Health Archives - Page 2 of 12 -

New! Nutrition and Wellness Services!

Post author:Melanie
Post published:November 17, 2018
Post category:Health / Wellness and Nutrition
Post comments:2 Comments

Beautifully Nutty is open for business!

There’s been a lot going on over here within the last week. I was hired by a local spa as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist! I am an independent contractor so I have my own business, but I am working in the spa and we are all a team.

Ecstatic, nervous, grateful, giddy….these are just a few of the emotions that I have been experiencing throughout this week.

So what does this mean exactly? This means I will be meeting with individuals and groups (either in person, or via “telehealth” calls) to help them meet their health and nutrition goals. I will also be holding cooking classes, wellness workshops, going to events and so much more!

This.is.a.dream.

I still can’t believe this is all transpiring.

Here’s the thing, I want to work with YOU. Whether it is to help you reach your health goals, to be your accountability coach, to listen to your health or nutrition concerns, to ignite a passion for cooking, to help you to feel better, let me be your person! Everyone has their own personal health goals, and I would love to be the person to help pave the way for you to reach those goals.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Email me at: beautifullynutty@gmail.com

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support!

xoxo

Melanie

Clean Eating: Back At It

Post author:Melanie
Post published:January 12, 2015
Post category:Gluten-Free / Health / Recipes
Post comments:4 Comments

Helllllooo! How are you all?!

I finally found my way back into the kitchen and I am stoked about it. After 11 weeks of eating whatever the heck I wanted, including loads of chocolate, ice cream, and Christmas goodies, my body was less than thrilled. I was starting to just feel pretty blah. I decided it was time to get back on the clean-eating train.

I’m doing a bit of a “cleanse” where I am removing caffeine, alcohol, dairy, soy, peanuts, processed sugars and gluten for a little while. I plan on sticking to this for at least a few days to give my body a jumpstart, and then I will continue with a much cleaner eating plan versus what I had been eating! I will definitely add soy back in eventually and a little bit of dairy, but I do know that I am somewhat intolerant to cow’s milk so I will continue to moderate my dairy intake.

Here is what I have been eating these last few days!

Egg salad: This time I left out the capers though because I forgot.

Raw “brownies”–I can’t keep my hands off of these.

A lentil salad from the book, “Clean” by Alejandro Jungers. I wrote a bit about the Clean diet back when. It’s full of lentils, veggies, and pineapple. It’s definitely different; not my favorite but not terrible.

Homemade gummy snacks with grape juice, gelatin, and a drop of lemon essential oil. A nice little treat!

Katie’s buffalo chicken quinoa which I made for dinner last night! This was so delicious and so easy to make! I used red quinoa which is why it look different from Katie’s.

I stocked up on veggies and made sure they were cut up and ready to go:

bell peppers
carrots
celery
broccoli
asparagus
spinach
romaine lettuce

Mini mini burgers with grass-fed beef from the local co-op.

Cashews to snack on as well as brown rice cakes. I also made sure to buy a bunch of brown rice tortillas.

Almond butter and sunflower seed butter. Not as good as peanut butter but just wanted to give my body a bit of a break from it.

Frozen fruit, frozen spinach and almond milk for smoothies.

We have LOTS of good food around here!

Needless to say our grocery bill was a little high this week but it is SO worth it. I need to get my body back into a clean state. I’m already feeling better after just a short time of eating better. The saying is true, “you are what you eat.”

What are your favorite healthy whole food snacks?

36 Weeks Pregnant!

Post author:Melanie
Post published:October 10, 2014
Post category:Health / Pregnancy / Sweet Treats
Post comments:12 Comments

It’s that time again. Time for a lil’ bump update!

I am now 36 weeks pregnant. Next week, at 37 weeks, baby is no longer considered pre-term. It’s amazing to think that he could present himself to the world at any moment. He could on the other hand, choose to wait another 4 weeks. We will see won’t we?!

At 36 weeks, baby’s average weight is about 6 lbs and length is 20 inches long. Most of his systems are fully developed, and he is continuing to plump up and build up his baby fat. Bring on the baby rolls. There’s nothing better!

Watching how the body changes and grows during pregnancy is one of the weirdest, most miraculous things. To actually think that there is a little human growing inside of me right now is beyond me. I am supporting a life. With every bit of food that goes into my mouth I think of the baby. It’s been strange seeing the changes happening: seeing my bump grow, my legs get thicker, and seeing my weight go up. It’s strange, but it’s lovely. Do I miss my non-maternity clothes? Of course I do, I’m only human, but I know that some day I will be wearing them again. For now, I am trying to embrace the bump.

So how am I feeling, you might be wondering?

Mentally…

It’s hard to focus on anything but the baby at this point. Mentally I feel my brain is a bit scrambled. I am still able to work just fine but notice myself making lots of little mistakes that I’m not used to making. This could be due to some serious lack of sleep also.

Mentally I feel I have prepared myself for birth as much as possible. I am fully aware that labor and delivery in regards to your own “birth preferences” can alter in an instant and that has to absolutely be okay. What is important is that baby and mom are both healthy in the end. I have heard horror stories, I have heard incredible stories also, and I choose to remember the good stories and focus on those rather than letting fear get the best of me.

Physically…

You know what? I really can’t complain a whole lot. I feel very lucky to have felt this good throughout pregnancy. I’m slowing down a little bit but still going pretty strong. I walk nearly every day and continue to do my yoga stretches daily. I am getting stronger Braxton Hicks contractions that feel like menstrual cramps and that sometimes radiate to my back. This is perfectly normal and it’s my body practicing for the real deal. At night I am waking 6-8 times either to go to the bathroom or just to switch sides due to discomfort. So yes, lots of broken-up sleep. Again, my body is preparing me for what’s to come.

Other pregnancy symptoms I’ve noticed: clumsiness, forgetfulness, increased hunger (and yet some days I feel my appetite is completely normal), some mild swelling, dramatic mood swings, hot flashes, super hot hands, and nesting.

Eats

What’s been tickling my fancy these days?

I am still drinking my chocolate peanut butter smoothie EVERYDAY. I still can’t believe it.
I’m still really into burgers but am also branching out a lot!
I have been wanting more fresh veggies and salads lately, so that’s good!

My sweet tooth is pretty much insane. Chocolate and ice cream are dear friends of mine right now and I am okay with that.

I’m eating three meals a day (usually smaller meals) and 2-3 snacks. My favorite bedtime snack is still Greek yogurt with honey.

Let’s see, what else?

We have our last shower on Saturday! After that we will do some shopping and get anything else we feel we will need. Overall though we are feeling very ready.

I’ve left my wedding rings off because they were getting too snug for comfort and I know too many people who have had to have their bands cut off. Yikes.

How about I stop there? I could go on all day about all of the excitement I’m feeling. There is just so much anticipation!

Check in with you all later gators!

Pregnancy Week 30

Post author:Melanie
Post published:September 1, 2014
Post category:Health / Pregnancy
Post comments:6 Comments

I can’t believe I am actually saying this…I am now 30 weeks! I thought you all might enjoy a little pregnancy update since it’s been a while.

A comparison back at 20 weeks…

And I thought I was big at 20 weeks. Ha!

At 30 weeks, baby is about 3 lbs and 16-17 inches long! He’s getting closer and closer to his birth length and then he will continue to plump up day by day! I am definitely noticing more bumpage these days. I can tell this little guy is growing like crazy.

Symptoms

Braxton Hicks contractions especially when I’ve been on my feet too long or haven’t had enough water. These are never really painful, just uncomfortable. It feels like your abdomen is tightening and it feels very hard, and sometimes accompanied by mild cramps.
Mild back pain (lower and middle): again, if I stand too long or sit too long but it’s the worst at night. I toss and turn about every hour or two at night.
Increased bathroom trips, including 3-4 at night
Increased exhaustion. They weren’t kidding when they say fatigue usually hits in the first and third trimesters. I am needing to slow down and rest more often now.
Restless leg syndrome at night
Sore hips at night

Appetite

GREAT! This is nothing new. I eat three small meals a day plus three (or more) snacks. I focus on getting protein 3x a day as well as at least 5 fruits and veggies. Besides that I make sure I eat a fair amount of whole grains, dairy/calcium usually in the form of almond milk, cheese, and Greek yogurt, and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, nuts, etc. And it’s time to be real, the sweet tooth has gone crazy.

Which leads me to my next topic: cravings.

I honestly didn’t think I had cravings but when I was at Target I really wanted Oreos. I’m talking double-stuffed Oreos. They are one thing that I pass by in the grocery store every week and think “man, I really want those,” but then I never buy. Well I finally gave in last week and bought them.

You know what, they taste delicious. I’m trying to moderate how many I eat daily. I bought them last Monday and I still have some left so this is a good thing, right? Ice cream has consumed on a weekly basis (once a week that is), and I won’t pass up a piece of chocolate if it is offered at work. I’m REALLY trying not to go crazy with the sugar but goodness it is tough right now.

Not cravings necessarily, but foods I’m loving…

Chocolate peanut butter smoothies
Greek yogurt with honey
Muenster cheese
Hard-boiled eggs
Burgers
Cucumber sandwiches with laughing cow cheese spread
Sugar snap peas
Ice cream
Fruit

What I’m loving about pregnancy right now…

Feeling baby move, kick and hiccup! He hiccups every day and it is the sweetest thing.

Other updates

I passed the glucose tolerance test which means I do not have gestational diabetes and my iron level was excellent!

The nursery is coming along! I haven’t decided if I’m going to share it or keep it a private thing. I will tell you that the walls are gray, the furniture is dark espresso brown, the glider is gray, and the decorations are nautical and chevron! The look and feel of the room is very relaxing which is exactly what I was going for. We are still in the process of searching for an area rug, but besides that it is pretty much done besides filling it up with baby stuff from my upcoming showers!

We start our first birthing classes next month. I have been reading books like it’s my job and am feeling very prepared for birth. It will be good to go to the classes too!

We haven’t 100% settled on a name but we are pretty sure we know. It will be a secret from you all until he arrives.

That is it for now! I will give ya’ll another pregnancy update in a month or so!!

What are some of your favorite foods right now?

My Pregnancy Must-Have Foods

Post author:Melanie
Post published:June 25, 2014
Post category:Health / Pregnancy
Post comments:9 Comments

Throughout pregnancy, my appetite has gone in waves of normal to crazy hungry, but most of the time I am pretty darn hungry.

My diet isn’t nearly as perfect as I’d like it to be…my latest craze is Mentos candies. I have a whole stash of them in my car. I’d like to eat more salmon and more salads. I’d like to say I’m not eating any processed sugar or any processed foods in general. I can’t say that though.

BUT, I am doing my best given the circumstances (food aversions, cravings, etc.) to nourish my body and baby with healthy foods, and that is still pretty good if you ask me.

Here are some of my must-have pregnancy foods I have been noshing on for the majority of the pregnancy.

Open face egg sandwich on gluten-free waffles. I learnt to make this dish at my Online Prenatal and Childbirth Classes where I also learn a lot more about childbirth and pregnancy. For this dish, I fry an egg (making sure the yolk is cooked through), and place it on a gluten-free waffle with pepper jack cheese and mustard. So, so good.

Greek yogurt sweetened with honey or maple syrup.

Baked potatoes.

Cereal.

Burgers, steak….okay, beef.

Pickles: as cliché as it is.

Raw cocoa bars or Larabars.

Peanut butter on anything: toast, apples, celery, dates, spoon.

My favorite chocolate peanut butter ugly smoothie that I have evvverrrryyy morning. It’s so good I’m still not sick of it! Plus it’s a great way for me to get 2-3 servings of fruits and veggies into my day.

Beans.

String cheese.

Berries. Cherries.

Panera Bread…specifically their broccoli and cheese soup or chicken wild rice with whole grain baguette. OMG.

Quinoa.

Although I’m not SUPER into vegetables, I am still getting at least two servings a day, usually three.

Not too shabby, right?

Pregnant or not, what are your food must-haves?

Pregnancy Update: 20 weeks!

Post author:Melanie
Post published:June 20, 2014
Post category:Health / Pregnancy
Post comments:15 Comments

Wait, what?!

20 weeks! I’m halfway there!

I thought you all might be interested in a bit of an update from pregnant lil’ me.

First up: 20 week bump pic

Compared to 16 weeks…

Baby is now measuring about 10 ounces and 6.5 inches long about the length of a banana!

How am I feeling?

Very normal for the most part and really enjoying being pregnant!
I have days where I am insanely hungry (like yesterday) where no matter what I eat I still seem to be hungry, and then I have more normal days. I always make sure to have snacks on hand; don’t want to embarrass myself by getting “hangry” in front of strangers.
Excited to start working on the nursery. I have some ideas as to how I want to decorate now! More on that later.
Yearning to start “nesting” and getting the house baby-fied.
Starting to look more pregnant and not just blubbery.
Anxious to start feeling movements.
Needing to get used to people noticing my bump now. I see them look at my face and then look at my belly. I don’t always feel like it’s that obvious but I guess it must be.
Super lovey dovey to this baby. I dream of what he looks like and what his personality will be like.

Discomforts

I have to say I have been very lucky (knock on wood) with very minimal discomforts, but I few things I have been noticing lately…

Out of breath a whole lot easier, especially going up hills.
Stiff and achey body all over when I wake up in the morning. It loosens up as I get moving. I sleep with those bed pillows walmart that my mom gave me, all around me and in between my legs and I think that helps a bit.
Stretching and some round ligament pain. I actually welcome this! I love it because since I’m not feeling movement yet, it helps me to know baby is growing.
Calf cramps at night.

Again, NOT complaining!

Cravings?

No serious cravings except for I’m almost always up for a burger still. Lately, my sweet tooth has nearly taken over my savory tooth. I was hoping that this wouldn’t happen. I am still trying to control my sugar intake. It’s tough though. I’m trying to choose foods with natural sugar like dates with peanut butter or Greek yogurt with honey.

Oh, and everytime I see a subway sandwich I drool a little.

Aversions?

I can’t seem to get salmon down the hatch even when I make it my favorite way.

What I’m looking forward to in the coming weeks?

Feeling this boy move!

I am absolutely loving pregnancy. Catch up with you again later gators!

Pregnancy: Some of the Details

Post author:Melanie
Post published:May 27, 2014
Post category:Health / Pregnancy
Post comments:15 Comments

Hello! I am coming off of an insanely amazing weekend. Not only was it a long one, but we also got some super exciting news! More about that in a second.

First and foremost, I want to thank the incredible men and women who serve and protect our country and those who have served in the past. Thank you for your courage, strength, and dedication. Thank you for allowing us to live freely.

In case you may have missed it, I made an exciting announcement on Friday and then I left you all hanging and waiting for the details. It’s time I fill you in on the some of the details of my pregnancy.

When did we find out?

We found out just before we left for our vacation to London and Paris. I had a midwife appointment and I mentioned that there was a slight possibility that I could be pregnant. We both decided that it would be nice for me to know before going to Europe (not that this would change our travel plans) just so I could know to stay away from the champagne, unpasteurized cheeses, undercooked meats, etc. She sent me down to the lab to run a blood test and a few hours later we found out that sure enough we were pregnant!

This is something we have been wanting for a very long time so we were ecstatic to learn the news.

Finding food to eat in Europe was a bit challenging as they don’t pasteurize many of their milks and cheeses or juices. Also, we read that they don’t often wash their produce so I stayed clear of that in restaurants where I couldn’t go rinse it off. I don’t know if any of this is 100% accurate, but we didn’t want to take the risk. Of course we were also dealing with a bit of a language barrier. We learned how to ask for our meats well-done and of course skipped out on the champagne and wine. It was all good though! But I was very happy that I knew that I was pregnant so that I didn’t have to find out later and then worry about all of the things I ate or drank that I maybe shouldn’t have.

I allowed myself to eat the cheese only if I knew it was scorching hot!

How far along am I?

I am 16, almost 17 weeks. My estimated due date is November 7th/8th.

How have I been feeling?

I can honestly say that I am one of the lucky ones who hasn’t had to deal with morning sickness (knock on wood). I felt nauseous every once in a while in the first trimester but nothing that would send me running to the bathroom.

I was pretty fatigued in the first trimester and would be heading to bed around 8:30 on most nights.

How is my appetite? Any cravings or aversions?

This is a question I love to talk about because it’s food related, duh. In the first trimester, I feel like I could only eat small amounts before getting full. I was starting to notice that when I got hungry I really needed to eat stat. Towards the end of the first trimester and beginning of the second, my appetite went into high drive and I was hungry all of the time and was able to start eating normal sized meals again. Today, I find it best to eat smaller meals and then a few snacks. It sits best with my tummy. I feel my appetite has normalized a little bit, but I am still eating more than I was pre-pregnancy.

Cravings: I was talking to Dana about this one, because I wasn’t too sure if I was truly having any real “cravings.” But then he mentioned how I asked him to pick me up a bag of potato chips and how I had to go get myself a burger one night and then I remembered that yea, I have had a couple cravings. I just don’t get the cravings where I ABSOLUTELY MUST EAT the particular item or I will go crazy. Things just sound good to me and if I can eat them great, if not, that’s okay. I try to go with them because I feel like it’s my body telling me I need something. Chips= sodium. Burger = iron and protein. I have been wanting salty/spicy foods more so than sweet which is odd for me. I have been wanting more red meat than any other meat protein. Another strange one for me.

Aversions: During the first trimester, the thought or smell of chili and coffee made me woozy. Also, chicken in general just wasn’t on my radar. I found that I had a hard time finding foods to eat that sounded or tasted good so often times we would make a meal, I would eat one bite and then have to go make something else because I couldn’t stomach it. Gluten-free pasta was pretty comforting to me. Annie’s mac n’ cheese came to my rescue a few times.

Since the first trimester I feel I am pretty much able to eat anything. My diet is more or less back to my pre-pregnancy diet with tons of fruits and veggies, almond milk, protein (red meat mostly, peanut butter, almond butter, cottage cheese, chicken, fish, beans), whole grains (I have been eating some gluten and seem to be tolerating it well, but still mostly sticking to gluten-free) like quinoa, brown rice tortillas, popcorn, oatmeal, etc. Larabars have been my go-to mid morning snack.

Will I be finding out the gender?

YES! I actually already know it! That’s what all the excitement was about this weekend. We hosted a get together with friends and family which included our gender reveal. We found out at the same time that all of our friends and family found out through a giant balloon popping. The excitement was off the charts! You will have to wait a bit to learn the gender. Any guesses?

The answer was inside of this balloon!

The bump

I hadn’t decided if I was going to share this or not but I know that when I am reading pregnancy announcements and updates that I LOVE to see the sweet bump updates…soooooo. I am doing this for all of you.

I am adjusting to the changes in my body and accommodating my growing bod with elastic waistbands. I am still able to get into some of my normal jeans though! I have yet to purchase a single piece of maternity clothing. I was very fortunate to have a girlfriend who gave me a ton of maternity clothes! This just means more money to spend on baby!

Rent the Runway decision

The reason I decided not to go with rent the runway for the upcoming wedding is because I wasn’t confident that the dresses would fit my growing belly. They were SO adorable but I just wasn’t comfortable with it. I have found two dresses since then and have two more to try on from a friend, so I should be set now.

Okay, that’s enough for now. I am so excited to share this excitement with all of you! I will check in from time to time with some more updates!

Gender guesses?! BOY OR GIRL??!

I am Grateful

Post author:Melanie
Post published:April 11, 2014
Post category:Health / Home Life / Misc. / Moose / Travel
Post comments:5 Comments

I’m grateful for so many things, and I don’t express my gratitude nearly as often as I should. As always, I am so grateful for my family and friends. You make my life wonderful. I am thankful for the warm sunshine. It rejuvenates my soul and feeds my body with the Vitamin D it so needs. I’m grateful for Moose. Even though he annoys me like no other sometimes, the majority of the time he is hysterical and keeps me smiling. I’m grateful for my passion for cooking and experimenting with healthy ingredients and creations (like this sweet potato gluten-free crust). I’m grateful for all of the opportunities I have to travel and explore the world. There is so much to see and do, I can’t wait to see it all! I am grateful for Young Living Essential Oils. They have opened my world to a new way of treating headaches, anxiety, cold and flu, etc. Let me know if you want me to order anything for you! I am grateful for my chiropractor who keeps my spine in line and helps me to feel my best. I am grateful for my acupuncturist who I see weekly. My sessions help me relax and ease any tension that I may be holding on to. My list is much greater than this but it is a start. I have a lot to be thankful for. Now, it’s your turn. What are you grateful for?!

Then and Now: Health Views

Post author:Melanie
Post published:March 2, 2014
Post category:Gluten-Free / Health
Post comments:7 Comments

Over two years ago, I submitted my first blog post on Beautifully Nutty. My intentions at the time were to share fun recipes, health tips, boasting “all things in moderation,” and sharing ways in which I try to stay balanced in my life.

I still have the same intentions, but my views on what’s healthy and the changes I’ve been through and made in my life have changed quite dramatically in the last two years.

To those of you who are new to my nutty ol’ blog, you can read up on my past journey to health update.

Time for some reflecting on my health journey with a little Then and Now…

Then…I used to have a crazy sweet tooth, and would eat and post sugar-loaded recipes on the regular paying little attention to how my body reacted to the sugar.

Now…I still have a crazy sweet tooth but try and limit my refined sugar intake because I now know my body HATES it and it causes crazy inflammation in the body.

(someecards.com)

Then…I ate plenty of gluten often followed by lots of bloating.

Now…I am careful about my gluten consumption and know that if I eat it, I may or may not experience bloating afterwards. I am more aware of what can happen, but I do still have gluten from time to time. I’m lucky to have the option to do this as I know some people cannot tolerate it AT ALL.

Then…when I first started the blog, I wasn’t in a colitis flare-up so I wasn’t needing to see doctors too often, but when I did it was only Western medicine docs.

Now…I have been dealing with some minor flare-up symptoms along with hormonal imbalances, and I have taken on a complementary approach to my health care. Besides Western medicine doctors, I now see a Chiropractor, Naturopath, and Acupuncturist. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to dive into Eastern medicine. I’m actually falling in love with it. I do still appreciate Western medicine and there is absolutely a need for that as well.

Then…I’ve always been in tune with my body but not to the extent I am today.

Now…I listen to everything my body is trying to tell me and try to “fix” any offsets naturally. This has completely changed now that I have started Essential Oils but along with the oils, I will make changes to my diet when needed to try and accommodate any shortcomings. Headache = try drinking more water. Bloating = drink more water and tea. Constipation = increase fiber and water. Etc. You get it.

Then…I would occasionally take a multi-vitamin.

Now…I take multiple supplements daily that are made from non-synthetic sources (whole food supplements are so important for absorption!).

Multi-vitamin called Catalyn from Standard Process
Folic Acid from Standard Process
Fermented Cod Liver Oil by Green Pasture
Probiotics by Garden of Life

Then…no essential oils.

Now…a Young Living Essential Oil distributor because I love the oils so much and don’t forget the light therapy from circadianoptics.com!

There are thousands of ways to use essential oils. You can use them for medical ailments, household cleaning, aromatherapy, an aid to weight loss, to reduce stress, to perk you up, to help with hormone issues, increase fertility, help with bloating, etc etc etc. Obviously the possibilities are nearly endless. I diffuse them every day depending on my needs for the day. Example; today I am fighting some type of cold/congestion so I am diffusing thieves and lemon. If we bake a highly aromatic dinner, I will diffuse purification. It is so fun!

*************

The health field is so incredibly interesting to me which is why I chose to become a dietitian. It is always changing and there are always new studies coming out about this and that. The biggest challenge as individuals is weeding through the good and the bad, and making decisions for ourselves based on the information we gather from health professionals and in our own research. I am on the road towards holistic wellness and I am not looking back! I am so excited to continue my journey.

Eat Eggs & Recharging My Battery

Post author:Melanie
Post published:February 25, 2014
Post category:Dinners / Health / Misc.
Post comments:7 Comments

Hello, hello my friends! How’s your week treating you so far?

I have a few odds and ends to catch up on today, mostly involving food (go figure) so let’s get you caught up!

Organic cage-free eggs (and if you can find it, free-range). They are worth the extra pennies. They taste awesome and your body appreciates the effort as well. They are so good for us but have gotten such a bad rap in the past.

One egg contains approximately 70 calories, 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and contains essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, A, B12, phosphorus, folate, choline, etc.

Eat eggs!

I have been loving eggs in scrambles, hard-boiled, over-easy, you name it.

This particular combo was amazing: eggs, red bell pepper, onion, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and salsa. This was nearly the extent of my cooking over the past week or so.

This past weekend I enjoyed a chicken bowl from Chipotle and managed to make my leftovers last for two more meals! I just fried up an egg to go on top and called it a perfect lunch.

This next one doesn’t involve eggs, but it involves chicken, and it was really good. On Friday, I cooked up a batch of chicken, shredded it, added buffalo sauce, placed it on top of a cucumber with some feta cheese and enjoyed the simple yet delicious bites. They’re kind of cute but definitely messy. If you could eat these bites in one full swoop you would be fine but I can’t so I ended up with a mess and a fork. But they were worth it.

Of course buffalo chicken can be enjoyed many other ways: in a wrap, on a salad (we were out of lettuce or I would have done this), on whole grain bread, or in lettuce cups.

Okay so I lied…this was about the extent of my cooking for the week!

There you have it. My loose-ends are almost all tied up. That didn’t take too long.

Lastly, I’m going to say “catch you later” because I will be unplugging for a while. I will be limiting my computer and phone time, therefore may not respond to emails, texts/calls or comments for a while. I just wanted to let you know ahead of time so you don’t think I am being rude for not responding, it just means I need my brain to take a breather from the electronics for a bit and I will get back to you soon.

It’s time to recharge MY battery.