File this under: cool things forever happening in Chicago.
For those of you who are not familiar with Chicago Ideas Week, it’s a a festival here that brings together incredible humans doing amazing work from ALL industries. Think of it as a rally to vibe and learn from each other – ultimately inspiring each one of to fearlessly pursue the ideas that help change the world.
This post was written in sponsorship with Handsome Brook Farm. Thank you for supporting continuing projects that make Nutrition Happen!
As a dietetics professional, I always get a handful of the same common questions regarding nutrition. What are the best foods to eat? Should I go vegan? Is butter a carb (true story!)? While there is truly no one method or recommendation to nutrition that will work for everyone, there’s always one topic that does however, apply true for all: HYDRATION.
I know, it’s probably one you hear about often – but it’s also the one that gets overlooked the most. When was the last time you felt good with your water intake? This is particularly important since now that it’s warmer and we’re outside moving more (hey, I see you summertime Chicago!). Dehydration can cause a handful of common (and very general) symptoms – headaches, fatigue, dizziness. It’s easy to mistake dehydration for other things, but at the same time, it’s also one of the easiest things for us to manage. Since our bodies are mostly water, everything functions properly when we are adequately hydrated.
When was the last time you cooked for someone? Because if you’re like me and are still scrambling around for a Father’s Day gift, making Dad a home cooked meal is the perfect way to show him how much you appreciate him (and easy to pull together last minute!).
The best part is choosing the recipe and in my experience, there are two things that win over hearts of [most] men (well, at least my dad, anyway): bourbon and pancakes.
But hey now, let me make a point clear. Cooking for someone does not mean spending all day in the kitchen from dawn to dusk. There are always, ALWAYS shortcuts in the kitchen you can take to make a meal that still leaves you extra time to hang out and catch up.
Case in point: these pancakes with a honey bourbon jackfruit topping. Low key, ready in about 30 minutes or so – exactly what you need for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Top reasons I love a good pre-made pizza crust:
1. My meal is ready in less than 10 minutes.
2. There are fewer dishes.
3. Pizza.
4. There are FEWER DISHES!
5. Literally, prep time takes no work.
It’s amazing how the food industry is expanding by the minute and healthier products like this are readily available. Have you guys tried making cauliflower crust yet? I don’t know about you, but it’s messy and I can’t ever get the texture right.
Ever since I started grad school two years ago, I’ve always been on the search for the healthiest options that are also convenient – and believe me, they’re out there! I get it – sometimes we’re just looking for an easy way out on busy days, and that’s totally okay. It’s definitely a good thought to prepare meals to have ready for the week, but don’t let the media trick you into thinking that if you don’t have a perfectly prepared tupperware of chicken and roasted vegetables in the fridge, you’re doing it wrong. It’s okay to take the easy way out every now and then – breathe!
Like I said, the industry is making it easy to do so in a mindful way. Case in point: these pre-made crusts from Califlower Foods. While I obviously still cook (but let’s be real, 1 pan meals are my EVERYTHING), there a few healthy grab and go places I like to frequent in the Chicago area for a healthy prepared meal like Snap Kitchen, Kitchfix, or the delivery service Eat Purely.
Question of the day: are you the type that goes for sweet or a savory breakfast?
I may be in the minority, but I 100% have more of a savory palette. It can be hard when you scroll through Instagram every morning and see overly decorated bowls of oatmeal or pancake stacks – the media likes to play mind games on us! Social media is always such a beautiful and disastrous place – highlighting healthy food, but also over-glorifying it as well. While there’s nothing wrong with a wholesome bowl of oatmeal or homemade pancakes (or satisfying a sweet tooth in the morning), there are so many benefits to eating a savory breakfast.
Enter one of our favorite proteins, the lovable egg.
While our body needs carbohydrates to survive and function (Oprah..I love bread too!), you may find that eating just a bit more protein might help you curb your sugar cravings later in the day. Obviously we’re not stopping at just breakfast – eggs are great for anytime of the day (last night I ate eggs for dinner..and again the night before! #gradschoolprobs) With 6 grams of high-quality protein and 13 essential vitamins and minerals, it’s no wonder a staple in most kitchens around the world (Source: The American Egg Board).
A recent study from the Journal of Nutrition showed that the consumption of whole cooked eggs with a meal that contains foods with Vitamin E (such as mixed vegetable salad) increased absorption of vitamin E.
