Last Post on Picky Nicky

Hey guys... I've been busy with school and finals and I'm just gonna stop by for a quick update but this will be my last post as Picky Nicky
I'm moving on to another blog which I'll link to here once I have a chance to make it pretty ;) Hint: It will be very nerdy! I'm an honour science student after all ;)

So what have I been up to?
Well between work and studying, and eating and boxing.. I painted my toes to welcome spring :)

 And I still invent my own recipes all the time! Down here we have mini pumpkin muffins <3

I also bought my first non-vegan protein powder cause I'm really trying to gain muscle now that I'm taking my boxing more seriously 

And even though I'm leaving this food/health blog, it doesn't mean that health is not part of my life anymore! In fact, I just got an award for my participation on my school's health and wellness committee :) Hence the rose! With a delicious sandwich to distract you muahhaha 

So ya, about my next blog. The focus will be on math and science mostly, still with the upbeat tone I love to write in! And there's still room for food ;) ....If it's hyberbolic parabloid pringles in math class :) 

Yep, our teacher gave us pringle chips when we learnt about the 3D curves! 

See you later guys, stay happy and healthy :)  And check back for my new link~ 

-Nicole 

New Boxing Gym

I've been so busy lately! 

I recently switched boxing gyms and it was an amazing decision :) The gym I now go to is less expensive than my previous one AND has so much more to offer! The training part of the gym is opened 24/7 which is freaking cool if you ask me!!! And as for the boxing, it's crazy intense! I've never worked out so hard in my life. 

The first class I took there was 2 hours long. The first hour was almost like a bootcamp fitness class where we did burpees, lunges, squats, plank, pushups, and we even ran around the track between exercises! And that was just the warm up ;) The ONE HOUR LONG WARMUP! Then we boxed for an hour on the bag and pretty much every time the instructor yelled "PUSHUPS. NOOOOW." we had to drop down and do pushups and squats or whatever, then it was back to hitting the bag. I swear I thought that class would never end! All I'd think about is when the next water break would be :P But, I know it's good for me in the end ;) 

I used to be the type who never showered at the gym, I'd just go straight home and shower in my own bathroom. But now I HAVE to shower at the gym haha there's no way I can leave the gym looking as sweaty as that!

In other great news, I gave blood for the first time :) I was nervous that my hemoglobin would be too low, because I used to have a very low count. BUT I had a 14!!! The nurse told me that was amazing and then I was so happy for the rest of the evening :) <3 I was truly, truly proud of myself! 

Before I start talking food, here's a pretty weird sight haha I saw a baby doll in the dumpster on my way home.. Kind of creepy :P 

Ok, food now! I got a new water bottle at lululemon cause I forgot my old bottle in the freezer and it cracked.... This one is made of glass though so I have to be even more careful with it. I love taking ice tea to school with a bit of honey it really keeps me awake all day :)

I just steep tea in a huge pitcher the night before and leave it in the fridge until the morning

Ok now ACTUALLY onto food :) Since I've been working out so hard (And I actually would like to gain some good muscle!) I've been increasing how much food I've been eating. 

If you know me in person, you'd know that I'm not a huge eater.. It's just the way I am. I'm not the type to snack while I'm on the computer or to get takeout for lunch or whatever.. and recently I've realized that I actually don't eat enough to fuel my body :$ It's embarrassing, since I always think I'm so healthy. But in reality, I'm not THAT healthy because I can't even eat proper amounts.. It's left me feeling tired all the time and I pretty much catch a cold every month. Anyway, I'm now making a conscious effort to change that! 

First step, bake a huge batch of mini muffins AND SNACK MINDLESSLY on them ;)

Second step, beef up meals with legumes since they've got good fats and protein!

Instead of packing one sandwich for lunch I now pack two ;) (Even though there's only one in the picture) And I add avocado and cheese to my sandwiches. 

And even though I'm increasing how much I eat, there's still room for vegetables ;)

And now I'm off to enjoy my second (EDIT: Third! <3) bowl of lasagne :) 

And study for my finals :( 

What's the most intense workout you've ever done? 

Bye Baba

Yesterday was a really tough day for me,
This big bundle of joy got given back to the farm :'''(

I cried so much because this little Baba wasn't just any animal.. He was my first pet ever and I grew so attached to him <3 I had him for 2 years, we got him when he was a tiny baby, and I raised him until he got just too big to keep

Not to sound too dramatic, but today was my first day without him and as I was making salad I got so sad knowing that I couldn't save the scraps for him </3 

Also last night I had so much trouble sleeping because I kept wondering if he was scared, or cold or lonely :( When I woke up I really missed hearing him jump around and I missed feeding him his little scoop of rabbit food :( 

I think it's better to think of the positive though, I know he's gonna have a lot more space to hop around on the farm :) And I can also enjoy knowing that I gave him a good childhood :) 

...Taking him to fashion shows and concerts ;)

He's always going to be my favourite animal in the world <3 :) 

And I can still visit him on the farm, in fact I'm heading there tomorrow before school just to check up on him :') I love that little fellow! And I'll be so happy to give him a big hug! 

Now I want to hear about your pets and how much you love them :) 

Quick Food

Quick food is not the same as fast food ;) Quick food, the way I define it, is a delicious meal that can be prepared when you're starving and want food asap!

Here's my typical fast food :)

Last monday night I got home from boxing at 8:30.... And after a super quick shower, I was SO ready to eat! From start to finish, this meal was made in less than 20 minutes! Not bad for something cooked fresh (i.e not reheated)

I start with hard boiling an egg because that takes about 15 minutes

Then I boil water for some kamut noodles :) I love these!

Stir fry some frozen veggies in olive oil

Get my favourite combo of spices ready 

Nooch, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes :) 

I realized we had some carrot soup so I warmed that on the side. All 4 stove tops were taken at this point :) 

Then I was able to plate my lovely meal and enjoy it while I wasted time on the computer before falling asleep ;) 

I also end every day with a giant mug of tea :) <3 

What's your favourite "I NEED TO EAT NOW" meal? :)

Thoughts on Body Fat

Being an honour science student, our teachers always take us on all kinds of crazy little visits. Last friday, we went across our campus to the nutrition and dietetics centre to learn more about what they do. 

One of the PhD nutritionists began by talking to us about Canada's food guide and how to get our daily quota of vitamin D we should be drinking 4 glasses of milk a day! WHAT? I was so shocked! The girl next to me actually raised her hand and said something along the lines of "I heard that adults shouldn't drink cow's milk anyway" And the nutritionist replied that it was still the best source of calcium and vitamin D for us... Now I'm very perplexed....... Is it just me or is there too much conflicting evidence out there? About everything!!!! 

They also went over Canada's food guide with us and I kept thinking about almost nobody I know follows this.

Lastly, they offered us a chance to get our body fat measured. I was excited to do it since it's kind of a once in a lifetime thing. They had a machine that looks like a scale but it sends a tiny bit of current through your legs. It sends the current up one leg and measures the time it takes for the current to reach your other foot. If you have a lot of muscle and water (highly conductive), then the current will travel faster but if you have a lot of fat (which is insulating) then the current will travel slower. I was not that surprised with my results but the whole idea kind of shook me up for the rest of the day. My legs are made up of 23% fat? I kept thinking... But you know what I told myself? 

Body fat is not the same thing as a FAT BODY. 

First of all the machines are not that accurate, because they only measure your body fat in your legs, and secondly, maybe it just means I have a nice but ;) 

Anyway, while I do think knowing your body fat is important (ignorance in this case is not bliss), I don't think we should obsess over it. I still think, though, that if more people knew their body fat, it might be a good motivation to get or stay in shape 

What are your thoughts on body fat? 

And in other news, I totally asked for a free cup of water at Starbucks and brought a tea bag from home ;) This cost me 0$ ;) 

Now I'm going to do more of this! Studying with coffee :)

Bye! 

One more question, 

What do you think of Canada's food guide? 

Passover is Over!

I have to confess, I broke passover this year :$ I went to my boyfriend's family for Easter dinner on the weekend and I may have had a pierogi and brownies
Oh well, life goes on ;P

  Aside from that minor slip up, I was good with passover :)

Lot's of homemade soup, egg/matza omelettes, fruits and vegetables were consumed this past week! And on the less healthy front, lots of chocolate (I mean LOTS!) and a few passover deserts such as macaroons were consumed :) <3

Tomato and parsnip soup made in the vitamix!

matza soaked in egg and then fried 

matza with butter and salt

yogurt with fruits, almond butter and cinnamon and a hot chocolate on the side :) 

matza dipped in cottage cheese and flax seeds

My friend came over on the weekend to watch a movie and together we ate half a watermelon :) We could've EASILY eaten a whole one but there was only half in the fridge... boooo :(

And even though passover was great and I still have a box of matza to finish, I'm really glad to be back to my carby self :) 

Normal bed time snack for me is a toasted pita topped with whatever I can find and lots of fruit. I also always drink a big mug of tea in the evening while I'm doing my homework, reading or watching TV

And I had 2 huge bowls of pasta when I got home from school today... just cause..... I missed pasta so much :) <3 I also had a piece of baguette right after, for the same reason! 

And to conclude, here's a scary photo of my rabbit to wish you all a happy easter :) 

If you had to go a week without carbs, which carbs would you miss the most? 

I was definitely going through a little cereal withdrawal!!! 

Happy Passover!

I got a root canal on monday!!!

I'd been having an awful toothache for months and originally my dentist said it was a big cavity (I know, the sound of big cavity is nasty!) so anyway she filled the cavity like usual but the pain just kept getting worst and worst. My dentist told me to wait it out (this was february) and then this monday I couldn't handle the pain anymore.. It got so bad that I started crying. 

Anyone who's ever had a toothache knows just how debilitating they can be! So monday I left school on my break to go to the emergency dentist :) Fancy, I know! I was in tears from the pain when I got there and they took an x-ray first thing. The dentist said the inside of my tooth (the nerve) was inflamed... So they gave me a root canal on the spot...... I'm almost happy they did it so suddenly because that way I had no time to be nervous! And let me tell you, I feel like a new person :') I can finally focus on something other than the pain in my mouth! And it was a top molar so the pain was up to my head! 

Post root canal, I came home starving because it was 3 and all I'd eaten that day was.... Like a banana and some matza (Passover!!) I can't even remember.. I just wasn't expecting the root canal so I had a lunch packed for school and everything :( Just no time to eat it... 

When I did sit down to eat I couldn't chew much cause my mouth was still numb so I ended up having two bowls of soup with matza balls :) Love! I had about 8 matza balls in total during that meal and now I'm pretty tired of them!! And on the side I had the salad I had packed for lunch but I was only able to eat the soft vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants. 

I also had some of these yummy tomato olives! Passover tradition up in here :) 

The next day, I had off from school and was lucky that my mom took me to visit a university two hours away from home. I'd been accepted in the law program but was not impressed by the campus :( At least the road trip snacks were good! And for those of you that are curious, I'll be going to McGill university next year in biology and math! 

Kettle Chips and a cherry chocolate Vega Bar

 I don't keep passover strickly. Some people avoid rice and beans but I really only cut out bread/wheat/yeast products.
My dinner last night consisted of a big bowl of rice pasta noodles with eggplant sauce and frozen veggies. I was still hungry even after this big bowl that I ended up making an omelette with matza pieces broken into it :) I should've taken a picture, sorry :$

My favourite thing to do with noodles :)

I also enjoyed this delicious hot chocolate! Made with vanilla almond milk, cocoa power, honey and a touch of coconut oil for silkiness :)

I have a drinking problem

Now I want to know, what's your worst dentist experience!!!? And do you celebrate passover? What's your favourite passover recipe?