Hey friends! Popping in with some Friday faves/things I’m loving lately.
Play along in the comments – what are you loving lately?
1) Muffins!
My mom made us a batch of my old pumpkin blueberry muffins (old photos but yummy recipe) recently and we have all been enjoying them.
I like them topped with almond butter and with eggs and more fruit on the side.
Riese likes them straight up. :)
2) Al fresco snacks. (Thank you to The North American Meat Institute, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, for sponsoring this section of the blog post!)
When the weather gets warm, one of our favorite things to do is enjoy appetizers (and a cold beverage) outside.
In the summer, Matt and I pretty much always keep the fridge and pantry stocked with the basics (cheese, cured meat, crackers, sliced veggies and fruit, etc.) in case the opportunity presents itself to host friends or family for snacks + drinks.
One very important thing I learned from Matt and his dad is that any respectable appetizer spread is not complete without cured meats. ;)
Yep, this dietitian enjoys processed/prepared beef products, no shame! There’s room in a healthy, regular eating pattern for all your favorite foods – the key is just to enjoy them mindfully, and to savor them with foods that include complementary nutrients.
Since prepared beef products provide primarily protein and some fat, you’ll want to enjoy them with some fiber/carbs, like veggies, crackers, fruit, etc. By the way – did you know that the iron and zinc in meats, including processed beef products, are more bioavailable to the body than those derived from vegetarian sources? (source)
Prepared beef products are also a favorite of ours when we’re out hiking, because most prepared meats are already pre-cooked (and some are shelf stable, too, at least until their packaging is opened). Our faves? Summer sausage, salami, and pepperoni. Oh and beef jerky! So convenient for the trails – I always keep jerky in my trail backpack.
What are your favorite ways to enjoy prepared beef products?
3) Our tiny barista.
My parents have a fancy coffeemaker at their place with all sorts of fun buttons, sounds, milk frothing, etc., and Riese is OBSESSED with it.
Anytime anyone makes coffee she has to help, and then watches very intently while the action goes down.
4) The book Cribsheet.
I really liked Emily Oster’s previous book “Expecting Better” when I was pregnant, so when I saw she had come out with a new book on the first couple years, I was excited to read it!
I’m finding it really interesting – great to see a practical, non-judgmental, evidence-based guide that rounds up the research in the main areas of parenting confusion.
5) Matt and I are off to my 15 year (whoa) undergraduate reunion this weekend at Dickinson College!
I’m excited to see some old friends, wander around the beautiful campus, and visit a few old favorite haunts! Matt didn’t go to Dickinson, but his best friend from childhood/high school (who is the reason we met) did, so he’s as excited to go as I am!
We’re just going for Saturday night; Riese is staying home with the grandparents.
We haven’t been back since my 10 year reunion, I don’t think… I feel like maybe we stopped by on our way somewhere a few years ago but can’t remember or find it on the blog. Either way, it has been awhile!
10 year reunion flash back
Have a great weekend — I will leave you with some things I enjoyed/found useful from around the web recently:
- Absolutely loved this episode of the Ali on the Run Show podcast interviewing famous distance runners Sara + Ryan Hall
- Some good ideas to fight the clutter -> Toy Storage Tips via Kath Eats Real Food
- Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave via Healthy Happier Life – lots of great tips from the author + her Instagram followers
- Must make these ASAP -> Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Muffins via PB Fingers
- 5 Personal Trainer Red Flags via Fitnessista – I especially appreciate the part about not giving nutrition advice!
- Yay intuitive eating for kids – great advice in this post: Toddler Portion Sizes – How Much Food Is Too Much? via New Ways Nutrition
Please note there are affiliate links in this post.