The Junk Food Nutritionist

As we approach the New Year, we are looking at possible New Year's Resolutions or ways we can better ourselves.  I don't want you to look at New Year's Resolutions in a negative light. Some people make New Year's Resolutions that they know they aren't going to keep because they're making sacrifices. They might even view it as a punishment. For example, many people think they overindulged during the winter holidays and have to start at New Year's diet to make up for it.  But you shouldn't look at resolutions as punishments or sacrifices. Instead, make a New Year's Resolution because you love yourself and care about improving yourself.  See how that's a gentler approach? When you're phrase it this way, you're building yourself up rather than tearing yourself down.

I’m always trying to better myself. The first time I remember trying to make healthier habits was when I was in seventh grade. I decided that my breakfast of toaster pastries wasn’t a smart choice. I haven’t eaten them since. That was also when I realized I was living a fairly a sedentary lifestyle and started exercising outside of gym class. No wonder I became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, then, right? In the years since, my diet has changed and my exercise has changed, but so have other aspects of my health. At the time, I didn’t think about social health, spiritual health, or mental-emotional health. But, now, I know that these are equally as important. In 2015, I decided to work on my mental-emotional health. I started seeing a free counselor and set keeping a gratitude journal as my 2016 New Year’s Resolution. I successfully wrote in it daily, always listing at least 5 things I was grateful for that day, sometimes listing several dozen. My 20...

I already knew I wanted to make some sort of strawberry-swirled brownie. I chose hers for a base because I liked the portion sizes. She makes desserts for two! As in, I wouldn’t have a bunch of extra dessert sitting around for days on end and possibly getting moldy (which has, unfortunately, happened). Strawberry Swirl Brownies Adapted from https://www.dessertfortwo.com/strawberry-swirl-brownies/ I already knew I wanted to make some sort of strawberry-swirled brownie. I chose to use Christina's brownies for a base because I liked the portion sizes. She makes desserts for two! That means, I wouldn’t have a bunch of extra dessert sitting around for days on end and possibly getting moldy (which has, unfortunately, happened). That said, I had to vegan-ize it. 6 strawberries, fresh or frozen, pureed 1 Tbsp. chia seeds 4 Tbsp. margarine 1/3 c. cocoa powder 1/4 c. stevia-sugar blend 3 Tbsp. aquafaba (chickpea brine), or another vegan egg-replac...

If you missed last week's post, I reviewed Sam Turnball's new cookbook, Fuss-Free Vegan: 101 Everyday Comfort Food Favorites, Veganized. Sam and her publisher gave me permission to share one recipe from the book with you and I chose her Fudgy Double Chocolate Brownies. If you know me, you know I love dessert...

I was excited when I got my hands on Sam Turnbull’s new cookbook, Fuss-Free Vegan: 101 Everyday Comfort Food Favorites, Veganized . Sam is the blogger behind It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken .                  Introduction Sam starts with an introduction, as any good cookbook author should. What makes her introduction unique is how personable she is in it.  I just pulled another vegetarian cookbook off my shelf for comparison. It dives right into the fact that studies show diets containing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are nutritious. Boring. There is no mention of who the author is. Sam, on the other hand, is completely honest about who she is. She’s not a dietitian and doesn’t have a bachelor’s in culinary arts. But her introduction still makes me relate to her and trust her. Like many vegans, Sam used to eat animal products and thought it might be hard to go vegan. Sam says, “I...