Elf for Health: Week 5 Overview

Round 2 of Elf for Health was so fun!  I love connecting with other elves on Twitter, the Facebook group, and Instagram.  Seeing what everyone is posting with their challenges is motivating to be better and healthier for myself.  It is wonderful! Thank you Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean and Elle @ Nutrition Ella for creating this wonderful program!!

My elf for this round is absolutely wonderful!  Esther @ Pink and Purple Lemonade has been tweeting and posting about her challenges.  She has been so motivating and inspiring that it makes me want to do better with my own challenges.  I have been slacking on posting my challenges daily because I have been enjoying the holidays with my family.  Here are the challenges for this week:

• Monday: Call friends just to chat
• Tuesday: Go for a walk with a family member
• Wednesday: Find 3 things you love about yourself
• Thursday: Make a list of 20 things you're thankful for
• Friday: Make a healthy microwave mug cake
• Weekend: Take some time for yourself

Monday was extremely hectic with Christmas Eve festivities that I didn't get a chance to call anyone (but I did text people wishing them a Merry Christmas!!).  I enjoyed spending time and celebrating Christmas with my extended family.  We played bingo for gag gifts (a new tradition started by my Nana) and I won twice!

Charlie the doxie pup

On Tuesday, myself, mom, sister, and Charlie the doxie pup went on a walk in our neighborhood.  It was a beautiful day!  Even though we had spent all morning opening gifts and talking, the walk allowed us to calm down from all of the excitement and talk. 

Wednesday's Challenge: Find 3 things you love about yourself

• My eyes - I love the hazel blue color and the long lashes (thank you Mom!!)
• My long legs - even though I am only 5'4" tall, my legs make me feel taller than I actually am.  They also come in handy when I get the chance to exercise
• My hair - even though it doesn't hold ANY curl like I wish it would, it is soft, full and healthy

Thursday's Challenge: 20 things I am thankful for

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Roof over my head
4. Food in my refrigerator
5. Health - especially during my internship because if I get sick, I'll have to make up those hours.  Hard to do with a hectic schedule
6. Education - Marshall University Dietetic Internship and Master's program, graduating in July!
7. Reliable car that allows me to get to my dietetic rotations
8. Ability to cook
9. My comfortable bed
10. My professors - they are so supportive of myself and fellow students.  They are what make the dietetic program great!
11. Wine (especially red wine)
12. Dark chocolate
13. Soy milk - because I'm lactose intolerant
14. Access to healthy food - this includes our new local co-op market The Wild Ramp!
15. Travel experiences - allows me to see and experience more than what is in Huntington, WV (smallish community with little diversity)
16. My dog Charlie - even though I have only had him since Thanksgiving, he brings me joy and motivates me to go on walks
17. Audio books - with lots driving I get tired to just listening to music.
18. Kitchenaid Stand Mixer (LOVE IT!!)
19. Peanut Butter & Co's Chocolate Peanut Butter - tree nut allergy doesn't let me have chocolate hazelnut spread.  Found a delicious alternative!
20. My cookbook collection, that is still growing!!

I will probably do today's challenge of making a healthy microwave mug cake this weekend as a treat to myself. I've spent this week at my parents and am going back home this evening.  This weekend I am going to be cleaning and reorganizing the apartment, which I do consider "me time."  I have Christmas gifts to find homes for, including a new food processor/blender (YAY!).

Can't wait to start on week 6's challenges on Monday!

Dietetic Internship Community Rotations: 17 Weeks

This week I will be wrapping up my final week of my 17 week community rotations.  I have been rotating through weight management, bariatric surgery, WIC, long-term care, nutrition education, diabetes, and  research.  These past weeks have been a blur of information.  I have learned so much information during each rotation that by the end of the day I felt like my head was about to explode.  The exhaustion at the end of the day is worth it because I know that I am going into a field that I love.

So far, the rotations I enjoyed the most were weight management and bariatric surgery.  Everyone has a different story on how they got to where they are and why they want to lose their excess weight.   Because of their uniqueness, their weight loss journey is more individualized.  Each conversation with patients will have the same basic structure, but they will still be different because each person has different struggles and strengths.  Additionally, because this population tend to want to change, they are more apt to come to their appointments.

I have discovered several aspects I do not enjoy about outpatient care.  I don't like experiencing not knowing if a patient is going to show up for an appointment.  This happened a lot during my diabetes rotation.  Patients had to make an appointment to see a registered dietitian to learn how to manage their diabetes, but during the two weeks I was there, only 40% of the scheduled patients showed up for their appointments. 

Starting in the new year, I will be starting 7 weeks of foodservice rotations.  I'm not sure what to expect, but it is rumored that there will be days I to report by 5AM.  Those will be not fun mornings!

But it's all worth it... right?

Protein Packed Breakfast Burritos

There is a rumor floating around the dietetic interns that we have to report to our preceptor sites at 5AM.  If that is true, it is going to be a rough 7 weeks. But I don't care because the stress and early mornings are well worth it because in the end I'll be able to sit for my board exams and work in the field I love.

But if the 5AM rumor is true, I want to make my mornings go as smooth as possible.  Between taking Charlie the doxie pup out, making breakfast, and getting ready, I need to find some areas to cut out, so I looked at what I can do with breakfast.  I find that the most filling breakfasts take a little bit of time to make and eat, at least with my schedule.  I decided to find something that would be filling, healthy, and EASY!  But, I also wanted something that I could take with me.

Sorry for my iPhone quality photo!

That's where the breakfast burritos come to me.  I hate buying something that I could easily make.  Besides, processed meals are way too salty for me and I never stay full for long.  These burritos taste just like the store bought ones, but better.  Way better.  So much so that when I took a taster bite I knew I had to have an entire burrito right then.  Boy was I glad I did! Delicious!! And the best part was that I stayed full for a long time, which is exactly what I wanted.  So I'll make a batch of these pop them in the freezer and reheat for my early morning breakfast.

Here's the thing about this recipe, as delicious as these burritos are this recipe makes a ton! 14 burritos in fact.  I found that it's easier to make the entire recipe than to use half a can of black beans and half a package of sausage.  Plus, do the work once and be set for 2 weeks.  Enjoy!

Protein Packed Breakfast Burritos
Inspired by Amanda's Cookin'
Makes 14 burritos 

1 lb Turkey Breakfast Sausage, preferably reduced something if you can find it
1 large Onion, chopped
4 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 Anaheim or Poblano Pepper
1 can Low Sodium Black Beans, drained
1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese (or cheese of choice)
8 Eggs
1 tbsp Butter
Salt
Pepper
1 tbsp Cumin
14 Whole Wheat Tortillas Burrito Size

1. Turn broiler onto high.  Char peppers on all sides, about 10 minutes total.  Remove from broiler, wrap in foil to let it steam, and let sit for 5-10 minutes.  While the pepper is steaming, prepare sausage mixture.
2. In a pan over medium high heat, cook sausage until browned, about 5 minutes.  Drain excess fat if necessary.
3. Add onions and garlic.  Cook until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.
4. Remove the skin and seeds from the pepper and chop.
5. Add the chopped pepper and black beans to the pan.  Cook for 5 minutes, until beans are warmed through.
6. Remove sausage mixture from the pan and place in a bowl.  Add the cheese.  Stir to combine.
7. Wipe the pan with a paper towel.  Add the butter.
8. When melted, add the eggs, salt, pepper, and cumin.  Scramble the eggs and cook to 90% done.  Remove from heat.
9. Add the sausage mixture to the eggs.  Stir to combine.
10. Spoon 1/3 cup of the mixture onto the middle of the burrito.  Fold in the sides and roll up.  Wrap in wax paper and tape sealed.  Continue with the remaining burrito shells.  
11. Place the burritos into a labeled freezer bag.  Freeze when the burritos are completely cooled.
12. To thaw: remove from wax paper and microwave for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. 

Nutrition Content
Calories: 261 Total Fat: 11.3 g Sodium: 559 mg Total Carb: 25.1 g Fiber: 5.7 g Protein: 15.0 g Vitamin C: 15% DV Calcium: 20% DV Iron: 14% DV

Elf For Health - Round 2

After two weeks of debating, I have signed up for Elf for Health. I don't know what took me so long to decide, but all the Instagram posts The Lean Green Bean, The Lemon Bowl, and Nutrition Ella have been posting the past two weeks definitely encouraged me to take the plunge. Their pictures made me want to be an elf for someone by supporting them through their goals and challenges, and have my own elf for the same support. I'm pretty excited to take part in the daily challenges, which include supporting a local charity, cleaning out your fridge and pantry, and working out. 

So, what exactly is Elf for Health? Every two weeks, you are assigned a buddy, who is also your elf. You support your buddy through their health challenges and daily goals. You are required to email your buddy twice a week–Monday and another day in the week. You emails can be anything supportive! Tips and tricks, encouraging messages, funny cartoons to lift their spirits. ANYTHING! Every two weeks you sign up for a new buddy to support and a new round begins. Wanna participate? Head over to The Lean Green Bean's or Nutrition Ella's sites for more information about participating and to sign up!

Needless to say, I am quite excited to receive my buddy and participate in Round 2. Additionally, I have found I love virtually meeting new people and expanding my blogger network (which is currently quite small).