I wish I had this when I was in college

I can’t help it. I am insanely jealous of the Foodbuzz event that all the NYC bloggers I know got to go to last night at David Burke Townhouse — conveniently located on the STREET I LIVE ON. While Missy did email them weeks ago and ask if I could attend as her guest (including a link to my blog and mention that I am a member of their site), they said no. Then they allowed other people to bring guests, so long as those guests were not me. Then when we got ahold of that fact, Missy emailed again, asking permission to bring me. This time, their story changed. “The list is closed and we are no longer accepting RSVPs.” Huh. Interesting, since weeks ago when the list WASN’T closed they still wouldn’t allow me to attend. The people at Foodbuzz should probably try and get their stories straight. They should probably also take some introductory marketing courses.

I’ll give it another week and then I’ll probably delete my account there. I do extensive analytic tracking and I don’t get any traffic from Foodbuzz. Mallories had noted the same thing as well, and she is a Featured Publisher! Which goes to show that there really is no reason to bother unless you are one of the chosen ones to receive products to taste and events to attend. As this blog is not considered worthy, there is no point so deal with all the spam emails they send me. I call it spam as there is no way to fully opt out.

It is a little sad, actually. I see this food networking site — a terrific concept — that has so much potential, but they won’t be able to go far because they practice a flawed logic. They lack the ability to execute their Featured Publisher program to get the most amount of traffic, the highest visibility, the best word-of-mouth. I have worked in internet marketing for over 3 years now and I think Foodbuzz could really benefit by hiring a consultant to help them turn around their site usability and marketing strategy.

Anyway, enough about that. I know I have been acting like a baby with this Foodbuzz situation, but I just have always had this weird thing when it comes to feeling left out. Reading my friends recaps of the event made me sad. Being left out just gets to me like nothing else ever can.  Ask my good friend Marc. He’ll tell you.

Anyway, since this blog has nothing to do with food, I think I will take this time to provide some product reviews of… well… food stuff. Weird.

PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook

PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook: 250 Easy, Cheap, and Delicious Recipes to Keep You Vegan at School came out on Tuesday, May 12. I had the opportunity to receive it a few weeks ago and was very excited when it arrived! The book is written by PETA with Starza Kolman and Marta Holmberg, and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Now, I am in no way a Vegan. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t be since my GI condition doesn’t allow me to eat fruits, veggies or grains. I am reviewing this book as a regular girl who likes to be healthy, loves delicious food, doesn’t like to cook and is lazy. Luckily for me, this is the perfect book for someone with these qualities!

The book is split into two sections: What You Need to Know and Recipes You’ll Love.

The first section is divied into chapters: In the Beginning, There Was the Microwave, Cliff Notes for Cooking, Vegans — What Can You Eat?, Stock your Kitchen and Vegan Alternatives to Meaty, Eggyand Milky Stuff. These chapters are filled with basic information, such stocking up on items; some are common sense (utensils); others are important for the recipes later in the book (olive oil and balsamic vinegar). There is a chapter of vegan alternatives to common foods, such as cheese, meat and milk. I am personally not a fan of vegan cheese and meats, but I happen to love Unsweetened Almond Breeze almond milk.

That section is short and sweet and leads perfectly into the good stuff – RECIPES! Each recipe comes with a short blurb about it. These blurbs are often humorous and/or informative. The names of the recipes are fun and college-y.

Part 2 is divided into chapters: Breakfast, Sandwiches, Salads, Soups and Stews, Sauces and Dressings, Dinner, Drinks, Dips, Snacks and Desserts. Interspersed throughout the chapters are special Spotlight chapters. Spotlight on: Peanut Butter (YES!), Potatoes, Ramen. I laughed when I saw ramen since it is such a college staple! I had never even heard of Cup of Noodles until I got to college.

Now, let’s get to the (vegan) meat here. Throughout the book you’ll find little Did You Know boxes. I was not thrilled to read this line on the first page of part 2: “Did you know? Eggs are horrible for your health,” and went on to explain why.

Horrible? Really? That is quite the loaded statement there. Now, I would have no problem if their claim was a little less…. final. How about “We have reason to believe eggs might not be very healthy.” That would get their point across in a more intelligent manner. One that won’t alienate people (me) and one that people who don’t accept everything they read might appreciate.

I do a lot of research and based on scientific evidence and years of reading about this, I am confident that eggs are beneficial to your health. Feel free to research on your own.

I think this book should be a wonderful resource for vegans and non-vegans alike, but I do not feel it should be used to spew one-sided definitive arguments.  Yes, it is PETA. I understand that, but I think they would gain more credibility by providing a strong argument rather than a conclusive incorrect statement. While some eggs may pose issues, I only buy omega-3, organic eggs. I believe that I am buying the best eggs that will not cause salmonella (as the book claims is possible) and will keep me healthy.

That said, the recipes in here sound great.. The combinations of the foods (or substitutes if you don’t want to do it vegan) are what make these good recipes. And some are need no substitution. Every recipe in here sounds like something I’d like. There are wonderful sandwiches, breakfasts, dinners and salads in this book. I plan to try many of the recipes myself since they are all SO EASY. This is truly my kind of cookbook. A cook-less book.

I was thrilled when I saw there was a spotlight on Peanut Butter. Perfect college staple as it is packed with protein, is extremely versatile and needs no refrigeration. I don’t remember ever eating peanut butter during college. 😥  This chapter is by far my favorite, as it incorporates so many ways to use peanut butter. Have you ever heard of a Wicked Good Wafflewich? (Vegan) toaster waffles, (vegan) chocolate chips, peanut butter and maple syrup. YUM. I want to make myself a version of this ASAP! There is a wrap that includes crunchy peanut butter, banana, apple and raisins. So simple. Yet sweet and crunchy and healthy. Something I easily could have made myself in college, but never did. Never even THOUGHT to. Or how about the Thai Takeout (Hold The Takeout) meal. You combine rice, peanut butter and soy sauce. So easy. And yummy! There is even a recipe called Ants on a Blog: A quick and healthy snack for all you die-hard bloggers too busy typing away to make a meal. Love the name!

My only concern with this chapter is the increasing number of kids with peanut allergies. What is with that! As the kids with this allergy get older and go to college, chapters like this might not be so popular. But for now, it’s great! And um, Peanut Butter Cup Pie. I’m there.

I mentioned earlier the Did You Know blurb about eggs. These blurbs are found throughout the book and are generally helpful. However, I came across another that I just can’t agree with. Did You Know: “Meat, dairy products and eggs…are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol, which make us fat and lethargic in the short term and lead to clogged arteries and heart attacks in the long term.“

Come on. This just made me angry, as it places an unfair blame on all meat, dairy and eggs. That is simply not true. Lean meats will not make you fat. They will not clog your arteries. The key is to stick with meats such as white meat chicken and turkey. Even lean beef is not bad for you as long as you don’t eat it every day. Same goes for lean pork such as canadian bacon. Dairy? Again, if you eat a lot of full fat ANYTHING, it won’t be great for you. Luckily, dairy offers low fat and fat free options. I eat greek yogurt every single day. I also eat full fat cheese sometimes. I eat chocolate every day. Am I fat? No. I don’t eat massive portions, I stick to low fat or fat free options when available and I eat lean meats. And then we are back to the eggs. An egg contains much more good fat than saturated fat. No comparison. And we NEED those good fats — hey, this book promoted avocado consumption, doesn’t it? Good fat. I eat eggs for dinner a few times a week. Often with cheese! And guess what, sometimes there is turkey bacon in that meal too. That is a triple whammy, is it not? Meat, eggs AND dairy in one meal. I must be the fattest person ever. But I am not. And guess what? My bad cholesterol is way down and my good cholesterol is way up! HealthDiaries.com notes, “According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.”

I am open to interpreation on all sides. But I am not a fan of the one sided “this is absolute truth and there is no disputing it” claims.  Eating healthy is about making the right choices for you, your body and your beliefs. But spewing one-sided inaccurate information will only put incorrect ideas in peoples’ heads — and they will be more likely to make incorrect choices about food going forward. Perhaps someone reads this and finds himself at a barbecue where the food options are as follows: grilled chicken skewers, hamburger, fried zucchini. This person might choose the fried food zucchini thinking it is less likely to clog their arteries and make them fat than the grilled chicken.

I’m not saying this will happen; I am just saying that this is my issue with their claim. It is important to teach people overall health. Outlandish — and vague — claims like this are not informative. But that is just my opinion. And the boy, who is a cardiologist, agrees. There you have it.

Moving forward.

The Spotlight on Ramen offers some new ways to dress up the college staple. I particularly loved the dips section — I think it will inspire me to make some dips!  I also enjoyed the soup section, as my experience with soup thus far has been out of a can. I want to make the Haas Party Avocado Soup and PJ Pumpkin Soup. Maybe I would like soup more! The snacks section is full of healthy, delicious snacks that I wish I knew about when I was in school. Then maybe I wouldn’t have gained 20 lbs! I wasn’t excited about the Spotlight on Potatoes since I don’t care for potatoes unless they are in their French form, but I was ecsatic to come across Pretty Much the Best Burrito, made with sweet potatoes and  guacamole! In the Desserts section, you can make the cakes in the microwave. I am so lazy, I hate dishes — I would LOVE  to make a sweet treat in the micro!

So my overall review?

The good: Easy recipes, healthy, perfect for college students, excellent for anyone in a time crunch or lazy, lots of variety and clever recipe ideas. Even the recipes that seem like a given (PB & raisins on Celery for example) are not something all college students would necessarily consider (I certainly didn’t!), so it serves as a nice reminder. I enjoyed the lighthearted, fun writing and the unique recipe names that are specifically tailored for college students.

The bad: Some “facts” that can easily be disputed, tips on being healthy that are not necessarily correct. Take it with a grain of salt.

I recommend this book. It would make a perfect gift for a student going away to school! Order the book on Amazon. Watch Starza and Marta’s promotional video here. See some sample recipes here.

I took this quiz to see what I should eat and it told me:

You Should Eat Sloppy Joels!
Today you’re feeling chill, relaxed, and a little … well … sloppy. With your no-frills kind of attitude, we’re confident that you are gonna love some Sloppy Joels.

Physical Therapy

Quick recap of my first PT session for pes anserine bursitis. I have been to PT 4 times in the past, and none were anything like this. I chose Physio Sports because of its proximity to the boy’s apartment. I did not know what to expect. I was pleased to walk in and see a clean, sleek interior. In my experience, doctors and PTs in shabby, run down offices tend to offer negative experiences. I can think of a few examples of this, so I often feel relief when the office seems new.

My therapist came out to greet me after I signed in and we went into a private room. Another plus, as only 1 of the previous 4 had private rooms. The others were out in the open. She asked me a lot of questions, more than I expected, about everything I do and have done that uses my knees. Also questions seemingly unrelated to my knees in any way, shape or form. We went over how my pain started and what activities I was doing. I told her about my right upper thigh pain and shoulder injury. She asked me if I ever sprained an ankle; in fact, I did! My left one, as a matter of fact. Same leg as the bad knee. She also asked me if I wear flip flops. Uh oh. Turns out flip flops are a major offender in knee injuries! She said I should stop. Ummmm. Is having a working knee really worth losing the joy of the flip flop? The verdict is still out on that one.

It turns out that she used to belong to my gym, has attended the Transfigure class and even went to Core Fusion for a year and a half!

I will call her PT going forward. PT, after talking extensively to me, had me change into shorts and then do some runway walking. I walked normally down a corridor. Then I walked back taking giant steps. Then I walked on my tippy toes. Then I walked on my heels. Then I did lunge walks. Then I did more regular steps. More giant steps. More lunge steps.

What did PT learn from this? Well, I hyperextend my left leg. All the time. That is the knee with problems. But even more interesting is the fact that my right side is completely out of whack! PT told me my right leg was all over the place, especially during the heel walks and the lunge walks. She told me to look down at my legs. I did. My right leg and knee were bent inwards. My alignment on my right side is totally off. I stand, walk, RUN like this ALL the time. Not good!

Back in the room, I had to lie on the table in all different positions. Face down (with a hole like a massage place!), face up, on my sides. PT did a lot of  testing of my muscles;  seeing how tight they are; how far they bend; how strong they are. I was surprised to learn that my left leg, the one with the knee injury, is actually much stronger than my right. I had to stand up and do more little movements (ie, lifting my leg like i was marching) while she examined me more. She looked at my back, at my hips. My legs, my knees, my tush, my feet.

My foot was a problem. I can’t remember exactly what PT said and did, but it involved moving my foot and not being able to move it in a certai ndirection very far. She said this is not normal; I should be able to move this way. Because of this, the burden went to my knee while I ran. The burden had to go somewhere and the foot wasn’t doing its job correctly, so my knee had to make up for it. The result? Bursitis. She said we will work on my feet thoroughly during my therapy.

My calves are extremely tight; so are my hamstrings, quads, pelvis, hips. She said it is crucial I stretch my calves every day, and gave me an easy stretch that I can do anywhere. PT recently came back from a conference where they stressed how important BUTT exercises are in improving the knees in physical therapy. She told me to do the exact butt exercises as Core Fusion! PT said that the most important things I do at home right now are calf stretching and butt work. Holding on to the chair and lifting my leg and doing little butt raises. How great — I will get a nice tushie in this process.

PT asked me about how I sit at work. She asked if I cross my legs and if I lean to one side. I had no idea! She thinks that if I was crossing my ankle over my right, it could be contributing to the pain. Well guess what, friends? Now that I was paying attention, I “caught” myself sitting in this position MANY times today: left thigh over right, left ankle wrapped behind right leg. In other words, I sit like a pretzel. I twist my legs all around each other as far as they can go. Of course that would be bad for my knee! I never noticed this about myself. I will tell her when I go back for my first real session tonight.

This was, without a doubt, the best physical therapy experience I have ever had. PT was so knowledgeable, so friendly and nice, so interested in really helping me, so thorough. She explained everything to me in such minute detail I will never remember it, but explained which way my legs move, why certain positions or movements I do cause a reaction in other muscles. She explained how I run and why I experienced the pain I did. She explained how the tightness of all my muscles contributed. She went into detail over how everything works — or doesn’t work – together to ultimately cause the mess that is my left knee. There is a lot more she said that I can’t remember, but PT is confident we can fix all my problems with correct therapy — and for the first time in my life, I actually don’t feel that physical therapy will be a waste of my time.  They should all be so knowledgeable.

Doormat News

I ordered this mat for my mommy from Coco Mats ‘N More:

Pretties!

Side note: Bethenny revealed last night that she had the girls lifted. Just as I originally suspected!

Coming this week: Fullbar review, Kinespirit class review, Nalini Method part 2