Healthy food can be delicious too

I often get odd looks from people who wonder what I'm eating. Granted, it's not everyday that you see someone eating a layered meal out of a mason or recycled glass jar. When people ask, I cheerily answer them, explaining what I'm eating in more detail than they probably care to hear and always ask "would you like to try some?" Most often I get a no, with a nervous laugh, but every once and a while I get a "sure, I'll give it a try" - brave souls.

This happened to me the other day at work. I was on my way to eat my dinner and was stopped by a coworker who wanted to know what I was eating. After going through the list of ingredients (I left out the seaweed, just in case...), I asked my question and got a yes! She got a fork and proceeded to try my concoction. She liked it! It is definitely a nice feeling, to have someone like the food you've created, especially when you don't expect them to like it. I think I need to give everyone a bit more credit. This was the dish that won her over, maybe you'll like it too. I created it out of what was in my pantry because I didn't feel like going to the store.

Layer 1:

Basic Quinoa (which I simmered with a bay leaf and julienne carrots)

Layer 2:

Garlic Sauteed Greens (I used kale, any green will do)

Layer 3:

Kidney Beans and Arame

½ cup dried arame

2 cans red kidney beans or 1 cup dried kidney beans soaked and cooked

3 tablespoons brown rice vinegar

2 teaspoons ume plum vinegar

2 tablespoons tamari

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

Soak the arame in cold water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile mix the beans, vinegars, tamari and fennel seeds in a medium size bowl. Add the arame and mix to combine. Let the bean mixture sit to absorb the flavors or serve right away.

Is it summer yet?

It's about this time of the year that I start craving the tastes of summer. Especially the delicious fruits of the summer: sweet, tangy and irresistible. I'm taking a culinary skills class this quarter and we were focusing on cookies and cakes. Since making cookies was my first culinary loves, I decided to pay my old flame a visit. I insisted that I must find a way to incorporate black berries into cookies, this was the best way I know how!

Almond Lemon Blackberry Thumbprint Cookies

Cookies
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
¾ cup ground almonds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup rapadura or sucanat
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
½ cup chopped almonds

Filling
1 cup frozen or fresh blackberries
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons arrowroot

To make the cookies:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine flour, ground almonds, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in the almonds. Roll tablespoons of dough to form balls. Place on greased cookie sheet and press thumb in center of cookie, creating an indentation. This is where the filling will be spooned

To make the filling: In a small sauce pan combine the berries and powdered sugar. Heat on medium-low until the juices start to come out. Make a slurry of arrowroot and 2 tablespoons of water and add to the mixture. Cook until it becomes thickened.

Spoon the filling into the center of each cookie. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly firm when touched.

These cookies are delightfully refreshing bursts of sunshine, great with a cup of tea

A reminder to be mindful

I turned 26 last week. I spent the day doing whatever I wanted, which included a delicious croissant from a local bakery, a day at the spa in the whirl pools, saunas and heated rooms, wonderful Korean food, a lamb burger with a microbrew and birthday cake. My life has been running on full speed for about 3 years now that I forgot what it was like to allow myself permission to just BE. Yes, I’ve had the occasional lazy days where I just couldn’t drag myself out of bed, so I did nothing – but my mind still was telling me “oh, this is bad; you have so much to do!” The difference with today is that I went in with the intention of doing nothing and the mentality that it all can wait until tomorrow (it helps that I’m coming to an end of school). How beautiful it was! I slept in, had casual conversations with loved ones and then spent some much needed alone time at the spa. I went to the Olympus Spa in Lynnwood, WA. I’ve never been to a spa before so I was a bit nervous. Turns out that spas are my thing: self-reflection, relaxation, being warm – all things I love and don’t get enough of. My favorite room in the spa was the sand room. It was a 150° heated room with sand that lined the floors. You didn’t step on the sand, it was covered with fabric, but you could still feel the sand beneath your feet. There was a sound machine with ocean sounds and I was relaxed enough to actually be taken away to the ocean, probably my most favorite place ever. I sat in the whirlpools and let my eyes glaze over as I felt the sensation of the small bubbles and jets and became memorized by the way the blue water looked as it was tossed about, forming white peaks.

I reflected on my life, but also the life of Americans, where this fast passed, stressful life is considered normal. Then on the life of others outside this country. This was a Korean Spa, so I could only assume that this is a normal part of their culture. People actually take time to engage in this tradition. I know that frequenting bathhouses, spas and saunas has a special place in many cultures. All and all, most other cultures have this slowing down built in. We Americans do not and it reflects with our eating style as well – fast. What do you think this eating does to us? Well firstly, our body is not in a relaxed state and this is where optimal digestion is achieved. When we are in a stressed state, certain body systems are compromised (digestion and reproduction included), so we are not getting what we should from our food, even the most nutritious foods. Another reason to slow down is for pleasure. Who can we truly enjoy if we do not slow down enough to taste? Having that break from normal life brought me back to what really matters, being happy and enjoying life! I hope that all of us can slow down enough to experience life :)

Taking that first step...

Everyone who knows me knows that I’m not a morning person. You don’t start a conversation with me and most of all you don’t smile at me until I have woken up. But here I sit, 5 am, cheerily taking patient’s food orders in a windowless basement office of a hospital on 3 hours of sleep. Graduate school has turned me into a crazy person. One thing this job has taught me is that I am extremely productive between the hours of 5-7 am. Who would have known? Today I finished a paper AND most of a case study during those hours, with phone interruptions. Another thing that this job has taught me is that it is hard to eat healthy in a work environment. I knew of this before on some level, but with my new nutrition eyes, it has become all the more apparent. Food is a very highly personal and sensitive topic. It brings people together. It can also be the source of some anxiety and awkwardness. Have you ever been to a party where you politely decline that piece of cake or second helping (and just try doing this to your grandma – it’s near impossible!)?

So how do you deal with this and still keep your relationships in tact when you’re making a lifestyle change? Well, firstly, when you make the decision to commit to a healthier way of eating, you may meet opposition. Maybe you have a friend with whom you get ice cream with every Friday night or a partner who you eat extravagant meals out with. The nature of your relationship will change. Sit down and talk with everyone, one at a time. These people will need to know of your intentions and how committed you are to making these changes. Some of the people in your life might not be willing to support you. Just remember your goal – you are doing this for yourself, not them and their negativity will do no service for you. They may eventually come around. If the people in your life are willing to support you, brainstorm ideas together for activities you can do that are not surrounded by food. This can be a great way not only to do activities that you have wanted to do (see that band, visit that museum, hike that trail), but also to bond in healthy ways. It’s even better if you could get someone on board with you!

Though this is just the first step to start your journey, it is an important one not to miss. The support of your friends and family is an invaluable tool to your success. So like I have made adjustments and provisions to reach my goal of becoming a Dietician (5 am: seriously!?) we all need to make changes in order to reach our goals. Getting healthy is no exception. So take sometime to start in this affirmative way and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you in no time!

The start of something new...

Welcome! So if you know me at all, you would know that I'm not particularly fond of writing. I was always the person that was good at math and science and neglected to develop my writing skills. So why do I want to start a blog you ask? Well, first let me say that I love challenges (and this WILL be a challenge - so bear with me as I get through this) and I'm a very opinionated and passionate person who wants to get what I have to say out into the world! My passion is nutrition. I've been on this journey officially for 4 years, but in all honesty, food has been a passion of mine as soon as I was able to taste. What I'm talking about is whole, nutritious food. The foods us humans ate before the advent of Doritos. So with this blog I not only hope to give you insight into my journey, but also to share with you new (and not so new) things that I learn about the food we eat. Feel free to ask questions and remain curious! That is what K is for Kale is all about!