The Journey Begins

Happy New Year and welcome to Balanced Health Blog! As a communication professional and current graduate student at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition, I was inspired to start my own health blog as a way to share meaningful nutrition and health information. With so much information available through the Internet, magazines, and television, I am learning how to interpret accurate nutrition and health knowledge to help my family and friends make positive lifestyle choices.

The beginning of a new year is a traditional time for starting something new or changing old habits. I personally like to give myself the whole month of January to think of goals for the months ahead. Setting health goals should be an individual task and not what your friend, neighbor, or co-worker is trying this week. Health and wellness mean different things to different people and one’s approach and concepts should be unique to their lifestyle.

One approach to goal setting is to write down a few ideas, thoughts, or ambitions you hope to achieve and shape it to one word. A word you can put on your fridge or set as your screen saver as a constant reminder. After vetting my list of goals, my word of the year is INSPIRATION! I was inspired to go back to school with the goal of being a thought-leader in a new field and I am inspired by the challenge of learning something new. I hope your imagination gets the best of you so you can continue 2019 with your best foot forward.

Quote of the week:

“A goal without a plan is just a wish” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupry

Recipe of the week:

This simple, versatile dish is good for a stand-alone breakfast; lunch paired with a salad; or dinner with some roasted vegetables or sautéed greens.

Broccoli and Cheddar Frittata
3 eggs
1 cup egg whites
¼ cup milk
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
2 tbs. Dijon mustard
3 cups broccoli, chopped into small pieces
1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
4 scallions, chopped

Beat eggs together with egg whites, milk, and mustard and set aside. In a large, oven-safe non-stick pan over medium heat, sauté the broccoli in the oil until green and still crisp (about 2 minutes). Stir in the scallions and cook for 30 seconds. Pour the egg mixture and half the cheese into the pan to distribute evenly. When the edges set, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Place under a broiler on high to lightly brown the top and finish cooking the eggs (about 8 minutes). Serves six for breakfast or four for lunch/dinner.