The morning went by fast – thanks to an early lunch!
Mid-morning we heard Annie Kay, MS, RD, RYT speak on mindful eating. My favorite part of her talk was when she said, in the context of the Standard American Diet, “In order to be healthy, you have to be conscious.” As I’ve often said, you can’t eat everything in the boxed lunch (stacked sandwich, apple, bag of chips, sugary soda, brownie or cookie).
We did an exercise on mindful eating and were given these snacks to eat slowly, with our eyes closed. I found myself wishing the almond was salted…but that’s a mindful observation!
Other morning snacks – small banana and some trail mix from home [Trader Joe’s Nuts Over Raspberries is my fav!]
I was happy that lunch was served just before noon! Sometimes conferences make you wait until 1pm and all stomachs in the room are growling.
And there was a great selection of healthy foods. Salad, make your own sandwiches, fruit, roasted veggies and some hot items, including baked ziti and chicken slices.
I filled up on salad, topped with roasted potatoes and a few pieces of chicken and a side of fruit.
Plus a mustard, cheese + pickle sandwich – a favorite leftover from Great Harvest convention!
Had a few bites of this guy for dessert, but I found myself a little disappointed in the taste, so I mindfully put my fork down.
I know 4 dietetic interns/students here today, so I’m off to see their poster research!
Cm @ Lazy Healthy says
Any snack eaten out of a mason jar is always good!
Full-Flavored Life says
I agree! Mason jars are so so cute!!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
SO true–mindfulness is the key to healthy eating! When food is eaten in a mindless state it is not enjoyed and I believe the body doesn’t process it as well <—and/or it messes with us so we reach for more!
That fruit looks tasty.
Have a fun time!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Your lunch looks great! 🙂 I like that you brought trail mix from home. Always thinking ahead. Enjoy yourself!
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
That pickle looks SO good!! (Hmm, am I craving it because I might be prego?! lol!)
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
that food looks delicious! I’m not so good at mindful eating, I should have been at that session!
Sarah says
Are most RDs women? Lots of ladies in your photos.
KathEats says
It’s a female dominated field, yes. Men are here though!
Angel7 says
That is a mish-mosh of yummy, nutritious foods on one plate 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Megan @ Megan's Munchies says
Yay! They had plenty of protein at lunch! Looks yummy!
Grace @ Healthy Dreaming says
I love the mindful exercise! It’s definitely something I practice whenever something doesn’t taste that good to me. I stop eating it. 🙂
Hope you are having fun at the conference!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
That looks like a great lunch spread! And wishing for a salted almond is definitely mindful! Speaking of lunch.. I’m off to get mine right now and am going to be extra mindful after reading this. 🙂
Bee Goes Bananas says
Wow, everything looks so fresh and delicious! I wish I had a mustard, cheese and pickle sandwich right now. Yum!
Kaila says
It only makes sense that a dietetics conference would have awesome food for lunch!!! 🙂 That spread looks amazing!
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
Yum…that looks like an awesome buffet for a conference!
You asked about our nursery glider– here’s a link to the company we used! Again, a splurge, but I think it will be worth it!
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Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
Mindful eating is something I usually don’t ‘mindfully’ think about, but it’s so important!
Molly @ RDexposed says
Wow I am pleasantly surprised with the food choices there!
And they had you do the ole Hershey kiss game-classic. Ha
Khushboo says
Mindful eating is so important! As long as I’m conscious and aware of my actions, I am totally ok with indulging…when it cones to mindless eating, that’s when something has to give.
Robyn @ Blueberries and Oats says
Thanks for the mindful eating reminder. ^_^ Lately I’ve let myself get so hungry I just inhale what I made even if I made the portion size too big!
P.s. That’s my favorite trail mix too! If you get back to Missoula, MT though go to the Good Food Store and try their Treasure Trove Trail Mix. It’s a close second!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
The “you have to be conscious” comment made me think about the book I just finished, “Bringing Up Bebe,” about the French approach to parenting. Apparently instead of going on a diet when trying to lose weight, French women say they are “paying attention.” Sounds like a smart approach to me.
I really liked the book in general — lots of things I want to try with my 8-month-old.
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Great healthy lunch selection! I think I would have passed on the pie as well…homemade it is not.
Christine @ BookishlyB says
I so often eat just to eat- I’ve been trying to remember that if I don’t really like it, there’s absolutely no need to put it in my body. I have the whole “eat what you take” mindset left from childhood that is hard to break, though. There are starving children in Africa…
Erin says
We didn’t have a lot of money when I was a kid and my parents HATED to see us waste food. My dad used to tell us, “Get what you want but eat what you get.” It is sooo hard to put that out of my head when I end up with something that just doesn’t taste good.
Sarah @ Fresh Living says
Mustard, cheese and pickle sandwich…mmmmmm!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
I’ve done a few Mindful Eating webinard lately. It’s very hard for most people to actually sit down and slowly enjoy their food.
It’s nice to see the food is healthy at a conference for dieticians. I’ve attended a few for exercise professionals that had really, really bad selection of food. No fresh fruit or vegetables were an option! Obviously they didn’t know their audience.
Eva @thehealthyparty says
I was just gonna say that the apple pie looked so good! That’s a great reminder for me about mindful eating though, because there are times I find myself eating something just because it is supposed to taste good or because it’s a “bad/fun” food.
I was eating a slice of cake once and this girl asked me if it was “good” and if it was “worth it,” to see if she should cut a piece or not, and actually my answer was NO, it was actually kind of gross. That always stuck with me cause it’s helped me to check in with myself. Cause if somethings not worth it, there a re plenty of other delicious foods out there!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Putting your fork down rather than eating just so-so desserts is quite a talent…good for you!
And glad the morning meetings went by quickly.
Sam says
Sweet, I live in Blacksburg and work right downtown. In fact, I am 2 min. (driving) away from you now. Would you like to grab dinner or a bite of dessert tonight (after I put my baby to bed, so after 8pm) or catch up tomorrow sometime? I’ve been meaning to email you about something for a few weeks but talking in person would be even better. 🙂
KathEats says
Again, so sorry to miss you Sam! Thanks again for the invite
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
I need to hit some continuing ed events soon!
Nancy~The Wife of a Dairyman says
You are always SO good about bringing your own snacks everywhere! Awesome!
Life's a Bowl says
I def think I could be more mindful when I’m eating, as in paying more attention to the food in my mouth [not meaning eating when I’m bored]. Too often I will scarf down breakfast or lunch while I’m working…
jojo says
I would love to go to a conference like that!
So true about mindful eating, your lunch provider doesn’t necessary care about your health, you need to make a conscious decisions. constantly!
Susie says
What kind of conference are you at, something just for RDs?
KathEats says
Yes, it’s part of the Virginia Dietetics Association
Deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever says
Mindful eating, such a great concept. Must focus on that.
Maria@ Sinfully Nutritious says
That buffet looks awesome. I love roasted potatoes and salad together. You put together a fine looking plate. Sorry you dessert was disappointing. I made a banana cream pie win a macadamia coconut crust today, and it did not disappoint. To die for good, I did exercise self control, although I don’t know how.
Have a nice night, and a safe trip home.
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Sounds like an interesting talk you heard this afternoon! Mindful eating is something I often wish I had a better handle on…sometimes your eyes are just way bigger than your stomach, haha! =)
Janice says
Just curious… what was the point of the little snacks you were supposed to taste with your eyes closed? That confused me… and the buffet looks yummy 🙂 I would def load up on the salad, especially fruits. I love fruit.
KathEats says
We were supposed to focus on the 5 senses as we consumed them…mindful of the food we were putting in our mouths
Chetney (Czesia Lives) says
Hey Kath! I just got accepted to the college of my dreams for their dietetics program, just wanted to let you know that reading your blog for the past year pulled me in that direction. I am so excited..but nervous too. Any words of wisdom you would be willing to share?!
KathEats says
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! Study hard, and the time will fly by, I promise! And don’t stress too much about the chemistry – it’s the nutrition courses that count most.
Chetney (Czesia Lives) says
Thank you so much! I’m going to take your words to heart and take it one day at a time 🙂
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
hahaha. “in the context of the Standard American Diet, ‘In order to be healthy, you have to be conscious.'” it’s like all the analogies about americans in general i remember from reading eat, pray, love. i know it’s overkill at this point, but i still think about it frequently, because i’m still guilty of it all so often! you just gotta be conscious. :p i love it.
Lauren N. says
So sorry I missed you at the conference today!!! I was standing by my poster at the poster session but had to leave a few minutes early to meet up with the speaker I was hosting. I introduced the first speaker of the Food Focus breakout session and saw you sitting across the room! I wanted to say hi but I signed up for the clinical breakout session so I had to head down there after Dr. Davis’ talk. I hope you’ve been enjoying the conference and have some time to explore VT’s beautiful campus!
I’ll be in Cville on Saturday and will definitely be stopping in Great Harvest to pick up a loaf of Dakota to take back with me 🙂 Let me know if you’ll be around the bakery at all this weekend!
KathEats says
Oh good!! Then we saw each other unofficially 🙂 I’m not sure if I’ll be in the bakery on sat because we’re slicing bread for the 10 miler (that’s not why you’re coming, is it?!) and then my sister is here for the weekend! But hopefully we can meet sometime soon 🙂
Lauren N. says
I was supposed to be running the 10 miler on Saturday!! 🙁 I ran it for the first time last year and it’s such a fun race! I trained this year and was up to 10 miles a couple weeks ago. I was doing really well but then after getting a new pair of shoes that were too small, I got shin splints! I’ve never had them before and man, they are horrible. I’m actually coming home this weekend to go back to Ragged Mountain because they are switching out my shoes for the next 1/2 size up. I love that running store, they’re the best!
KathEats says
Oh bummerrrrrr!!! Will you be going to the race at all? If some, come by for some bread!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Pretty nice buffet with good choices. You don’t see that all the time!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Mindful eating is so important — I love that quote…”in order to be healthy, you have to be conscious.” yes, yes and yes! Glad lunch was a better spread 🙂
Sara says
I actually think that trick of really savoring those little items of food with your eyes closed, sounds like a great technique to become aware of the eating process. I’ve been having some issues with intuitive eating and being mindful about it (leading to mindless eating – dissatisfaction – eating too much), and I’d love to try this ‘move’!