Caught a bit of the movie ”Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” this weekend.   Right when the town switched from a town eating everything “sardines” to a town where their favorite foods would rain down on them.  This, of course, resulted in overconsumption of everything they could possibly want with basically an unlimited supply.  And one person, the father of the ”food raining” inventor, questioned how good this was for the city.  The rest of the city, including the mayor, just kept indulging.

As I watched that clip, I realized how this sums up our current health crisis.  We are living in a society where we can have everything we want to eat at basically any time of day.  This has increased our disease risk and rate of obesity.  Tragically we are in a stage of overeating and undernourishment.  Even though many in our society are over their ideal body weight, they are malnourished.  Completely overeating foods that have little to no nutritional value the majority of the time.

The ”food tornado” was the last bit I caught of this movie.  The whole city of “ChewandSwallow” was being tormented by a huge food tornado.  And that’s it, I didn’t get to see how it ends.  

My hope for the real world is that soon we will all realize the “food tornado” we are in.  And the real potential for it not to end well if we don’t all become personally responsible for our food and lifestyle choices.

Acceptance.  Accepting who we are, where we came from, our strengths, our weaknesses, our mistakes and our triumphs.  Accepting that what we chose to do on a daily basis affects our wellness, our desire to be healthy and our ability to enjoy life.   Some personal traits may seem like they may never change; like how some are more likely than others to suffer from a variety of diseases or conditions, or to put on excess weight in certain body areas or having to deal with injuries that may affect how active we are. 

It is important to accept the fact that environment plays a substantial part in how healthy we are.  Also accepting that we must change those things that we can change and have the strength to continue on.

Today, as we start out the new year with hope for new beginnings, thankfulness for all we have been given and anticipation of things to come, my goal for you is to not just set random resolutions.  But to take some time to think of where you are in your life and what direction you would like to go.    Knowing that the goals you set today could take you on an excellent path towards better overall wellness. 

Happy New Year!

Making lists – one of my daily activities.  Between the grocery list, to-do list, take-to-school list, at work list and my mom list – the burden is heavy.  Lists keep me organized. 

On top of that I need to maintain my figure, control my emotions, attempt to be in three places at once – all while keeping track of where that needle in the haystack is. 

To manage these “lists” better, prioritizing is essential.  Being a positive role model for my family while ensuring they receive the proper nutrition, ranks high on my priority list.

Being a positive role model – something most of us strive for in our daily choices and health habits.  As a dietitian and parent of two young children, I have seen the influence that surroundings have on what is consumed.  If it’s in the house, it will be eaten.  Would my family love to have most of the grocery store’s snack aisle in our kitchen?  Sure.  But like I said, if it’s in the house it will be eaten. 

Which brings me to one more item for my list – GateKeeper ExtraOrdinaire.  This GateKeeper regulates which food items are allowed in the house the majority of the time.  On the GateKeeper’s acceptable list – celery, natural peanut butter, string cheese, dark chocolate, avocadoes, apples and spinach to name a few.  Items not usually on the GateKeeper’s list – iceberg lettuce, white bread, boxed macaroni and cheese, fruit snacks, potato chips and donuts.

GateKeeper ExtraOrdinaire.    Make sure your list has one.

Exciting news of National Television Personalities coming to Your Diet Designer! They were on The Today Show yesterday morning, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America and numerous magazines including Real Simple! And now they will be Guest Blogging in my Weight Management Program that starts next week! Jenny and Brigette, …the ladies from SqueezeItIn.com ! Love what they are doing and had the awesome opportunity to guest blog for them back in October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Check them out on Facebook or at http://www.squeezeitin.com/  Hope you have plans to join us – one more day to sign up for the program by emailing me at nikki@yourdietdesigner.com

Research continues to confirm that excess weight increases your risk of breast cancer and other diseases.  Are you carrying more around than you would like?  Do you have the dreaded ring around the middle?  I may just have the answer for you, if you are up to the challenge.

As some of you know…I have been on this dedicated journey of self-improvement the last 7 weeks.  I’ve buckled down and turned into a faithful exerciser - a huge step for me!  I had the diet part nailed, with 80-90% of the time eating healthy and allowing the other 10% for treats.  However, I felt I needed to do more – which is where my exercise came in. 

Now, at the 7th week of my 12 week journey to better health, the path has been marked with ups and downs, where some of life’s obligations got me off track.  Typical of the real world.  

Your chance to join me in a 12 week Weight Management/Healthy Lifestyle course is right now.  An opportunity to get professional coaching and benefit from my experience with people attempting to do the same thing – improve their health.  All this while offering the weekly message we all need to keep us focused and encouraged.   

Your cost:  None to you, my initial group.

You may choose throughout the program to order products that I have found to be most helpful on this journey.  Some of which has led to my success in bringing me from 5′9″ and 159 pounds to a lean 142 pounds, taking 8 inches total from my waist and hips and bringing me from the average size 10/12 to a size 6/8! No weight loss drugs or miracle supplements promising to make this easier – just healthy ideas for good results.

I want you to realize the same success I have had.  You are worth it – sometimes it just takes time to realize it.  Remember, this isn’t easy.  It involves a significant commitment and the willingness to work through and make the changes suggested.   But it is much easier if you have someone to lean on or a group of friends to take the challenge with you.

Start Date: Early May

To get yourself or a group of your friends involved in this challenge, send me an email at nikki@yourdietdesigner.com.  Can’t wait to see what the next few months will be about for all of us!

Spring is here, which leads to summers of shorts and tank tops.  I won’t even mention the other traditional pool outfits that can bring a girl to tears.  So let’s get a jump on it.  Lower your risk of disease, improve your health and feel good!  Join me, Your Diet Designer, as we take control and face this head on.  All genders welcome.  This isn’t just about fighting breast cancer, it’s about taking charge of your life!

My hope for you this week is to be mindful.  Be aware.  Aware of the celebration around you, while enjoying the company.  An awareness of your hunger level and what you are eating.

Trouble starts when we eat mindlessly - the sitting down in front of the TV with a bag of chips and POOF! the chips are gone.  We have all done that at least once. 

This easily happens during the holiday season.  Too busy to eat a meal so we snack – all day.  Too stressed so we eat.  Too much fun and entertainment we forget what we are eating.

So be mindful this Christmas.  Be aware of your surroundings and the food you are consuming.  Thoroughly enjoy the holiday and all it brings!  Merry Christmas…

Have you seen the commercials for pet food lately?  Bragging about quality lean protein, veggies, and Omega 3 fats that their products contain.  Would you want to give your pet anything different?

But then look at your kitchen.  Is it loaded with quality lean proteins, veggies, Omega 3 fats, etc or is it a mix of processed convenience foods and bad fats? 

You deserve a high quality diet.  Don’t let your pet outdo you in the nutrition part of your life.

As manufacturers and consumers battle it out while trying to unravel the mystery of “what to buy” , there have been different labeling programs that have developed.  As a Dietitian, I get fairly frustrated with the added confusion this brings.  Ultimately it is designed to help the consumer (You) have an easier time picking out healthful choices in the store.   But does it make it easier or more complicated?  It seems, more complicated.

I am sure you have seen these labels on foods you would never think would be a healthy choice, like sugared breakfast cereal that is about 40% sugar?  Seems like something is mixed up.  Per the package – one cereal is supposed to “improve immunity” and another “lowers your cholesterol 4 points if you eat 3 cups of it a day”.  My question is 4 points?  What good is that.  And really is breakfast cereal the best choice to get you started in the day?  And 3 cups of it every day?   

Well, it is being noticed.  And I think it needs to be.  But where do we go from here? 

I think we need to find an answer to this and quickly. 

But wait – we have one.  Rely less on what the food labels says and eat foods that don’t come with a standard food label.  Natural, wholesome foods that have not been altered by food manufacturers. 

This remains our best choice. 

See more about this….http://bit.ly/1BjVWd

This past week I came across a link looking at the Top 10 Best-Selling Grocery Items, which is always intriguing to me.  In one of my favorite books by Patrick Quillin, he referenced the top 10 from a few years ago.  

From then on I am hooked and very curious.  Aren’t you curious to see what the best-selling grocery store items are?   

Well, take a look and find out. 

After looking over the list, review your Top 10  foods on your grocery list.  Are there certain things that you get all the time that you need to get less often?  Buying more whole foods I hope – things that are not so processed?  If not, take this opportunity to change it.

Make your Top 10 – a disease-fighting Top 10!

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2009/10/the-top-10-bestselling-grocery-items.html

This month is the beginning of your big campaign, your mission to protect yourself and fight for your life.  

Let’s start with how you begin your day – breakfast.  Are you taking time to eat a wholesome breakfast?  If you don’t eat breakfast, is it because you get hungrier when you do eat?  I hear that many times.  Mainly because many people eat cereal and that’s it…. just cereal. 

The missing breakfast ingredient is protein!  Eggs, peanut butter, nuts, yogurt or whey protein.  And honestly, most of us would be better off picking something besides cereal.  This cereal just barely gets you started in your day and then BOOM, you are hungry again.

Some better ideas….

- Peanut Butter Whole Wheat Toast with Fruit - and I mean 1 peice of 100% whole wheat toast or New England Brown Bread and about 2 Tbsp of PB. 

- Yogurt, Fruit and Granola Parfait – love the Dannon All Natural Vanilla Yogurt

- Whey Protein Shake – see recipe on my site under Power Up Cancer Fighter Package

- Steel Cut oats with Berries and Almonds

Take the first step, on this first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.