• 25Apr

    Dining Out for Life this Wednesday!

    It is on rare occasion that the staff of Good Measure Meals gets to promote eating out, so when we do it’s always for a great cause!  Next week is Dining Out for Life, an annual fundraiser for our parent nonprofit, Open Hand.  There are over 100 restaurants participating, and all you have to do to get involved is dine out and 20% of your bill goes to Open Hand’s Comprehensive Nutrition Care Program.  If you aren’t familiar with our cause, please take the time to check out our mission and the impact we have on community health and education at www.projectopenhand.org .

    Just like last year, Jess Parsons and I have decided to host at West Egg Cafe, one of our favorite Atlanta eateries. Being in the food and nutrition industry, we are often drawn to restaurants that truly embody a passion for good eats.  West Egg Cafe continues to appeal to our senses as well as creativity, which is why we felt a compelled to once again collaborate with Owners Jennifer and Ben Johnson.   They continually introduce fun and quirky concepts that appeal to our need for comfort food while completely wowing our culinary appetites.

    West Egg Cafe's Special Wednesday Night Deal: $10 Burger & Pint

    We’ll be at West Egg Cafe on Wednesday April 27thbetween 6-9:30PM and we’d love for you to join us and experience everything this fun establishment has to offer! It is lucky for us that Wednesday nights just happens to be West Egg’s special $10 burger and pint night. This deal includes West Egg’s special burger (double patty, American cheese, housemade pickles, on a Holeman & Finch bun) and the choice of any beer or a milkshake for only $10.  They’ve got all local beers on tap (Sweetwater, Terrapin, Red Brick), plus a variety of bottled beers.  They make their our own softserve ice cream for the milkshakes (and, with a full bar, they do “adult” milkshakes as well!).  Speaking of full bar . . . they’ve got some specialty cocktails that are perfect for warmer weather.  Jen Johnson’s favorite cocktails are “The Seersucker” – gin, homemade lemonade, basil and the “Maple Mint Julep” – bourbon, maple syrup, mint. You can check out their full menu by clicking here.

    We hope that you’ll decide to Dine Out For Life on Wednesday!

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  • 05Apr

    Become Grocery Store Savvy

    If you are currently on a 5-day Good Measure meal plan, Dinner Only plan, transitioning off of Good Measure Meals or even if you’ve never tried the meals, you may find major benefits in learning how to select better products at the grocery store. I find that when I’m familiar with my grocery store and trust the products that I’m buying, I actually feel better about the foods that I’m eating and serving to my friends and family. I also feel good knowing that what I’m preparing is fresh and contains quality ingredients that will help keep us happy and healthy. This makes eating healthy an easier choice.

    If you’re interested in becoming a savvy grocery store shopper and would like to receive a personalized grocery shopping plan – I am available to help. Your appointment will include a live visit to the grocery store of your choice, led by myself or one of our other dietitians. The store visit will be personalized for you and your needs! We will cover a wide variety of topics including Food Label and Ingredient Analysis, Specific Food Selection Tips for Weight Loss, Planning Ahead, and Preparing a Productive Shopping List. You can contact me or our customer service department to schedule an appointment at (404)815-7695.

    Here are some tips to help get you started:

    1)      Make a strategy - It is important to stay focused and learn how to navigate the aisles with a strategy. I find that the best strategy starts at home. It should include three things: planning a menu, making a shopping list, and assessing the foods that you already have on hand that you would like to incorporate into your menu.

    2)      Plan ahead - Go to your grocery store at the least busy times. I’ve actually had stressful experiences shopping for food when the store was packed and the lines for checkout where long. If you have ever visited the Dekalb Farmers Market on a Saturday afternoon then you know exactly what I’m talking about! They actually had security guards directing cart traffic and I witnessed folks yelling at each other over a pineapple. Try to pick a time and day that will aid in your success and help you remain calm.

    3)      Don’t go hungry - Make sure that you aren’t hungry when you arrive. You’ll be less likely to let your stomach make impulse buys and more likely to stay tuned in to what you need.

    4)      Know the layout – Most stores are set up similarly – the packaged foods are in the middle aisle and produce, dairy, meat and fish along the perimeter. For the interior of the store focus on whole grain cereals, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, brown or wild rice, dried or canned beans and lentils, whole wheat crackers, air-popped popcorn, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. For the perimeter of the store focus on a variety of fresh and colorful fruit and vegetables, low fat diary, lean meats, and fish.

    What are your favorite smart shopping tips? Let us know!

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