October Favorites

Welcome to RDtipoftheday's favorites October edition. This is my blog series that highlights some of the things I've been watching, reading, listening to, cooking, and eating. These are a few of my favorite things.

Eating & Cooking

I love to bake, so naturally I enjoy baking tips. Heres a great tip on knowing when the cream puff dough is ready. Also, the hedgehogs are so cute! 

Infographic on how to cook the perfect hard boiled egg.

The Fall weather is so nice! It makes me want to eat warm, comforting soups. Here are a few of my favorite: slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, poblano pepper soup, and tomato basil soup. I think soups pair well with sliders like my chicken jalapeño sliders. Stay warm. Enjoy!

I was looking back at holiday pictures. I love this turkey. He's ready to hold some homemade ranch or hummus. I'm already prepping for Thanksgiving and Christmas baking and cooking. When do you start holiday food prepping? 

image via FoodNetwork.com

Watching

I love watching baking and cooking. Right now, I'm enjoying Kids Halloween and Halloween Baking Championship and the Kids Halloween Baking Championship on Food Network.

I'm loving the Great British Bake Off (#GBBO). Check out my Twitter as I'll be featuring some of the hilarious GIFs from the show.

Do you ever find yourself trapped in a YouTube rabbit hole? I do, especially with celebrities lip syncing or playing silly games. This is my current favorite with Mellissa McCarthy lip-syncing. Fast forward to 5:45 and just wait for it. It's full of Fall, animals, laughter, and glitter. What could be better?

Encouraging
I attended the Belong Tour and found it super encouraging. The themes for the year are: faith, friendship, and purpose. I was invited by my friend Amberly. We both enjoy reading Shauna and Jen's writing. Then, I invited more of my friends. Won some discounted tickets. It was great! It was a weekend full of girl talk, picnicking, truth, and encouragement.

I really like this quote by Marianne Williamson from A Return to Love, 

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shin, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

So, let's be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Let's shine and encourage others to do the same!

I hope you enjoyed these tips, recipes, and all of my favorites from this month. Let me know if this is a feature that you would like me to continue by commenting below. And, let me know if you have something you want to be featured. Thanks! Have a great weekend!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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September Reader Favorites

Thank you for all of the love this month! September is one of my favorite months; it's starting to feel like Fall. This month, I've been preparing some fun recipes and post ideas for the holidays. This is a great creative outlet for me to share recipes, ideas, and my nutrition knowledge. Stay tuned for some of those pictures and recipes. 


If you missed any of the posts this month, here are the top favorite posts you visited in the month of September. Enjoy!

Registered Dietitian's Top 5 Tips for Healthy Eating

 How Do I Become a Registered Dietitian?

 





Becoming a Registered Dietitian: The RD Exam

Becoming a Registered Dietitian: How to Succeed in Your Dietetic Internship

Cooking Class Part 3

3 Hummus Recipes

 Cookie Decorating Class

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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 RDTOD's September Favorites

Seafood Cooking Class

Cake Decorating Class

RDtipoftheday September Goals

As promised, I am sharing updates on my goals and 2016 resolutions each month. You can take a look at my 2016 goals and my thoughts on goals and resolutions. Sharing these goals is a way to keep me accountable and help me to improve, grow, and learn. People who share their goals tend to be more successful. So, I'm sharing the goals here to encourage you and to keep me accountable. You're welcome to comment with your goals and share your progress as well. Feel free to tag your goals with #RDTODgoals or #healthyRD on social media.

2016 Goals

Try 30 new recipes. 

In September, I tried a few new recipes including:

• Peanut butter banana muffins

• Ravioli Lasagna

• Jalapeño Sliders

• Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream and chocolate hazelnut buttercream

For those keeping track, this makes my new recipe count 29 out of 30.

Build endurance and strength.
I'm still loving my strength class. I've added another day of cardio, and I'm glad to say I've been able to be consistent with physical activity. There are times where I get sick and can't go, but I know the benefits of physical activity. What keeps you motivated? Comment below.

Travel.
We made a quick trip through Arkansas to visit some friends.  We lived in AR for a few years, so it's was great visiting familiar places, relive memories, and see friends! It was a quick trip, so we couldn't see everyone. We also explored some new places and restaurants, which I loved! Stay tuned for some of my AR favorites. 

Can you see the quote in the picture above? It says "Pumpkin spice tacos are here! Just kidding." You know it's Fall when pumpkin spice appears, but I can not fathom a pumpkin spice taco. What do you think? Are you pro pumpkin spice everything or is a pumpkin spice taco too far?

Read more.

This month, I read Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. I enjoy this author very much. One of my friends is hosting a Brunch and Books discussion, which I'm greatly looking forward to! And, a couple of my friends and I are attending the Belong Conference, where she will be speaking.

For those keeping track, my book count is 7 in 2016.


These are my broad goals for 2016. What goals are you working on in 2016? Comment below.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Let's Celebrate September

Y'all I LOVE celebrations! I love birthdays, holidays, Tuesdays, and Fridays! I love celebrating achievements: graduations, babies, marriage, or just being an amazing human being. Give me a reason, and I'll celebrate with you! So, this is a new feature that I thought would be fun! 

In this series, I'm going to provide an overview of the food celebrations and holidays in the month, so you can celebrate. For me, it's helpful for menu planning or throwing themed dinners. These food holidays are a great way to have a themed meal and invite people over to your home. 

Eating together, celebrating, and inviting people into your home are a great ways to build community. There's something about breaking bread, cooking, sharing recipes, and food that sparks conversation. I love talking and celebrating around a table. So, here are some food celebrations in September.

September has several celebrations throughout the month. September is:

• National Chicken Month
• National Honey Month
• National Mushroom Month
• National Papaya Month
• National Potato Month
• National Rice Month

There are also many celebrations on days throughout September. 

• September 1 is National Gyro Day
• Our city has a Greek Food Festival this month that my friends and I are going to got to. See if your city has a Greek Food Fest and enjoy some gyro and baklava. Yum!

• September 2 is National "Grits for Breakfast" Day

• September 4 is National Macadamia Nut Day

• September 5 is National Cheese Pizza Day

• September 6 is National Coffee Ice Cream Day

• September 9 is National "I Love Food" Day

• September 10 is National Hot Dog Day

• September 12 is National Chocolate Milkshake Day

• September 13 is National Peanut Day
• I used peanuts to make the "gold" in my rainbow and pot of gold hummus plate.

• September 17 is National Apple Dumpling Day

• September 18 is National Cheeseburger Day
• I made this turkey burger for the NKF. You can get the recipe on their Food Coach website.

• September 23 is National White Chocolate Day

• September 25 is National Food Service Workers Day

• September 26 is National Key Lime Pie Day
• I made these yummy, key lime squares for the NKF. If you want the recipes for free, sign up for there Food Coach. Enjoy!

• September 29 is National Coffee Day

I thought this list would be inspiring for your meal plan for September. I hope it is inspiring. So, let's celebrate. If you participate in these monthly celebrations, tag me, @RDtipoftheday, and use the hashtag #RDTODcelebrate for a chance to be featured. 

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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What's in Season for Fall?

There is a huge trend in food - eating local! The best way to eat local is to eat in season. So, what fruits and vegetables are in season for Fall?

• Acorn Squash
• Asian Pear
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Butter Lettuce
• Butternut Squash
• Cauliflower
• Cranberries
• Date Plum
• Daikon Radish
• Endive
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Grapes
• Hearts of Palm
• Huckleberries
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Key Limes
• Kumquats
• Muscadine Grapes
• Mushrooms
• Passion Fruit
• Pear
• Persimmons
• Pineapple
• Pomegranate
• Pumpkin
• Radicchio
• Sweet Potatoes
• Swiss Chard
• Turnips

Thank you to More Matters for this seasonal produce list. This month I am highlighting a variety of fruits and vegetables. We will learn about the vitamins and minerals of each fruit and veggie. We'll learn how to pick the best produce and ideas for including more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.

Here's to a great month!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

The A, B, C's of Produce

This month I am highlighting a variety of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain  a plethora of micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. There are many health benefits to consuming adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals including promoting good health and disease prevention. Today, we're also learning the A, B, C's of how to pick the best produce.

Apples

• There are a variety of types of apples: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala, the list is almost never-ending. The different varieties of apples have different textures, tartness, and sweetness.
• Selection: The key to picking a good apple is to pick a firm apple and avoid bruises that create mush spots.
• Storage: Refrigerate apples in a plastic storage bag; keep away from strongly-odored foods. 
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, and a good source of dietary fiber

Bananas

• Selection: Choose bananas that are slightly green near the tip and stem. Bananas should be firm; avoid bruises.
• Storage: Bananas continue to ripen at room temperature. You may also store banana in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The skin of the banana may darken.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, and a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.

Beets

• Selection: Choose beets that have smooth, firm skin. Look for fresh leaves that are not wilted.
• Storage: Remove leaves, but leave about one inch of stem. Store in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. Use within 3 weeks.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, and an excellent source of folate
• You can eat the beet and the leaves!

Bell Peppers

• Selection: Chose firm, brightly colored bell peppers. Avoid dull or shriveled peppers.
• Storage: Refrigerate in a zip-top plastic bag; use within 5 days.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, high in vitamin C
• Fun Fact: Pepper, including bell peppers, originated in Central and South America.

Broccoli

• Selection: Choose broccoli with bluish-green florets and tight heads. Choose broccoli that does not have an odor.
• Storage: Store in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. Use within 3-5 days for maximum flavor and freshness.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, high in folate, and a good source of fiber and potassium.

Blueberries

• Selection: Choose firm, plump blueberries with a dusty blue color. Avoid shriveled or moldy berries.
• Storage: Refrigerate for 10-14 days.
• Nutrition Benefits: low fat and a good source of vitamin C and fiber
• Fun Fact: Early American colonists made grey paint by boiling blueberries in milk!

Cherry Tomatoes

• Selection: Choose tomatoes that are plump and firm with bright, shiny skin. Avoid mold.
• Storage: Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight. 
• Nutrition Benefits: high in vitamin A and C and a good source of potassium

Grapes

• Selection: Choose grapes that are plump and firm. Avoid mold.
• Storage: Grapes can be refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to 1 week.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat-free, cholesterol free, and very low in sodium

Stay tuned for more on picking produce in the remainder of the alphabet. Throughout this month, I will share ideas for including more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.