Grapes Hate Cancer

The connection between preventative nutrition and buying local is an interesting one when it comes to grapes! The skin of red grapes have a natural phenol called resveratrol. This molecule is currently being given a good deal of credit for an array of anti-aging affects and cancer preventative agents.

The realization came when the French were studied for their low rates of cardiovascular disease. How do they drink all that cream, but still keep their cardiovascular health in check? Many think that it might have something to do with their little wine habit:)

But, what does this have to do with buying local grapes? The phenol, resveratrol, develops in grapes when they are exposed to pathogens like fungi and bacteria. These usually develop under harsher, more humid conditions. If you have ever been in the Ohio River Valley during a summer, you know that there needs to be a new word for "humid" here. We take it to a whole new level! So, it could be that our grapes grown locally have a higher amount of resveratrol in their skin!! Go us!

You only have a couple months left to visit many of your local farmers' markets! Check out where and when you can visit one in your area!

Also, check out Grasshoppers Distribution, where you can get local farm fresh foods all year round! http://www.grasshopperdistribution.com/

But, my strongest suggestion is to check out some local wines at local wineries, like Huber Orchard and Winery!

Good Luck, Kristin!!

Good luck, Kristin, on your 1st Ironman!!

My sister, Kristin, will be racing in her 1st Ironman this Sunday in the

My nutritional advice: Do not do an Ironman. Drink beer and cheer the crazies on from the sideline!!! Check out this video. You will 1. see what Kristin has been going through this past year and 2. laugh your ass off at her for it. Kristin, we are sorry about your social life, but wish you all the luck in the world:) We love you!!!!

I'm Training for an Ironman

Happy Friday!

Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good?

Brown sugar can make any dish deliciously sweet, but where does it get it's brown color? Brown sugar is actually just sucrose sugar (table sugar) that has been mixed with molasses. The difference between light and dark brown sugar is it's molasses content, with dark having more (6.5%). However, there are more variations of brown sugar than just light and dark.

Natural brown sugar, or raw sugar is made from the 1st crystallization of sugar cane. There is a higher molasses content in these variations and they are sold under the names of turbinado, muscovado, or demerara sugar.

There are 2 reasons that (health wise) brown sugar trumps white sugar.
1. It has a richer flavor, so you'll likely end up using less overall
2. Due to the presence of water, brown sugar is slightly lower in calories

Use it in your oatmeal like me, or try a new recipe!

Sauteed brown sugar bananas
Ingredients
ripe bananas
butter
brown sugar

Directions
Melt a small amount of butter and brown sugar over medium heat (cover bottom of pan). Once melted, add bananas (ripe do better, so things don't get messy! You can put them in whole, sliced down the middle, or diced) Rotate until slightly browned. Sprinkle with brown sugar if desired. Tastes great with vanilla ice cream!

Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones

Trouble with flies? Use brown sugar to make a homemade fly trap. Spread some jelly on a piece of cardboard and then sprinkle with brown sugar. The flys will be attracted to the sugar and get stuck in the jelly. Hang from a string like real fly paper!!

Easy ways to lose it!

Weight that is:)

Oh, Matthew:)

1. Drink a glass of water a few minutes before eating. With the feeling of "fullness" the liquid will give you, you'll be less likely to overeat.

2. Meditate...or hit up a yoga class. Stress induced hormone imbalances and liver released glucose can mess with your waist line. Keep it calm to keep it thin.

3. Drink! Yay! Research studies show that casual drinkers (no more than 1 drink/day for women and 2 for men - no, you can't hoard for the weekend) were less likely to be overweight.

4. Brush your teeth. Once you are done eating, head to the bathroom sink to avoid continued snacking.

5. Where a reminder bracelet so when you go to reach for something to eat, you're reminded to think twice! Check out this one my friend Sasha has been wearing.

6. Chew gum. Do your nails. Reorganize your closet. Basically, distract yourself.

7. Go Blue! Ever wonder why fast food restaurants are red, orange, and yellow? Those colors are appetite stimulants. Try a blue or a green hue to help you slow down your eating! Check out the new paint job in our dining room!! Very calming:)

Can you think of any more?!!

What do I pack for lunch?

Yes, it kind of sucks to have to pack your lunch in the morning...I'm running around trying to get everything ready, making sure I look half way descent, eating breakfast, making coffee, brushing my teeth, packing my gym bag...the last thing I want to do is pack my lunch.

So, I had to make it as simple as possible. And besides making my pb&j, everything else I'm able to just throw in. Here's what I got today!

For lunch:
- pb&j on some bagel thin thing that was on sale
- apple
- string cheese

For snacks:
- Greek yogurt
- almonds

Couple this with a massive water bottle, and I'm good to go for the day! So, don't be lazy. Try and pack your lunch as often as possible - which should be every day unless you're shacking:) In that case, pull on your pants and yesterday's panties, brush your hair, and just try to get to the office on time!!!

Happy Monday!!!!

Only acceptable use of Kool-Aid

With a cup of sugar added to every 2 quart batch, Kool-Aid has about 60 calories and 0 nutrients in every 8oz cup. Now, what if you've upgraded to the Kool-Aid Jammer pouches? Then, for less than 8oz (6.8oz), you're taking in about 120 calories.

If someone was eating a 2,000 calorie diet, then their lunch, on average, should consist of about 400 calories. If you work a Kool-Aid Jammer in there, you've already consumed 30% of your allotted calories...and you haven't even eaten anything!!!

No, the only acceptable use of Kool-Aid is as hair dye. That's right, people dye their hair with Kool-Aid - the food coloring found in the powder (Yellow 5, Red 40, etc) can be used to dye the hair particle. Now, doesn't that sound appetizing? Here's how you do it!

Now, Tracy here has created a fine look with her Kool-Aid hair. She's even decided to video tape herself on her way to meet Peter at the park to show off her "More dramatic, less ghetto" look. She's also put on her exercise clothes and is planning on telling him she's been taking yoga or pilates...so she can sound more white. Please enjoy the show:)

"This is Tracy!! With my new Kool-Aid hair - that is cute!"

"I hope he likes my hair, because I have DYED it...with Kool-Aid."

"Got my breasteses all pushed up. Trying to DISRAACT him."

"It ain't gunna HOPPIN!"

"When you want to scratch it, you just got to pat it, because you don't want to mess your hair up."

I love a girl with a little drive:) Go get your Peter, Honey! We love you!!! Peace and blessings!!!

Confessions of a Dietitian II

Reminiscent of my first confession last year, I have fallen off the deep end again....this time, it was vacation, not a holiday, that through me off the ledge of health. I was doing well at first. Following my vacation directions, I went heavy on the workouts before hand, was uber hydrated, hit up Subway for my first meal, and still no soda. Then, the alcohol. Good god, the alcohol.

The 1st evening started out with a handful of buddy lights...no, I didn't skip the rolls at dinner, yes I dipped my steak in butter, and yes, I proceeded to take sugar infested shots well into the morning. Ugh. Day 1 ruined.

Thankfully my badass sister is training for the Ironman (August 28th, 2011), so I was forced to assist her in a few miles of her training run day 2. With my brain feeling like it was literally going to fall out onto the sidewalk and fry like an egg in the heat, this was my first and final workout of the week.

Avoid fried foods. It's that easy. Nope, it's not. The world is a dangerous place filled with potato chips and french fries waiting to be eaten by the weak and hungover. Night 2 didn't bring any less booze, although I did switch to vodka diets. I'm not telling you this because it's better, its just a fact of the story.

Starbucks was a must after 2 nights of partying and after I yelled at the coffee connoisseur behind the counter for not carrying sausage sandwiches, I opted for a bagel with cream cheese and an iced coffee. Then, there she was, Auntie Anne with her amazing pretzels! Damn it!

The next few days I can't differentiate between that hush puppy, those vodka lemonades, that bottle of wine, that half bag of Cheetos, or those fudge stripe cookies. It never ended - and do you think that I was stair climbing those calories off? Hell no. You know when you sit too long and your butt starts to itch? My butt itched for  4 days strait. "Hey, who's that girl wearing a t-shirt on the beach and scratching at her ass?" Oh, just me.

It wasn't until I committed the cardinal sin that I really started feeling bad about my choices. Please don't judge. Even though this is definitely not a judge free zone, I really need you here. Oh, god. I can't say it. Fine, here goes. I topped the weekend off with a mechanically altered, cheese product topped burger and fries with accompanying Oreo ice cream cup of shame and artificially sweetened carbonated beverage. That's right. I went to McDonalds. WTF?!!!!

Oh my god, it gets worse. I finished the week off with a nice home delivered pizza and bread sticks...all of which I dipped in garlic butter. I just threw up a little in my mouth on that one. Points: I did pick off the pepperonis for my dog to enjoy. Bannon missed me all week:) Picture time! (Like how I worked that in there?)

I've said this before...my only saving grace...confidence. Confidence that I will be able to pick myself back up by my love handles and get back on the righteous path. The path of oatmeal and morning walks, squats and vegetables. After all, I would like to keep my job:)!!!!

2 more days until the weekend!!!!