RDtipoftheday Favorites: June Edition

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

Eating & Cooking

Homemade granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit

Watching

Have y'all seen the Cookie Monster commercial? I think we can all relate to this because he knows how it feels to wait for cookies to bake.

For a few more giggles, check out Cookie Monster's outtakes.

Also, I love celebrity musical impressions.


I really enjoy watching Food Network Star. I found some videos and articles about previous contestants on Food Network Star. From Season 7, Whitney Chen on Following Your Passion and information about being a contributing editor at Guilt Taste.















Also from Season 7, Mary Beth Albright's article about Food Writer's Take on Gingerbread. Here's an inside the Food Network Star Kitchen; it's a really neat perspective on the set. I love seeing behind the scenes pieces.




Listening
Hope writers podcast - I liked this episode about learning from unlikely writing teachers. I find inspiration in many things, but it seems to come in spurts or seasons. So if you need some inspiration for writing, check out this podcast.

Encouraging
I loved Annie F Downs' talk on One Calling, Multiple Expressions. I believe we all have gifts and abilities. How we use our talents may look different in different seasons. Check it out; I found it to be super encouraging.

Reading
If you are wanting to use your gifts and talents in a creative way, are you blogging? Writing may not be everyone's creative outlet. But if you're starting a blog, check out these five ways to start and grow a blog.

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. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

RDtipoftheday Favorites: May Edition







RDtipoftheday Favorites: April Edition

RDtipoftheday Favorites: March Edition

Reader Favorites for March 2016

Homemade Granola Recipe

RDtipoftheday's Homemade Granola

I love breakfast! It is my favorite meal of the day. As a Registered Dietitian (RD), I get asked  "what is the most important meal?". It's breakfast! As the name suggests, you break your fast of not eating all night. It's the best way to start your day. Let's start your day with homemade granola. It's a great start to fuel your day.

Ingredients
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup water
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups old fashion oats
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sliced almonds

Instructions
Combine oil, honey, sugar salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and water. Mix together. Add oats, pecans, and almonds. Mix until dry ingredients are coated. Place on 2, 9 x 13 half-sheets lined with parchment paper or a nonstick pastry mat. Bake at 300*F for 20-25 minutes until golden and toasty brown. Enjoy!

Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy my homemade granola.

Strawberries & cream (well . . . vanilla yogurt) with RDTOD's homemade granola

RDTOD's granola breakfast bowl: peaches, blueberries, & yogurt 

 Red, white, and blueberry yogurt bowl

I'll be sharing more ways to enjoy granola, so stay tuned! For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Healthy RD Challenge

Celebrate June

7 Quick Breakfast Ideas to Jumpstart Your Day

Let's Celebrate June

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. 

I feel like inviting people into your home is a great way 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 June.

June has several celebrations throughout the month. June is:

• National Fruit and Vegetable Month
• Use #HealthyRD to document your fruit and vegetable recipes this month. 

• National Dairy Month
• Try a parfait for breakfast to celebrate National Dairy and Fruit Month!

There are also many celebrations on days throughout June. 

• June 2 is National Rotisserie Chicken Day
• Use rotisserie chicken as a short cut to make chicken Marsala.

• June 4 is National Eggs Benedict Day and National Cheese Day

• June 7 is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

• June 12 is International Falafel Day

• June 13 is Cupcake Lover's Day

• June 14 is National Strawberry Shortcake Day

• June 15 is National Lobster Day

• June 17 is National Apple Strudel Day

• June 18 is International Picnic Day

• June 20 is National Vanilla Milkshake Day

• June 21 is National Peaches and Cream Day
• Celebrate with a peach parfait or Peach French Toast for breakfast. Or, you can try Peach and Pecan Bread Pudding for dessert.

• June 22 is National Onion Ring Day

• June 25 is National Catfish Day

I thought this list would be inspiring for your meal plan or party ideas for June. I hope it is inspiring. So, let's celebrate. If you participate in these monthly celebrations, tag me, @RDtipoftheday, and use the hashtag #RDTODcelebrate or #HealthyRD 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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Quick and Fruity Breakfast Smoothie

Good morning! Do you know why it's a good morning? I had a great breakfast! I wake up and am motivated to get out of bed because of breakfast. It's a great way to start the day. I love this simple, quick smoothie to start your day in a healthy way. If you're looking for a quick breakfast, this is your recipe.

I love fruit and yogurt, which is the base of this smoothie. I love using frozen fruits for smoothies. They keep your drink cold. And, frozen fruit is a great way to eat fruit out of season and get micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals, in the winter. Fruit is picked in season. Then, frozen. Since I can't get fresh peaches and blueberries this time of year, frozen fruit is the way to go.

Here's the recipe for my Peach and Blueberry Smoothie.
1 ripe banana
1 1/4 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup blueberries
6 ounces light vanilla yogurt (I used Yoplait yogurt.)
1/4 cup skim milk

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. This smoothie is a gorgeous color. It has a thick, silky texture that still allows you to drink it through a straw. It's portable. It blueberryrific. It's peachy! It's a great way to start your day.  Enjoy!

I know many of you are working on your new goals and resolutions. If your goal is to eat breakfast, try this delicious smoothie. It takes very little time to prepare and is a great way to start your day.

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

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Produce Spotlight: from L-W

This month I am highlighting a variety of fruits and vegetables. We are learning about the vitamins and minerals of each fruit and veggie. We've already learned the A, B, C's of produce. Today, we'll learn more about how to pick the best produce.

Lemons

• Selection: Choose lemons that are firm and heavy for their size. Look for thin, smooth skin.
• Storage: Lemons can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat free, cholesterol free, and high in vitamin C
• Fun Fact: The color "lemon" was added to the Crayola coloring box in 1949.

Mandarin Oranges aka "cuties"

• Selection: Select mandarin oranges that are heavy for their size. Avoid blemished fruit that has cuts, mold, or soft spots.
• Storage: Refrigerate mandarin oranges up to 2 weeks. They may be stored on the counter for a few days.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat free, a good source of vitamin A, and an excellent source of vitamin C
• Fun Facts: Mandarin oranges are a class of oranges the include Satsumas, Clementine, Honey, and tangerines. The skin of these oranges is easy to peel. There are even seedless varieties!

Peaches

• Selection: Choose peaches that have firm, fuzzy skins. Peaches are ripe when they yield to gentle pressure.
• Storage: Store at room temperature and use within 1-2 days.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat free, cholesterol free, and a good source of vitamin C
• Fun Fact: You can accelerate peach ripening by placing unripe peaches in a paper bag.

Red Potatoes

• Selection: Choose firm, fairly smooth potatoes; avoid potatoes with wrinkles.
• Storage: Store in a cool, dark place that is well-ventilated. Use potatoes within 3-5 weeks.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat free, cholesterol free, and an excellent source of vitamin C.
• Fun Fact: Red potatoes were first cultivated in Peru. They are best for roasting or boiling.

Sweet Potatoes

• Selection: Choose firm, fairly smooth potatoes; avoid potatoes with blemishes, cracks, or soft spots..
• Storage: Store in a cool, dark place. Use potatoes within 3-5 weeks.
• Nutrition Benefits: good source of dietary fiber and potassium and high in of vitamin C.
• Fun Fact: Red potatoes were first cultivated in Peru. They are best for roasting or boiling.

Watermelon

• Selection: Choose a watermelon that is heavy for its size and has yellowish underside.
• Storage: You can store a whole watermelon at room temperature. Refrigerate watermelon in a zip-top bag or airtight container and use within 5 days.
• Nutrition Benefits: fat free, cholesterol free, and high in vitamin A and C.

Stay tuned all month for ideas to include more fruits and vegetables into your diet. For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

#HealthyRDChallenge Roundup

How did you do with the #HealthyRD Challenge? I hope you are did well and are maybe even thinking of continuing the challenge. Simply make at least 1 healthy choice per day. 

What is the Healthy RD Challenge?
This is my challenge for each of us to take one step a day on the road to being healthier . . . the healthy road or #HealthyRD if you will. If you participate in the #HealthyRD challenge, make sure you use the hashtag #HealthyRD. Tag me on Instagram and or tweet me, @RDtipoftheday, for a chance to be featured! I am sharing the five healthy choices I'm making each day this week.  

Here's a reminder of what I did for the Healthy RD Challenge of the last 2 weeks: 

Day 1 

Day 2 

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6 

Day 7

Day 8 

Day 9 

Day 10

Check out the links to get ideas on living a healthier lifestyle. And for even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter .

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Favorite Recipes

National Nutrition Month Roundup

Healthy RD Challenge: Day 3

How are you doing with the #HealthyRD Challenge? I hope you are doing well! Here's a reminder of what I've done for the Healthy RD Challenge: Day 1 and Day 2.

What is the Healthy RD Challenge?
This is my challenge for each of us to take one step a day on the road to being healthier . . . the healthy road or #HealthyRD if you will. If you participate in the #HealthyRD challenge, make sure you use the hashtag #HealthyRD and tag or tweet me, @RDtipoftheday, for a chance to be featured! I am sharing the five healthy choices I'm making each day this week. 

Healthy RD Challenge: Day 3
Today, I am going to meet the #5aDayChallenge, which is my #HealthyRD Day 3 healthy choice. I issued a #5aDayChallenge last summer as a way to encourage myself and others to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

I have the privilege of counseling children of all ages. The number one healthy dietary obstacle they face is eating enough fruits and veggies. Most children state that the taste of fruits and vegetables is the number 1 obstacle to meeting the #5aDayChallenge.

I also have the privilege of teaching several collegiate nutrition courses. My college students also have challenges to eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. My college students say lack of time (aka busyness) or lack of availability of fruits and vegetables are the two common obstacles to meeting the #5aDayChallenge.

I am a Registered Dietitian (RD). I encourage people to meet the #5aDayChallenge. I am a recovering picky eater. I, like everyone else, am busy. We all have budgets, time constraints, and obstacles that make it challenging to live a healthy lifestyle. However, we also know the importance of eating healthfully. So, I am taking the #5aDayChallenge to become a #HealthyRD (healthier registered dietitian). Who's with me?

How will you choose to be healthy today?

Check with your personal RD or MD before starting a new diet or exercise program to make sure it is healthy, safe, and the right choice for you.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

 

Healthy RD Challenge Day 1

Healthy RD Challenge Day 2

4 Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals