Healthy eats 101.

A common concern some friends have made is, "I just don't know what to get to eat!" Like we've all been fed our whole lives but how well do we remember what our parents picked out from the grocery store? If someone had explained to me my freshman year how essential tomato paste is to one's pantry, my life would be a whole different story right now. So, in an attempt to assist fellow friends who are living and grocery shopping on their own, here's a little advice on what to get and how to eat healthy.

First. The basics. Here's a picture of my go-to groceries. The only thing not pictured is bananas and let me tell you, this past week has been a bummer because of my lack of bananas.

Here's the break down:

Basic protein:

• Black beans (Amazing in salad)
• Eggs
• Garbanzo beans/ humus
• Peanut butter
• Tuna

Basic veggies:

• Frozen peppers (I put these in literally every dish!)
• Squash (Zucchini in the summer, squash in the winter) 
• Red onion (Also in every dish)
• Tomatos or caned diced tomatos 
• Greens (Green beans right now. Other times, broccoli) 
• Spinach!
• Potatoes, either sweet or regular 
• Carrots. Always carrots
• Mushrooms

Basic grains

• White quinoa (Can soak up so much flavor!)
• Oatmeal
• Granola 
• Whole wheat flour for break making!
• Tortillas

Others:

• Greek yogurt
• Dressing (Just choose a vinaigrette with tons of flavor. Right now, I'm using a cranberry one from Trader Joe's!)
• Yellow raisins. A sweet snack
• Fruit- seasonal

Wow, lengthy run down! It is intimidating, but start somewhere!

Something I always have to remind myself is to not judge your chapter one with someone else's chapter 20. If eating healthy for you is just having 2 slices of pizza instead of the whole box, that is an awesome step! Take it slow. If you try to shift your life-long eating habits in one week, you are not going to get very far. Change one part of your diet each month. Work hard and keep going if you mess up! Food is so fun! Just try different combinations and play around with flavors. You will develop your own style of eating and flavors and foods. And remember, treat yourself! Eating ice cream and brownies is still ok, just be conscious and eat moderation!

Giving is greater than receiving

August 23rd (yesterday) was the last day of summer camp 2013. I SURVIVED. Honestly, there were times I didn't think I'd make it, but God blessed me with the most amazing co-workers and kiddos. My heart overflows with gratitude to each amazing person I was able to encounter this summer and for the lessons each one taught me. The most impacting life lesson was the one about sharing. I guess I missed this as a kid. Even though I love taking food right off people's plates without asking, I am really not a fan of sharing things like my money. Ask to borrow a shirt or some food and I'm so down. But when you are requesting to take some of my hard earned money, I ain't about to let that go.

The work culture at the Boys and Girls Club is laid back and chill with a little bit of caring. Like we're all just living through the madness which causes us to care about whether you are going crazy or mostly insane for the day. And, if you need help, most likely, someone's got your back. And this help totally extends to lunch food.

I've made cookies and little treats for the staff, but when the day arrived that I was going to the store over break and causally asked if anyone wanted something, I was not prepared for a list of requests, totally about $8. That's like half of my paycheck (just kidding). But I was still not happy about it.

After reflecting about my purchase of oreos and pretzels, I realized my heart was in the way wrong place. If I can bless a group of people I totally care about through a little bit of store bough snacks, why not? Here's a little list of all the kind things my co-workers did for me this summer:

• moved me in
• let me borrow a car
• fed me
• listened to my stress rants
• helped me stay sane
• invited me to a barbecue

Yeah, I gotta let this white-knuckled grip on money go. It's just materials, and it is so rewarding to see people enjoying something you've given to them. So, as I go to move into school today, I'm a little sad because all those wonderful people are also moving in to their schools and I will miss them terribly. But I'm also joy-filled because they are awesome and I cannot wait to see how they impact the world, because they sure impacted me.

Happy "summer camp ended and we survived" faces! 

 

Let's get coffee.

Pumpkin Spice Latte time

This is my bestie. We often get coffee together. Like I would venture to say that 100% of the time we see each other, we also have coffee. Easy to say that we've found the best coffee houses in Omaha, Lincoln, and Chicago. This is awesome because I love coffee.

Whenever I meet new people, I usually suggest getting coffee. It's easy, enjoyable, and a great way to get to know someone. And, most of the time, these new friendships never bloom beyond "let's get coffee."

Yummy pizza for hungry friends

This is a picture of us when we made pizza at my apartment last fall. Seriously, I don't think I laughed so hard. I'm not sure why we couldn't figure out like how to make pizza on a tortilla but it was a hot mess that turned into a wonderful memory I shared with this dear friend.

I believe that we live in a "let's get coffee" culture when we are called to live in a "let's make food" culture. And this isn't just because I love eating food. When bread is broke within a group of people, there is a bond.
After we came back from India, I went out to coffee a few times with members on the team, but it wasn't until I had people over to my apartment, eating food, seeing how I live my messy and imperfect life that I was able to open up about how the trip affected the way I now live.

When we break bread, we are being vulnerable and going deeper that the often times shallow relationships built over coffee. This is a no-brainer, really. Coffee is a crutch we don't need; a liquid that just flows. Food is substance, something we depend on for energy. Food goes beyond the surface and into the intimate parts of people's live. These are the kinds of relationships we are called to build- relationships that can withstand hard times and disappointments. Relationships that are authentic and meaningful. Relationships built on food.

All that food.

Recently, I have been eating and cooking a plethora of extraordinary food and wanted to share with the world!

If you live in the Chicago area, you HAVE to try Jam N' Honey (click here for website). I went here for my birthday brunch (Yay for not being a teenager anymore!). It was stellar! I had the oatmeal pancakes. The best part is that they leave a huge jar of nutella on your table!!  So amazing.

Last Sunday, I ate an India restaurant with some new friends (Believe it or not, I am actually capable of meeting and not scaring off new people. What a skill). Four of us split three entrees and a side on naan, which was more than enough! The best part was the chi tea! It was definitely the closest tasting to the homemade tea we were served in India!! ( Here is the link!)

Finally, a few weeks ago, I ventured out to an Ethiopian restaurant. Holy cow! I have been missing out on some delicious food! Since many of my kid's are African (as in they were born in Africa), I have been hearing all about their favorite foods and wanting to try them. This restaurant did not disappoint! So the way we ordered our food was picking out 4 dishes to try in smaller portions, which was just the perfect amount. The best part was eating the food without silverware  Along with the entrees, we were served this spongy bread called injera as eating utensils. So fun!! (Click here for more information)

Now, for the recipes.

I've been experimenting with kale. So far I've made orange, quinoa, and kale salad and chopped kale salad, both, ironically from the same blogger. SO GOOD. I steam my kale before making it, but I've also heard you can massage oil into the leaves (whaaaa...?) and cooking them a little, so kind of like kale chips. Both were steller. I have really started loving kale so it's a major plus that the garden at work grows it like a weed! Whoooo!

For an quick, easy, and healthy dinner, I like avocado chicken and grilled capresse naan pizza. So easy and so healthy and oh so delicious. Such wonderful food.

I also have a soft spot for black beans. I usually make some variation of this or this.

Breakfast is my all time favorite meal of the day. My most favorite recipes are veggie quiche cups, baked carrot cake oatmeal, banana peanut butter scones, and whole wheat pancakes. I tend to eat a larger breakfast so that I can stay full all day long!!

Today, I made homemade nutella AND peanut butter. Life with a food processor is so great. Like a little slice of heaven.

Now, I have to get back to my oatmeal fig bread. That's right folks. I keep my cooking classy!
I hope you are inspired to create something delicious!!

My cup runneth over and my sink is flooded.

Today was such an amazingly solid day that also sucked hardcore.
First off, I walked into work today with the stupid art room sink clogged with the pulp from paper that was made yesterday. Who thinks it's a smart idea to dump that down the drain?! So I spent two hours hand draining that.
Then, I played a game of "Will This Stick" with the wall. The wall won. Seriously, the only I could successfully use to hang pictures was duck tape that ripped off a layer of my own skin. Solid.
When I finally made it down to see my kiddos, the attacked me. Literally. Like sat on me, pulled my hands and legs, and surrounded me on all sides. I smiled. So content. My cup runs over. These kiddos overflow my love bucket.
The day continued on. We learned that the amygdala is what processes our emotions. When we are upset or our brain is stressed, the information gets all jumbled and doesn't processe correctly, which is why it is oh so important we count to 10 to calm down before we react. Right after this lesson, there were about 780843 fights as we lined up to wash hands for lunch. Someday my kiddos will catch on.
THEN. It happened.
The sink stopped working. Like would not drain. It was out of my control. Nothing was blocking the drain, it was just the 30 kids who washed their hands with glue, glitter, paint, paper pulp, and pottery that built up. I knew it would happen someday, and today was that day. What a win. So great.
In art class today, I had the honor of hearing all 20 11-14 grumble about how much they hate art while we walked up the stairs. Nothing motivates me more to find that amazing art project. Seriously. I want every kid to choose creativity over violence and anger. This is just the first step and, as hair-pulling out as it is, I love it. Plus, half of the room did AND enjoyed the activity. HALF! That's ten young men engaged in art for an hour. WHAT A WIN. My heart literally swelled with pride.
Today was a terrible, horrible, no good, very wonderful day. It was oh so chaotic and stressful, but I can start to see my kiddos make better choices and art classes have become easier. Also, I'm better managing this whole working full time and having a social life. Life is happy. This morning, God gave me a wonderful verse from Psalm 25. (I read it out of Psalm Now (a book) so it'll be a little different) It says: "I am reaching for you again, O God, from the abyss of defeat, the suffocating shame of failure. I seek your mercy and your help. Enable me to see your will for my life. Break through the stifling darkness with some direction, some meaning, some purpose for my existence."
So good. I felt that direction, meaning, and purpose all day long and I am so full of deep Joy.

Takin' on July

So, I made a New Year's Resolution to improve myself in different ways each month during this whole year. This whole plan started well but the last two months have been challenging as I have not set a goal. I've still been improving! I finished my second year of college, moved onto Lakeshore Dr. and currently have my first full time job! So those are all solid situations! But here's the thing. I've been feeling crazy unfulfilled lately, as if my life is void of any meaning. And, heck, I work with underprivileged kids who love me and need me to calm them down, so clearly I've got the wrong mindset. I decided that I would be best to add to my life, which would, by force of nature, take out all the unneeded and time consuming habits. It's like a life detox!
There's a list I've constructed, not too challenging but difficult enough to invoke change.
Every day, I will:

• Be active for at least 40 minutes
• Sit still for at least 10 minutes and let my mind be refreshed
• Do an act of kindness
• Complement someone new
• Read the news for at least 10 minutes
• Read a book

Each week, I will:

• Meet up with someone I haven't seen in a while
• Give money
• Volunteer
• Complete an item on my summer bucket list
• Memorize a bible verse
• Write a letter
• Cook a new recipe 

The list might grow as the month goes on, but basically, I'm going to fill my life with great actions and better love those around me. Also, this will make my time more meaningful, whether I'm growing my intelectual knowledge or the knowledge of the world and people around me. 

Family.

Family: a group of adults and children living in a household.
By this definition, I am currently living in a new, very odd set-up of a family, as I am living in the house of two wonderful adults who are not my parents. Strange as it is, we are start of getting in to a regular rhythm and feeling like a make-shift family.
Thus far, I have concluded that there are two types of family: the one you are born into and the one(s) you choose. This weekend, I was blessed to spend time with both of my wonderful families.

A small group of my wonderful friend/family!

It started on Friday when this wonderful group of friends met for a fantastic dinner and music festival followed by a memorable trip to the beach. This whole weekend, I was oh so blessed to go on crazy adventures with a whole slew of my friend/family. What an amazing support system they are to me. I could not take on Chicago so hard without them by my side.

Family shopping trip via skype!

Then, on Saturday, my daddio facetimed me in the middle of TJMaxx. Classic dad stuff right there. But let me tell ya, nothing beats drinking coffee and helping your big little sis pick out the comforter for her college dorm next year. Technology is so wonderful and helps keep me and my for real fam-jam close. I have been blessed with an astoundingly supportive family who is just the right amount of cray-cray.


All this to say, treasure the people in your life who support you, whether it be the couple who put you up for the summer, friends, co-workers, or blood-relatives. Without the people I call family, I'd be out wondering Chicago, constantly getting lost! (So thanks to everyone I call when I can't find my way. Literally. Like when I get lost in the streets)