eatingRD.com Food. Fitness. Nutrition. Life!

January 14, 2011

frugal eats + a confession

Filed under: Dinner,Fitness/Health,Reviews — Tags: , , , , — Kristen :) @ 8:55 pm

Alright, alright, I confess!  So I had a slip-up with the Eat In Month Challenge last weekend and it wasn’t a mistake 😉  With Chris being away for work, I needed some socializing and I couldn’t help NOT going out with girlfriends!!  I hadn’t hung out like that in awhile and it was fun!  A nice dinner and then a round of cosmic bowling left us so tired there was no room left for dancing, just yawning.  I think I’m getting old when 9:30 rolls around and I’m pooped!  But I do sport those bowling shoes well . . . hehe   (more…)

November 24, 2010

POM dinner party – tapas style

Filed under: Party — Tags: , , , , , , — Kristen :) @ 7:43 pm

I was chosen as a finalist to host a fun POM party using those big red beauties in season.  I love dinner parties, so I was definitely up for the challenge!  Because the party had to be held right after getting back from FNCE in Boston, I had to hustle to plan the menu, go shopping for all the ingredients, and get everything set up by the weekend.  I’m excited to share with you my POM party recap, it was a lot of fun! (more…)

June 27, 2010

can’t stand the heat

Filed under: Dinner,Fitness/Health — Tags: , — Kristen :) @ 3:54 pm

It has been a scorcher here lately as I will probably repeat and repeat this entire summer!  I’m already looking forward to fall.  The heat just zaps the energy right out of me. I’m fine in the shade, but direct sunlight is no bueno.  It really stinks for any kind of activity outdoors.  We did make it on a bike ride Saturday morning, which was the 4th early wake-up call ride in a row for me!  I could tell my legs were not quite as fresh and the heat just threw in another lovely variable towards my demise.   (more…)

September 9, 2009

yep, I biffed it

Filed under: Blog,Dinner — Tags: , , — Kristen :) @ 4:51 am

IMG_4645

I know it’s a little delayed, but I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!  I sure enjoyed the extra day.  I don’t know what it is but that one extra day makes such a difference in getting things done and feeling ready to start the week again.  We didn’t really have any specific plans or go to any BBQ parties, but just made time to get things done, go on a bike ride and also to relax a little bit which was really really nice.

I made some progress on my sports nutrition project and have decided to do it on a supplement/ergogenic aid called FRS.  It is endorsed by Lance Armstrong, along with other athletes.  It’s main component is an antioxidant called quercetin, along with other antioxidants and a little caffeine.  I’m not sure that this product will cause someone to have amazing athletic abilities, but some of the research is somewhat favorable for it.  The only question I have is that FRS does contain the same amount of caffeine as 1/2 cup of coffee, as well as green tea extract, so how much of the energizing effect is from quercetin and the other antioxidants and how much of it is from caffeine alone?  We’ll see.  I’m also meeting with my advisor tomorrow . . . eek!

Today was a pretty normal kind of day except for one major thing, I didn’t use my car!  Chris and I decided to bike to work this morning now that we work pretty close from each other and live not too far from work.  It is about 16 miles each way for me and not too bad.  Well, the morning stretch wasn’t bad at all.  I wasn’t too tired, even though we had to leave the house by 5:30am, and the temperature was just perfect and actually slightly cool.  On the way back, well, it was 98 degrees, very windy and I felt like my legs were going to give out.  I also managed to experience my first mishap with clipless pedals.  Let me explain . . .

Shimano 105 – the tip of the shoe goes about where my finger is and you push your foot it until you hear a ‘click’  Seems easy right?!

IMG_4599

In the beginning of our ride home I felt pretty good, a little tired from getting up so early and working all day, but good.  I fueled up with a banana, 1/2 a luna IMG_4602bar and 1/2 package of luna moons with lots of water throughout the day of course, but I could tell my hunger wasn’t satisfied.  I had been ravenous all day.  It seemed like I couldn’t tame the flames of my metabolism no matter what!

IMG_4601

By the last stretch of the ride home I was feeling a bit shaky tired and knew I better finish the last of the luna moons I had with me.  At this point we were on a nice straight path, so we decided to stop there rather than at the street to grab a quick refuel.  Well, as I went to stop I completely spaced that I was locked into the bike.  Since we didn’t stop at a stop sign or light I didn’t register and think of clipping out!  Yep, there I went teetering and cursing before I fell hard into the dirt on the side of the path right on the side of my a*#  gosh dangit!  How could I let that happen?!  I thought I had IMG_4658 escaped the curse when I successfully finished my first ride with them, in a group no less, without falling over.  Ah well, I guess everyone has to fall over sometime.  Only the better reason to pick right up and keep at it.  I have a nice goose egg bruise on the side of my bum, ouch!  I still really like the pedals because the are very efficient with transferring the energy from your legs to the momentum of the wheels or something like that.  It’s like instant gratification 🙂

IMG_4656Anyhow, when we finally made it home, I was, and can you believe it . . .  RAVENOUS!!  I made grilled fish tacos the night before and boy did they hit the spot for leftovers.  I had to have 3 of them before I even started to feel satiated, and then proceeded to have a 1/2 cup of cantaloupe and a mochi.  Mochis are the best invention ever and I usually get them at TJ’s for a special treat (another reason TJ’s rocks my socks off).  They are little pockets of chewy, gelatinous coating filled with creamy ice cream!  We like the mango flavor, but they also have chocolate and green tea I believe, yum!  And there is about 100 kcals in one.

IMG_4655

IMG_4624oooh!  And another little snack that I just love and seems to disappear all too quickly is True North.  I hadn’t tried this flavor before, and it’s sure yummy!  Just have to be careful like most trail mix because in 5 clusters there is 170 kcals.  Great, concentrated energy!

I found this recipe from CookingLight (what’s new?) and I thought I HAD to try it!  I love fish tacos in the restaurants, not the battered kind, but the nice grilled ones, topped with creamy lime cilantro sauce and crispy cabbage.  This is one of those recipes that really tastes like it does in the restaurant, well pretty darn close!  I adapted it a little bit, mostly increasing everything because it wasn’t really enough spices to flavor the fish.

IMG_4646

Grilled Fish Tacos with

Creamy Lime Cilantro Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients

Sauce:

  • 1/2  cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 1/2  cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3/4 cup low-fat greek yogurt
  • 2  tsp grated lime rind
  • 3-4 tsp fresh lime juice, more for sprinkling
  • 1/4  tsp salt
  • 2  garlic cloves, minced


Tacos:

  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp ground red pepper
  • 1/4-1/2  tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp  garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2  lbs red snapper fillets (I had halibut in the freezer)
  • olive oil spray
  • 8  (6-inch) corn tortillas
  • 2  cups shredded green cabbage

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

To prepare sauce, combine ingredients in a small bowl; refrigerate.

IMG_4639 To prepare tacos, combine spices in a small bowl; sprinkle and press spice mixture evenly over both sides of fish. Place fish on a baking sheet lightly coated with oil. Bake at 425° for 9 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness (alternatively you can use a grill pan for about 2 1/2 min per side). Place fish in a bowl; break into pieces with a fork. Heat tortillas to your liking (we like to get them crispy). Divide fish evenly among tortillas; top each with cabbage and sauce; sprinkle with more lime.  So good!!!

IMG_4645

Whew, that was a long one, hope you are having a good week so far!

Any good biff moments for you?

February 5, 2009

R.D. vs. Nutritionist – what’s the big deal?

Filed under: Blog,Comfort foods,Fitness/Health — Tags: , , — Kristen :) @ 1:57 am

clip_image003The term “RD,” or Registered Dietitian, is different than “nutritionist” contrary to popular belief. A Registered Dietitian has to complete an extensive 4-year degree with an accredited university, complete a 900 hour minimum dietetic internship, pass the National Registered Dietitian Examination, maintain membership dues for CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration) and ADA (American Dietetic Association), and complete 75 hours of continuing education credits every five years in order to maintain their credential.

Anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist” really, and many states have licensure laws to protect the RD credential. Nutrition information is always changing and RDs are up-to-date on the latest nutritional information backed by sound research and must continue their education and professional development even after graduation.  This information cannot just be given out for free.

To be assured that you are receiving legitimate nutritional advice, it is important you are working with a Registered Dietitian.  It is disheartening when people give out nutritional advice when they don’t have the credential to back it up because it not only discredits our profession, we lose client confidence in spending money for our services.

For more information you can visit the American Dietetic Association.

The Time is Now!

Never before have we seen how important nutrition and overall health is in clip_image002the prevention of many diseases from diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and obesity. Prevention is the key to this puzzle. You are the creator of your world and you ultimately have the power to build the path to health and happiness.  Only you can unlock your potential!

clip_image002

clip_image002[7]

Oh and here is what I had for dinner . . . . Chili Chicken Tacos!  I featured this recipe on my first ever post titled low and slow awhile ago (at the bottom).  It is just such a great, easy recipe I just couldn’t help it!  You just throw all the stuff in the crock-pot and let it get nice and tender . . . Yum!  I piled the chicken into crunchy corn tortillas with cheese, spinach, avocado and non-fat greek yogurt, and it was just the thing after a long day.  Now I’m off to kick-my-butt box!

100_2284

Do you use a crock-pot for speedy weeknight meals?  What is your favorite and why?

December 16, 2008

Low and Slow

Filed under: Blog,Dinner — Tags: , — Kristen :) @ 6:45 pm

Hello! and welcome to my new blog. My name is Kristen and I am a Registered Dietitian who loves everything food. This blogging thing is new to me so bear with me through the glitches and boring page layout until I figure out how this thing works. I hope I can give some great, healthy meal ideas and show you that eating healthy doesn’t have to be terrible. Eating healthier really has to be a lifestyle change, not just a quick fix. Simple changes made every day can add up to make a big difference. One must realize that they can’t wait till after the holidays or after anything to start eating better . . . the time is NOW! Just do it! Along with my favorite recipes and nutrition tidbits, I will post food experiences and travels that I encounter, with good wine and restaurants to try in the Las Vegas area. Enjoy!!

I absolutely love my slow cooker this time of year. All you have to do is throw some simple, economical ingredients in before heading out in the morning and you can return home to a warm, satisfying meal that is already basically done! It is also a really great way to cook lean and cheaper cuts of meat that need a long time to tenderize. One of my favorites is one adapted from Martha Stewart called Chili Chicken Tacos. Simply cook the meat in the slow cooker and add to a nice crispy corn tortilla along with your favorite taco toppings. There will be more slow cooker recipes to come . . .

Slow-Cooker Chili Chicken Tacos

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 8 1/4 hours

Ingredients

Serves 4-6

  • 1 standard package boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6)
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup prepared tomato salsa or any favorite red or green salsa (I use mild)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo (careful these are hot)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • Hard corn taco shells
  • Cilantro, shredded cheese, lime wedges, and non-fat greek yogurt for serving (or sour cream), etc.

Directions

  1. In slow cooker, combine chicken (trimmed of excess fat), garlic, salsa, chiles, chili powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Cover; cook on low, 8 hours being careful that sugar doesn’t burn.
  2. Shred chicken in slow cooker, using two forks. Serve in taco shells, with toppings, if desired.
  3. Use leftovers for quesadillas, taco salad, Mexican rice, etc. or you can freeze some in an airtight container for a quick meal later. I want to try to use this as a filling for tamales in the future.

Sorry there are not nutrition facts for this one. I am saving to purchase a nutrient analysis software so I can give you the exact values. I don’t really think you should count calories in exact values, but really eat mindfully and stop when you are full. It takes 20 minutes for our minds to register satiety.

Portion suggestion: Two corn tacos with about 4 oz of meat, 1/4 cup of low-fat cheese and 1/4 cup greek yogurt would be approximately 400-450 kcals depending on the portion size.

Powered by WordPress