Oh, Olympics!

So, I admit it. I am an Olympic junkie. I check the medal count. I plan my gym time around television coverage because I think it's extra motivating to work out while I watch Apollo speed skate. The same thing happens every two years. And then when it ends...I go through withdrawals.

Tonight, after my treadmill workout and analysis of Bob Costas' wardrobe,; I'm sitting warm and cozy on my couch watching the ski jump. This is one of my favorite Olympic events because the skiers come so close to flying. How could you not want to do a sport where you take turns gracefully sailing through the air?

If you pay attention to the coverage, NBC often shows the stats of the athlete: age, height, and weight. Now, I'm not so sure I'd want my weight posted for the entire world to see, but I suppose if you're an Olympic-class athlete you get used to being judged by numbers.

I couldn't help but notice how tall and light all of the ski jumpers were...so upon a little research I learned that body weight is so crucial a factor in the jump that a mere 2.2 pounds weight loss could mean 6-13 feet further in the jump. There have been publicized cases of anorexia and bulimia among the jumpers, and yes that does include men. Although we often associate eating disorders with women, men are not immune to the pressures.

When working with clients - whether it's for sports nutrition or weight loss - I never create meal plans under 1200 calories for women or 1500 for men. Eating too few calories, especially with intense exercise will have serious consequences on the body including muscle and bone density loss and increased risk of injury and illness.

If you think about it, our bodies use calories from food for energy, and athletic performance requires large amounts of energy. This energy must come from somewhere - so the body will eventually start to breakdown.

Take Home Message: Don't starve your body! You’ll pay for it!

Fortunately, new rules are being enforced to encourage ski jumpers to either gain some weight! All I know is that I would rather participate in a sport where I could eat as much as Michael Phelps.

What's Your Beef (or Bison)?

One time in college, a class-mate of mine was eating a wrap during our writing class. "Whoooaaa that smells good", I told her. She smiled, tore off a bite for me and said "Don't ask what it is, just taste it!" In hindsight, it was probably not the wisest command to obey - but I did- and it was delicious, delicious meat!

That was the first day I ever tasted bison.

This week The Washington Post had a great article on the return of this meat to local restaurants. The locally-roaming animal has made an appearance on many Baltimore and DC menus. It will also be available at the White House farmers market this spring.

Bison is such a great way for those of us with carnivorous taste buds to get our fill. Why? - Well, I was hoping you'd ask that. According to the USDA, bison meat has 143 calories and 2.42g of fat per seving (100g) compared to select beef which has 201 calories and 8.09g of fat. It's even leaner than skinless chicken, which ranks in with 190 calories and 7.41g of fat per serving. What great news!! A new delicious meal is actually healthier than our familiar staples. With less calories and less fat, it's no wonder the American Heart Association is a fan of choosing bision.

Need more reasons to bite into bison? The meat is also high in iron, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, potassium, niacin and vitamins B6 and B12.

Experiment with the meat in some of your beef recipes, but remember that it has less fat and needs to be treated differently! Bison needs to be cooked low and slowly so that it doesn't dry out. If you're not a fan of the leaner taste, you can even try adding some heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil to the meat.

Burgers, chili, steaks...give bison a chance!

Valentine's Last Call

So it's getting late as I write, but I can still call this my Valentine's blog - mission for the day accomplished.


Valentine's Day is super-saturated with cards and boxes of chocolate (that often don't even taste good). And the next day we're left with torn envelopes, candy wrappers, and an upset tummy. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have someone get me a gift that could actually benefit me!!

Food is an integral part of holidays, but wouldn't it be great to show your love by spending quality time cooking a wonderful meal with someone. Maybe actually nourishing them and helping their heart beat for many more years?

My family has this tradition where we all come together for a big meal, because my mother says that she married for love and that love turned into her kids. This year we had delicious rock fish in a caper lemon sauce with mashed cauliflower and asparagus.

I promise you, a meal can be decadent, romantic and even healthy! Don't wait for next Valentine's day to try it. You can have a candle-lit dinner with the one you love any day. Love should be the reason.


Here's a funny quote to leave you with:

"There is no sight on earth more appealing than the sight of a woman making dinner for someone she loves." ~Thomas Wolfe

The 1st Bite

This is my first attempt to dip my toes into the world of blogging. But what better way to get in touch with so many people at once? The internet has a way of making our world so much larger and yet so much smaller all at the same time.

For today, allow me to introduce myself:

I’m a Registered Dietitian in the Northern Virginia area. I entered college with the honorable aspirations of becoming a doctor or a clinical psychologist, and left in love…with food. I devoured (no pun intended) my health psychology textbooks, and found myself reading chapters that weren’t even assigned – particularly those related to nutrition. Completely fascinated by the relationship between food and health, I attended a combined Masters in Health Science/Registered Dietitian graduate program at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

I firmly believe behavior plays an enormous rule in our nutrition and health. Today, I help clients “re-learn” how to eat so they can reach optimal health. Many times all we need is the right tools and a little coaching to reach our biggest goals.

I hope you can use this blog for inspiration, practical help, and maybe even a little entertainment as we all strive to be health eaters.