Uncategorized Archives - Page 16 of 16 - Everyday Chocolate

February 12, 2021May 19, 2021 by Libby

5 Thoughts

1. ON LIKING WINTER

I used to feel like I really didn’t like winter – mainly because a lot of things feel like more of a hassle. The days are shorter and colder, so it’s harder to get outside. Driving, walking around – any form of heading outside – feels like more of an effort. If you live in the north, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That being said, this year I’m realizing that there are actually a lot of things I do like about winter. This winter, I’ve been especially enjoying the slower pace to life and the darker, cozier evenings where I get into my pajamas early (which I am known to do any time in the afternoon when I know I’m not leaving the house again, lol – anyone else??) and we can enjoy a slower dinner and time for reading, hanging out, or watching a show.

While it can feel harder to get going with runs/walks outside in the cold, I love the peacefulness/quiet feel of the snow and colder mornings. The sunrises and sunsets have also been beautiful lately.

(more…)

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 by Libby

Life Update – Final Semester!

Hi everyone!

As I get started with the blog, I wanted to give a life update in terms of what I’m currently up to. It’s crazy to believe it’s my last semester of school (likely ever)! As you may know from reading the About page, I am in grad school at the University of Michigan School of Public Health studying to be an R.D. I will finish my Master’s degree in nutritional sciences this spring, and then will start my dietetic internship in July. Once I finish my internship (which will take about 8 months or so) and take the R.D. exam, I will officially be licensed and able to start working as a dietitian!

Despite my program being totally online the past year due to COVID, it has been a really great experience overall. Thankfully, the material and work that we learn/do in nutrition is relatively transferrable to a virtual format (since we aren’t trying to do any labs or much hands-on work). While I’ve missed the in-person interaction with my professors and classmates and being on campus in general, there have been a number of positives to working from home. I’m definitely more efficient working from home and feel like I spend less time overall working on school than I used to. I also used to have about a 45 minute commute (I live only about 6 miles away from campus but would take the bus since parking is so expensive/frustrating) so that also saves a lot of time. That being said, while school still keeps me quite busy, I’ve appreciated the extra time that I have to devote to other areas of my life!

New desk setup with desk riser to help avoid back pain from sitting so much!

(more…)

January 13, 2021November 10, 2021 by Libby

What is Intuitive Eating?

Today I want to spend some time discussing what intuitive eating is, as this framework of eating underlies much of what I believe and talk about when it comes to food. When I first learned about intuitive eating towards the end of high school, it greatly helped me in my recovery from an eating disorder and in improving my relationship with food.

The intuitive eating framework was developed by two dietitians, Eveyln Tribole, M.S., R.D.N., and Elyse Resch, M.S., R.D.N. The first edition of the book, Intuitive Eating, was published in 1995, and the fourth (and most recent) edition was published just this past June. The book goes into depth on the ten principles of intuitive eating (which I will describe more below) and is a resource I would HIGHLY recommend if you are interested in learning more! (*There is also a workbook that you can get to go along with the book that is also really helpful!) Since the publication of the book, there have been over 100 studies on intuitive eating, validating its effectiveness when it comes to improving one’s overall health (both physical and mental), including one’s relationship with food.

Intuitive eating is a way of eating that focuses on tuning into your own internal bodily cues, mind, emotions, and overall intuition. It places emphasis on the reality that our bodies know best what/when/how much to eat – better than an app or calorie tracker, a meal plan, or a diet (or “lifestyle/wellness plan”) – YOU yourself innately have the ability to eat in a way that cares for YOUR body and YOUR specific needs at any given point in time.

(more…)

January 12, 2021January 13, 2021 by Libby

Hello and Welcome – First Post!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog, Everyday Chocolate. The idea of starting a blog has been on my mind for several years now, and I’m excited that it has finally come to be! Reading blogs on intuitive eating/eating disorder recovery was incredibly helpful to me in my own recovery journey, and I hope that this blog will in turn be a helpful resource for others.

Some of the topics I am thinking of covering regularly include: