Sixth College’s Annual Chocolate Festival

Guest post by Megan Ewbank, Marketing Intern

Chocolate. Festival? I was SO in. And it was everything I could have hoped for and MORE. There was chocolate, games, and fun everywhere. The chocolate fountains were flowing in all of their glory, but what I didn’t expect was to try so many different chocolate flavors.

Many chocolate vendors were present at the festival, promoting chocolate products that were fair trade, high percentages of cacao, and pure dark chocolate. These are chocolate traits that I had never considered before! And of course, they had samples. And of course, they were delicious.  Not only was the festival delicious, it was educational!? Yes. Such yes.

I think about chocolate differently now because of this epic festival. Also, our Registered Dietitian, Elizabeth Shaw, opened my eyes to dark chocolate at her recent Superfoods and Superfads demo in the 64 Degrees Demo kitchen. Chocolate doesn’t have to be strictly indulgent. If you opt for a pure dark chocolate and pair it with some nuts, it can be a sweet and protein-filled snack! Liz showed us how to make a dark chocolate nut bark, and it was delicious!

 

 

It could satisfy your late night sweet tooth without feeling guilty (just refrain from eating the whole tray).  I have had some amazing chocolate-filled weeks recently, and I’m now a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur.  So instead of opting for a traditional milk chocolate, why not search for different and purer forms of chocolate! Why not experiment a little?! Chances are the results will always be delicious!

 

Be sure to check out the Demonstration Station tomorrow at 64 Degrees at 12 noon! Elizabeth will be there ready to go and debunk those myths surrounding sugar!!

 

 

6 Weeks and Counting!

TIME IS FLYING BYE! I am sure that's no surprise to you, but hang in there, you're almost in the final stretch.

I know how time consuming and stressful studying for midterms and finals can be, so let me let you in on a little secret... it's A-OKAY to take a break! Actually, studies show it improves your brain power and retention of the material to take some stress relief moments and unwind.

I can't think of a better way to unwind than enjoying great company with your friends, a fun cooking demo and free food! Sit back and relax while the Taste Buds show you a thing or two about healthy cooking and fun, unique skills in the kitchen.

Every Tuesday at 12PM your Registered Dietitian (aka me!!) is at the 64 Degree Demo Station ready to educate and empower you to make healthy food choices to fuel your brain for success! Megan, a regular at the Demo Station, says, "It's so much fun! Not only do I get to learn something FUN outside of the classrom, I get a bite to eat too!"

 

If you missed out on the Superfood series this past month, don't fret. The entire month of May is devoted to debunking those Superfads... like eggs are evil, or dairy is dreadful! Don't miss out on the fun and free food! Be sure to stop by and say hello, I'd love to see you.

In case you missed today, here's a few photos from the Berry Busting Antioxidant Demo! More fun to come!!!

 

Wanna party Saturday? Sign up for the Walk the Block Party!

Interested in helping out while having a blast?! Well, be sure to read on to find out Megan's 4-1-1 on this Saturday's Walk the Block Party!!

Prior to signing up for the Walk the Block Party, I didn’t know we had a Triton Food Pantry. Did you?  It opened on January 5, 2015 and is a resource to any student struggling with food insecurity. According to UC San Diego Undergraduate Community Survey, 20% of students said that they would skip meals to save money. With mandatory fees like housing, tuitions, and transportation, buying food may be placed on the back burner. But with the Triton Food Pantry, any UCSD student is able to pick up food items with their ID.  This ensures that no Tritons are going hungry.  

Like The Triton Food Pantry on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tritonfoodpantry?fref=ts

Doesn’t The Triton Food Pantry awesome? Now here’s where you come in. Do you like dancing, walking, and getting free stuff?! (who doesn’t, really?) Well make sure to come out to UCSD HDH’s first annual Walk the Block Party this Saturday at 9am. Registration is FREE and you will receive free Walk the Block Party swag, get to dance and walk to live DJ’s, and continue the party after with vendors, free food, and games. AND it all benefits the Triton Food Pantry. On the registration, you can choose to donate dining dollars or cash. Why not have an awesome Saturday morning while helping out your fellow Tritons?! See you there!!  

 

Link for Registration: http://hdh.ucsd.edu/walktheblock/

Like Walk the Block on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walktheblockucsd?fref=ts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon AKA Super-Spice :)

Don't fret if you missed the kick off event at the 64 Degrees Demonstration Station! I will be back and at it again next Tuesday at 12 noon to show you just how stellar NUTS truly are.

But, for those of you who are interested in why CINNAMON is such a superfood, here's the quick 4-1-1. Plus, I've even thrown in a few ideas to tantillize your taste buds and get you ready to experiment with the superspice this weekend!

The Benefits of Cinnamon

Facts:

·         1 tsp = 6 calories

·         Source of calcium, fiber, and magnesium

·         Contains antioxidant flavonoids & essential oils with antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties

·         May stabilize blood sugar after consuming carbohydrates

Quick & Simple Taste Bud Approved Recipe Ideas

Breakfast:

·         Sprinkle on oatmeal and top with fresh sliced banana

·         Make your own cinnamon granola or muffins (recipe provided today)

·         Top cottage cheese with cinnamon & sprinkle with chopped walnuts

Lunch & Dinner:

·         Roasted squash with cinnamon-butter

·         Try spicing up Short Ribs, Chicken Biryani or Lamb Tagine

·         Add a little kick to your Bolognese meat sauce!

Snacks:

·         Cinnamon Roasted Almonds (or nut of choice!)

·         0% Fat Greek Yogurt mixed with PB2 & a sprinkle of cinnamon, paired with apples

·         Graham Crackers (or crackers, toast or rice cakes) topped with PB2 or cottage cheese, sliced bananas and a sprinkle of cinnamon!

Have another suggestion on how to use the superspice? There's still time to submit recipes for the Foodie Contest from National Nutrition Month!

Feel free to comment here, post to Facebook or share on Instagram... we'd love to hear from you!

Welcome Back! Hello Spring!

Spring’s here at the Taste Buds are ready to ROCK YOUR WORLD! Are you ready to experience a hands on weekly cooking demo at the 64 Degrees Demo Station featuring SUPERFOODS vs SUPERFADS?

Well, be sure to grab your friends and come join your HDH Registered Dietitian, Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RD, as she debunks some of the most popular myths out there to give you the 411 on the food trends today!

 

Not sure if this is up your ally? Well, take a look at the experience your fellow peer Megan had at last month’s College Classic Demo… maybe you’ll change your mind!

 March Demo: The College Classics 

BY: Megan Ewbank

Hey guys! It’s Megan again here to update you on the Tastebud’s last demo. Still haven’t been?? Well, you NEED to go! They are always delicious, informative, and FUN!

March’s Demo was themed as a healthy twist on College Classics. This included a chocolate shake, fries, and chicken tenders! Yes… These are staples in college. BUT, the Tastebuds put a healthy twist on it showing us that we can enjoy the classics… without guilt! Don’t get me wrong, having some Clucks and Fries at Red Robin isn’t a crime… (it’s actually quite  delicious) BUT the Tastebuds showed us that our once indulgent meal can become a nutritious weeknight meal that you don’t have to feel bad about! (this is really great news).

 

 
First item on the menu was this AMAZING chocolate PB2 smoothie as substitute for a chocolate shake (usually about 600 calories, yikes!) But with this smoothie, you won’t miss those shakes from the drive thru! There are a few things that make this smoothie healthy and delicious. Instead of ice cream, we used frozen bananas! Instead of milk, vanilla almond milk makes this a drink that your lactose intolerant friends can enjoy, and chocolate PB2 gives the smoothie a delicious nutty and chocolaty flavor. AND this is good for you?! OH YEAH! 

 

Next were the baked chicken fingers and fries. We used brown rice flour to coat the chicken so the tenders are completely gluten-free! And both the chicken and fries were seasoned to perfection with spices like garlic powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and pepper. They were flavorful and light because they were baked! AND we even got a healthy twist on condiments, because who can have fries without ranch?! The Tastebuds showed us an easy trick for ranch by mixing a ranch seasoning packet with Greek yogurt, Sooo easy and you definitely won’t miss your Hidden Valley!

 

In addition to all the great food we were able to have for lunch, the Tastebuds taught us all about nutrition and cooking skills! We learned some knife skills from Chef Josie that will definitely help me not slice my fingers off in the kitchen. And Dietician Elizabeth Shaw let us know all about what sugar and fats are okay and what you can do without. Also, she mentioned that coconut oil is actually high in fat and not the best oil to use for cooking. That was MIND BLOWING due to all the hype around it! And this was just one of the tips we learned at the demo!

 

Have you missed out on the demos in winter?! Don’t even worry, because the Tastebuds are BACK Spring Quarter every Tuesday from 12-1 pm at the 64 Degrees Demo Kitchen bringing YOU healthy demos with specific ingredients and themes! Don’t miss out!!

Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle

March is National Nutrition Month (NNM) and your UCSD Dining Restaurants and Markets are going ALL out! Read on to learn how you can enter to win a Bistro Gift Card AND campus wide recognition of YOUR favorite healthy recipe!

To celebrate the National Nutrition Month, your HDH Taste Buds are running a full week of SPECIALS (March 9-13) in our Dining Restaurants. Plus, we’ve brought back the FOODIE Contest! Submit your favorite healthy recipe, utilizing foods you’ve picked up at the Markets via Facebook. Winners will be chosen at the end of the month and will have their recipe featured on a Market recipe card AND get a FREE Taste Bud entrée in one of our Dining Units!

Don’t forget to check out the daily menus on our mobile app or website (http://hdh.ucsd.edu/DiningMenus) to see which Taste Bud Approved menu items are featured for National Nutrition Month. Or, stop in on your way to class and grab a Dietitian Delight to kick start your day with a lean protein and whole grain.

If a Dining Restaurant special isn’t what you’re craving, you can still enjoy Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle at one of our Retail locations. For instance, head on over to Goody’s and build yourself a burrito bowl with lots of veggies and grilled chicken topped with Pico de Gallo to fit the Taste Bud criteria. You can Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle in many different way, so be sure to think outside the box and try something new!

Don’t forget March 17^th… the Taste Bud Duo will be featuring a special Demonstration at 64 Degrees to highlight a healthy twist on college favorites! Ever wondered how you could make a delicious oven baked chicken strip, or herbed fries? This is your ticket to culinary heaven! Sign up here!!!

Interested in learning more about a particular topic? Feel free to email me at tastebuds@ucsd.edu or follow HDH on twitter & check Facebook for upcoming events featuring the Taste Buds!

Don't Let the Flu Get to You

Hey there Tritons!

Sorry it’s been a week since I have posted here, that darn flu took me down! In an effort to help promote healthy habits to fight the flu, I have some words of wisdom from a fellow dietetic student here in San Diego. Check out what Austin has to say about combating the flu!

Austin's Advice:

Being students automatically makes us much more susceptible to illnesses due to our constant interactions with other people and busy schedules but it should not stop us from sleeping and eating healthy. Sleep is one of the most important things that we need to make sure we get enough of consistently in order to allow our bodies to recover and protect from bacteria and viruses going around. Naps can save lives! If you don’t get much sleep late at night, I recommend to try and get at least a good 30 minute to hour long power nap during the day to give your mind and body some rest and time to recharge. Something as simple as a little nap can make a huge difference when avoiding the flu that’s going around.

I have found some Superfoods that are not only tasty and easy to eat on the run but they work much better than flu medications! Plus, you can pick them all up on your Dining Dollars at your local neighborhood Market or Dining Unit.

1.      Walnuts: One little cup of walnuts has nearly 18 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber and lots of antioxidants which will not only fight off the flu but also keep you full when passing between classes. Throw some in a baggie and get to class!

2.      Spinach: There is a reason why Popeye was so big and energetic after eating it! There are large amounts of iron, calcium and antioxidants in the little green leafs also which help your body absorb and digest other vitamins and minerals while making you feel fantastic. Just stop into your local Dining Unit and pick up a Dietitian’s Delight Breakfast Sandwich, it’s packed with spinach to help keep you full for longer!

3.      Avocado: We live in California. Avocado tastes amazing and is very healthy for your heart and immune system so let’s take advantage of it! Half of an avocado has more than 4 grams of fiber with lots of potassium and zero cholesterol. Yes half. Avocados can be chopped up and eaten as a snack with some hummus or it can be used as a sandwich spread but either way it’s good for you and tastes even better.

Staying physically active can be one of the biggest determinants of becoming sick or not. Something as simple as taking the stairs to your car or up to the classroom rather than using the elevator will get the blood flowing. Sweating is another great way to detox your body and get rid of the bad toxins so I recommend going for a quick jog or doing something as simple as walking across campus do wonders for your body. Exercising whenever you have time allows your body to heal from the inside out and can keep you energized throughout the day.

Exercise, healthy eating, quick snacking and proper sleep patterns are some simple, yet extremely important factors that us as students must learn to incorporate into our daily routines to the best of our abilities. All of the above factors are clearly important to always be doing but the importance of them becomes much more critical when the San Diego Flu season comes around.

If you do get hit with the bug, don’t fret. All of our Markets are stocked with a Get Well Bundle package to get you the nutrition and feel good items from home you need!

Be sure to share how you’re FIGHT THE FLU and comment here or on the Taste Buds Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you.