Is Gluten Free the Way to Be?

Gluten free pizza, gluten free brownies, gluten free soap? It seems like we have become enthralled with everything gluten free, but before you go sans gluten, do you really know what it means?

I recently attended a talk given by a dietitian who specializes in celiac disease. She provided great information (mostly the sciency part of celiac disease and how to manage their nutritional needs in a clinical setting), but she also helped to dispel some of the myths associated with Celiac Diseasae, wheat allergies, and gluten free diets.

The Background:

• Gluten is a protein complex in wheat, barley and rye
• There are a variety of naturally occuring gluten free foods including fruits and vegetables, quinoa, rice, buckwheat, amaranth, corn, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds.

Whats the Big Deal With Gluten?
Celiac Disease is an "immune mediated enteropathy", meaning in the presence of gluten, inflammation occurs and the absorptive surface of the small bowel (where you absorb the nutrients from the food you eat) is damaged. As a result, you need to follow a gluten free diet to eliminate inflammation/damage to your intestines. Celiac disease is diagnosed with serological tests and confirmed with an intestinal biopsy.

I commonly read about people who claim to be "Gluten Sensitive". This basically means they feel some discomfort when eating gluten (in whatever form it may be). Before going completely gluten free, you should try to rule out a wheat allergy. A wheat allergy is NOT the same as Celiac Disease becuase it is not gluten causing the allergic reaction, it is only wheat. This means if you are only allergic to wheat, barley and rye products/derivatives would be ok in your diet.

Why go Gluten Free?
I have heard a gammit of reasons why one would go gluten free, but most commonly I hear that gluten causes inflammation and is bad for you. This is untrue. Gluten only causes "inflammation" if you have celiac disease. By skipping out on gluten containing products (whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, many whole grain cereals) you may be missing out on some valuable nutrients like B vitamins and fiber.

Another common reason to nix the gluten? Weight loss. Yes, a gluten free diet could likely result in weight loss if you are skipping out on many gluten containing goodies like pizza, cookies, cakes and tortillas. The problem is that many times, those going gluten free for weight loss are not cutting these goodies out, they are simply paying twice the amount for the gluten free equivalent of their favorite foods. I remember the first time i saw a gluten free pizza dough mix for $9.00! Oh and the brownies go for about $6 per box!

The Verdict
A gluten free diet is not for everyone and is only medically warranted in those diagnosed with celiac disease. If you want to go gluten free in hopes of weight loss, more power to you! But i suggest sticking to the naturally gluten free foods vs the high priced gluten free convenience products to make sure you really are cutting caloreis and seeing results.
 

Skinny Italian: Turkey "Manballs" and Spaghetti Squash

Every now and then i get a huge craving for spaghetti and meatballs. My aunt and uncle make some really yummy authentic Italian sauce, and they spoiled us before we moved back to Houston by sending us with a whole case! We have primarily been using the sauce for pizza, but one of those spaghetti and meatball cravings hit me this weekend and it hit me hard! I think it may have something to do with the fact that it has felt like winter the past couple of days here and warm chewy pasta sounds amazing!

In my attempt to eat a little healthier, i thought i would swap the spaghetti squash for the pasta and still get to enjoy the sauce and meatballs. The husband even likes spaghetti squash so that's a bonus as well (since he isn't always a fan of my healthy concoctions and substitutions). Spaghetti squash has about 40 calories and 10 grams of carbohydrates for 1 cup, where pasta has 240 calories and 45 grams of carbohydrates per cup. There are other "noodle alternatives" that i have tried and also heard of. After reading about Tofu Shirataki noodles in the Hungry Girl cookbook, i gave them a try.

I figured for only 40 calories and 6 grams of carbohydrate (for the WHOLE bag), they were a win win. Not so fast...The verdict: They stunk, they were slightly rubbery and they were expensive. I much prefer the squash noodle alternative vs the fake stuff!

This is a pretty easy meal to put together, just slightly time consuming, so it was perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

1. Roast the Squash
First preheat the oven to 350, then grease a cookie sheet with baking spray. I then cut the squash in half and punched holes in it with a knife. Then place each half face down on the cookie sheet and bake for an hour.

2. Make the Spaghetti
Once the squash is roasted, use a pot holder to hold the squash in your hand. Take a fork and simply pull at the fleshy part of the squash. It will easily break off in noodle form. Spaghetti-fy both halves and place the spaghetti in a bowl. Set aside.

3. Make the Meatballs
I used 1 lb of 93% lean ground turkey, but you could also use ground beef or ground chicken if you prefer.

I put about 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp oregano, 1tbsp garlic powder and 1 tbsp herbs de province.

Combine with your hands and form into meatballs. Hubby made the meatballs, he calls them "Man Meatballs" thus we only have six meatballs this batch.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until fully cooked.

4. Heat the sauce.

5. Make your bowl.
Add some veggies. I enjoyed my veggies salad style this meal.

6. Enjoy your guilt free "Spaghetti" and Meatballs! 

Some of my favorite (food) things

Hello Hello!

Made it through another day of work and traffic! I'm planning to head to the gym tonight for one of my favorite classes at Lifetime...STRIKE! Its an intense cardio kickboxing type class that uses a body bar to incorporate stick fighting! Its a fun workout that has really started to shape my arms and back. Cant complain about that!

 So while I'm killing time at home before heading back out to the gym, I started to think about making a grocery list since our veggie supply is waning.  I got to thinking about food phases and how often i go through them. It usually goes like this: i eat the same things for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for about two months. Then, some kind of switch in my brain is flipped and i no longer want anything that is in the refrigerator or pantry.  I usually hit the Internet (blogs, pinterest, cooking light) for some new inspiration in the kitchen. This seems to be the cycle. Now don't get me wrong, there are always some essentials (ahhhemmm chocolate and ice cream) that always sound good :) So here are a few of the things im loving right now.

1. Whole organic carrots
I used to buy baby carrots and would usually not get through the whole bag. The little buggers just started to taste blah about half way through the bag and that was the end of it. I have been buying whole carrots and peeling a few at a time. They are much sweeter and more crunchy! Aside from eating them plain, i have been adding them to green smoothies in the morning for some extra beta carotene!

2. Cucumbers
I hadn't bought a cucumber in months, maybe even a year or so. Its just one of those things i don't normally think of. I have been putting them in my smoothie for a uniquely cool taste. I also made a delicious cucumber salad, simply combining white wine vinegar and truvia and tossing the cuke slices to coat evenly.

3. Almonds
I always eat nuts when they are out at a party or in trail mix form, but i didn't usually buy them. I have now been taking a handful for an afternoon snack every day. They are filling and give me a good dose of healthy fats for the day. I have also developed a dangerous obsession with homemade almond butter! Just almonds and a dash of salt in the food processor and voila! This stuff is seriously so good, it doesn't last long in this house!

4. 1% milk
Soy, almond, coconut, skim, whole, chocolate....holy milk selection! I have been on the almond milk train for a good couple of years, i love the creamy/buttery taste and the low calorie count. In my attempt to become more frugal at the grocery store, i decided to switch to regular old cows milk. I now use it in my coffee and smoothies regularly! There is just something different about the taste of old fashioned milk and I'm all about it right now!

5. Ground Turkey
This is a good alternative to chicken and fish for a lean source of animal protein. It is easy to freeze and there are so many options to use it for! Some of my favorites are: vegetable lasagna, sloppy joes, stuffed peppers, taco meat and meatballs! We just had sloppy joes the other night and i couldnt believe i forgot how delicious these are! I just googled a quick recipe and altered it a little based on what i had on hand.

What are some of your favorite things?

Back to Work and a Recipe

Hey y'all!

I'm officially back to work now, mixed feelings i must say :) I definitely miss the sleeping in and long mornings at the gym, but being the busy body that i am, i like having something to do every day. I am having to shift back to evening workouts, packing my lunch (and usually breakfast because I'm always running behind in the mornings), and getting used to sitting in traffic again. ughhhhhh. Thats all there is to it!

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I took Core and Total Conditioning (TC) last night which left me feeling pretty sore this morning. Core is an intense 30 minute class that focuses on all things core. It is a great class and always flies by. Total Conditioning is similar to P90x or Insanity from what i understand (I have never done either of them). The class hits every major muscle group and usually consists of three exercises that increase in intensity. The last exercise of each muscle group aims to get your heart rate to "Zone 4". Lifetime teaches many of their classes to target heart rates and instructors will often tell you what zone you need to be in according to your age and fitness level. Bottom line, TC is tough and usually leaves me sore, tired and in need of a rest day.

So when i got off this afternoon i headed home to make dinner. I had a craving for a dish my mom used to make, Chicken Divan. It is a super easy recipe, not too time consuming, and there is always leftovers...Bonus! I made a few "dietitian" modifications to it to make it a bit healthier.

Easy Chicken Divan

• 2 cans cream of chicken soup (I used low sodium, heart healthy version)
• 1 cup mayonnaise (I used 6 oz plain Chobani)
• 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar (I used 1/2 cup 2% reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 2 heads fresh broccoli (I used a bag of frozen broccoli for time sake)
• Salt and pepper to taste (I used Montreal chicken seasoning)

Topping:

• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp butter (I omitted this)
• 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese (Again used 1/2 cup 2% reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese)

Directions:
Place chicken breasts in roasting pan, season according to your liking. Bake chicken breasts at 425 for 35 minutes (or until cooked through). Microwave broccoli in microwave safe bowl with small amount of water until tender crisp. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Spray 13 x 9 with cooking spray and layer the broccoli and then the chicken. In a separate bowl, mix the cream of chicken soup, Greek yogurt, mayo, lemon juice and shredded cheese. Mix thoroughly and spread on top of chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle bread crumbs and cheese on top and bake for 1 hour at 350.

Serve with rice, pasta, quinoa (or any grain of your choice). Can also serve with a green salad.
Enjoy!

Did you know....

If you swap  Greek yogurt (100 calories/6 oz) instead of Mayo (45 kcals/1 tbsp) you save 620 calories!

Recent Happenings and Fredricksburg Recap

Well its been a while since I posted about personal things, so lets get right to it. I left off with getting ready for the movers to come in Phoenix, well they did!

I couldn't believe the size of the truck! When they pulled up, i was a little worried about how they were going to fit everything in the truck, considering we were the third house in the one truck! I have moved a handful of times, but this was the first time we have used professional movers. It was a weird feeling actually, i felt weird sitting and watching the three guys disassemble all of the furniture, carry all the boxes and load them into the truck. So, i picked the shellac off of my nails and offered them water periodically. Yes,  it was weird. After things were all loaded up, i headed down to Tucson to stay with my parents. We hit the road on the next day and headed to Texas!

Our trip started off bright and early, which of course warranted a stop at Starbucks! We both got grande coffees. I snacked on a Luna bar for breakfast. We had also packed turkey sandwiches for lunch. In between, i consumed my weight in trail mix. I know I'm not the only one who can relate to this, but once i start with the trail mix, I.CANT.STOP. Its bad, really bad.

After about twelve long hours in the car, we arrived at our destination for the night, Fredricksburg, Texas! We had previously passed through this charming small town on another road trip to Houston, and my mom has always wanted to stop and spend some time exploring ever since. It happened to be Oktoberfest that weekend, so the small town was getting geared up for the big festival.

We checked into the hotel, freshened up our make up and headed out in search of some traditional German food. We were warned at the hotel desk that most places closed at 9 pm, so we were kind of in a time crunch. We stumbled upon this restaurant on Main Street, Auslander.

Apparently the word Auslander means visitor in German, very fitting considering it seemed to be a big tourist spot. Sadly, I'm still getting in the swing of taking pictures of all of my meals, so i don't have a picture of this one. Ill do my best to describe it, beer battered mushrooms with creamy ranch dressing and bratwurst with cheese, sauerkraut and pumpernickel bread. On the side, we enjoyed some beers, Hefeweizen for the mama and Blue Moon for myself. Two words, FRIED GOODNESS! This is totally not my usual fare, but every now and then it is nice to indulge in some of the crispy fried stuff!

The next day, we were up bright and early to head out to explore the town. We headed up Main Street, and our first stop was at the Pacific War Museum.

 We didn't do the tour, but it is definitely something i would like to do at some point. Next we headed a little further up the street, and stopped into the Fredricksburg Pie Company.

Nothing like the smell of delicious, warm, buttery pies at 10 am! The shop also had cute quilting things, antiques, nick-knacks, cook books, dishtowels, dishes and so many other cute things!

There were so many cute shops, we quickly realized we just weren't going to have the time to get to them all! A few of the highlights were the Fredricksburg Winery, where we sampled some wines and ended up buying a spiced Christmas wine. Another small shop I cant remember the name of, we picked up some Peach wine! So so yummy!

The Chocolate Shop, where we sampled some of their signature liqueur filled chocolates. I have never been a huge fan of Baileys, but wrap it up in some luscious dark chocolate to create a little exploding Baileys chocolate bomb and I'M IN!

We were running out of time so we decided to grab a Subway sandwich and hit one of the local wineries on the way out of town. We chose Grape Creek Vineyard. It was a beautiful place, we chatted and grabbed a glass of Pinot Grigio and enjoyed our sandwiches on the terrace! Now this is a place i would like to come back to!

We reluctantly left Fredricksburg and headed to Houston (don't worry, we only had one glass of wine and hung out for a bit longer before hitting the road), and after getting stuck in rush hour traffic in Austin, we  finally made it. We spent the weekend moving into our new place, unpacking, doing laundry and cleaning. I was able to hit the gym with mama for a yoga class on Sunday and Pilates class on Monday.

Fast forward a week of unpacking and getting settled, and here we are!

This morning started with a strong cup of coffee enjoyed in bed. Man am i going to miss these lazy mornings once i go back to work on Monday!

 
Then it was off to the gym for the daily workout. FIT (Functional Integrated Training) was on the agenda for the day. Ill have to do a more in depth post about the gym and classes i go to, but this class is primarily strength training and targets the smaller, "secondary" muscles as the instructor explained. We used a variety of equipment, and though it isn't a cardio class, we still got a nice muscle burn going on!

After class, i gulped a Protein shake. I'm really loving these right now. For one, they are delicious, not to mention pretty decent on the nutrition stats.

Next up: heading to the hospital to get my TB test read, last of the pre-employment stuff and ill be good to go for Monday!
Plan for tonight: Date night with my hubby!

Happy Weekend Y'all!

Whats in your smoothie?

Spinach in a smoothie? You must be crazy! Why would you put veggies in a smoothie? Smoothies are typically packed full of a variety of fruits, juices, yogurt, and milk. But what you may not realize is also packed in these delicious fruity smoothies....SUGAR!

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Take for example Jamba Juice Strawberries Wild, which lists Apple-Strawberry Juice Blend, Nonfat Frozen Yogurt, Strawberries, Bananas, Ice on the ingredient list (1). Juice blend? Frozen yogurt? The nutrition facts are not so stellar either, for a sixteen oz smoothie you get 52 grams of sugar and 60 grams of carbohydrates. This amount of sugar is comparable to a regular Coca Cola! Similarly, another large smoothie chain, Smoothie King, offers the Orange Ka-Bam which comes in at a whopping 108 g sugar and 117 grams of carbohydrates for a 20 oz smoothie (2). I don't know about you, but i thought i was doing my body a favor by gulping these smoothies.

So instead of spending your 5 bucks on one of these sugar bombs, make your own healthy version at home! All you need is some sort of blender, i prefer the Magic Bullet because of the easy clean up and travel-ability (is that a word? haha). There is no special recipe for a healthy smoothie, but i recommend packing in more veggies and fewer fruits. This will assure you are getting many of the vitamins and minerals with fewer calories. Did you know the USDA recommends we all should be eating 2 1/2 cups of  vegetables every day? Throwing your veggies in a smoothie is a perfect way to make sure you get enough of these miracle foods every day.

My current recipe:

• 1 cup spinach (could also be any other leafy green salad mix, kale etc)
• 1 large organic carrot
• 1/3 large cucumber (about a 3 inch segment, peeled)
• 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 small frozen banana
• 3/4 cup 1% milk

Nutrition Stats: 197 calories, 2 g  Fat, 37 g Carbohydrates, 25 g Sugar, 9 g Protein

Though this contains 25 grams of sugar, it is all from natural sources. Fructose is a natural "sugar" found in fruits and lactose is a natural "sugar" found in milk. The goal is to avoid excessive amounts of added sugar, like in juice, yogurt, ice cream, frozen yogurt and of course sugar or syrups, including honey.

The cucumber gives this a refreshing taste and the banana and blueberries give it enough sweetness. I personally do not add any sugar or sweetener to my smoothie, but if you are just starting to experiment with these smoothies, you may want to add some stevia or agave for added sweetness.

For added protein: consider adding 1 tbsp peanut butter or 1 cup plain greek yogurt.

For extra healthy fats: consider 2 tbsp ground flax seed or 1/2 of an avocado

 There you go, a quick and easy alternative to those expensive, sugar filled smoothies!


Sources:
1. Jamba Juice (2012). Classic Smoothies. http://www.jambajuice.com/menu-and-nutrition/menu/smoothies/classic-smoothies
2. Smoothie King (2012). Nutritional Information for a 20 oz size. http://www.smoothieking.com/smoothies/nutritional-chart.php

Sea Buckthorn... say whaaa?

While enjoying my time before starting my new job next week, I tuned into Dr. Oz  and was happily surprised to see  Dr. Andrew Weil on to talk about his "Anti-Inflammatory Diet". If you have never heard of Dr. Weil, he is an MD who focuses primarily on Integrative Medicine. According to Wikipedia, he believes in the use of Western medicine in combination with alternative therapies including herbal remedies, vitamin supplements and spiritual strategies (2).

One of the elements of his Anti Inflammatory Diet I had never heard of was a fruit called Sea Buckthorn. 

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Dr. Weil praised Sea Buckthorn for its high antioxidant content, thus contributing to reducing systemic inflammation. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals which can damage healthy cells through oxidation.  Many other foods also contain antioxidants including: blueberries, coffee,  kiwi, cherries, dark chocolate, almonds, pistachios, red wine, spinach, sweet potatoes and broccoli. The Web MD overview states:

Sea buckthorn is an herb. The leaves, flowers, and fruits are used to make medicine.

Sea buckthorn leaves and flowers are used for treating arthritis, gastrointestinal ulcers, gout, and skin rashes caused by infectious diseases such as measles. A tea containing sea buckthorn leaves is used as a source of vitamins, antioxidants, protein building blocks (amino acids), fatty acids and minerals; for improving blood pressure and lowering cholesterol; preventing and controlling blood vessel diseases; and boosting immunity.

Sea buckthorn berries are used for preventing infections, improving sight, and slowing the aging process.

The seed or berry oil is used as an expectorant for loosening phlegm; for treating asthma, heart disorders including chest pain (angina) and high cholesterol; for preventing blood vessel disease; and as an antioxidant. Sea buckthorn oil is also used for slowing the decline of thinking skills with age; reducing illness due to cancer, as well as limiting the toxicity of chemical cancer treatment (chemotherapy); balancing the immune system; treating stomach and intestinal diseases including ulcers and reflux esophagitis (GERD); treating night blindness and dry eye; and as a supplemental source of vitamins C, A, and E, beta-carotene, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. (1)

How could something with so many benefits, that is being widely used in other countries, such as China and Russia, be relatively unheard of in the United States? There is little scientific evidence on Sea Buckthorn, thus there are no recommendations on appropriate doses. This does not mean it is not safe, though as with any dietary supplement, these products are not monitored by the FDA. Dr. Weil recommended a 1 oz shot of pure Sea Buckthorn juice mixed with soda water daily. After a quick google search for Sea Buckthorn, there is a wealth of .com sites offering various Sea Buckthorn products, including juice and oil.

The Verdict: Though these little orange berries appear to be very high in antioxidants, they are EXPENSIVE. Most websites advertised the juice for about $1.00 per oz, sold in various size bottles. Eating a diet rich in other antioxidant rich foods (including those mentioned above) would be more economically friendly. In addition, considering there is little research on the efficacy of Sea Buckthorn, I would save my money for now.


References:
1. Web MD (2009). Sea Buckthorn: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-765-SEA%20BUCKTHORN.aspx?activeIngredientId=765&activeIngredientName=SEA%20BUCKTHORN

2. Wikipedia (2012). Andrew Weil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Weil

Dietitian versus Nutritionist...Yes there is a difference!

Dietitian, Nutritionist...interchangeable terms right? Not so fast! There is a significant difference in the credentials of Registered Dietitians and nutritionists. When I changed my major from pre-pharmacy to Nutrition, I thought i was going to be a quasi trainer that worked at a gym and talked about how to eat right. After a year of nutrition classes, my adviser asked me if I was going to pursue the Nutrition "track" or the Dietetics "track". I had no idea what she was talking about. She explained that the Nutrition track was good for those going on to medical school, dental school, pharmacy school etc. The dietetics track was for those who wanted to be a Registered Dietitian. I knew I wanted to be a dietitian, but still wasn't sure what all i could do as a dietitian. I began to take medical nutrition therapy classes, nutritional metabolism, nutrition and the life-cycle, food service management, and my favorite, FOOD SCIENCE LAB (i.e. make all kinds of tasty food and eat it)!  I realized that dietitians work in hospitals, restaurants, WIC clinics, dialysis centers, gyms, schools, grocery stores, food companies and even private practices. Clearly there was much more to being a dietitian than working in a gym talking about protein and calories. The cool part about the curriculum is that you are required to complete competencies in three different areas, Clinical Nutrition (hospitals), Food Service (restaurants, school food service, hospital food service) and Community (WIC Clinics, Food banks). This forces you to be exposed to a variety of work environments and jobs which in the end helps to decide what area you want to pursue in your career.

I currently work in a hospital and am often asked what a dietitian does in the hospital setting. Nutrition Support is one area the RD plays an integral role. This involves enteral and parenteral nutrition (think feeding tubes and intravenous nutrition). Dietitians also do a lot of nutrition education for special diets for a variety of medical conditions including diabetes, renal failure, post transplant, hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease.


So what does it take to be an RD?

First you have to complete a Bachelors degree in Dietetics or related field. My undergraduate degree also incorporates a minor in Chemistry. Many people don't realize the amount of science that is required for this degree. After this, you must apply to/get accepted to an accredited internship program. This is a pretty competitive process and there are considerably more applicants than there are internship spots. There is a minimum amount of hours you must complete in each of the three areas to fulfill the requirements for the internship. My internship was a combined Masters degree/Internship program that involved full time work at internship sites, and taking classes on line or in the evenings. After you complete the internship, you have to take the national exam to get the RD credential. After you obtain the credential, you must complete continuing education credits and turn them in to the Commission on Dietetic Registration to maintain your credential. Some states require licensing in addition to the RD credential as well.

It sounds like a lot, and I wont say it was a walk in the park, but the hard work pays off! Being a registered dietitian is not only a rewarding career, but also extremely versatile and ever changing. With continued research indicating the importance of proper nutrition, dietitians will play an important role in educating the public to create healthier communities!

Click Here to find a Registered Dietitian in your area

Making the Move

Good morning! Welcome to Doing the Dietitian Thing! After many half written blog posts and countless hours of thought, I have finally decided to take the plunge and join the blog community. I feel like I was a little late on discovering the wonderful world of healthy living blogs,  but I quickly became enthralled with reading about what other people eat, how they exercise, what they do for fun, and best of all the new recipes! I hope this blog can be a place to share my life, experiences, recipes, exercise, nutrition and anything else that may come up! 

So lets get right to it.....

You get to join me in an interesting and exciting week of my life. To sum it up, I quit my job and am moving back to TEXAS this week! More on the background of that to come :) So with that, my eats and exercise routine have been a little off this week since my kitchen now resides in large boxes peppered throughout the house! 

I stopped by Trader Joes last night after a much needed yoga sesh to pick up some premade salads to get me through the next couple of days! Last night, I enjoyed a wheatberry, butternut squash and roasted red pepper salad. It tasted absolutely amazing, and for $3.50, I felt like I got a whole lotta vitamins baby! After some more packing, more laundry and a refreshing shower, I settled in with a new to me evening snack....Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Instant Coffee! It was good, but not what I expected (I was hoping for a homemade PSL in my cup and it just wasnt happening). Dont worry, im sure i will still drink the rest of the packets ;) Oh and on the side, i enjoyed a dark chocolate sea salt caramel Dove chocolate...so so so good! 

I got to sleep in this morning, no work today just going in to turn in my ID badge, keys, pager etc and finish up with some paperwork. I woke up a little before 7, which is pretty good for this girl (Im ecstatic if i make it to 7!) I made a beeline to the coffee maker, as usual, and poured a steaming cup in my favorite mug...err bowl :) I recently made the transition to 1% milk from sweetened creamers...I know im such a big kid! But really, I just felt like that was one area I could cut out some added sugar and not miss it too much, cause lets face it, im not cutting out the good stuff (think brownies, cookies and ice cream). I really havent missed the flavored creamers and getting some extra calcium in the morning is a good thing! 

On the menu this morning, a luna bar! 

I have a slight obsession with these and they keep me full for a good 3-4 hours which usually gets me to lunch time! I know they have some extra stuff on the ingredients label that may be hard to pronounce, but they also have a good mix of carbs, protein, fats and vitamins. Not to mention, no dishes required, which is essential right now! 

On the agenda today: more laundry, more packing and getting ready for the movers to come in the morning..eeeeekkkk!!!!!