I want to introduce someone. This is Mimi (aka my mom). We got to talk via video chat over coffee this morning. There are few activities I love more than talking over coffee. She reported that her boyfriend wants to work less and party more. It was a good start to the day. The First… Read More Vegan Hoppin’ John and first YMCA workout
I’ve been counseling people on how to eat right on a budget for the better part of a decade, but life gets busy, yo. I don’t always follow my own advice. But now that Dr. P and I are on a mission to not buy anything, I’m eager to see how much we can additionally… Read More The great grocery store debacle, eating on a budget, and vegan fruit sandwiches
The last couple New Years I’ve picked something to focus on for a month. There was dry January (no booze), 100% strict vegan January (had been vegetarian for years already. Dr. P never ate meat again after this month!), and last year was just-deal-with-pregnancy-nausea January (that was enough!). This year, I’m doing at least a… Read More Buy Nothing New Month
First- Happy New Year to everyone! I hope we all had an amazing celebration over the holidays. We went to visit my family in Cincinnati for about a week. Then we came back for a Ravens’ game and live comedy show in Baltimore at the Hippodrome. The Ravens’s game was super fun! But they didn’t… Read More How we can be happier, why I love hugging, and a healthy vegan snack
As I’m 9 weeks post-partum this week, I’ve been thinking about when I should expect to be back to my normal level of fitness. I started running last week with a mom friend who had a baby 2 days before I did. We are both tempering our expectations about how quickly we’ll recover to normal… Read More The secret to success: Expectations
As a wedding present, Dr. P got me a nice camera. It’s my favorite possession- unless a dog counts as a belonging? Jury is out on that. Here are a few pics I took in Israel. I love noticing the patterns hidden in every day life. I’ve always been attracted to things that repeat. And… Read More The most important thing for weight loss
Do you leave social events feeling like you’ve been sprayed with mood-elevating fairy dust? Or are you more likely to feel worn out after, retreating to the corner of your couch to refill your social fuel tank? The difference might depend on the friends we choose to keep. In our society of more is more,… Read More Five signs of a great friend or partner
So this week has been a dichotomy of happy personal occasions (working on that post!) colored by precariousness in the peripheral world. At lunch over yellow lentil, onion and cilantro dosas, my girlfriend and I discussed our concerns as our babies rested unknowingly in their strollers. We had just seen “Wind River”, a solemn film. On… Read More An overnight confession and pear peanut butter protein smoothie
We’ve all dated someone, at some point, who for some reason had pretty gnarly gas. In the beginning of a courtship, they can hide it, hold it in during long movies and car rides. But eventually, they cave in. They get comfortable. And one evening, while you’re watching a Law & Order rerun, something changes.… Read More Why we are gassy: Dysbiosis, prebiotics, and the slow fade of romance
It’s fall! Even though D.C. feels like the end of July with degrees in the 90s, and my scarves remain sadly and securely tucked away, fall is officially here. I swear. Which means Rosh Hashanah- the Jewish new year- and Yom Kippur are as well, and two things come to mind- family time and pomegranate… Read More Pomegranate seed oatmeal and a sweet new year
I wasn’t sure how to start this post, so I’ll just come out with it- we had our baby bee! She is snuggly, smells delicious, and hearts milk. And it all seems like it happened so fast! It’s like Dr. P and I talked about getting pregnant, got pregnant, and then boom! Baby. Ok, not… Read More My birth story and finding calm as a new mom
At the risk of sounding like a 4th grader’s diary entry- soo much has happened since I last wrote! I’ve had a few months of brain-space-otherwise-occupied. Here are the highlights: We got pregnant. I got laid off. I started another full time dietitian job (first day was today!) I began a part-time private practice. I chopped my hair… Read More Healthy mac and cheese, a maqui powder mistake, and pregnancy cravings
Revision and update: Hey guys! Since this post was originally published, I came across another blogger’s tight, to-the-point list of tips that may help us decrease our unsightly bits. Fruits, vegetables, exercise (cardio and weights), hydration, adequate protein, and whole grains equal just plain, good livin’. Other advice, such as apple cider vinegar shots, may… Read More What to do about cellulite: The Health at Every Size mentality
Nutrition is not a vacuum. Just as we are more than a combination of hair and eyes and feelings and job titles, a nut is more than a fat source and some fiber. An apple has calories and anthocyanins, this is true, but it is also made up of a sort of magic that nutrition… Read More Food synergy: Why whole foods are better than processed
I voted today! This morning at 6:55 am to be precise. Dr. P announced last night that he would be slithering out of bed at 5:45 to make it to the polls when they opened. I am not an early riser, and I figured Lady and I would just stay in bed until 7:30, my… Read More Awesome and healthy, high protein pancakes
Looking for a terrific add-on to your typical lunch options? I’m obsessed with the one I scarfed down today. It had everything I look for in a quick lunch: Delicious Healthy Fast Did I say delicious? I was in between walking the dog, making patient calls, and mentally prepping for my friend’s birthday party tonight… Read More Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Sometimes it’s easy to have a solidly good workout, and other times? A bit more challenging. For example, there are days where I can’t wait, I’m dying to, I’m literally craving cardio and kettlebell swings (yes, I’m really serious!). And there are times I’d rather throw myself down the stairs than haul my tired booty out the door. It’s on these… Read More Common mistakes in the gym
Finding balance in our lives can be as difficult as finding a handsome, smart, successful, emotionally healthy guy on a Match.com first date. We think we have him, his messages were nice, he picked us up in a clean car, he chose a good restaurant, and then he says something like, “Just so you know, my wife… Read More Finding our balance
I just got back from a 10 day, blow-your-mind fantastic trip to Israel. First, go. Please, go. It was magical. Second, they had the most delicious looking/smelling/tasting breads. Among a gazillion other amazingly tasty food stuffs. But their carb game was on point. Are we hungry yet? Or are we avoiding carbs this week? Let’s talk… Read More Catastrophic Carb Confusion
What is the secret ingredient to a long + happy life? Good genes help. And good jeans help. But honestly? Quality friendships provide the biggest boost. According to the Mayo Clinic, having people we can count on can: Intensify belonging and purpose Promote happiness and decrease stress Improve self-confidence and self-efficacy Help us better deal with bad… Read More Quality relationships for a longer life