Nutrition Counseling Available for All Residential Students

I like cartoon pictures of me - they hide the bags under my eyes!
Photo Courtesy of HDH Graphics Guru Dave DeCaro

Are you a UC San Diego resident with nutrition questions?  If so, you have a registered dietitian on campus to help you find the answers.  ------------------------------>

Students often seek my guidance for the following:

• food allergies and intolerances
• weight reduction
• vegetarianism/veganism
• healthy eating on campus
• wellness/fitness

Call or email me and I'd be happy to answer your nutrition questions.  Or, if you see me on campus, feel free to ask me your question on the spot!

Valentine's Day - How Sweet It Is

Ok, Valentine's day gives me mixed emotions. On one hand, I think it's a nifty marketing ploy to get us all to buy a bunch of stuff that's useless/tacky/overpriced. On the other hand, I think it's nice to be reminded to cherish your partner and shower him/her with affection and gifts...and I loooooove chocolate.

Chocolate can fit into a healthy lifestyle, especially dark chocolate, in small amounts: Maybe it can even lower blood pressure.

Look for some dark chocolate (and milk chocolate) treats in Dining Services today. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tofu Enchiladas at Plaza Cafe

I've returned to UC San Diego from maternity leave and have jumped right back into eating in the various Dining Services outlets. 

On Friday I had lunch at Plaza Cafe on Revelle College - my lunch is pictured above.  The enchiladas were made with tofu. Both the enchiladas and black beans had a nice kick to them from jalapenos.  This meal was vegetarian. I went back to get some salsa verde (not pictured) to add a little more color to my meal. Usually I'd eat a nice green vegetable or salad with this meal but I was really pressed for time.

My favorite thing about this meal: There was a nice balance of protein (mainly from the tofu, beans and cheese), fat (mainly from the cheese), fiber (mainly from the beans) and carbohydrates (mainly from the tortillas and beans.)

Delicious, hearty, and high fiber.

Sodium Shakedown: The Next Major Nutrition Public Health Push

hi all, I'm back from maternity leave now and planning to blog more frequently. So let's get this started! SODIUM SHAKEDOWN It seems that the next major nutrition-focused public health push is going to be dietary sodium intake reduction. Major food manufacturers and even restaurants are beginning to reformulate foods and recipes in order to bring down those sodium milligrams. That's a good thing. Generally, Americans eat FAR more milligrams of sodium than recommended. The CDC reports that 10 foods are responsible for nearly half of the sodium that Americans consume. These foods are: Breads and rolls, Luncheon meats such as deli ham and turkey, Pizza, Poultry, Soups, Cheeseburgers and other sandwiches, Cheese, Pasta dishes, Meat dishes, Snack foods including chips, pretzels, and popcorn. For more on this topic, check out WebMD's summary article at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120207/bread-and-other-common-foods-top-list-sodium-culprits I always like to focus on what you SHOULD be eating instead of what you shouldn't be eating. So, with that focus in mind, make sure to choose plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and un-processed foods. How can you do that? Eat at home more frequently, make more "from scratch," read labels for sodium to help you make choices at the grocery store. Why should you care about your sodium intake? It's primarly about your ticker and your noggin, people. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure and too much blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. Be well. Skip the drive-through and spend that extra time to make a meal tonight.

15th Annual Black History Month Luncheon

The 15th Annual Black History Month Luncheon is being held tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 8th, 2012, at Plaza Cafe on Revelle College. The featured lunch is served from 11am-2pm and the special Program is from 12pm-1:30pm. UC San Diego students, staff, faculty and the public are invited to enjoy a taste of African-American culture through home-cooked soul food, inspiring entertainment, and so much more! Mistress of Ceremonies: Dr. Renee Barnett Terry Featured Performers: Gary Bias - Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist with Earth, Wind & Fire Matt Falker - Jazz Pianist & Vocalist Higher Authority - Female Gospel Group Tam Tam Mandingue USA - African Drum& Dance Troupe SD School of Creative & Performing Arts - Dance Theotis Duncan - Singing The Black National Anthem Visit http://hdh.ucsd.edu/bhm/ for more information or contact Davell Jackson-Brown at dajacksonbrown@ucsd.edu or 858-534-0236.

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Thank you for your patience with less-frequent posts during the past 3 months while I've been on maternity leave. Starting in February, you will be seeing more regular blog posts from the Real Deal. If you have nutrition questions or suggestions for topics that you'd like to see covered in upcoming blog posts, please email me at rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu . I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and re-joining the healthy-eating community at UC San Diego! Becky

All-Vegan Roots Restaurant NOW Open!

Have you heard the buzz about Roots restaurant on Muir College? It's an entirely vegan restaurant located below Pines in Stewart Commons. Roots is now open and ready to serve you some awesome vegan fare. You're not vegan? Not vegetarian? Who cares! The food at Roots is delicious and can be enjoyed by omnivores as well. Come by Mon-Thu 11a-8p or Fri from 11a-4p. http://hds.ucsd.edu/DiningHours/#roots