Foods and Gadgets to “Fuel” Your Active Lifestyle

If you like exercise like I do, then you might also like to know how to stay energized before, during, and after your workout. When it comes to eating, the key is quality foods, quality nutrients. I also think it’s important to “train smart,” meaning push yourself when you need to and cut yourself some slack when you need to. I support heart rate training as method for customizing your program to meet your goals and current fitness level.

I was on Let’s Talk Live DC this week sharing foods and gear that will help fuel an active lifestyle. Check out my tips on hydration, pre-exercise fuel, recovery nutrition and heart rate training tips.

You can watch the full video here, or check out highlights from my segment below:

Tip #1: Fuel Up Before You Exercise

You need to eat before you workout… the same way you put gas in your car before you drive. You want carbs, which provide “quick energy” to burn during exercise and quality protein for sustained and lasting energy.

I love KIND bars for “on the go” energy, because they have ingredients you can see and pronounce (like real fruit and delicious nuts)  that provide that balance of carbs and protein you are looking for. As pre-exercise fuel “on the go” you can pair a KIND Bar with a piece of fruit, or on their own they’re a great snack too.

KIND Healthy Grain “clusters” provide quality carbohydrates from five whole grains, including ancient grains like amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa. Plus, they’re a good source of fiber to keep you feeling fuller, longer. Perfect for topping yogurt or oatmeal, or even on it’s own with milk.

Another great pre-fuel idea for any time of day is pancakes. The only problem is they tend to be low in protein. I was thrilled to find all natural “Flap Jacked Protein Pancakes” that have the protein already in the packet — a whopping 15-17 grams protein per serving! You’ll get your dose of carbohydrate from the whole grains (like whole oats and quinoa), and the protein and fiber will keep you full for hours.

They’re convenient and easy-to-make (just add water!) Plus they’re non-GMO, have no additives and no preservatives. Not only are they full of good nutrition, but they come in 3 delicious flavors – banana hazelnut, cinnamon apple, and buttermilk. You can find them in 4 ounce and 28 ounce packages on their website at www.flapjacked.com.

Tip #2: Replenish Nutrients and Reduce Inflammation with Recovery Nutrition

Endurance exercise creates inflammation and depletes your body of carbohydrates. Recovery nutrition is important to replenish those lost nutrients and to help reduce inflammation. Tart cherry juice and dried tart cherries are packed antioxidants called anthocyanins that reduce pain and inflammation comparable to some pain medications.

I drank/ate them as part of the Red Recovery Routine when I ran NYC marathon and recovered within 2 days and was back in yoga. The juice is great on its own or in a smoothie, and I love the dried cherries in my oatmeal and in yogurt parfaits. You can get the recipe for their Red Recharger Smoothie and other tasty goodies at www.choosecherries.com.

Tip #3: Train Smart with Heart Rate Training

Whether you want to manage a healthy weight, run faster, or just be more active, using a heart rate monitor is the best, most reliable way to maximize results. Polar is the industry leader in fitness assessment technology and has a number of affordable and simple to use monitors to fit any fitness level. Whether you’re new to heart rate training and are, or are an endurance athlete with thousands of miles under your belt.

As a bonus, every monitor comes with access to their Smart Coaching Program that can help you with tailored training advice. Go online to see all their heart rate monitors, including the FT4 and RCX3 models. You can also join their online community, or visit PolarPersonalTrainer.com to set up your free training plan.

Tip #4: Stay Hydrated with the Right Fitness Beverage

We all need to stay hydrated all day long, but it’s especially important during physical activity. Vita Coco coconut water is a great alternative to many sports drinks, especially if you aren’t out there doing endurance training. You don’t need the calories or sugar from a fitness beverage, but you need to stay hydrated. Coconut water has electrolytes (like calcium, potassium and magnesium) and only 45-60 calories per serving.

A couple of recent studies showed that replacing sports drinks with coconut water helped to decrease sugar intake and increase nutrient intake. Check out the abstracts.

I also love that it is just the water from young coconuts — simple and delicious. It’s particularly delicious in “green smoothies” because it can actually help keep them from turning brown.

Here’s a refreshing “green smoothie” recipe you can try at home:

• 2 c. Vita Coco coconut water
• 1 sliced avocado
• 2 c. lightly packed spinach
• 1 sliced green apple, skin on
• 1 cup chopped pineapple
• 1/2 c. ice

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender and whip until smooth. Serve in a cold glass.

To find Vita Coco coconut water in a store near you, visit vitacoco.com.

Disclaimer: I was compensated for my time to do this segment by Kind Snacks, Flap Jacked, Cherry Marketing Institute, Polar and Vita Coco, but was not compensated to write this post.

Cold Smoothie Ideas Perfect for Warmer Weather

As a sports nutritionist, ultra marathoner, busy working mom, and health nut… I love smoothies, especially in warmer weather. They’re quick, easy, and cold! Making them yourself is usually the best way to go because you control the ingredients to keep them good-for-you.

Last week I was on WBAL in Baltimore sharing some of my favorite warm weather smoothie recipes. You can watch the whole video here, visit WBAL’s website for the full recipes, or check out some of the highlights below:

“Red Recharger” Recovery Smoothie

For all those athletes out there, whether you run, swim, bike (or do all three… I know, I’m a triathlete too!) You will love this smoothie. Any exercise you do over 60 minutes is considered “endurance” and needs proper recovery nutrition.

Why, you ask?! Endurance exercise creates inflammation and depletes your body of carbohydrates. You also create “damage” (tiny tears) to your muscle (it’s how you make them bigger and stronger!) Recovery nutrition is important in order to replace those lost carbs and fluids, along with protein for repairing muscle.

I recommend using tart cherry juice and dried tart cherries as part of the Red Recovery Routine. (side note: I did it for New York City marathon and recovered within 2 days!)

Research has shown that anthocyanins, the antioxidant compounds in cherries, reduce pain and inflammation comparable to some well-known pain medications.

This smoothie is made with tart cherry juice, frozen tart cherries (both found year round), strawberries, yogurt, a little nutmeg, OJ concentrate and honey for a little natural sweetness. To try the Red Recovery Routine or for more recipes you can check out www.choosecherries.com.

Soy Banana Nut Smoothie

This makes a great fast meal or pre-fuel for a workout. It’s made with Silk soymilk, banana, peanut butter and honey. I love Soymilk because it is a good source of wholesome, complete soy protein. Eating whole soy foods like soymilk and edamame are associated with lower risk of heart disease, breast and prostate cancer. Silk soymilk is especially great because it’s “GMO free” and has no cholesterol.

I love using peanuts and peanut butter in smoothies! I consider peanuts a “superfood”. They have 30 vitamins and minerals and 7 grams of protein per serving — more protein than any other nut, for “lasting energy”. They’re also affordable and convenient.

To finish up this smoothie, I use banana and honey for “quick energy” carbs, potassium, and some natural sweetness.

Here’s the recipe I created especially for the segment:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Silk soymilk
• 1 sliced banana, fresh or frozen overripe
• 3 Tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• ½ cup ice

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and whip until smooth. Serve in a cold glass.

You can get more recipes in addition to the smoothies at nationalpeanutboard.org and silk.com.

Mango Lassi

This is a great option for a quick snack on a warm afternoon or if you wanted, you could add some ‘spirits’ to this and make it a frozen cocktail.

I made it with Silk PureAlmond unsweetened almond milk which has only 30 calories per serving — less than half the calories of skim milk. I like using almond milk here because you get a good flavor too. For a snack or cocktail, lower calories makes sense to me because a snack is meant to bridge two meals…and most people who drink frozen cocktails are looking for ways to keep the calories lower.

This beverage is made complete with diced fresh mango, fresh lemon juice, honey, ice and beautiful mint garnish. Get the mango lassi recipe at http://silk.com/recipes/mango-lassi.

“Green” Fruit and Veggie Smoothie

It might sound weird, but you can use green vegetables like spinach, celery, and even kale and it can taste good! When you pair it with fruit like green apple or green grapes, it provide sweetness and I promise it does not taste like you are drinking veggies.

In this smoothie I used avocado (also a fruit – and green!) to add a creamy texture, and for the liquid I used coconut water. I like coconut water because its hydrating and it provide potassium, an important electrolyte for muscle contractions.

Get all these recipes on the WBAL website

To get the recipes for all these delicious smoothies in one place, just visit WBAL’s website.

Share your favorite smoothie recipes!

Leave a comment below telling me your favorite smoothie recipes and/or ingredients. I’m always looking for new flavor combos!

Disclaimer: I was compensated for my time to do this segment by Silk, National Peanut Board, and Cherry Marketing Institute, but was not compensated to write this post.

Reviving the Family Meal: It’s Good For Your Health

Time is a precious commodity nowadays. Our schedules aren’t getting any less crammed, anytime soon, and many times one of the things that gets bumped to the bottom of the priority list is the family meal.

In my recent US News “Eat + Run” blog I talked about the importance of family mealtime, and the many benefits that result from more meals eaten together. Benefits like improved grades in school, healthier eating patterns and greater emotional well-being have all been reported. Who wouldn’t want those things, right?

If you’re looking to make family meals a priority in your home, here are a few of my ideas to help make the “revival” a little easier:

1. Talk to your “significant other.” This means talking to whoever else shares in the decision-making and must agree that this is an important and necessary change. Decide together that you want to make family meals a priority.

2. Come up with a realistic plan. How often can you sit down together? And how can the family divide responsibility between planning, shopping, prep and clean up? This should not all fall on mom’s to-do list.

3. Make “the food” the easy part. There are plenty of ways to get quick, healthy meals on the table. Not everything has to be made from scratch, so don’t feel like you need to chain yourself to your stove all day if you simply don’t have that kind of time. Here a few fast meal tips and ideas that you can try:

• Keep your “tried and true” recipes on hand, along with the necessary ingredients. That way you’ve always got a reliable, easy recipe that you’re confident about at your fingertips.
• Boil some pasta and serve it with jarred marinara and a bagged salad. You can even add fresh or frozen veggies to your jarred sauce to jazz it up a little.
• Heat frozen, pre-seasoned fish or frozen pre-cooked shrimp and serve with steamed frozen veggies.
• Order your favorite take-out, but make it “half-plate healthy” by adding a bagged salad or veggies that are fresh, frozen or canned.

For more ideas, and to read the full article, click here.

What changes have you made to your family dynamic?

What other things have you done to try and improve the quality of your family togetherness time? Leave a comment below to share your stories and ideas.

Impress Your Guests and Enjoy the Party with Easy Entertaining Ideas

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to entertain. I want to put out a spread that’s memorable and delicious. For me, the food I serve is like a gift to my guests. I want to impress them, but I don’t want to work my butt off while everyone else is having fun at the party. Ya with me?

I was on Let’s Talk Live this week sharing some of my tips to help you look like you spent all day in the kitchen (without actually doing it!). Read on for some highlights from my segment or check out the full video below:

Idea #1: Easy, Creative Cheese Pairings to Make Your Gathering Fun

Instead of the typical “wine and cheese” pairings, why not try something a little unexpected – KIND and cheese pairing. KIND bars make a great flavor accompaniment to a variety of cheeses, and they’re made with wholesome ingredients you can see and pronounce like nuts, dried fruits, and spices. Plus they’re a great source of protein and fiber, and they taste delicious.

KIND and Cheese Flavor Pairing Fun

Experiment with flavor pairings like:

• KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan paired with fresh goat cheese
• Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew with  hard cheese like Parmesan
• Apple Cinnamon and Pecan with a nutty, sharp cheddar

Idea #2: Save Time With Make-Ahead Dishes You Can Re-purpose Different Ways

Instead of making a dozen different dips for your next party, just make one realllllly good one, and then offer up a bunch of different choices to scoop it up with.

This yummy mango salsa recipe is a great choice because it’s delicious and nutritious. You can make it 1-2 days ahead of the party and the last-minute serving prep takes no time at all!

One cup of mangoes has only 100 calories and gives you 100% of your vitamin C for the day, plus fiber and vitamin A!

I serve this salsa a million ways — here are just a few:

• with pita or tortilla chips for dipping
• topped on warm crostini with a bit of goat cheese (toast french bread slices in a 450 oven for 8 minutes)
• on top of red pepper “boats” (cut big chunks of the peppers and top with the salsa)

If there’s salsa leftover use it to top tacos or salads later in the week. For even more mango recipes AND to learn how to cut a mango properly, you can visit www.mango.org. Watch me show Melanie Hastings, Let’s Talk Live’s co-host how to to cut a mango.

Idea #3: Surprise Them With Something “Special”

Everyone expects beef and chicken at parties. Next time you’re entertaining, impress your guests with a surprising flavor that’s easy and delicious — like lamb! You can cook it just like beef and chicken. Sub lamb in your tried and true recipes. I’ve even made lamb pizza!

Lamb is versatile, lean, and nutrient-rich. On average, 3 oz. of lamb provides protein, B12, and other key vitamins and minerals — all for only 175 calories!

For your next gathering, try these easy-to-prepare, impressive lamb and vegetable kebabs or lamb satay. Serve either alongside a cucumber yogurt or peanut sauce and your guests will gobble them right up. For more recipe ideas and inspiration you can check out www.leanonlamb.com.

What Are Some of Your Favorite Tips and Tricks for Easy Entertaining?

Leave me a comment below and share your favorite tips and tricks for being the hostess/host with the most. I’m always looking for new ideas!

Disclaimer: I was compensated to do the tv segment, but was not compensated to write this blog.

Join #EggChat Tuesday, April 23rd 7pm ET – New Protein Research, Recipes, Prizes

tomato avocado egg salad

I couldn’t be more excited to be working with @IncredibleEggs  and the Egg Nutrition Center to host a Twitter chat next week sharing the latest egg protein research, recipes, and more! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 23^rd at 7pm ET, 4 Pacific Time and get in on the conversation by following #EggChat. Read on and see my video below for more details. I hope to see you there!

The “Who/What/Where”

Date: Tuesday, April 23rd

Time: 7-8 p.m. ET / 4-5 p.m. Pacific

Where: #EggChat and your favorite “chat” platform (e.g. TweetChat.com)

Prizes: We’re giving away prizes, including gift cards and a chance to win a grand prize gift card at the end of the chat.

RSVP: It’s not required, but we’d love if you share your twitter handle and/or blog below so we can get to know you and follow you before the chat.

Who to follow: @ScritchfieldRD (me) and @IncredibleEggs

Who should attend: Everyone is welcome! We hope to have a lot of health experts on the chat, including dietitians, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, trainers, and chiropractors. As the front line contact to our clients and patients, it’s essential that we are up-to-date on the latest research. We also hope to see parents, runners, athletes, and other health-conscious consumers on the chat.

Why eggs are one of my go-to healthy foods?

Not only do they taste amazing, but they’re nutritious too. One large egg has 6 grams of highly digestible high quality protein – and about 40% of it is found in the yolk, so don’t toss those yolks! They’re also packed with important nutrients like selenium, choline, vitamin D and phosphorus. Plus, if you’re active like me, eggs make a great workout recovery snack because they have 9 essential amino acids that our bodies need to get from food and help repair our muscles after a workout.

Get cookin’ in the meantime!

For loads of amazing egg recipes check out the Incredible Eggs website. They’ve got tons of ideas for everything from traditional breakfast dishes, to delicious appetizer and main dishes that are perfect any time of day.

Join the conversation on April 23rd!

I hope you’ll mark your calendar and join us on Tuesday, April 23^rd at 7pm ET (4pm Pacific). You won’t want to miss all the new research that will be shared, along with some egg-cellent prizes like Amazon Gift Cards. Live participants will get useful information about egg nutrition, recipes, and resources. Save the date now, and I hope to see you there!

Disclosure: I will be compensated for my time to host the #EggChat

Enter to Win Health Warrior Chia Bars

Chia seeds have become more and more popular in the last several years. They not only grow into adorable potted plants (remember those? Ch-ch-ch-chia!). Chia seeds are also nutritional powerhouses that are full of high quality protein, fiber and heart healthy fats. I love adding them to smoothies, salads, oatmeal, and yogurts.

I was thrilled (and surprised) to learn that there is a bar with chia seeds. It’s called Health Warrior Chia Bar:

Health Warrior is a progressive, young company founded by Dan Gluck and Nick Morris, former NCAA Division 1 athletes and everyday Health Warriors. They discovered Chia seeds after reading the popular 2009 book Born to Run, where the Tarahumara Indians are reported to run up to 100 miles without shoes, sustained by the mighty Chia seed. Gluck and Morris, intrigued by this epic story, embarked on further research and realized Chia is the greatest superfood unknown to mankind.

I love bars because they can be super convenient. As an ultra marathoner and busy mom, I’m all about convenient real food to fuel my workouts and healthy living. As a nutrition expert, I was excited that they have 1,000 mg of omega 3 fats, taste delicious, and you don’t need a PhD to understand the ingredients list. I’m a fan and I know you will be too.

Enter to Win Health Warrior Chia Bars - Just Leave a Comment Below!

A handful of lucky readers will have a chance to win their own stash of Health Warrior Chia Bars. To enter, just post a comment below or on my Facebook page, and tell me how you are like a “health warrior”, and how you will use the bars to fuel your lifestyle.

What Make Chia Bars Special?

Health Warrior Chia Bars pack a powerful punch. They contain 1000 mg of omega-3 fats which are essential fats that our bodies can’t make and we need to get them from foods. Chia seeds are a great way to get your omega-3s. They also contain fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based protein. Just pair with a piece of fruit and you’ve got a great pre-fuel workout snack.

Plus, they come in delicious flavors like coconut, acai berry and chocolate peanut butter and they’re 100% natural — what more can you ask for?

Save 15% When You Use my Special Promo Code

Want to try the bars now? Follow this link, and use the promo code Rebecca15 to save 15% on your order of Health Warrior Chia Bars. With that discount you can try all three flavors!

Several Winners Chosen – Enter Today

I’ll choose several winners, so don’t miss your chance to try these delicious and nutritious bars for free! Just leave a comment below (or on Facebook) telling me how you are like a “health warrior”, and how the bars will fuel your lifestyle and you’re entered — it’s that simple!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my time to review contest entries and notify winners, but I was not compensated to review the product.

Win a copy of “Clean Eating For Busy Families” by Michelle Dudash, RD

Revive Family Mealtime With Easy, Healthy Recipes

Between work, school, extracurriculars, and trying to fit in a workout, it’s no wonder we’re all crunched for time these days. If you’ve felt like family mealtime is getting put on the back burner lately, then now it the time to revive it and reconnect with your family! Michelle Dudash’s book, Clean Eating for Busy Families is a great tool to help you make the revival a little easier. A few lucky readers will be able to win a free copy.

Enter to Win a Free Copy of Michelle’s Book

Simply leave a comment below and tell me how cooking at home with more whole-food recipes will improve your life, and I’ll draw a few winners on May 1st.

I know you will love this book as much as I do. Michelle is a chef, food and nutrition expert, RD and mom! She knows her stuff and is sharing it all in this awesome book!

For more recipe ideas, motivation and other giveaways don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest, and ”Like” me on Facebook.

More Than Just Delicious Recipes

In addition to all the easy, family friendly recipes Michelle offers up suggested weekly, monthly and quarterly shopping lists and shares a list of cooking tools and tips to help you feel confident and prepared in the kitchen. (Who hoo!)

She even gives advice for dealing with picky eaters. Many of the recipes even include notes that provide suggestions for using up excess ingredients, and easy substitutions.

What Are People Saying About the Book?

This refreshing cookbook truly reflects our time by delivering what we all crave: decidedly delectable meals that boast fresh, natural ingredients, robust flavors, exciting textures, and vibrant colors.”

- Robin Miller, author of Robin Takes 5, nutritionist, TV personality

“Clean Eating for Busy Families is a valuable resource for busy parents who yearn to serve their families great tasting, nutritious meals in the time they have available.”

-Cheryl Forberg, R.D., James Beard award-winning chef and the original nutritionist for NBC’S The Biggest Loser

Enter Today, Limited Number of Copies Available!

To enter to win your own copy of Michelle’s book, Clean Eating for Busy Families, leave a comment below telling me how cooking at home and using more whole-food recipes will improve your life.

I’ll draw winners on May 1st! You will get an autographed copy of the book.

Don’t Wait… Order the Book Now!

This book would make an excellent gift for any family – or just for YOU! Find it online. Here is the Barnes & Noble link to buy the book .

For more book giveaways, recipes and wellness tips don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Pinterest, “Like” me on Facebook, and sign up for my monthly newsletter.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for writing this post or running the drawing. Michelle is a dynamo. I love her book and I asked her if I can do this for her.

Struggling With Balanced Eating Habits? Choose My Plate!

If you have ever played darts, or even if you just understand it, then you know how to use “Choose My Plate” to help you put together healthy plates at each meal. Choose my plate is the guide (and best I’ve seen) from the USDA to empower people to make healthy food choices.

Why darts?

I compare “Choose My Plate” to darts because of the “bullseye”. In darts, you strive to hit the bullseye. You aim to get as close as you can pretty much every throw, and sometimes (let’s face it) you’re happy to get on the board!

That is how I view the realities of healthy eating. There’s really nothing perfect at all about the factors that influence our decision of what goes on our plates and in our bodies. We have so much to do between work, taking care of the family, and exercise (remember that?)

I don’t know many people who get through their day effortlessly. We might forget to bring our lunch to work or race out of the house without breakfast. We need to have something very simple and memorable to help guide our food choices whether we’re at the grocery store, restaurant, or a gas station. (I have been hungry at a gas station and have had access to a banana and yogurt so it’s possible!)

Let the Plate Guide You

“My Plate” is just the kind of simple guide that can help you no matter where you’re at in healthy eating. Each meal is a chance to try to hit the bullseye. Even if you come close, and you replace some of the less healthy choices you’ve been making, you are making a difference. I bet you will feel better from an energy standpoint and feel better about eating well.

Looking at the plate, half fruits and veggies (not an or — I find many people think OR veggies — you can’t avoid ‘em, peeps) is a good visual. Some of my fave ways include:

• “Green smoothies”
• Eggs, spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and a side of berries
• fajita bowl with beans, brown rice, tri-color peppers, pineapple, and chicken

Be Comfortable Full

No matter what is on the plate, enjoying your food and being in touch with your fullness trump all else. You know that uncomfortable feeling – a sign you ate to much. Your body is telling you something. Oh well, you aren’t perfect, but perhaps its a learning experience.

What do YOU think of “MyPlate”?

Check ‘em out on Pinterest!

Cozy Up to this Healthy Vegetable Chili Recipe

I originally found this recipe in Food and Wine magazine. I tried it out with my friend and marathon running buddy Rolando. He’s the kind of guy who buys stuff from the store and “pretends” he made it. I really don’t care because he is an amazing host and friend — and he always provides enough wine!

I can also say as a new mom, dinner is harder than ever to get on the table (y’all with me). This is an easy recipe that lasts and freezes well. It’s also versatile. You can change the toppings, wrap it in a tortilla with some spinach, or even add a little to a couple eggs for a savory breakfast.

You will love this recipe. Make it now, before the warmer weather really sets in. You will not regret it. Just one note, don’t do what my other friend (and marathon buddy) Margaret did — use a WHOLE CAN of Chipotle pepper in adobo. You will set some mouths on fire!

Enjoy! (preferrably with a nice red)! Thanks to Food and Wine for an awesome recipe. My friends and clients love it.
This chili is perfect for the cooler months. You can cozy up to a warm fire with this vitamin packed stew. The spices, veggies and beans make this my favorite recipe. You can make swap out different veggies and types of beans depending on your preference. I recommend this recipe to my clients that are looking for a simple, warm, and nutritious meal during these cold winter months!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 medium garlic cloves, very finely chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 pound carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• Salt
• One 14-ounce can peeled Italian tomatoes
• 1 canned chipotle in adobo, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup canned hominy, drained
• 1 cup canned red kidney beans, drained
• Brown rice, chopped red onions, cilantro, sour cream and tortilla chips or bread toasts, for serving

In a medium, heavy enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over high heat, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the bell pepper, parsnips and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and cumin and season with salt. Cook for 1 minute.

In a blender, puree the tomatoes and their juices with the chipotle, adobo sauce and water until very smooth. Add the mixture to the casserole along with the hominy and beans and bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer the chili over moderate heat until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt. Serve with rice, red onions, cilantro, sour cream and chips.

This dish is a perfect make-ahead meal. The chili can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

“Accident”

I don’t do much with guest bloggers, but when people are willing to share their story, I want to give them a platform. Let’s all support Adele and thank her for her insight and courage.

Guest blog By: Adele Schroder

It’s funny how perspective is everything. Looking back now I see how completely ridiculous what I believed to be true then actually was, but at the time it made so much sense, I was doing what was right, what was healthy. There was nothing wrong with eating about 500 calories per day – so many diets out there suggest it – smart people, famous people, doctors even, all support the idea that the best way to lose weight was to reduce what you eat and some even go so far to suggest that those who are lower calorie diets live longer. Skinny at any cost is the healthy thing to do.

The truth at the time, I was over weight. I know I was, but I was healthy, I ate fairly balanced, exercised, my cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar I dowere all fine, but my doctor was still pushing me to lose weight. Truth is, she made me feel horrible about myself and at one point even said that if I couldn’t control what I was eating myself, then she would give me a prescription for appetite suppressants. It was that comment that began the slippery slope that would eventually become a case of accidental anorexia.

I started restricting what I ate – I went from eating balanced to eating one thing per meal – one yogurt, one piece of skinless chicken, one piece of cucumber. There was nothing balanced or healthy about it, but the weight started to come off and my doctor, family, friends, and anyone else who saw me started praising me for “looking so good”. I read about all the latest fad diets – it didn’t seem like anything I was doing was wrong – so many people ate like this, limiting there intake to a few select “safe” foods to make yourself healthy again. It was great – I was getting skinny and everyone was proud of how much “will-power” I had to stick with it.

A year, and almost 90lbs later, things started to change. I was always tired, my hair was falling out, I had passed out a couple times – but I was skinny, “beautiful” and “healthy”. Staying that way was all that I could think about – an Ana brain inside of me had taken over – nothing was more important than self-control and skinniness – skinniness at any cost. I was working at a place that insisted everyone eat lunch in the lunchroom. Didn’t take long before people started to talk and I remember that day that I got pulled into the meeting room. All of upper management was standing there and they simply said, “we want you to see a dietitian, you don’t look well”. I was royally pissed off – some of these people were the same people who just months before had been telling me how great I looked….they must be jealous, that was it, I was convinced! They were just jealous at the self control I had.

I sat in the waiting room of the dietitian’s office going over what I was going to say – figured it would be easy – just tell her what diet I was following, what my doctor had said when I was fat – how I was just being healthy…she would just sign that stupid thing for work and I could put this whole embarrassing “you need help” crap behind me. It’s not like I wasn’t doing something that so many other people weren’t doing – and I wasn’t one of those skinny-little-nut-jobs you see on those reality help shows – I was a well off business person who just took control of a problem (being over weight) and fixed it. Nothing was wrong with that.

Unfortunately my appointment didn’t go that way – instead I was bluntly told that how I was eating was dangerous, completely unacceptable, and that if I didn’t stop I would die. I told the dietitian she was crazy, rolled my eyes and must have told her I was fine at least 20 times. But the hardest part came at the end of the appointment – all she asked me to do was have an extra yogurt at lunch – one 80-calorie yogurt – and I lost it. There were tears, begging, saying I wouldn’t do it and that she wasn’t listening to me – I wasn’t doing anything wrong I was just doing what Dr X said to do and following Y diet – I didn’t have a problem, I was just trying to be healthy and why was she trying to make me fat again.

She stayed calm through all of it – repeated that what I was doing was not ok, not healthy and that I was going to die if I didn’t stop – then told me she would see me next week. I refused – she shrugged and said that it “wasn’t a suggestion” then walked with me to reception to make the next appointment.  I hated her – she didn’t know me – so how could she judge me. But I knew I at least had some saving grace – she was pregnant – so I figured that if I couldn’t fight her I would play her silly little game for 3 months and she would be gone. And being honest, I probably did at the time – but something else happened – I started to respect her, if for no other reason than she was consistent in what she said, “you can’t keep eating like this, it is not healthy, you will die”. Three very simple and blunt comments that stuck with me.

My eating did get a little better when she was away on maternity leave that year – not because I wanted to get healthy but because I was told that if I lost more weight then a hospital stay would no longer be up to me (I had mandatory monthly check ins with an ED psychologist that year, I played along with the stupid game) – I wasn’t better by any stretch of the imagination – I still thought that barely eating was the right thing to do – I just wasn’t willing to give up everything I had accomplished and end up in the hospital – so I ate the bare minimum I had to to avoid that consequence.

It was a year later that I ended up getting a new family doctor – and with that change came the routine “base-line” blood work workup. I got a call I never expected, “the doctor wants to see you back in her office today regarding your blood tests, how soon can you be here?”. I sat in her office looking at line after line of abnormalities – high cholesterol, high liver enzymes, poor kidney function, a large amount of ketones in my urine, and electrolytes that were all over the place. She was questioning me on how I felt, if I had been on any medications etc etc and I sat there thinking, “the dietitian was right, I’m hurting myself…” I felt so confused – why were there so many diets out there saying what I did was right? Why did my old doctor praise me? Why was my blood work normal when I was fat but so abnormal now that I was skinny…why wasn’t skinny healthy? I wasn’t “dangerously thin” – my BMI was fine – so why wasn’t I healthier than when I was over weight? Isn’t that what we are taught? Skinny is healthy…my whole world came crashing down that day. Everything that I had believed regarding what it was to be healthy – everything that I had read and seen in the media was wrong – and because I believed it, I was now sick.

The next day I swallowed my pride and sent a “you were right” email and asked for help. This time was different – I tried not to fight as much (hard to give up the fight completely) and I worked towards a goal – I wanted to be healthy – I wanted normal blood work. I wanted to learn to eat well and enjoy food again. I learned that I had to start putting my health first, my body first – it was all in my control to be healthy.

Today I can say that I am healthy – I eat well – and I eat anything and everything without worrying so much about if the food is “good” or “bad”. But there is one thing that still bothers me: how is it that even though I am well educated and a professional person I was able to believe that what I was doing was right? I accidently became anorexic, not because I was trying to gain control over my life or any of the other things that you hear about when you think of eating disorders – I became anorexic because I honestly did not know that what I was doing was harmful or wrong. And what was the worst part of this whole thing? Even if being anorexic was not your intent, once Ana brain sets in, there’s no escaping it, no controlling it, no seeing any other opinion. It is far easier to believe what you see every day than believing the truth: skinny does not always equal healthy.

Perspective is everything – and mine has now changed. I put me and my health first and realize that the number on the scale doesn’t always have anything to do with health.

*****

Thanks, Adele!

If you are intrigued by what you read here, you may want to check out the “Health at Every Size” principles and community.