NASCAR and Family

            Growing up with a father who loved NASCAR was exciting. I never had to guess what would be on our television set on any Saturday or Sunday during the race season. Although each family member likes a different driver, we all had one in common, Dale Earnhardt. I still recall seeing that number three car racing around the track on our television set that was definitely not a flat screen. My dad would be “a hoopin’ and a hollerin’” as I called it. He would get excited as Earnhardt took the lead, and get angry if Gordon was even close to him.  I never realized the depth of my love for the sport of NASCAR until I had to argue with my Dad that Dale Earnhardt had really passed away after that sad day in Daytona.

            I always found it amusing that NASCAR began by the men racing cars with huge trunks to see who would get to haul the moonshine that night. These men probably never knew that racing would become such a competitive and popular sport. Now that I am older, I have went to several races, and in person, it is a lot different that the television makes it seem. The cars go extremely fast, the turns are very steep, and the drunken rednecks are way more loud and crazy than they seem. I truly find NASCAR to be amusing, entertaining, and fun.

            Seeing that my dad was driving a truck most of the time when I was young, he was not home the day of Earnhardt’s wreck. I remember sitting in the chair that Dad sat in to watch the race. As the final lap of the race was taking place, Earnhardt was in third place, protecting the lead of Michael Waltrip and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. As the black number three car slammed into the concrete wall, I sat there staring at the television screen. The race had ended and Michael Waltrip won, and immediately, Dale Jr ran to his father’s car as the ambulances arrived at the scene. Later on that night, my dad arrived and began to ask about the race. I could not come to the point of telling him that one of the best NASCAR drivers in history was no longer going to be racing. My mama on the other hand, had no problem blurting out that he was dead. My dad was in utter shock. He did not believe us; he was angry and said that he was not dead. Mama walked into her room and pulled up the website with the video of the crash, and the news article stating that Dale Earnhardt had passed away.

            I know that Earnhardt would have won that race in Daytona. Even to this day he is appreciated and missed by many. He was a genuine man, he did not live a high class lifestyle nor did he change his ways because of his fame. He was a driven man, who was determined to win. He was and still is to this day known as the intimidator. No one will ever drive a car in NASCAR with his number on it. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr continues to race to this day and has been very successful in carrying out his father’s legacy. Dale Earnhardt is a legend, and I would love to be able to meet him, even though he has passed on, he will never be forgotten.

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Good nutrition is essential for good health. Not only is nutrition a preventive measure for many chronic diseases and problems, but nutrition is a science that is constantly changing as new evidence and new research appears. Registered Dietitians (RD’s) are the professionals that are required to stay up to date and in the know about current nutrition which is evidence-based. RD’s are professionals who have an undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition, food science, and/or dietetics from an accredited program, followed by a 1200 hour minimum internship that is packed with different rotations in the field of nutrition, followed by an exam that has to be passed in order to legally use the term registered dietitian (RD) behind their name and counsel others. After all of this, in order to maintain their license in the state of Georgia, a RD must meet requirements of completing 30 continuing education hours every two years and in order to remain a registered dietitian, one must complete 75 continuing education hours every 5 years. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a large organization filled with food and nutrition professionals in all fields of nutrition. They also are an advocate and educator for evidence-based practice and reliable nutrition information you can trust. They also promote National Nutrition Month. National Nutrition Month is in March each year. This year’s theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape.” In case you are not aware, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created an icon known as MyPlate. Its predecessor, MyPyramid, ended in the summer of 2011. This icon is always based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans which are updated every 5 years. This new icon also places an emphasis on mealtime and the recommendations are for children two of age or older. Although the MyPlate icon is only one symbol, it is a recommendation for everyone. However, the portion sizes do vary based on one’s age. Portion sizes developed for you can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov.  MyPlate is a colorful icon that represents 5 essential components of a plate: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. The goal is to make your plate into four sections. Half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. For example, a lunchtime salad can meet this recommendation by having a spinach salad with dried cranberries, dried strawberries, diced green pepper, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The other half of my plate would be filled with protein and grains. MyPlate recommendations state that protein should take up 1/4^th of your plate and grains should take up the final 1/4^th of your plate. The final component is a low-fat dairy product or a 1% or fat-free milk product. 2% milk and dairy products do not count as a low-fat dairy product; these are reduced-fat products. This is not drawn on the plate divided into four sections but it is drawn as a cup sitting to the side of the plate. If you are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy, the recommendations are for you to replace this product with a food product that is high in calcium. MyPlate recommendations also recommends drinking less sugary drinks and replacing it with 100% juice, water, or low-fat or fat-free milk. The MyPlate icon is not something that has to be followed three times a day, you can spread out the recommended amounts between three meals and two snacks, five small meals, or however you choose to divide up your daily intake. Following the guidelines set by MyPlate and controlling your portion sizes will have your plate in shape in no time!

For more information on the MyPlate recommendations, visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. For a referral to a registered dietitian and for additional food and nutrition information visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at www.eatright.org.

Prepared by Morgan Sanders, Cedar Crest College Dietetic Intern

Global Nutrition

The following was an assignment completed for my dietetic internship. I find global issues to be interesting. I never thought that I would enjoy International Studies but while in school during my undergraduate career, I took that course and I could not quit talking about things that was going on in the world. You may or may not find the following interesting, but I thought it was worth posting!

Enjoy!

Global Nutrition Assignment

1)      Of the numerous causes of hunger identified in this week’s readings, choose one that you believe would be particularly surprising to most people in the US. Describe to your reader’s how/why this issue impacts hunger.

As I was reading this week, I came across a statistic that reported that stated that greater than 35% of food emergencies across the world are due to human causes such as war, oppression, and displacement. I believe that this statistic would surprise most people in the U.S. because it even surprised me. According to Santa Clara University (2010), “little benefit is derived from aiding poor nations. Aid sent to developing countries rarely reaches the people it was intended to benefit. Instead, it is used by oppressive governments to subsidize their military or spent on projects that benefit local elites, or ends up on the black market.” To hear that help is offered to countries yet authority is keeping it from the people who needs it most is shocking. While in college I took an online course called International Studies in which I had to learn about a lot of different global issues. I remember watching scenes from the movie Black Hawk Down and reading about how the UN sent food to Somalia and sent soldiers there to help this country. However, a lot of food sent to this country and when it was directly delivered to the people, it was beneficial. However, when the UN relied on the authority in the country to distribute the food, it was withheld from the people who needed it most. It is hard for me to comprehend that people who are in charge of a country would want to harm others. Here in the United States, we have all sorts of programs that aide those in need and it is easy to forget that other places are not that fortunate. When food is withheld from those in need, the situation only gets worse which makes the global hunger issue worsen.

2)      Discuss the role of women in the issue of global hunger. Be sure to address both how women are particularly impacted by hunger as well as the potential role of women in combating hunger worldwide.

The World Food Programme (2012) states that pregnant women have special nutritional needs and if they can receive proper nutrition while pregnant and while breastfeeding, they can prevent a lot of issues that may arise and increase the number of children and women who are malnourished. The organization also mentions that it is extremely important for women to receive proper nutrition that were malnourished before pregnancy because the women are lacking essential vitamins and minerals. Feeding America (2012) makes a great point by stating that “the immature immune systems of young children, ages 0-5, make them especially vulnerable to nutritional deprivation and as a result, the ability to learn, grow, and fight infections is adversely affected.” If a mother is properly nourished during pregnancy and after, she can exclusively breastfeed her child, especially mothers who do not have a safe water supply for formula mixing. If this would happen, women could help combat the global hunger issue. However, not only would nutrition during and after pregnancy have to be fixed, but breastfeeding education would be beneficial as well.

3)      Describe for your readers the potential impact they could make themselves on global hunger by personally practicing sustainability in their own lives. Be sure to make the connections between the two very clear.

If everyone practiced sustainability such as recycling, reducing food waste, donating unwanted food, cutting down on paper usage and waste, composting, and other small changes, this world would see huge changes. George Kent, writer for the Huffington Post (2010), states that the main issue of world hunger is “there is plenty of food. The problem is that more than a billion people are so poor that they cannot afford the food that is out there. The food is available, but not accessible to them.” Supporting agencies such as Samaritans Purse and Feeding America are great ways that we can use that extra change in our pockets of that money that we throw away on excess food to help those in need. Instead of running the water while you brush your teeth, cut the water off and save on your water bill. By during this you can take the money you save over time and put it towards an organization that helps those without a way to access safe water get water that is safe to drink. According to the World Food Programme (2012), the world has enough food to supply the entire population; however, it is not easy to get the food to people in need. Some countries try to control the population of their country, while the issue remains that poor countries have a large population with large problems such as disease and hunger. Without proper nutrition, one cannot fight off diseases and many are dying from malnutrition and diarrhea in third-world countries while wealthier countries are combating obesity and over population. Where do we draw the line? Where does government need to step in? Where does authority need to dictate who can have children and who gets to eat? These are all questions that need to be answered. Sustainability is something everyone can practice in their own lives. A sustainable practice may be something as small as not wasting food or not overeating, but if everyone would practice small changes, the world would see a large difference in issues such as global hunger.

References

Feeding America. (2012). Impact of hunger. Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger.aspx.

Kent, G. (2010). Huffington Post. Achieve sustainability or end hunger?. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-kent/achieve-sustainability-or_b_669304.html.

Santa Clara University. Andre, C., & Velasquez, M. (2010). World hunger: A moral response. Retrieved from: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v5n1/hunger.html.

World Food Programme. (2012). Nutrition for mothers and young children. Retrieved from http://www.wfp.org/nutrition/mothers-children.

This blows my mind...

“Today, one in seven people do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life, making hunger and malnutrition the number one risk to health worldwide -- greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis  combined.”

-World Food Programme, 2011

Songs = Memories

This morning it came across my newsfeed that CMT was playing a new video by the Eli Young Band called "Even If It Breaks Your Heart." I love music, especially country music and if you know me, I love to know all of the words to every song.

Somehow, I relate every song I hear to a memory or to a time period in my life and when it plays, I begin daydreaming. Sometimes a song brings me back to a good time and sometimes a not so good time but no matter what, I remind myself that the time, place, or memory that a song brings me back to has led me to where I am now.

The new Eli Young Band song states
"Some dreams stay with you forever,
drag you around but bring you back to where you were.
Some dreams keep on gettin better,
gotta keep believin if you wanna know for sure."

This is one of the truest things that I think anyone can relate to.

Some dreams do stay with you forever, one example for me is a wedding. Yes, I am married, but I still have this dream of my dream wedding that I began planning as a little girl. I know it is not realistic due to the price it would have cost, but I still can see that picture in my head. When I hear Dusty Drake's song "Say Yes" or Tracy Byrd's "Keeper of the Stars" it always brings me back to that dream.

No matter what I dreamed or wanted in my dreams, I am so thankful that I am where I am today. All of the wishes, hopes, and dreams has led me to where I am today.

Always dream. Dreams help you to keep believing and to keep goals.

New Year, Old Recipe

Dorito Casserole - a family and friend favorite old recipe that I love to make and know the directions by heart!

Here is what you need:
1 big bag of Doritos
1/2 Green Pepper
1/2 Yellow or Sweet Onion
1 can of cream of mushroom
1 can of cream of chicken
1 can of enchalida sauce
1 can of tomato sauce
1, 2 cup bag of cheddar cheese
1 pound of ground turkey, beef, deer, or veggie crumbles

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees... Then, start by chopping the onion and green pepper and cook them in a pan until tender.

Next, spray the pan with canola cooking spray and line the bottom of a 9x13 glass casserole dish with crushed Doritos. No, it does not matter if every single part of glass is covered.

Next, dump the sauces and soups into a bowl.

Mix it all up really well!

Brown the meat or meat alternative in with the cooked onion and pepper.

Next add the cooked meat, onion, and pepper to the soup and sauce mix and pour this mix over the Doritos in the casserole dish. Then put a layer of cheddar cheese followed by the Doritos.

Your layers should go: Doritos, meat/soup mix, cheese, Doritos, meat/soup mix, and then Doritos. Once this is done bake it at 350 for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes is up, add the last layer of cheese on top of the Doritos and bake for 5 more minutes and then serve!!

Enjoy!!

-MES

Christmas Party

As I am getting ready for my Christmas party at our house this year, I cannot help but think about all of the great recipes that I want to prepare. How does one decide if something is proper or not to serve at a 6:30 Christmas party? Well, I started thinking along the lines of soup and sandwiches and then my husband mentioned smoking a Boston butt and making barbecue or grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. I love the hamburger and hot dog idea but that is one of our summer cookouts that we have and that seems sort of like a birthday party idea so we had to keep thinking! Well, finally after a lot of discussion, we decided to serve:
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Hawaiian Ham and Swiss Rolls
Cocktail BBQ Weenies
Apple Pie Dip with Graham Crackers
Cream Cheese with Pepper Jelly Ball with Ritz Crackers
Sweet Tea
Coke & Diet Coke
and
Wassail.

On top of this, since we are newlyweds and most of our friends are young without much money, all of the girls were asked to bring a dish. So we have someone bringing chips, a cake, brownies, some kind of dip, cheese biscuits, and other things!

Also, I asked each girl to bring a wrapped ornament for an ornament swap! I think this could be a great tradition for years to come!

We are both so excited.... IF ONLY the house would clean itself. I know that no one receives an award for the "cleanest house" but I like to entertain, therefore I want my house to be spotless! It is difficult to get any cleaning done when my pup, Zoe wants all of my attention. Therefore, tonight she is going to stay with my parents for a while so that I can get some much needed cleaning done!

Next on my agenda after all this party planning has been consuming my mind all week is my internship. I am finishing up week 15 of my Dietetic Internship through Cedar Crest College. I cannot believe that I am halfway done. I have three weeks of foodservice left in January and then I move on to Community Nutrition until the end of April and then I am DONE! I cannot explain how excited I am that I will be Registered Dietitian Eligible come May. I am so excited to begin looking for jobs in January! This whole working for no pay is worse than being a college student because at least during college I was able to work two or three part time jobs. Currently, I am working 40 hours a week, taking 12 hours of graduate classes, and working zero part time jobs. I keep telling myself that May will be here before I know it.

Girls Night Out and the gym are the only things keeping me stress free and sane right now. Projects, papers, work, and life gets very overwhelming not to mention that I should be studying for the RD exam now! I am so thankful to have my friends around though when I need them and thankfully most of them are home from graduate school on break for a few weeks! Here is a glance at how my fall has went so far since it is  now coming to an end!

Millie & I

The Nutrition Girls at Emmies Wedding!

Emmie!!

Sarah & I at Jenna's Wedding

The Hubby & I

Jenna Suzanne's Big Day!

The Hubby's Graduation Day!

At my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's wedding!

Me & my sister-in-law

Whit & I at the fair

After the concert!

Hannah & I

Zoe Bug loves to have her picture taken!

Whit, Meg, Me, & Nat out on Christmas Break

Millie, Jenn, Me, & Whit before heading to dinner

Wedding season for me has officially ended. I attended my last wedding of the year in November for my sweet friend Laura.

 I love weddings but my poor husband thinks it is torture to have to go to so many of them. He had no idea that his wife had so many friends getting married :) Too bad he is my wedding date for all of them, but he is off the hook until next spring :)

Well, I better get back to work, so many projects left to finish and so little time!

Until next time.... I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-MES