I was really taking time for myself and using my energy postively. I feel like I have just been really focused on work and school lately, and have been neglecting my skating. I hope to continue my new pace- going to sleep and waking up earlier (though not as early as today), eating better (today for breakfast I had muesli with unsweetened soy milk, figs, cacao nibs, and flax seeds- so good!), and skating more (not just going to the gym and all that jazz). I am already thinking about lunch...Maybe I will make Pooja's Meatless Monday Basil and Jicama Salad :)

Photo courtesy of poojasway.com

Thanksgiving! (And Black Friday)

I just got back to my apartment after a day of traveling from Wisconsin! I ate lots (which I didn't have to cook- a nice break!)! I really paced myself eating and had tons of pickles and olives (my weaknesses) before the official meal. My aunt Nancy (who was the official Turkey Day chef) is on a low-sodium, low-fat diet due to developing cancer, so she made everything without salt and little to no butter- including the turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy (which I skipped anyways), and mashed potatoes (fat free half and half). Check out these tips for healthy eating for any big meal: http://poojasway.com/article-tips/november-23rd-2011-delicious-healthy-eating-tips-for-your-thanksgiving/

I admit it- I had two servings of this size, but I  def ate less than everyone else by pacing myself!

My family was amusing as always. My cousin Andrew fell asleep several times throughout the day because he works in Toronto and was struggling with the time change (and missed his Canadian girlfriend, who I refer to as 'Moose'). I didn't actually buy anything on Black Friday, but I went to the Bayshore Mall and the Mayfair Mall, where I helped pick out gifts for Moose.

Sleep burn off calories!

Also, for dinner, I made myself the organic grass-fed, pasture-raised beef steak from Rocky Mountain Organic Meats. It was quite delicious and the first time I ever prepared a steak. I like mine well done, and because I don't eat meat that often, I made sure to cut it into little pieces and eat it with organic basmati brown rice and veggies (with curry sauce for a kick). I enjoyed my apartment-made naked burrito with a hot cup of licorice tea (Organic Stash). It was super delicious and I was proud of myself for not burning my apartment down (not that I would ever actually do that, of course!).

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the holiday weekend!

DELICIOUS & HEALTHY EATING TIPS FOR YOUR THANKSGIVING!

Pooja, Jane, and I shared our healthy (and delicious!) eating tips for Turkey Day.

As a sneak peak, these are mine:
1. Don’t eat because you or bored (or stressed by your family!) and eat slow during the meal (no need to eat fast – there are guaranteed leftovers for the next week!). [This is my biggest struggle!]
2. Choose whole, minimally processed foods at dinner: skip the gravy, marshmallows and added butters, skip the whip cream, don’t fry the turkey- baked is better, steam veggies and don’t fry/ douse them in oil!
3. Share pie slices if you want more than one flavor (I do this every year and try a bite of 3 different pies from other people’s plates!).

Photo courtesy of PoojasWay.com.

For Pooja's and Jane's tips, go to: http://poojasway.com/article-tips/november-23rd-2011-delicious-healthy-eating-tips-for-your-thanksgiving/

Photo courtesy of thesportsbank.net

Happy traveling! (Just landed in Wisconsin and I forgot what it is like to be in the suburbs... #surreal)

Apartment-made Chili with Rocky Mountain Organic Meats' Beef!

I love chili and soup- especially for this time of year when the weather is becoming colder! I made this chili with some food I had in my cabinet and fridge before I leave for the airport tonight (I am going to Wisconsin, where my Dad's side of the family lives, for Thanksgiving). I also wanted to make sure to use some beef from Rocky Mountain Organic Meats:

Ingredients:
- Tomatoes (aka left-over marinara sauce that was just basil and tomatoes- no chemicals or sugar!)
- Frozen veggies! (corn, carrots, green beans, soy beans)
- Black beans (my favorite bean!!!)
- Rocky Mountain Organic Meats' organic grass-fed, pasture-raised beef kebab (@grassfedorganic) [I usually don't eat that much meat, so this was a major thing for me]
- Hot sauce (sugar-less!)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
*Side note: I don't measure- I'm in college!- I make as much as I think I will eat :)

Instructions:
1. Add all ingredients into a pot and simmer on low heat until too hungry to bear waiting longer, but acknowledging that one will burn mouth if one doesn't wait.

Nothing beats homemade (ehem... Apartment-made)!

For a more legit and veggie-full recipe that the whole family would approve of and I would actually allow other people to eat, try Pooja's Autumn Veggie Chili:

Pooja's Autumn Veggie Chili. Photo courtesy of PoojasWay.com.

Regarding my fitness, I need to restart being intense, but I am making my vow for when I come back to the city at the end of this weekend! Happy Thanksgiving (looking forward to sharing my pics!). :)

Days 2 + 3 of my 3-Day Yogurt Reset!

I was able to try the Maple Hill Creamery pasture-raised yogurt from grass-fed cows (not sheep) for Days 2 + 3 of my yogurt reset, and I was a fan of this yogurt. I definitely like this yogurt, which tasted very thick, creamy, and delicious. Even though the plain was still a bit sour, I really liked the taste. The thickness and fat was shocking at first to taste, but I got more used to it. I definitely could not each that much of this yogurt because it was so rich and luxuriant (basically all fat). I also had to add other things like cacao nibs to this to add some texture so I didn't feel like I was just eating fat. 

In my last post, I neglected to describe my feelings  about how I thought the taste of full fat- pasture raised sheep milk yogurt differed than plain low-fat brand x yogurt. It definitely tasted more pure and very different from other yogurts I have had in the past. There was more body, more acidity/ sourness, and it tasted less fake (I have trouble comparing this whole food yogurt vs. the regular kind because they are so different). Overall, I think I am not a fan of sheep milk yogurt, though I really liked the full-fat-grass-fed-pasture-raised yogurt from Maple Hill Creamery. I definitely think that the Maple Hill Creamery yogurt is better than regular yogurt, but I definitely would not be able to eat that much of it at once and would feel full after eating less more quickly. I am not sure if I would eat this full fat yogurt all of the time, but I am definitely thinking about it.

Given what I have learned from your sugar and yogurt resets so far, I think my choices will change regarding yogurt over the long-term will definitely remain with me choosing only organic options and plain yogurts with me adding honey and whatever else I like. I am all for supporting farms, being sustainable, and consuming grass-fed-pasture-raised animal products. I also like the idea of eating a less processed yogurt, but I am struggling to wrap my mind around the idea that I could eat a full fat yogurt full-time. I really can't eat that much of it because it is so rich, but I think the calories end up being about the same because I would eat more of the fat-free versions of regular yogurt. I definitely will continue to eat organic and sustainable foods not just for this week, but for years from now and feed these options to my children. Assuming that I can always access and afford sustainable and organic options, I will change my purchasing decisions. I truly believe that we vote with our dollars and that sustainability is important. In a real world example, the crazy weather New Yorkers are experiencing this fall is a direct result of global warming, which can be slowed down if society slows its negative consumption habits.

72 Hour Yogurt Reset

I usually like to eat organic nonfat plain yogurt with honey/raw nuts/ cacao nibs/ frozen fruit (a fairly healthy choice), but Pooja still wanted me to do a 72 hour yogurt reset because she really wanted me to taste full fat yogurts from the highest quality sources. Yes, I said eating full fat yogurt can actually be an improvement over eating nonfat or reduced fat yogurt. It sounds like blasphemy, but let me explain: Sheep's milk yogurt and grass-fed-pasture-raised cow yogurt are a more sustainable and higher quality option than everyday grocery store yogurts. According to Pooja, these choices are more pure, flavorful, and less processed because they are closer to their natural origins(overall better options).

"With these yogurts, not very much has been done to manufacture the product from its original milk source (from the cow or from the sheep)," Pooja said. "Whereas with other low-fat and non-fat yogurts, the fat has been removed and additives have been used. The other important thing to note is that whole milk yogurt from pasture raised sources contains Omega 3's, and in a ratio to Omega 6's that is better for our health. So grass fed products (as natural as they come!) are better for us from both a TASTE and HEALTH perspective."

If more people knew this and demanded more of these types of products, they'd be cheaper and more available!

To start my 72 Hour reset, I went to Eataly to buy "Simply Greek" sheep's milk yogurt (plain)  as well as plain yogurt from "Maple Hill Creamery." I had actually never been to Eataly, so it was really cool to be inside. Because I will be studying abroad in Italy soon, I was excited by all of the foods that I didn't realize were in NYC and that I would also be able to get in the bear future. I actually wanted to share a picture of some of the pretty chocolates that are available at Eataly:

For my first part of the yogurt reset, I tried the "Simply Greek" sheep's milk yogurt (plain). I have never tried any sheep derived products before, so I felt particularly adventurous. I could definitely taste the difference in fat, which was quite creamy. I was surprised by how acidic the yogurt was, and immediately decided to add honey, cacao nibs, granola, raw nuts, and raisins (instant imporvement). Truthfully, I wasn't in love with this yogurt, but it was definitely worth trying and I really like the idea of being more sustainable. Hopefully, I will like the Maple Hill Creamery yogurt a bit more!

Also, I will finally get to pick up the Alter Eco chocolate from Jane today: 

So excited to try this!

Also, I totally forgot to share my food adventures from this weekend. Basically, my parents visited me, which was really fun. We ate at Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village, stopped by the Union Square Greenmarket, and visited the High Line (where we ate more goodies!). Here are some pics of our yummy arepas (corn based, not flour based and freshly made!): 

Avacado and chicken

Cheese, black beans, smoky beef, and plantains

The 14th Annual NY Chocolate Show and Florian Bellanger of Cupcake Wars!

On Friday, I definitely did not eat healthy, but I am sharing my faults because they were quite delicious. I woke up late and grabbed some goodies at the Union Square Greenmarket and then after my Italian test, visited the NY Chocolate Show. There were so many cool things like drinkable chocolate (not hot chocolate), chocolate covered grapes/ pretzels/ peanuts/ caramel/ coffee beans/ bacon/ potato chips, chocolate fountains, chocolate truffles, chocolate macaroons- pretty much every kind of chocolate you can imagine (and all of it was some of the best chocolate in the world). I felt lucky to be able to go to the event and it was super fun. I bought my parents cardamom covered dark chocolate chips and I really loved the Broadway-inspired chocolate fashion show pieces. I took a picture of one of the chocolate sculptures that I wanted to share:

Photo I took of a white chocolate city scuplture!!! So cool :)

One of the many goodies at the chocolate show. Photo courtesy of  chocolateshow.com.

I even had the chance to talk to the famous Pastry Chef and owner of Mad Mac, Florian Bellanger (who is super nice in real life)! I was interviewing him for a piece for the Washington Square News and he was telling me about how macarons have become a major food trend. Here is a little of what he had to say that I couldn't fit into my journalistic piece: "The macaron had been a trend for a while in food service and hotels, restaurants, country clubs- all of those businesses- have been using macaroons for years. … Now, the big question is if this trend will stay or disappear. Nobody has the answer to this question, but clearly the trend is very high right now. I believe the macaron are here to stay… For now, it is working well and we are making a lot. I think it is the best cookie in the world. The difference between a macaron and another cookie is simple, it is very sexy, it is a colorful cookie, it is finger food, it is a snack, it is a gift, it is an alternate to chocolate. It looks luxury, it breathes luxury."

Florian Bellanger, owner of Mad Mac and judge on Food Network's Cupcake Wars. Photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com.

Florian was so nice that after the interview, he gifted me his delicious macarons (pistachio and chocolate). I ended up eating chocolate samples (tons) and macarons for dinner because after that wonderful extravaganza, I was too full to eat anything else for the rest of the day.

These are the delicious pistachio macarons from Florian . Photo courtesy of  madmacnyc.com.

The chocolate show completely threw off my healthy string, but I will do Pooja's 3-day reset (again) now that I need to and because Alter Eco shared some of their products with Pooja, Jane, and myself. #soexcited

Something I am excited to try: Alter Eco's 85%  cacao chocolate bar ! Photo courtesy of  altereco-usa.com.

Stay posted to read about my weekend food adventures (hint: Caracas and 16 Handles) and how my fitness-ness is going ;)