What's on my plate and Spring 2017 Semester stuff

This year's journey towards becoming a Registered Dietitian starts with my bullet journal and goal writing and lots of visits to advising.

Due to being a non-traditional student, I am not taking a full load.  Three classes in the spring, two in the summer, two in the fall.  My courses are as follows:

Spring 2017:

English 1023 Composition II
Math 1013 Financial and Quantitative Literacy
History 1013  Years 1492 - 1865

 Summer 2017:

NFS 1301, 1302 Food Preparation Principles
History 1023 Years 1865 - Present

Fall 2017:

BIOL 1111, 1113 Principles of Biology 98% scared 2% excited
GOV 2013 US Government


I chose to only take two classes in the fall because I want to focus on keeping my GPA up.  I hear that Biology is really hard and to be honest, I'm worried about it.  But it's only February and I don't have the energy to deal with that just yet.

English is a lot of work.  This is more reading and writing than I've had to do so far.  Writing isn't my strongest skill and I'm concerned I will not make an A.  Oh well, it is only February.

I like History.  I remember some of this from back in the day.  It's a fun class.  History is my jam!

This is a lighter load without a Statistics class using all my brain power!  Although I think I should have taken MATH 1013 before Stats.  Last semester might have been easier.

I work on assignments daily to keep up with the pace of the semester and so far that's working well. And like all previous semesters, I watch too much television and eat too much popcorn.

Shows I'm caught up on and now watching the current season:

Blue Bloods
Blacklist
How To Get Away With Murder
Grey's Anatomy
Scandal
Suits

mini rant.... seriously, House of Cards has been pushed back to May! I used to come out on Valentine's day! That's how hubby and I spent 02/14.  So romantic.

New network shows I like:

Designated Survivor
Timeless

Shows in the Que:

Mad Men
Goliath
The Mindy Project
Man In The High Castle


I'm open to suggestions on binge-worthy shows.   I really miss The Good Wife and haven't found another show close to it.


Only this week's schedule and menu.  We start the week with shouting out PLOT TWIST!  I have been puny since I returned from Mississippi.   Headache. Pressure.  Earache. Sore throat. Chills. Fatigue. No fever, just puny and tired.   Sunday afternoon I had to lay down and rest if the neighbor kid hadn't rung the doorbell I would have slept beyond three hours.  A three-hour nap wasn't enough.  I woke up with the same headache I laid down with.  Meh.

Went to bed early.  Slept eight hours only to awaken to an intensified headache.  Coffee, Water, Meds. Homework.

So, here's how the week should look.

Sunday:

Rest day
No Homework
No Exercise

Dinner:

Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Asparagus
Peas

Monday:

6 AM run  chose sleep
Homework/Study
Chores and Laundry

Dinner:

Skillet Chicken
Nope, not gonna happen
I made bone broth to sip on during the day and will use the remainder for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup from Damn Delicious!

Tuesday:

Math on Campus
Study
Gym - Arm Day

Dinner:

Taco Salad

Wednesday:

6 AM Run
Meetings
Lunch with Bub
Homework/Study
Chores/Laundry
Gym - Leg Day

Dinner:

Stuffed Peppers - Stouffers
Hot Crash Potatoes - Pioneer Woman
California Blend Vegetables

Thursday:

Math on campus
Study
Gym - Back and Abs

Dinner:

Salmon Patties.  Pan "fried" cornmeal and panko bread crumbs.
Asian Salad - Taylor Farms

Friday:

Walk in the park
Study, Read, Write papers
Chores

Dinner:

Pizza Night - Make your own pizza.  Occasionally I make the dough, but most of the time I purchase it premade in the freezer section at Central Market.  Cento makes my favorite red sauce and our toppings vary from all cheese to veggie lovers.


This is what the week holds, as well as lots of bone broth breaks and naps.   Follow along on Instagram and Twitter "Salsa Is A Vegetable" Pix and Running Updates.

The One About Gluten And Salt and Sugar Oh My!

As it turns out the college has a library!!  When I pass by the library on the way to or from classes what I see is computer stations.  Rows and rows and rows of computers.  I've used study rooms in the library, still didn't see actual books.  

Last week I asked the attendant if they have books and if so where are they?  She directed me to a "back room" dimly lit.  Scary!! 

With a bit of trepidation I walked down the hall into the rows and rows of books.  Not seeing a card catalog or computer to look up a catalog, I roamed the aisles of books.  When it dawned on me, the card catalog is on my phone!!   

Without hesitation I look up "Nutrition" and nearly sprint to the row of books!! Ceiling to floor!! What?!?!  It must have looked like books were flying off the shelf!!!  Text books,  best sellers, books I've wanted to read, books with interesting titles.  I took a stack up to the desk and then asked how many I could check out and how long! 

Here are the titles: 

1. The Gluten Lie by Alan Levinovitz 

I read it in less than a week. Its a really good book about why we still cling to food myths and where they came from.  Very eye opening about science and how it has or hasn't shaped the Western Diet.  The Main Theme is to relax, stop letting headlines dictate your meals.  

A few quotes that stood out: 

For the true believer, the myth will always be more sacred than the evidence. 

Science Fiction is still Fiction.

Anxiety about what you eat can produce precisely the same symptoms linked to gluten sensitivity. 

People will worry that you have an eating disorder if you say 'I'm afraid I'm getting fat,' but they don't bat an eyelash if you say you're Paleo or gluten free. 

You can show the brain any reward - sugar, alcohol, sex, a movie - and it will light up.  That says noting about things being addictive. (regarding "sugar addiction"). 

'Every food is a potential demon...' Talking about food this way is harmful.  It creates neurotic eaters who see foods as pure or impure, natural or processed, good or evil.  

With every so-called superfood, it's always the same story; overhyped, under researched, superstitious nonsense, hidden under scientific rhetoric. 

2. Food Rules. An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

I didn't realize I picked this up, I actually intended to check out a different book.  This is a small book; less that 200 pages and is nicely illustrated.   I like this book.  It's simple and funny and talks about food in a sane way.   It's broken up into three sections.   What Should I Eat? (Eat Food)  What Kind Of Food Should I Eat? (Mostly Plants)  How Should I Eat?  (Not Too Much) 

A few quotes that I especially interest me as a dietetic student: 

People who get off the Western Diet see dramatic improvements in their health.  We have good research to suggest that the effects of the Western Diet can be rolled back and relatively quickly.  

Avoid food products that make health claims. 

Avoid foods pretending to be something they aren't.  I.E.  Margarine, non fat cream cheese, artificial sweeteners. 

Eat only foods that have been cooked by humans, rather than corporations. 

Drink Your Spinach Water. 

There is no such thing as a healthy soda. 

Don't eat cereals that change the color of the milk. 

Food is a costly antidepressant. 

 

I follow a few dietitian blogs: 

ImmaEatThat

Abby Langer

Both of these ladies philosophy is to enjoy food, eat well, and relax! Practice mindful eating.  Have a healthy relationship with food.  

3.  The Mindful Diet by Ruth Wolves, Ph.D., Beth Reardon, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. and Tania Hannan. 

Will be reading it this weekend!!  

4. The Industrial Diet.  The Degradation of Food and the Struggle for Healthy Easting.  By Anthony Winson 

5. Whole.  Rethinking the Science of Nutrition.  by T. Collin Campbell, PhD with Howard Jacobson, PhD 

I have two more weeks to read the books!  If I don't get through them, I can add 3 more weeks.  :)