Merci very much

I'm busy, busy, busy girlies and my internships aren't over... yet I am obliged to take this break :)

This past week I've attended multiple health-related events, walking away with many sweet things. Sometimes it's accessories, a press kit and gift card all because of a new product launch. Other times I've been lucky enough to get books, I love learning about what's new in nutrition.

In addition to having the opportunity to recreate catered nyc food in my own kitchen. Yum!

And then, there was that one in which I really hit the gift bag jackpot... and received a hot new product.

But most of all I appreciate the way that the magazine appreciates their interns. Feeling respected, valued, and trusted is so gratifying and it's had such positive effects on me.

It's nice to know that I'll always have the editors support as I embark on my uncertain future and hopeful career. Not to mention that the recent lunch time chat and q&a with editor-in-chief was priceless.

I feel as though I've really had the opportunity and experience to blossom as a magazine journalist and I'm oh so thankful. I'm also thankful to you all for your constant encouragement in all areas of life. Please accept these flowers from the garden in Monaco as a token of my gratitude ;) and have a great day. That is all, (gee that felt good) see ya later alligators.

My Secret Garden(s)

Do you know I actually got busier in the office after I posted earlier? I ended up having to leave early, after getting late too! Truth is bloggies, I have to get my wisdom teeth out. My dentist has been pestering me about it for about a year and a half but I was going to Chile, then to France and haven't gotten around to seeing the oral surgeon until now. I know I've been home for a while but I've been putting off the appointment because... I'm nervous. And, this weekend it all caught up with me in a major and killer toothache :(. I'll probably have them out by the end of next week. Au revoir solid foods!

Anyway, let's please discuss happier things! What was I talking about before? Oh yes, those special places of mine: gardens.

I went to a spectacular one this past Sunday with the boy :) and it all started with an adorable picnic.

We both got huge salads from the supermarket; I also bought bread and had brought a ripe avocado with me (ha, I'm always prepared.) Together it all made for a very nice meal, light and healthy too which was ideal for the hot summer day we had.

There was a pretty setting sun from our picnic spot in addition to picturesque views of the Hudson river.

Not to mention that I was in incredible company. What a handsome boyfriend of mine :)

Have I mentioned that we were spending our day at the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY?

Not at all the boy's home like he mentioned ;) but the grounds were absolutely beautiful.

And so, after our meal, we made our way to the Vanderbilt's Italian Gardens.

As I said before, I love gardens because they make me feel relaxed, at ease, centered, grateful.

There's something about the natural beauty of the flora, the stones, the water that I find so touching.

It's really almost magical, and no, I don't mean that in a cheesy way at all.

Being whisked away by all that is natural beauty has always been my answer to life's countless stresses.

No matter what the season I find appreciation for it all and get the utmost pleasure out of the experience.

At school last year I insisted on walking the two miles from my apartment to and/or from campus.

I've mentioned that I go to school in Syracuse, right? It snows a ton! But I still make sure to get out.

It was my favorite part of my day, unwinding while I walked past the frozen gardens and quaint houses.

It also served as my primary form of cardio. I was at my lowest weight last spring because of all my walking.

And even though I'm quite a few pounds up from that place, I can always count on walking as exercise.

(By the way, the boy took a silly mini-photo shoot of me, hehe)

I'm sure could tell that I had a wonderful time :) I felt entirely in my element,

surrounded by natural beauty, fragility and allure.

I feel as though it all gives me a clear sense of perspective.

Even if the boy did manage to get an extremely out of focus shot of me ;).

The great thing about gardens is that I was able to discover the best of these personal havens no matter where I was living. Natural beauty is very much a global thing :).

Where is your ideal place to find inspiration? escape from stress? reflect on life?

A Daytime Retreat

There are certain places that I love, not for the people, the food, or the culture (like most others) but because of the way they make me feel… relaxed, at ease, centered, grateful. I would love to tell you all about my retreat of choice but I’m too busy L. I was at two press events this morning, Red Mango and Breville & Kodak, and have been swamped ever since I got into the office at noon. I’ll let you know more about those mañana as well ;).

Until then please enjoy the pointless short and sweet video I made with the boy on the way to one of those places of mine (and ours, I suppose.) Any guesses where we're headed? Ha, take care lovelies.

Bon soir

Last night, as I opened up my computer to blog, I checked the time... 10:45 pm. Now, I don’t know about fellow bloggers, but in my case, it usually takes me more than 15 minutes to put together a post, not to mention that I wasn’t at all ready for bed and still hadn’t called my boyfriend to say goodnight (yeah. it’s a ritual) so in line with the goals I made for myself this week I decided to put off blogging until today. Sorry to neglect you ;).

Why did the winding down part of my night start so much later than usual? Well, I went out to dinner with a new friend of mine. Karla is a fellow intern at Fitness magazine and an absolute doll. It’s funny, she actually thought I looked familiar when we had first met because she had stumbled across my blog in the past since she's a friend of Jenn.

Both of our plates were simple but in the tastiest way. I had the broiled salmon with fresh roasted garlic, steamed vegetables and seaweed instead of the usual brown rice (it’s been too long since my last sea vegetable!) and she enjoyed one of their famous veggie burgers. We talked about health, nutrition, fitness, and how we both hoped to incorporate it all into our future careers and obviously had a great time together :) I really hope to keep in touch.

You know, before this week I never focused on how important sleep habits are in a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately sleep usually takes the back-burner to getting everything done in my day including eating well and working out, but not making it a priority is dangerous, to say the least:

First, not sleeping the recommended 8 hours has been linked to increasing your heart disease risk. Researchers at the University of Chicago studied 495 people and found that those who slept less were more likely to develop calcium buildup in their arteries, a contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes. Twenty-seven percent of people getting less than five hours of shut-eye each night had calcium buildup, while 11 percent of those sleeping the recommended five to seven hours did. Only six percent of subjects sleeping more than seven hours each night had signs of calcium in their arteries. And then of course there’s the fact that not getting enough shut-eye can increase your risk of becoming obese.

I don’t exercise too late, watch television at night, nor drink a lot of caffeine but I have adopted an even better nighttime routine: drinking herbal tea (chamomile and mint are my favorites) while reading or jotting down a few thoughts from the day. It helps me de-stress, relax, and fall asleep easier than ever. What’s your good (or “bad”) sleepytime ritual?

For accountabilities sake I also thought I’d include the fact that I got a chocolate sorbet at Grand Central. I would have gotten a small cup of gelato to take care of my decadent and creamy chocolate craving but I chose with my tummy’s best interest in mind. My frozen (most likely vegan) dessert was only made up of sweetened water flavored with chocolate and was absolutely delicious. Ciao bellas, I hope you have a very good (sleep/) night!

Because You're Worth It

Between spending time with family and friends this past weekend, I also reread Chill Out & Get Healthy. I didn't mention much about it before, other than the fact that I was reading a book about traditional Chinese medicine, but let me just say right now that this book is incredible! It approaches health holistically, focusing on living clean through nourishment of the body and soul, a concept, which I think, is too easily forgotten in our busy and stressful lives.

I began reading it the second time around on the train home on Friday as I ate dinner. Usually I eat at home but I went straight to my neighbor's house to babysit, so on-the-go it was! I enjoyed a quick meal from Pump, a great order-to-go place that serves clean, healthy foods for energy. My whole-wheat wrap contained lettuce, steamed broccoli, baked falafals, cucumbers, and guacamole, yum, yum :).

Anyway back to this amazing book. Author Aimee E. Raupp is a licensed and certified acupuncturist and herbalist with a undergraduate degree in biology who had originally planned on going to medical school so she is able to bring perspectives of Western and Oriental medicine to the table while presenting it in an enthusiastic and down to earth way. It's really a pleasure to read.

She is a woman just like you and I who understands that oftentimes "we are overworked over-achievers who are trying to sustain a "healthy" lifestyle as well as climb the ladder to success." Do you know what that leads to? Stress, and a lot of it... at least I know that it definitely does for me. She recognizes this fact and then explains how exactly to gain control of all this crazy stress that surrounds our everyday lives.

With all the negative effects that stress has on our bodies and our lives, dedicating this time to ourselves is necessary in every which way. I know that balancing everything is tough and I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes get so tied up in worrying about countless people, situations and things that "eating healhfully, living peacefully, sleeping enough and expressing [my] emotions" aren't prioritized.

So, this week I'm going focus on a few selfish things for myself: getting to sleep by 11:00, working out in the morning, and making time to pack a balanced lunch (like yesterday's lunch, for example, a spinach, avocado & cucumber salad alongside a delicious sweet potato). Okay, following through with these three goals isn't actually selfish at all, I deserve to feel better. And I know that you all deserve that too.

Because we're worth it. In a few weeks, when this book is released, I'd highly recommend that you look into it. But until then I hope that you'll take a step back and really reflect on how you are and how you're living. What do you presently do just for you? And what are you going to make sure that you do for yourself in the future? Have a very happy and balanced week everyone :).

Eating my way through the city

Good morning all, happy Saturday! I slept in today (gasp) for the first time in a long time and am so excited to have a similarly laid back and rejuvenating weekend ahead :). This past week I had the unique opportunity to experience two of the city's finest restaurants for a fraction of the usual price... otherwise known as New York City Restaurant Week.

Restaurant Week is the perfect chance for myself and others to try out a restaurant that may usually be outside of budget, or test some new restaurant locations with less of a financial risk. Last weekend my best friend, K, and I had a great three-course lunch at Bar Stuzzichini.

Thursday night the boy and I went on an overdue date to the Rocking Horse Cafe, a casual/contemporary restaurant with innovative dishes, modern colors, and pre-Colombian works of art, all accented by the bold Mexican culture. The dark photos display the sleek ambience ;).

For some odd reason I wasn't that hungry so I just had a glass of Chilean CabSauv, a plate off of their regular menu, and relied completely on the boy to order the Restaurant Week special so that I could sample :). He began with a fantastic Watermelon Margarita.

Followed by a well-dressed salad with blue cheese, onions, tomato, and avocado. Yum!

But not enough to ruin my appetite for this beauty! For dinner I'd ordered a Burrito stuffed with grilled vegetables, watercress, avocado, a perfectly Mexican-spiced sauce and topped with pickled radishes.

Does that not sound amazing? Because trust me, it was :). I only made it through two though :(.

There was also a small bowl of black beans and basmati rice on the side which he and I split.

He had all this plus his main dish, the Carne Guisado, jalapeño braised brisket in a rich tomato-lime broth over garlic mashed potatoes. Not my thing but he enjoyed it and completely cleared his plate.

For dessert he chose the Napoleone de Platano, which consisted of layered cinnamon tortilla chips, whipped cream, banana, and a warm chocolate sauce. I very much enjoyed my two bites! My only complaint of our entire dining experience was that I felt rushed at the end when the waiter was trying to clear the table for new customers... other than that, a wonderful dinner.

To make up for it though we went to a nearby saloon for Guinness before going home. I usually go for light beers but there's something about this dark and creamy variety that is so comforting and dessert-like even. Although Guinness is much better in Ireland, there, I said it :). Have you every had a classic in it's country of origin? Isn't it the best? They were definitely the highlight of my travels!

Booked

Good morning beautifuls, how has your week been? Mine’s been busy, but in the best way possible. Following a great Wednesday at work (including a fun taste test which I’ll reveal later) I went uptown to Rouge Tomate a beautiful, spacious restaurant, described as an “urban retreat.”. I’ve read that they serve fantastic local and seasonal food and “address social and environmental issues” in the entire way in which the restaurant is run. I wouldn’t know however :).

Then what was I doing there you ask? Attending a press event with celebrity fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson. It was sponsored by Silk soymilk. I’m don’t drink soymilk and avoid processed soy products like it but I’d have to admit, I adored the drinks they were serving. There were four options, two alcoholic, two non-alcoholic, blended by their beverage director and absolutely delicious. My drink of choice was the piña colada made with coconut milk, real pineapple, a splash of rum, and unsweetened soy milk. It was actually quite good and meeting Gunnar, health editors, RDs and Silk PR people was a lot of fun.

Thankfully I didn’t completely ruin my appetite because my final stop was at July’s BeamGreen meeting at Tavern on the Green. I had about a half an hour in between the events so I took a very enjoyable walk through Central Park to the Upper West side. 30 minutes later I was sitting in an event room , surrounded by lovely like-minded people, and feasting on vegetarian sushi and crudités alongside my liquiteria all-green juice.

I had such a wonderful time! The first speaker was Jared Koch, nutritional counselor and author of CleanPlatesNYC. He discussed his background in health and how it formed his beliefs and the inspiration for this book. My favorite point that he made was bio-individuality, the concept that each person has his or her unique “ideal” diet according to age, gender, size, lifestyle, and most importantly, ancestry. Still, New Yorkers and city visitors alike enjoy eating out, enjoy eating good food, and (not too surprisingly) can enjoy eating good healthy food out in this vast and diverse city of ours. I purchased my copy last night, complete with an autograph ;).

Next we heard from the Green Depot, an amazing place servicing contractors and consumers alike in “environmentally friendly and sustainable building products, services, and home solutions.” If I get a job and thus an apartment in the city after graduation, I am so frequenting this store. And finally, the founders of Green Grass Life spoke about and served their wheat grass. For a first-timer I have to say, it was pretty damn good, grassy, yes, but in a sweet way.

It was so nice to see Gena and Diana again, in addition to meeting lots of new faces including one of my new favorite bloggers, Leslie. And so, that would be yesterday, busy at it’s best, while today is turning out to be much more relaxing. After work I have plans to go out to dinner with the boy. It’s Restaurant Week in the city… I’m already feeling hungry ;)

Sunshine ahead

The weather forecast may disagree with my claim but I don't mean good ol' Mr. Sun anyhow, I'm talking about optimism, positivity, and a sunny outlook on life. Yesterday I read my first issue of Ode magazine and Alison just happened to ask about it. Haven't heard about it either? I'm not surprised. Ode actually began in the Netherlands and was solely published in Dutch for the first nine years of their existence. Now, nearly four years since it was launched in English, the "print and online publication about positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better" boasts a global circulation of 100,00+.

That's certainly something to smile about :). I stumbled across the magazine at Fitness' wonderful giveaway table last week, was intrigued by their cover story, Fat is Where it's At and seemed to have become a huge fan overnight. In addition to the stories about "positive social, environmental and economic change" I took special interest in this fat article because of my newfound knowledge concerning the food group.

I was already aware that fat doesn't make you fat, that I need more Omega-3 fatty acids in my diet, that monosaturated fats promote health and reduce the risk of the number one killer of women in America, heart disease... what I didn't know was that saturated fat shouldn't be feared either. I finished reading Dr. Michael Aziz's book, The Perfect 10 Diet just last weekend and have began to look at butter, dark meat, and full-fat dairy products in a brighter light. Have I gone mad? Of course not, I'm just more informed than ever. Did you know that...?

• Dr. Mary Enig personally analyzed the USDA data and essentially concluded that the use of vegetable oils seemed to predispose to cancer while animal fats seemed to protect against cancer.
• Greece, for example, had less than one-fourth the rate of breast cancer compared to Israel but the same dietary fat intake.
• Spain had only one-third the breast cancer mortality of France and Italy but the total dietary fat intake was slightly greater.
• Puerto Rico, with a high animal fat intake, had a very low rate of breast and colon cancer.
• The Netherlands and Finland both used approximately 100 grams of animal fat per capita per day but breast and colon cancer rates were almost twice in the Netherlands what they are in Finland.The Netherlands consumed 53 grams of vegetable fat per person compared to 13 in Finland.
• A study from Cali, Columbia found a fourfold excess risk for colon cancer in the higher economic classes, which used less animal fat than the lower economic classes.
• Saturated fats enhance the immune system, are necessary for healthy bones, provide energy and structural integrity to the cells, protect the liver, and enhance the body's use of essential fatty acids. Not to mention that stearic acid, found in beef tallow and butter, has cholestrol lowering properties and is a preferred food for the heart.

[Source: http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/oiling.html#animal]

I sure didn't. Thankfully Dr. Aziz and Janet Paskin, a contributor to Ode magazine, exposed me to this under-covered news. Our focus should be on low-sugar, unprocessed, and organic... not fat.

Now before I go, I want to make sure you're not completely disheartened because you were fed the "healthy diet" that turned out to be so totally wrong and untrue. Ode's ten rules for an optimistic life are as follows:

• Fall in love
• Feed your positive thoughts
• Indulge your passions
• Laugh
• Keep a feel-good journal
• Enjoy the simple things
• See the glass half-full
• Find positive friends
• Volunteer for a cause you believe in

Their tenth is a suggestion to subscribe to Ode... but I'm just an realistic optimist and I don't work for Ode magazine, I'll leave that choice up to you and your bank account. Hope you have a phat day blog friends! ;)

Perfect Routine

Hi darlings! How are you? Oh how I've really missed you so :). As you probably saw in my post yesterday I spent the weekend at a friend's house... and not just any friend but my roomie along with another one that was visiting. More than once we discussed how we only lived together for the first year and a half as roommates but would nevertheless refer to each other as such until basically the end of time. But, as much as this weekend was incredible for me both mentally and emotionally, I didn't feel the best physically by the end of it. That's what sugar and alcohol will do you I suppose. How did I not realize that I hadn't had a fudgy chocolate brownie in more than a year and a half? Let's just say that I've had my share of treats at this point.

Today I was more than happy to center my work day around my usual whole and natural foods, eating the way that our bodies are meant to be nourished. When I first became interested in nutrition it was purely for weight and vanity issues but I've found that my entire being has gotten used to it, I'll even go as far to say spoiled by it, so even just a few stray meals and I'm already craving clean. And, I'm not going to lie, these cravings come with feelings of discomfort, similar to those that I battled while I was abroad. A reader e-mailed me a few weeks back on advice about staying healthy while studying and traveling, because, of course, I'm the supposed expert ;).

What I have to remind myself often is that even I step away from my perfect routine and most of the time, it's perfectly okay. My response to her was as follows: "I had been eating especially mindfully in the past year before I left so I fully planned on sticking to extremely high plant-based vegetarian diet. Eh, not so simple nor fun. At first it actually kind of got to me. I disliked knowing exactly how not good for me certain foods were and felt guilty for eating them. I even got stressed out about it. But what is healthy about living like that? Nada. I came to realize that this may be one of the last chances I may ever get to try some of the indulgences I did while visiting and/or living in these countries, but also that I was not, by any means, on a 10-month vacation."

"I was lucky in that both host families I lived with (in Chile and in France) ate very well and cooked mostly veggie-centric meals. Still, if I desired other yummy and nutritious items, like oatmeal for breakfast, or plain yogurt for a snack, I simply bought them for myself. I told my host families from the start that I loved vegetables and I adored fruits and they provided for me beautifully. While in Santiago and Strasbourg I had the occasional treat at "home" for holidays and birthdays but mainly was able to continue eating as I enjoyed, a way that made me feel good and continue to keep me confident in the fact that I looked good."

"You're going to be surprised how generally healthy most people eat without even a second thought outside of the U.S." (I will be referring back to this at a later date.)

"When I went away on trips I continued in this manner unless there were regional delicacies or to be perfectly honest, I was just craving something unhealthy." As I've said before, food has always been a part of the cultural experience for me and as a result made it a priority to stay active. For me, eating healthfully has always been easier than exercising regularly but I explored new passions while learning more about the kind of lifestyle that worked for me. In Chile and France I fell in love with running twice. "I found that I love the serene stillness of the city as the sun rises and exploring my new neighborhood kept me visually interested in my surroundings."

But I also learned what amazing exercise sight-seeing is, "I explored some of the most spectacular places on foot and not only did it keep my weight steady, but it also provided a very real glimpse into the culture and people of these places from outside the tour bus." Studying abroad helped me to have a healthier lifestyle rather than ruin it as it has been said to do for some. I became more flexible and was exposed to countless different approaches to living, eating, and moving. I wrote about the particular philosophies I've adopted from various cultures it in a pretty extravagant post while my (first of many) experiences living in foreign countries was coming to an end.

With each day that passes I find that I'm coming more and more to term with my intentions for these healthy habits of mine. Food is meant to be enjoyed, food is meant to be savored... it is not meant to cause discomfort, fear, or distress. That's just crazy :). At the end of the day I have to admit that I'm doing better, I feel fantastic, and the all the while knowing that I deserve to be this way. Sure eating the right foods may keep my skin clear and my body slim but it also will ensure my well being today and for many years to come and if nothing else, I've certainly got more exploring to do!

Reunited and it feels so good

Weekend with the roommates... in pictures:

Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well :)

Everything Happens for a Reason

This central identity crisis I've been having for, oh, almost half my life is at the source of my need for travel, for experiences outside of my comfort zone, for personal challenges that would test the limits of those accepting qualities that I vowed to maintain. And when it comes to spreading acceptance, I believe that much of the answer is food. Each human being needs to eat, needs to eat well, and, I think that in order to be truly satisfied, also needs to enjoy what they're eating. Taste buds around the world have learned to appreciate Japanese sushi, Italian pastas, and Mexican burritos. Beyond the nourishment that all of these delicious "ethnic" dishes offer they also provide a glimpse into the attitudes and rituals surrounding food in those cultures in contrast with the one you call your own.

It's beautiful, really, those differences that bring about such exciting flavors and creative presentations. And the majority of us are lucky enough for that exposure to such diversity without stepping very far from our doorsteps. Then again, perhaps it is the fact that the cuisines of the world have and (hopefully) always will surround us so that bonds us all together. Yes, we are each unique individuals, but we come about from the same traditions and values that are largely connected to the food we eat. Feasts have been a celebration among people since seemingly forever, holidays are usually, if not always, focused upon a certain number of foods that are meant to be enjoyed amongst the presence of loved ones, family, and friends. With all of this importance placed upon one plate or many we must learn to savor our differences and similarities, a true strength in any kind of society. So I invite you to try something new, taste something distinct, explore this blog if you haven't already done so and learn more about the incredible kitchen that we live in and the special groups of people within it.

Acceptable

Hi girlies, I'm glad that you enjoyed my post yesterday! So much so that it makes me feel almost bad about my post tonight... I am, beyond exhausted. To be honest, I was considering not even blogging tonight. But then, as I was looking through old computer files, I found my college admissions essay and felt inspired. Do you remember what you wrote about? I think I always will, it's about a topic that is very important to me, monumental perhaps, and I'd go as far to say as it shapes who I am each and every day. Would you like to take a look? Buenos noches lindas and happy reading:

“Let’s sleep by the shark tank again!” At that, twelve girls, including myself, ran through the Maritime Center hallways, while Maria led the way. Once again, we were at the annual Girl Scout sleepover. Maria was a leader’s daughter, as was I, but our similarities were limited to just that. For the most part, our differences revolved around the fact that somehow, early on in her nine years of life, Maria had discovered how to make people do exactly what she wanted, and she did. Nevertheless my innate dislike of her brought me certain independence, unfamiliar to her followers. Numerous times I had seen her hurt my own friend’s feelings, yet for the majority of them, holding a grudge against her was never an option and it was for this reason that I learned to tolerate Maria.

That night as we sat together making crafts for our parents I was glad that everything was going so smoothly; nobody had gotten into arguments (a definite feat for a group of adolescent girls), and tolerating Maria hadn’t thus far become a problem. That is…until she said it. Somehow, the topics of boys and clothes had shifted as many of my fellow girl scouts were now exchanging racist jokes. “Those dirty Mexicans should just pack up and go right back where they came from.” Maria said at last with a snicker. The entire conversation had been offensive. I personally was from a series of backgrounds and had never found the humor in prejudice stereotypes. But it was this statement, in particular, that hurt the most. In my naïve mind, prejudice was a thing of the past, something I read about in books. Never in my life, had I heard anyone say something like she had. “I’m Mexican!” I wanted to yell at her, as a tear rolled down my cheek. I was hurt, angry, but most of all, amazed beyond belief. I could not understand how anyone could’ve belittled me, my father, and his hardships as an immigrant in just a few words. He had always taught me to be proud about my diverse background; nevertheless, at the influenced age of nine, I could not help, but feel ashamed.

Fortunately that soon changed with maturity; it was as if tinted lenses had been lifted from my eyes, people were still racist and they'd probably always be. I decided that I would never become one of them, I would embrace every culture, and in doing so, hopefully help others to do the same. In some ways, I feel blessed that I was able to choose to have an open mind at such a young age. In the future, I look forward to meeting various individuals whom are extremely talented, even more so because of their diversity. I know that these are certainly the kinds of people who deserve the opportunities that this country has to offer. Furthermore, being involved in clubs in my high school, such as the Valhalla International Fund, has opened my eyes to a greater multitude of cultures. I am lucky enough to have had private conversations with exchange students from all over the world, which has further proved to me how radically untrue racial stereotypes really are, or any other kind for that matter.

Looking back, I wish I would have stood up to Maria that day. I should not, cannot merely be described by my ethnic background because there is so much more to me as a person. Like many victims of racism, each encounter with other “Marias” has only made me stronger. And at this point, I can now clearly see not only my faults but my strengths that set me apart from numerous people my age. I know that similar to my father’s struggles in the past, I too, as a first generation Mexican-American, am capable of achieving the so-called impossible. At the ripe age of nine, I set out to change the world. However looking back on the years since then, it’s clear that in return, it is the world that has had the greater impact in changing me, and certainly for the better.

Why eat?

The obvious answer is hunger... duh ;) but there are and can be many other reasons. When figuring out what to eat I first ask myself what I feel like or what I'm craving. I've never been one to replace meals with sweets and, at this point in my life, I've studied enough nutrition and have eaten healthfully for a while, that I hardly ever have to worry about it being something "bad" for me.

Tonight it was eggs. I haven't had eggs since my trip to Istanbul, Turkey because, (even though I doubt it was the soft-boiled eggs I ate at the hotel every morning that got me sick,) the Turkish tummy trouble have made eggs anything but appetizing. Today, however, they made a delicious re-introduction back into my diet. Next on the menu, I consider the nutritients factor, as I try to come up with healthy accompaniments to my food of choice. Usually I opt for vegetables that I haven't eaten yet that day to ensure that I get the complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals that those yummy plant foods offer. Last night there was nothing I wanted more than some goat cheese, which, let's admit, goes well with everything :) so it was divine over mixed steamed vegetables and salad. I also consider food-combining, whether it's a focus of starch or protein, as a result of my interest in raw foodism (you can read more about it over at Gena's if you'd like) a step for which my digestion is certainly thankful.

Next, before sitting down, I check in once more with my body to ensure that what I'm feeling is actually hunger. I've never mentioned it before but I dealt with quite a few unhealthy eating habits while abroad. At the beginning of my journey, (in Chile especially,) my obsession with eating well paired with a longing for the comforts of home led to bouts of overeating and stomach-aches and eventually weight gain.

Yet finally, and thankfully, I realized that what I love about eating is the pleasure it brings. A concept that I truly believe the French understand best. For the most part I'm perfectly happy, if not excited, about having a plate teeming with vegetables, but certain occasions call for something extra. These small indulgences, like the incredible homemade 21st birthday dessert I ate last week: an Irish cake made with a chocolate Guinness batter, Jameson whisky chocolate ganache, and topped with Bailey's butter cream frosting are so worth it and makes eating not just something I do, but something I love, in any country.

Lady Luck... apparently

Aloha my darlings. Can you believe it is Monday again? When did this happen?! I certainly was not too thrilled about another work week when I woke up this morning. However, following a lunch with C (my freshman & sophomore year roommate) things turned around quite nicely.

This was Friday night's dinner, one of my all time favorite meals, stuffed peppers alongside a crisp salad. I skipped the usual ground beef and white rice combo and filled mine with pinto beans and brown rice and as much tomato sauce as I could muster. Absolutely delicious!

What happened today you ask? Oh, well, I caught up with a best friend, and then upon my return to the office, my boss called me over. Turns out they need another person to attend red carpet events/parties and conduct interviews with models and fashion designers... and they think that I'm the girl for the job.

I can't believe it, I had no idea I had impressed them that much. I'm so nervous yet positively excited about the opportunity! Wow. Another flashback meal, this was Saturday's lunch eaten in pleine aire while I worked on yet another tedious work responsibility, reading a pre-released nutrition book for Fitness.

Is this what it feels like when all of your internship dreams come true? I sure think so! Oh gosh, I feel like celebrating, I think I'm going to go to Trader Joe's ;). If you're interested in reading nutritional tips from the VS model I almost had the chance to meet tonight, click here, hopefully I'll be able to talk to her later :). Hope your Monday was more than mediocre too my friends!

Soaking it Up

You are my sunshine,

my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear,

how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

I met the boy at the Bryant Park Café for a lovely lunch on Thursday. I had both the market salad and hummus platter (with a ton of leftover bread) and he had the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. The plates were delicious and the atmosphere, beautiful, and, of course, the company, spectacular :). Him and I are beaching it tomorrow for some fun in the sun. Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Defying gravity

Hi girlies! Can I see a smile...? It's the weekend and it's summer and there are so many things to be happy about :). Yet even with the leisurely qualities of our present state of being, I still find myself busy. Unfortunately, there is still not a lot of time for me to sit down, blog, and enjoy everything about "your company." I'm sorry, I need to insist on some free time during my days off pretty soon...

Until then, I'm going to ask you to do me a favor: I have a few questions for you and would like to hear about your responses. Please leave your answer in the comments or email me- dealvare@syr.edu. (1) What is your favorite place in the world? Any place will do, from your neighbor's backyard to an apartment in Timbuktu to the middle of the Red Sea. Anywhere in the world but the place you call home.

(2) Why? (3) What is your favorite foodie memory from that place? There is a method to my madness, I can assure you :) just please answer the questions and I'll let you in on it. Hope you're enjoying beautiful weather with good friends, good food, and good conversation... wherever you may be :).

A life without love is like a year without summer.

Hungry Book Worms

Hello darlings! I'm staying at my friend's apartment so that would explain why I'm so late to post tonight, sorry :). Even though I was just out for dinner and drinks, and had a fantastic time I might add, I prefer to spend some nights (and days) here... does that make me a nerd?

Ha, at school the local Barnes & Noble café is the only place I can truly study, and be productive to my utmost capabilities. Yes, I know, good times ;) but I seriously do have fond memories. So the morning after visiting the boy I was thrilled to stop by my favorite bookstore for breakfast. I had a green tea and the egg florentine sandwich on a whole-wheat english muffin.It could have used a little less cheese and a whole ton more spinach, but was overall good :). The boy and I sat for an hour or more enjoying our morning meal and catching up on our favorites - medical journals and the Economist for him, health articles and travel essays for me. On our way out I purchased this book: Expat, Women's Tales of Life Abroad. It's a collection of short stories from women who have not just traveled to foreign countries, but lived there, an entirely different and uniquely wonderful experience I can assure you :). I love it so far, it makes me warmly nostalgic and excited for future endeavors at the same time. This book worm has been bitten by the travel bug.Then I was home again, in the blink of an eye, home sweet home. And I say that sarcastically, even though it's not actually so bad at all :). If nothing else, the weather has been warmer and sunny for the past few days so I'm hoping that the worst of my (cold and rainy) New York summer is behind me. It also means that I am solely in charge of my meals, a luxurious responsibility that I missed while living with host families. Choosing what I eat means asking myself what will satisfy my taste buds in the most nutritious way possible, and that night, it meant seasoned broccoli, sweet yam slices, and a side salad. Yum! Enjoy your Friday!

Frozen Summer Treats

Last week when the health nut (aka my g-ma) was staying with us, she asked if I would like to go shopping. Now, you should know, that I love to shop, whether it's finding the perfect dress, wall hanging, mascara, or summer squash, but aside from groceries, I don't do it that often, my busy schedule and tight wallet just don't allow for it. So, I obviously said yes :).

We went to Bloomingdale's, a favorite of ours, and the location of the best "ladies who lunch" café, La Provence, and the scrumptious frozen yogurt bar, Forty Carrots. It had been more than a year since my last frozen treat so I was incredibly excited, then... disappointed.

Not right away, of course. The (huge) small-sized cup was tart and divine, it tasted better than I had even remembered! However, as we left, I felt it. My body did not like frozen yogurt anymore. You see, I, unintentionally, haven't been eating dairy for in the past month and a half.

As I focused on whole, unprocessed, clean vegetables and fruits, a diet that was more raw food-based , I stopped having my morning yogurt, afternoon café con leche, dinner with fromage. I did so without any deprivation, only noticing when I figured out why the lactose in the frozen yogurt was making me sick. And my new habit, or lack there of, may not be such a bad thing.

Did you know that red meat and dairy are responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions from food for an average U.S. household? Eek. I'm not officially swearing off dairy, and gosh, even though I sometimes refer to myself as a vegetarian, I do eat fish and have a bite of steak once in a blue moon, but, as I've said before, every little choice makes a big difference.

Let's be serious, cookie dough'nt you want some? Oh wait, that's Coldstone. I miss it already ;)

(Edited to Add): Oh my gosh! Girls! I bought the wrong "ice-cream"... VeggieGirl, I don't like too eat much soy either, and Christina, I meant to buy the coconut milk version! This one must have been placed with the other new coconut flavors by mistake and I didn't even notice :(. It just goes to show you: even those who consider themselves health-conscious and observant need to carefully check labels.

Say Cheese

Good morning beautiful people! (How’s that for an upbeat Wednesday greeting?) I am feeling good today, very good, in fact. Thank you for being such a great help to me during this tough time. I almost wish I could share everything that is going on at the moment but I feel like I need to maintain some layer of confidentiality for my family’s sake and my own, I hope you understand. I’ve decided to bring a little more optimism back into my daily routine and life. All hope is most definitely not lost and I know that we can get through this together. Gotta love the positive big sister mentality :).

Another huge reason why I’m feeling so happy is because I spent my evening celebrating with this pretty lady. Remember that best friend I was telling you about? Well, she’s back, and last night we celebrated her 21 years of life.

I’ve got a very busy day ahead of me at work so I’ll let the pictures do the majority of the talking. What I will tell you is to make sure you read her new cocktail napkins correctly.

For dinner we made our very own margharita pizza, it turned out to be absolutely fantastic especially for something that was so quick and easy!

To quench our thirst, our dear friend Max took over with another of her birthday gifts, a mojito-making set.

What a fun celebration! I stuck to my one drink because I knew that I'd be paying for it today otherwise but her traditional 21st birthday fiesta will be taking place Friday. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Another upcoming friendly event is taking place tomorrow when one of my favorite recent graduates is coming down to visit myself and two other recently graduated friends.  We’re going out for dinner and drinks :). Oh and earlier that day I’m meeting the boy for lunch, he’ll be in the city for some last minute medical school visits. Poor thing, he has too many choices ;) hope you have a great day everyone!

America's Independence Day

I wish there was a stronger word that I could say to thank you all. Every single one of your comments was more comforting than you would even believe. Is everything alright now? Sorta, it's a process, and unfortunately it's really amazing some of the things I've missed after being abroad for a year. As for now, I'll admit, I can only stray a few hours from the blogosphere. But, something so emotionally draining has had its physical effects and sweethearts, boy do I feel it. I have the tummy-ache of all time, not good :(.

On a happier note let's look back to July 4th and my father's Mexican ceviche. It was light and spicy and the best summer appetizer to date.

I also picked on some of these crudités and by the time the meal was served helped myself generously to my aunt's famous salad.

This is a picture of my father's plate, which was similar to mine in some regard and different in others. For one, my plate was piled high with salad. I just adore my aunt's dressing and cannot get enough. Then, there was no chicken breast but a sole ear of corn that was sweetened to summer perfection. Dinner was delicious.

One of my puppies, Colby, just couldn't get enough of lying on my lap for the entire afternoon. In his defense I haven't seen him for a week, my cousins were dog-sitting but boy did he miss me and it goes both ways :).As night fell the kiddies made s'mores while we waited for my uncle and his friend to prepare the fireworks in the backyard.

I opted out on the sugar high and stuck to my Jakie mug (that's my cousin) with delectable hazlenut coffee.

And later on in the night snacked on fresh cherries that I'd purchased from the farmer's market earlier that morning.

It was a beautiful day and holiday and I thoroughly enjoyed myself while surrounded by friends, family, and the boy. I hope the same for you! Hopefully I'll be feeling better enough to eat something photogenic tomorrow, you know how I like sharing my meals :). Take care! Oh and P.S. Happy Birthday Mark and Congrats Maggie!

(Untitled)

Hi darlings, I hope you've enjoyed your celebratory weekend. I just wanted to let you know that something's come up and I won't be able to post for a few days. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. And, if you have a moment, or 15 minutes actually, please watch my video review of Food Inc. or visit their website or better yet, go see the film yourself. Thank you, I really appreciate it.

HUNGRY FOR A CHANGE

As I sat down to write my "review of Food, Inc. I found myself at a complete loss of words. I wasn't sure if was capable of sharing my thoughts on the film and beliefs about the issues it discussed in a literary way. Nor did I know if I had the patience to sit down and try to do my best. So... I made a video. For anyone who has not yet seen the documentary and has the intention of doing so, I cannot promise you that there aren't any "spoilers," so please watch, me, at your own risk. Otherwise, I'd have to ask that you please excuse my ums, random pauses, likes, and those pieces of hair that continued to fall in front of my face in the filming of this video post ;).

Yes, I know, it was long, possibly too long, but I never claimed to be a great story-teller (I ramble) nor an expert so I hope you made it through. As I'm sure you could tell, I'm very passionate about many of the the reforms that this film supports and encourages. Nevertheless, in my entire 15 minutes, I failed to mention anything specific about pesticides, diabetes, the environmental impact, cloning, and/or, the most heart wrenching of all (in my opinion), the global food crisis. Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends in DC, said frankly, "People go hungry because much of arable land is used to grow feed grain for animals rather than people," just last year. Something has got to give. I highly encourage you to go see Food Inc. and, at the very least, to check out their website. There's so much to be done, and, there's sooo much we can do.

God Bless America... and the whole wide world. Have a very happy and safe Fourth of July!

Mother Earth

"This is a beautiful planet and not at all fragile.

Earth can withstand significant volcanic eruptions, tectonic cataclysms, and ice ages.

But this canny, intelligent, prolific, and extremely self-centered human creature had proven himself capable of more destruction of life than Mother Nature herself....

We've got to be stopped." -Michael L. Fischer, Harper's, July 1990

In addition to the countless health benefits from eating a clean, plant-based diet, I'm motivated to eat this way for many environmental reasons. Farmed animals produce more greenhouse gas emissions (18%) than the world's entire transport system (13.5%)! Even so, I know you've seen me eat meat and fish from time to time because I also have a passion for trying new things and tasting good food. When I do, however, I aim for organic, grass-fed, free range, etc, all those terms that signify a happier animal, a healthier meal, and a more sustainable planet.

Mostly I eat veg-friendly meals 3x a day though. Tonight I had a fantastic plate of brown rice mixed with water chestnuts, carrots, broccoli, and sugar snap peas alongside a mixed green salad with sprouts, bell peppers, radishes, celery, and tomato. It was delicious... everything organic, the majority of ingredients local, and just the way I like it :). As for now, I'm headed over to the movie theatre to see the much talked about film, Food, Inc. I'm very interested (and nervous) to see how it transforms my foodie opinions. Have a great night darlings!

Yum today, healthy tomorrow

Good morning everyone, I slept in today since I have the day off from work... making for the longest celebratory fourth of July weekend I think I've ever had! Oh and as we're on the topic of holidays, Happy belated Canada to my friends up north :). For yesterday's breakfast I stuck to blue as my primary patriotic color. Now, ready for your AM news dose?

A study in the British Journal of Cancer found that while 33% of the general population will develop cancer during their lifetime, for those who don't eat meat that risk is reduced to about 29%. These researchers from universities in the UK and New Zealand followed 61,566 British men and women including meat-eaters, those who ate fish but not meat, and those who ate neither meat nor fish. Overall, vegetarians had notably fewer cancers of the stomach and bladder, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. The reduction was less impressive for fish-eaters with all of these cancers except for that of the stomach. Researches have hypothesized that potential mechanisms could include viruses and mutation-causing compound in meat or alternatively that vegetables confer special protection.

But the same reduction for vegetarians was not found with bowel cancers nor with cervical cancer of which fish-eaters and vegetarians had twice the relative risk of meat-eaters. The original BBC article can be found here. I usually follow a vegetarian diet, about 50% raw, sometimes vegan, but I do have the occasional fish when eating out. Does health influence the way you eat?

Te amo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Happy 22nd Birthday to my very special boyfriend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

See you all tomorrow for more of those regularly scheduled traveling foodie posts. Take care!