1. I just found out yesterday that I got a grant through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics called the Frederick Green Memorial Internship in Nutrition Communications. !!!!!!! Words cannot even begin to express my excitement and gratitude. I want to run to the roof and scream about it. This opportunity will allow me to work full time with Sarah-Jane Bedwell for a chunk of the summer, helping out with lots of exciting things from her Today Show appearances and the SELF nutrition blog to being a contributor for her 2014 book, Schedule Me Skinny! My passion is coming to life in ways I never could have imagined. I am SO very thankful and have never looked so forward to an opportunity in my entire life.
2. Organic baby spinach is only $1.99 at Trader Joe’s right now. OMG.
3. I’ve been juicing. My fabulous friends got me a Jack LaLanne juicer for by birthday a few years ago. I know–best present EVER. I’ve been using it more lately than ever and I’m really enjoying it. It’s definitely a pain and a half to clean up, but I recently discovered the trick of putting a big plastic bag in the pulp collector! Now clean up is soooo much easier. My favorite combo lately is apple, carrot, cucumber, kale, lemon and ginger. I have some pears ripening as well as a bag of “just the leaves” romaine lettuce from TJ’s that I’m planning on juicing tomorrow morning.
Juicing vegetables makes it super easy for your bod to absorb all the wonderful nutrients without having to take time digesting all fiber. Plus, I could never eat three large carrots, an apple, two large leaves of kale, half a large cucumber, half a lemon and a knob of ginger on my own. Juicing makes it easy to get all the vitamins and minerals of all that produce quickly without having to actually eat all of it.
I still love making smoothies and I love my fiber, but there’s times when I would rather gulp down a green juice than a big smoothie. That said, I must mention my smoothie this morning because it was dreamily creamy. I put a fourth of an avocado in the blender along with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk, frozen banana, spinach, cocoa powder and a bit of agave. It was basically a super creamy, decadent tasting chocolate milkshake….that’s actually a healthy green smoothie. Love love love.
4. I love whole-grain wasa crackers. The crunch, the flavor, the ingredients, the price….everything. Whole grain rye flour, water, yeast and salt. That’s it. I’m sure most of the world thinks they taste like cardboard, and I totally get that, but I freaking love them. It’s like my obsession with Grape Nuts. What can I say? I like cardboard. Or whole-wheat. Sorry. Dipped in Trader Joe’s hummus….I can’t even.
5. These muffins are serious. Did you know May is celiac awareness month? Perfect timing for these flourless gems. They taste like apple cinnamon clouds. They’re definitely one of the lightest, airiest muffins I’ve ever laid mouth on. I ended up making them because I had a ton of applesauce in the refrigerator that I needed to use up, and this recipe calls for a cup. The ingredient list is super simple–almond meal, eggs applesauce, agave, cinnamon, baking soda and powder, vanilla and cinnamon. I loved that they had no added oil and are loaded with healthy fats from the almond meal, too. I actually only used two tablespoons of agave plus a few drops of liquid stevia instead of the 1/4 cup the recipe called for. They’re the perfect guilt-free snack!
6. I’m in LOVE with these Tasty Bite meals. The wonderful veggie folks over there sent me a box to try and I’ve died over every one I tried. Today I worked at R.A.W. from 11am-3pm, went to pick up the girls, and then babysit from 3-7:30. Then I came home and ran, saw a disgusting centipede in the shower and had a heart attack, and before I knew it, it was 10pm and I hadn’t had dinner yet. The horror. Tasty Bite to the rescue! Tonight I had the spinach chana with some green beanies on the side and it was absolutely delicious. I’ve also enjoyed the madras lentils, bombay potatoes, jaipur lentils, channa masala, and punjab eggplant.
So far, my favorite is the madras lentils. I love Indian food, and this brand really represents convenience food at it’s best. The ingredient list is near flawless - less than ten, all whole foods, all pronounceable. No weird preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors. You just pop that bad boy in the microwave for 90 seconds and voila -delicious, home-made tasting Indian food loaded with fiber and protein at your fingertips. If you need some curry in a hurry (and let’s face it, who doesn’t) I highly recommend Tasty Bite! You can find them in the ethnic food section of your grocery store.
7. I die for a slice of Ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast smeared with Trader Joe’s raw creamy almond butter + a smear of apple butter. I love it for breakfast with a smoothie or as a mid-day snack. Plus, I can get my bread at Target now in the frozen section. I told you all my dreams are coming true!! And how unreal does this recipe look?? Breakfast tomorrow 100%.
8. Have you entered my R.A.W. giveaway yet?! Of course you have. I spent four hours today making tomato basil and red pepper crackers for you people.
9. I love you guys. Like, a whole lot. Thanks for reading. Your comments make my day.

























