Did you know that tomorrow is Registered Dietitian Day? This day was created to recognize the commitment of dietitians to helping people live healthy lives and to increase awareness of registered dietitians as the providers of nutrition advice. Though I’m not an RD yet, if I ever finish my masters thesis and graduate and pass the RD exam and drink a million cups of coffee, I will be in June (fingers crossed).
Remember, just because you’ve lost fifty pounds, read a book on the Paleo diet, recovered from an eating disorder or owned a gym DOESN’T mean that you’re qualified to give personalized nutrition advice. It seems that everyone is a nutritionist these days, huh?
In honor of tomorrow, let’s talk about how I don’t love kale but do love fat and gluten. Cheers to that!
1. I don’t want to marry kale. I mean it’s all well and good, but I’m not obsessed. Like come on….is anyone REALLY obsessed with kale? I can handle maybe two leaves in my smoothie, and that’s pushing it. I really just eat it because it has a nutrient density of like a million. Will you tell on me if I use spinach instead? Will I go to jail if I don’t hail kale?
2. I eat gluten, and a lot of it. Even though demonizing gluten and grains is as trendy as ever, I’ll never be on board. I refuse to give up my Ezekiel toast and Finn crisps–you can’t make me!! Yes, I know some people are gluten intolerant or suffer from Celiac, but let’s be real– vilifying wheat is THE THING. I’m pretty sure Wheat Belly is the new bible. All the cool people are doing it.
3. Fat is my friend. Almond butter, peanut butter, walnuts, coconut, avocado, you name it. I freaking adore them all and you better believe that they make an appearance in all of my snacks of my meals. Not only do they help beautify your skin, hair and nails, but they’re also anti-inflammatory and critical for absorbing fat soluble vitamins. I don’t advocate low-fat cheese and skim milk. Not to knock anyone that does, but I believe that if you’re gonna make a grilled cheese, go all out and use the real deal. I’d rather use a little of the real thing then a lot of the lower fat version. Not only will it melt better, but the higher fat content helps with satiety. I’m not gonna lie, I love a splash of Snowville Creamery organic whole milk in my coffee. Sue me. I don’t think skim milk is the answer to childhood obesity. Give me a spoon, an avocado and a dash of salt and I’ll see ya next week.
4. I eat the yolks. Did you know egg yolks are one of the only naturally occurring sources of Vitamin D? That golden hue is from carotenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin, which keep our eyes healthy and prevent vision loss. Tossing out the yolk also tosses out the majority of the calcium, folate, iron, and essential fatty acids. The egg is a package, you see. When you eat a mostly plant-based diet, cholesterol isn’t the big bad wolf that you may think it is. The effect of dietary cholesterol on blood levels of cholesterol is also highly individualized. Eating an eggstra yolk won’t kill you, I promise.
5. I say “pass the bread” at restaurants. And the tortilla chips at Mexican places, too. Is there anything better than a slice of homemade, crusty bread hot from the oven dipped in olive oil? Refer to #2. Usually the bread is homemade, meaning it isn’t loaded with chemicals, preservatives and dough conditions. A little white flour never killed anyone. Refer to #2. Life’s too short to say no to the dough. Refer to #2.
Thanks so much for this refreshing post, Alexis! It’s super ironic you posted this today as my sis and I were just venting our frustrations with how much our circle of friends and acquaintances seem to be OBSESSED with food, food trends, and everything in between right now. It’s really helpful to have a balanced view point like yours in the mix. Thank you!
You are so very welcome, Brittany! Cray cray food trends and obsessions can get super annoying super fast. Sometimes we all just need a reality check and a cookie!
This is so great! I follow all of these truths too. I used to be terrified of fat. Now avocado and cashew butter are my best friends. We party together, a lot. 🙂
I, too, am BFFs with avocado and nut butter. Love love love!!
This is so great! I follow all of these truths too. I used to be terrified of fat. Now avocado and cashew butter are my best friends. We party together, a lot. 🙂
I, too, am BFFs with avocado and nut butter. Love love love!!
Hi, I love you. Thanks for being a real gal & human being & having a balanced, realistic, lovely outlook and approach to health. This is why I adore your blog. I’d make you my nutritionist in a heartbeat! I love how you respect that every BODY and every person’s needs are different. There’s nothing wrong with any particular type of food. And CHEERS to the yolks, real cheese, and going for the real deal. I will say, though, your kale salad makes kale totally bearable. It’s all covered in avocado & Annie’s goddess dressing, duh. But spinach in smoothies fo’sho. I think it’s important to enjoy what you are eating, and there are so many great options out there of fulfilling, healthy, real foods! You have helped me to enjoy this process of exploring, cooking, and looking forward to delicious meals and snacks that nourish my body and soul. I appreciate when you show us you are human, and that healthy eating does not mean deprivation or boring or anything of the sort. Sending you “eggstra” love today! You are going to be such an amazeballs RD. We can celebrate in Oct!
I second all of what April posted here. If I lived in your area, you’d be my number one nutritionist in a heartbeat.
That’s SO sweet, Brittany. Thank you 🙂
Hi, love you more. I really want to be your nutritionist. I kind of already am, right?! Cheers to egg yolks, bread and whole milk in my coffee. Should we add wine and dark chocolate to that list? I think we shall. Nothing makes happier than hearing that I’ve inspired you to begin to love cooking. Pulling on my heart strings here, girl! We should totes celebrate my RDness in October with lots and lots of fooooooooooood. And steel cut oats. And TJ’s dark chocolate almond bark. And hummus. Okay I’m done bye.
Hi, I love you. Thanks for being a real gal & human being & having a balanced, realistic, lovely outlook and approach to health. This is why I adore your blog. I’d make you my nutritionist in a heartbeat! I love how you respect that every BODY and every person’s needs are different. There’s nothing wrong with any particular type of food. And CHEERS to the yolks, real cheese, and going for the real deal. I will say, though, your kale salad makes kale totally bearable. It’s all covered in avocado & Annie’s goddess dressing, duh. But spinach in smoothies fo’sho. I think it’s important to enjoy what you are eating, and there are so many great options out there of fulfilling, healthy, real foods! You have helped me to enjoy this process of exploring, cooking, and looking forward to delicious meals and snacks that nourish my body and soul. I appreciate when you show us you are human, and that healthy eating does not mean deprivation or boring or anything of the sort. Sending you “eggstra” love today! You are going to be such an amazeballs RD. We can celebrate in Oct!
I second all of what April posted here. If I lived in your area, you’d be my number one nutritionist in a heartbeat.
That’s SO sweet, Brittany. Thank you 🙂
Hi, love you more. I really want to be your nutritionist. I kind of already am, right?! Cheers to egg yolks, bread and whole milk in my coffee. Should we add wine and dark chocolate to that list? I think we shall. Nothing makes happier than hearing that I’ve inspired you to begin to love cooking. Pulling on my heart strings here, girl! We should totes celebrate my RDness in October with lots and lots of fooooooooooood. And steel cut oats. And TJ’s dark chocolate almond bark. And hummus. Okay I’m done bye.
Haha, I love this!! And don’t worry…I refer to #2 A LOT! 😉
Girrrrrl I know you love some yummy bread!!!
Haha, I love this!! And don’t worry…I refer to #2 A LOT! 😉
Girrrrrl I know you love some yummy bread!!!
THANK YOU! This post has truly summed up all my frustrations & praises of modern nutrition. I’m a dietetic intern right now, hoping to pass the Exam this summer, too! However, when people hear what I’m studying, they seem to think that gives them a license to tell ME what “diet” they think works best, why gluten & grains are bad, & that I should try this amazing raw kale salad. Puh-lease. Happy RD day, go eat some PBJs!
Howdy to a fellow dietetic intern!! Fad diets are the PITS. #passthebread
THANK YOU! This post has truly summed up all my frustrations & praises of modern nutrition. I’m a dietetic intern right now, hoping to pass the Exam this summer, too! However, when people hear what I’m studying, they seem to think that gives them a license to tell ME what “diet” they think works best, why gluten & grains are bad, & that I should try this amazing raw kale salad. Puh-lease. Happy RD day, go eat some PBJs!
Howdy to a fellow dietetic intern!! Fad diets are the PITS. #passthebread
Ok – don’t throw any spinach at me, but I do LOVE kale! I would rather put kale in a smoothie than spinach – but my daughter is with you and since there’s only so much I can trick her to eat, she usually wins the kale vs spinach tug of war!
Love these points Alexis! Fingers crossed you are a RD come June!
I won’t throw spinach at you, Shashi! I love you WAY too much to throw such a yummy veggie at you. Can I throw it in my smoothie instead? Teach me to love kale!!
Ok – don’t throw any spinach at me, but I do LOVE kale! I would rather put kale in a smoothie than spinach – but my daughter is with you and since there’s only so much I can trick her to eat, she usually wins the kale vs spinach tug of war!
Love these points Alexis! Fingers crossed you are a RD come June!
I won’t throw spinach at you, Shashi! I love you WAY too much to throw such a yummy veggie at you. Can I throw it in my smoothie instead? Teach me to love kale!!
Okay so kale tastes really bad in smoothies. It’s never as smooth as spinach. If I put in enough other ingredients, maybe I wont taste it but… not my fave. I much prefer spinach. Also, I just bought Ezekiel bread for the first time because it was on sale at Kroger this week. Yay!
Right?! It’s like the earthiest thing EVER! Ezekiel is the bombbbbb 🙂 Enjoy!
Agreed… spinach in smoothies all the way.
Okay so kale tastes really bad in smoothies. It’s never as smooth as spinach. If I put in enough other ingredients, maybe I wont taste it but… not my fave. I much prefer spinach. Also, I just bought Ezekiel bread for the first time because it was on sale at Kroger this week. Yay!
Right?! It’s like the earthiest thing EVER! Ezekiel is the bombbbbb 🙂 Enjoy!
Agreed… spinach in smoothies all the way.
You will be an awesome RD!!! Its funny how you mentioned The Wheat Belly is the new bible….although I am on whole30 right now, I dont think this is the bangwagon i am going to be on forever or support the whole ‘no legume, grain deal’..and over the past years I have noted that quality is better than quantity when it comes to nutrition 🙂
Thanks, Dixya!! No legumes for life could be a very lonely life 😉
You will be an awesome RD!!! Its funny how you mentioned The Wheat Belly is the new bible….although I am on whole30 right now, I dont think this is the bangwagon i am going to be on forever or support the whole ‘no legume, grain deal’..and over the past years I have noted that quality is better than quantity when it comes to nutrition 🙂
Thanks, Dixya!! No legumes for life could be a very lonely life 😉