Happy New Year!

Welcome to my blog! This is my first-ever attempt at something like this, so I am really excited (!!!). I have never been very technologically-inclined -- I mean, I do just fine with the basics (except for Excel...you have to be a genious to learn and remember all those functions!) -- but when it comes to social media, I have to admit I'm a little behind! So my New Year's Resolution is to get with the times. Let this blog be your Exhibit A.

Here's a little info on who I am and all of the AMAZINGNESS you have to look forward to in reading my blog (I know, "amazingness" is not a real word...just roll with it!): I am the dietitian for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. As a dietitian, I LOVE food and I especially love finding ways to healthfully enjoy food. In my role at SMU, I work one-on-one with students, faculty, and staff, providing nutrition counseling that focuses on building healthy lifestyle behaviors through diet, exercise, and stress management. This blog will feature a lot of healthy lifestyle ideas, revelations, advice, etc. that I have picked up along the way. With that said, I am human and love cupcakes and french fries (particularly cheese fries), and don't even get me started on Whataburger taquitos and fried pickles...but I digress! My point is, I get it. It's important to be healthy but it's also important to enjoy the food you eat. You not only eat to live but, if you're anything like me, you also live to eat!  So I want to make nutrition easy and fun for everyone. That's what we're going to do here. Have some fun!

With that said, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you have a happy, healthy, and safe evening.  I'm going to leave you with a recipe for super yummy jalapeno poppers...perfect for a New Year's Eve party or even a BCS National Championship party (Go Irish!) :

Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients:
- 15 jalapenos
- 8 oz tub fat-free cream cheese
- 15 strips bacon (use turkey bacon as a healthier option!)
- 30 toothpicks

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with foil.

Cut jalapenos lengthwise in half and scrape out seeds. Using a spoon, fill inside of each jalapeno half with a dollop of cream cheese. Set aside.

Cut bacon strips in half. Take one half and wrap around the cream cheese-filled jalapeno and secure the ends with a toothpick. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Cook in oven for 20-30 minutes, or until cream cheese starts to turn brown. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and enjoy!

Yield: 30 jalapeno poppers