Ain't No {Fat} Shame in My Game!

On Friday the 13th of June, I broke my ankle. The incident was, and continues to be, painful and has altered my life significantly this summer. I realize that I have plenty to be thankful for, like the fact that I won't need surgery and that my friends, Tracy and Steve, have let me move in with them while I recuperate. But, I really miss my normal routine! I miss my apartment and evening walks with the dog. I miss being able to answer the door when my delivery food arrives and standing up to take a shower. I miss time spent alone and my independence. One of the most surprising realizations, however, has been how much I miss my morning sessions at the gym with my sister.

The pit and the aftermath

Danielle and I recommitted to the gym in March. It wasn't easy to get used to the alarm clock sounding off at 5:15 am, but having someone to rely on for a backup call/text when that snooze button was winning the war against my self resolve was a huge help. By the second week, I found myself looking forward to my pre-work workouts. I didn't realize it at first, but there was something very different about my approach to the gym this time around; my primary focus wasn't on seeing the numbers on the scale go down, it was on fitness. I was most interested in challenging my body to do something it had never really done before- I wanted to be able to run. Each week, I relished in the achievement of running a little bit further or faster than I had the week before. I think that this difference was my key to finding enjoyment in the gym, and I am sad that I won't realize my goal of running my first 5K this summer.

Not only had I discovered a new pastime that I enjoyed, but suddenly the lens through which I saw myself in the mirror was changing. I was drawing self confidence from how I felt physically, and that was shaping how I related to my appearance. I was stronger and more fit, and that felt darned good despite the fact that the scale might not have budged. In fact, I had stopped weighing myself- that's how little the scale mattered. Why should I rain on my own parade just because I hadn't lost the weight I set out to lose last year? I was kicking ass on the treadmill, and that's what mattered most because that's what made me feel awesome! I decided to consciously eschew the fat shaming mindset that I had internalized over the years, and instead I would celebrate my fitness accomplishments.

Ain't no shame in Whitney's game, or mine!

I'm fortunate that I started tapping into this mindset before my accident; it has helped me to remember to be kind to myself throughout the healing process. There have been occasional moments of panic: "But how will I fit into a bridesmaid's dress in September?!" (Answer: I'm going to buy a dress that fits and makes me feel fabulous!); and "Should I starve myself until I can get back to the gym?" (Answer: Heck no! I'm going to need nutrients in order to speed up my recovery, and ice cream packs some great calcium.); and "Do these crutches make me look fat?" (Just kidding. I knew right away that the crutches made me look tough.). I have had to cling firmly to this new form of self love and self acceptance that isn't predicated on the size of my clothing, while surrounded by influences that insist that my current size is a problem. I cannot allow myself to spiral into a pit of self loathing over my broken ankle weight gain. I can choose to focus on the memory of that post-gym high. I know that when I'm off of the crutches and out of the AirCast I will relish a return to the gym, and I will slowly and safely start working towards that 5K goal once again.

Cheers to that!

When I first created this blog, the core purpose was to document my experiences with Weight Watchers and to share delicious and healthy recipes. It evolved into something much more than that, and I love filling my little corner of the web with food, photography, travel tales, and reviews of my favorite places and products. I recently canceled my Weight Watchers subscription, because counting points isn't working for me at this point in my journey through life and Providence. As a result, the format and content of this blog might change a little over the coming months; for example, I won't be able to provide you with the PointsPlus values of new recipes. I do need to continue to make a commitment to my health, so I will continue to share related content here. I simply realized that it was time to try something new and, after some careful deliberation, I have decided to try the Herbalife plan. I found a great coach through my Facebook friends list, and I'm currently waiting for my first order to arrive.

As with the gym, I'm approaching this new plan with a focus on my overall health and well being and won't be obsessed with the numbers on the scale. My activity level is extremely limited right now, so I'm hoping to avoid letting my health deteriorate too much while my ankle heals by focusing my attention on a balanced diet. Whether the pounds come off fast or slow on Herbalife, I can assure you that I'm going to wear my horizontally striped fatkini proudly this summer because, for whatever reason, I feel like a glamorous pinup girl when I wear it; and I won't let the fat shaming majority make me feel bad about that.

I must thank Carol Rossetti for her images and her words!

Wordless Wednesday: Ice Ice Baby

Crush on You: Easy Entertaining, Inc.

Welcome to the new "Crush on You" series!

I should confess that, thanks to eat drink RI, I had a slight crush on Easy Entertaining, Inc. before I stepped through the doors of their gorgeous Café (located at 166 Valley Street). If you're anything like me, you voraciously read eat drink RI's "Upcoming Events" list each week and daydream of a better world- a world in which you're able to attend every event. I first noticed Easy Entertaining's cooking classes on that list last year, and I've been admiring the company from afar ever since (thanks, Facebook!). Three weeks ago the stars finally aligned, and I was able to attend one of their classes. The topic? Healthy Weeknight Summer Meals.

Easy Entertaining Café's decor and design alone were crush-worthy. The tables were topped with simple flower arrangements and the large windows let in tons of great ambient light. The space felt both comfortable and upscale at the same time. It quickly became clear that there was much more to admire about this company than its good looks, though. They're one of Rhode Island's premier farm to fork establishments. With an ethos built around sustainability, I was digging their message and values too. Add to that some delicious food served up in a friendly and informative manner, and I was positively giddy by the time I exited their Café doors!

Our host for the evening was Easy Entertaining's Sous Chef, Ashley, and she was assisted by Chef Marlon. I hadn't been able to register in advance since I only learned of the event that afternoon, but both Ashely and Marlon did a great job of seamlessly adding me into the fold. Eight of us sat at the counter surrounding the makeshift demo kitchen they had created. The classes at Easy Entertaining are BYO, so we opened our bottles of wine and chatted amongst ourselves while Ashley prepared to start the class. The women next to me had been to an Easy Entertaining class before, and were raving about the onion chopping skills they had picked up. So, Ashley was kind enough to teach the rest of us the tricks of the onion chopping trade before diving into the first recipe of the evening.

Ashley covered three recipes over the course of about an hour. She started with a Quick Split Pea Soup with Ham Hock. My dad always makes split pea soup the Monday after Easter, but Easy Entertaining's version was ready in a lot less time and tasted much lighter. "Quick" doesn't mean instant, however. The soup Ashley whipped up in front of us needed to simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours, so the soup that we sampled was one that had been started by Marlon earlier that afternoon. Next Ashley showed us how to toss together a tasty pasta dish composed of shrimp and zucchini. The flavors were simple and well balanced; it was a delicious meal that we all agreed would impress friends despite being delightfully simple to prepare. The final recipe of the night was one for scrumptious Chicken and Zucchini Burgers- and it's that burger recipe that I'd like to share with you below. Guilt free burgers that pack a hidden vegetable punch?! Yup. That's crush-worthy!

Before we get to the recipe, I want to share a few of the practical tips and tricks that I picked up during the class.

1. A "Take your soup from ordinary to Yay!" tip: each time you add a vegetable to the oil, add a little salt and pepper to help build on the caramelization.
2. If you accidentally over-salt a meal, add a little lemon; or if you've used too much lemon, add a dash of salt.
3. A microplane makes an excellent garlic grating tool. (I bought one a few days later and love it!)

Thanks, Easy Entertaining, for a great evening of food education! I look forward to attending more classes in the future.

Chicken and Zucchini Burgers 

Servings: 5 burgers Serving Size: 1 burger Points Plus*: 3 pts
(Easy Entertaining's recipe, mildly adapted)

Ingredients

1 lb Ground Chicken, extra lean
1 small Zucchini, grated
1/4 cup Seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 clove Garlic, grated
1/8 cup Green onion, chopped
Dash of salt and pepper
Oil spray

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, zucchini, breadcrumbs, garlic, green onion, salt and pepper.

Heat a large skillet on high heat. Make five equal patties. When the skillet is hot, lightly spray with oil. Add the burgers to the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Cook on one side until browned, the flip. Flip over a few times to prevent from burning, and make sure the burgers are cooked all the way through. I cooked the burgers for about 6-7 minutes on each side.

Serving Suggestion: I topped a couple of the burgers with cheese in the final two minutes of cooking. Yum! 

 
These burgers freeze beautifully. Seal a few of the cooled, cooked burgers in sandwich bags and pop them into the freezer so that you'll have them on hand when your next burger craving strikes.

*PointsPlus values calculated using the Recipe Builder on the Weight Watchers website

The Taste Trekkers are Coming!

In preparation for today's second meeting of the global ambassadorship campaign, #OurPVD, I've been thinking about Providence a lot lately. The Taste Trekkers Food Tourism Conference, scheduled to take place in the city this fall, is the one event that I'm most excited about at the moment. Food is one of my passions and, since I grew up working in the hospitality industry in Bermuda, an appreciation for the importance of tourism is in my blood. I was thrilled when it was announced that Providence would host a weekend-long series of events that combine food and tourism. This week I have found myself thinking specifically about how well this conference complements Providence's food culture. 

View of the city's skyline from Providence Flea

What makes Providence an attractive location for hosting an event focused on food tourism? What do participants stand to gain from meeting, greeting, and learning here in the Creative Capital? The food scene in our small city is exciting right now, and it has received its fair share of outstanding national accolades, but I thought I'd reach out to Seth Resler, the man behind the Taste Trekkers organization, and other conference participants to find out what excites them about Providence. 

I asked some of the scheduled session leaders, panelists, and one of the conference's participating food trucks one of two questions: "What do you love about Providence?" for the locals or returning visitors, and "What are you excited to learn about Providence?" for the folks coming to RI for the first time. The gracious and enthusiastic responses I received are a clear indication that Seth chose the right city for this event!

I didn't know how this blog post would shape up when I started reaching out to participants. It is humbling that these industry experts took the time to respond to me, and what they had to say was inspiring. I have decided that an "In Their Own Words" format will provide the most complete picture of what makes Providence a Taste Trekker's utopia.   

Photo Credit: Cat Laine

 Davide Dukcevich (Owner, Daniele, Inc.)
"I love Providence’s young people. Their civic pride inspires me. Unlike my generation, who roamed the earth in search of the biggest paycheck, the 20-somethings I meet in Providence love their city and seek to improve it. Look no further than the kids running Farm Fresh Rhode Island to see what I mean. They are enriching the entire community by bolstering local agriculture, local youth, and the local food scene."

Gutman's self portrait at Haven Bros.

Richard J.S. Gutman (Director and Curator, Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University)
"I love coming to work each day in Providence because it’s the birthplace of the diner…which I’ve been studying since 1970. We have a permanent diner exhibition right outside my office at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales, and I’m a short drive from poached eggs on toast at the Seaplane Diner—a 1952 stainless steel beauty—or if I’m staying late, I can grab a burger and fries at the oldest diner on wheels, Haven Bros., off Kennedy Plaza."

Photo Credit: Taste Trekkers Website

Marina Marchese (President & Founder of Red Bee Artisanal Honey and Founder of The American Honey Tasting Society)
"I am most excited to experience the food culture at all levels beginning with your farmers markets to the farm to table restaurants. The markets are a feast for your senses not only to experience what local producers are offering, but also to speak with each one- especially the beekeepers. Today my company sells exclusively to notable F2T chefs, and it is always exciting to taste how seasonal foods are transformed into edible gems at the table. In a nutshell, I love the journey from how local food is produced to the surprising meals they become. So Providence will be a welcomed food journey and a feast for my own senses."

Spotted: Noble Knots!

Noble Knots 
(Providence-based food truck)
"We love all of Providence! Our favorite aspect, of course, is the food culture. As food truck owners, we are especially thankful for, and appreciative of, the food truck community. We also love the little neighborhood mom and pop restaurants. We all embody the spirit of creativity and love for food. In our opinion, with the abundance of diverse options, Providence has earned its place as one of the great food cities in this country."

Photo Credit: http://sethresler.com

Seth Resler (Founder, Mystery Meet)
"What do I love about Providence? I think I like the pride that Rhode Islanders have. They're very passionate, and it reflects in a lot of the things that they do. It's a fantastic arts and entertainment city given its size."










I talk a little bit about my love for Providence over on this blog's About page. What do you love about the Renaissance City? Please add to the conversation in the comments below, and keep it going over on Twitter or Facebook using the #ourPVD hashtag.   

Wordless Wednesday: The Big Reveal

You had two whole weeks to play the incredibly easy, animal print inspired, game of "Guess Who?"
I had to take some time off from the blog because back pain has made it hard to be on the computer outside of the hours I put in at the office each day.

Now, without further ado, it's time for the big reveal!

A 1: Elephant

A 2: Giraffe

A 3: Zebra

A 4: Flamingo

A 5: Chinese Alligator

A 6: Sulcata Tortoise

Red Panda (I know that this little guy wasn't in the game, but look how cute!)

Wordless Wednesday: Animal Prints

Get excited for two weeks of "Wordless Wednesday" posts featuring photos from my recent trip to the Roger Williams Park Zoo! We'll kick things off with this week's game of animal print inspired "Guess Who?" Next Wednesday I'll reveal the identity of each "mystery" animal. Wanna play? It will be embarrassingly easy!

Wordless Wednesday: Incredible Ice Cream Throwdown