Trust Me I'm a (mom)(yogi) RD

Dietitian Confession #2: I Used to Be (and Sometimes Still Am) a Picky Eater Just because I may know all the health benefits to salmon, or I could list a reason for every cell in my body why Brussels sprouts are important...that still doesn't mean I'm going to eat them!! Yes, your local Dietitian just admitted she can be a PICKY eater.  In many ways, this trait makes my job challenging, yet also fun and exciting at the same time.  I can relate to those customers who have finnicky children, or if they themselves are extra particular in their food choices.  While my pallet has vastly improved over the years... (i.e. my mother recently visited my house and upon looking in the refrigerator asked me if I had any "normal" food to feed Eli - haha!  Buuuuuttttt I digress...) ...it's not uncommon during my work day to come across customers with VERY limited food preferences - if they eat only 3, 2 or even just ONE vegetable, my job is to help them make that w...

Off and on for the past few years I've suffered from headaches & migraines...ranging in severity from "Eh, I'll just work through this." to "OMG I feel so sick I can't do anything."  My migraines were at their worst during my dietetic internship (due to stress, I presume).  They became so unbearable I ended up visiting the ER ~2-3 times in 6 months, I had my eyes checked due to vision disturbances, was prescribed migraine medication, and even had a CT scan to rule out severe causes for my pain.  Luckily, my brain was perfectly fine (to the X-ray tech and MD, at least) and I quit taking the meds after just one week due to ridiculous side effects. Fast forward a few years - my migraines for the most part faded away after passing my RD exam, but I still suffered from headaches more frequently than I would have liked.  Over time I learned what did/didn't work for me (If Excedrin Migraine was not available, Extra Strength Tylenol was 'ok'); ...

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.  I'm also convinced that God places events and people in our lives at exactly the right moments when we need them - making the "when it happened" just as significant as the "what happened." Although the above statements are straight from me, over the past few months my belief in them has been tested.  There have been times I've questioned my true calling, my passions, my "roles" I'm supposed to be in this world...you get the picture.  Things I'd been looking forward to weren't happening as I had hoped, and I was becoming overly anxious and stressed. During this time of questioning I completed a 9-week course through my church called 'CORE' and was surprised by the outcome.  I learned so much about myself, my faith...It even dawned on me that I may not hold the control switch to my life as much as I would like to think I do.  Newsflash to Abbie:  God has his own pl...

It's official: a year (plus a few weeks) has flown by.  This length of time signifies how long I've held my newest title as "Mom."  And whether I like to think this way or not, it is the ONLY role I'll continually have for the rest of my life. ...Wow...  Putting it that way seems VERY overwhelming. But to be honest motherhood is just that: Overwhelming. Rewarding.  Exhausting. Amazing.  The hardest thing I've ever done... There are SO many other descriptions I could list and still not fully capture it.  Sometimes I feel like there are a billion secrets about mommy hood people seemed to just 'leave out' while I prepared for 9 months. Which brings me to the heart of this post.  As I'm the type of person who likes to be prepared for what's to come (even though most adventures as a mom are NEVER predictable) I wanted to share some of the things I've learned in hopes to better prepare others for their parenthood journey. 1) You Will b...

Oats...Not many other foods come to mind that are so comforting, and yet so versatile at the same time.  I have many memories of eating instant oatmeal growing up - warm, sweet and who am I kidding:  who doesn't love the variety flavor pack?!  As I became older I started following in my mom's footsteps and began experimenting with old fashioned oats for a chewier oatmeal consistency.   Without the packets, I could be creative with not only the amount of sugar I added,  but also with fun add-ins like raisins, dried cranberries or chocolate chips! Even though I like good bowl of oatmeal every now and then, I honestly am more apt to choose dry cereal simply for the convenience.  If you're like me and short on time in the morning, but still want a hearty breakfast, an easy go-to are overnight oats.  You mix your ingredients in a mug or blender bottle the night before, and in the a.m. you can run out the door wit...

Do you ever feel like life is getting the best of you?  Maybe you're just "going through the motions;" getting caught up in events, work, schedules/routine, commitments...that you aren't really ENJOYING it?!  I truly hate to say it, but the above statement totally describes my lifestyle as of late.  Just when I feel caught up with work or responsibilities at home, something else always seems to comes up.  I love to be involved and be busy, but what I don't enjoy is being pulled in a million directions at once.  Sometimes I just need to GET AWAY.   Thankfully, the opportunity to do so presented itself a few weekends ago.  Dee and I (along with Eli, of course) were able to take a 3-day-weekend to Minneapolis for a nice family re-charge.  In typical Abbie fashion, I did have a personal agenda for visiting the Twin Cities.  This short trip not only allowed me to get away from my everyday sched...

Pranayama --> prana = “life force”;       yama = “restrain” or “to hold" For those of you who are new to yoga, or have never taken class before, 'Pranayama' is the Sanskrit term teachers use to reference “breath” or “breath-work."    For me personally, pranayama has been one of the most challenging pieces to work on as a student AND teacher, and has really taken me awhile to fully understand its importance.   When I first started attending yoga classes, my main motives were to experience a good workout, gain strength, increase flexibility, and of course—sweat.  I wanted a way to continue being active, while also somewhat engaging my dance background.  Boy was I wrong - there is so much more to yoga.  Throughout my beginner yoga experience, the first thing I noticed teachers saying in class was to "Focus on your breath."    Other phrases commonly used were "Notice your breath" or even ask class directly "Ar...