I want what I want, and I want it now

Some days no matter how great my willpower is, my appetite gets the best of me.  And when my cravings hit, be they from a tough workout or just a tough day, they are pretty hard to silence.  So I have learned how to give in to that voice in a controlled way.
I'm constantly tweaking and reworking my favorite recipes in a way that feel indulgent, but are not calorie bombs.
So start the trumpet fan fare, because I am proud to present my Shiritaki Noodle Popeye Approved Fettuccine...
If you've never tried shiritaki noodles and are watching your carbs, forgoing gluten, or whatever dietary restrictions you have imposed, these babies will be your new best friend.
According to the House Foods Tofu Shirataki (my personal favorite brand):
Tofu Shirataki is a great pasta alternative made from blending the root of the Konnyaku - a member of the yam family and tofu. 
It is a healthy, uniquely textured noodle - that pleases people of all ages!
They have 4 different varieties, but for this recipe I like the fettuccine, obviously.

(I'll aadmit I'm no food stylist...but that does look delicious)

2 wedges Laughing Cow Light

1 package of House Foods Tofu Shirataki

2 cups of raw spinach

1 Tbsp Fage 0%

2 tsp pesto (optional)

1 Tbs low fat Parmesan (optional)

• rinse the shirataki noodles to get all the liquid off that it floats around in the bag with
• heat up a pan to high (no cooking spray needed)
• once your pan is hot add in the noodles
• once noodles are in the pan turn down the heat to medium, and add the 2 cups of spinach
• let everything cook in the pan until the water is all the way gone
• throw noodles and spinach in a bowl, add remaining ingredients

It's a super simple recipe.  And once you get comfortable making it, you can switch out the plain Laughing Cow for the garlic kind, or replace the spinach with another green of choice.  My personal vegan fav is to use Daiya cheese instead of Laughing Cow.  The possibilities are endless.

If you try out the recipe I would love to see your version, and to know what you think.

XOXO,

MacKenzie

Major Noms

So I promised myself (and the people I presume read my blog) that I would be more consistent with my blogging...
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, on to today's post...

(I used a ton of ellipses in just the two first lines, this is clearly going to be one heck of a post)
I am absolutely in love with the blog pure2raw. It's written by two women, twins, health gurus, general all around amazing women with an inspiring blog.  They recently did a post dedicated to their "diet," and what they're personal philosophy on food is. And I was super inspired by that particular post and thought I would do my own version:

People often want to know what a beauty queen, marathon runner, triathlete, gym rat, and just busy person eats to stay healthy and fit, or maybe people don't want to know and I'm just addressing my own personal musings, but who really knows.

First and foremost, I am in no way a nutritional guru like the P2R girls, but I do know what I'm doing.  Like Malcolm Gladwell  says you need 10,000 hours to be an expert at something, and after years of swim coaches, athletic trainers, nutritionists, sports nutritionists, and research of my own, I know a lot.

About a year and a half ago, or maybe two years, when I was the reigning Miss DC USA I was a vegan.  Being a vegan was fantastic and I learned so much about nutrition and farm to table eating.  Then around the time I was preparing for my 2nd marathon (which was after my reign and my college graduation), I noticed I was craving eggs.  It was at that moment I realized what the ideal diet was for me.

I LISTEN TO WHAT MY BODY WANTS.

So I don't know whether I'm a vegan, pesceterian, vegetarian, locally grown eater, or whatever.  All I know is that I listen to the signals my body gives me on what it's craving.
Now does that mean that I chow down on a large deep dish pizza because my soul tells me that's the nurturing it needs... ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Are you insane, of course part of me wants that, but I know better.  Besides diabetes runs in my family, and I am battling PCOS, so something like that can shoot my blood sugar through the roof, instantly turn to fat, and have my stomach in knots.
What I mean by listening to my body is that I just go with it.  There are days I wake up and all I want are raw vegan foods, there are moments where my day naturally pans out to be more plant based.  Then there are other days where all I want are green smoothies, or salmon as every meal.
As I prepare for Miss DC I will be sharing recipes, typical eating days, and everything else related to my preparation (never fear a style post will come soon), but I wanted to get this post out of the way so you will know where I stand nutritionally.

So I urge you dear reader (I use the singular because I just assume I'm the only person that reads this, for my own narcissistic cathartic experience [I felt instantly smarter typing that sentence, I mean look at all those SAT words]), that you find your own ideal eating.  Go with what's right for your body, lifestyle, goals, whatever.  You do not have to follow one particular plan or another.  Your body is unique, and the fuel it needs is going to be very specific to your needs.

Hopefully I offered some help like the Pure2Raw girls did for me...if not, bear with me, there's a lot more in store on this blog.

XOXO,
MacKenzie

Gettin' My Martha Stewart on veg style

Hey ya'll,

So I've been slacking off on posting some of my fav vegan recipes.  The recipes I post are approved by vegans and non-vegan (my parents).  And 9 times out of 10 the recipes get rave reviews (my parents don't care what I marinate it in...they will never like tofu).

This one is one of my all time favorites.  Its Sicilian Greens.  Its a great recipe for me because left to my own devices I would only eat bean and grain dishes...thankfully this allows me to get in dark leafy greens.  As anyone knows dark leafy greens are an important part of any nutrition plan because they are packed with vitamins.  Also the taste of this dish is out of this world.  The raisins and the collard greens have such opposite flavors that it works perfectly.  And the pine nuts make the dish feel hardier than it is.  I've never been a fan of collard greens but this dish made me a convert.  I've been known to sit down and eat just this for a meal (I rarely have left overs).

So here it is...

(A picture of the Sicilian Greens made by your truly)

Sicilian Collard Greens with Pine Nuts and Raisins

1 bunch of collard greens (I shop at Whole Foods a lot and they have a great pre-washed greens container, sometimes I'll cook 1-2 of those containers at once...I'm a single girl I don't want to slave away in my kitchen haha)

2 Tablespoons of pine nuts (I toast mine)

3 cloves of garlic (I'm a garlic fiend so I've been known to use 6 cloves)

2 Tablespoons of olive oil

3 Tablespoons of raisins

2 Tablespoons of Organic Shoyu (you can find shoyu in the asian food section, or if you want a sweeter dish use balsamic vinegar)

Directions
Use a sharp knife to cut out the central rib and stem from each collard leaf. Rinse the leaves in a sink of cool water, lifting them into a colander to drain a bit (you want some water to remain on the leaves).


Toast the pine nuts over medium heat in a dry skillet for about 5 minutes or until golden. Shake the pan often to keep the pine nuts from burning. Transfer to a plate, and set aside.


Place the garlic and oil in a large skillet, and sauté over medium heat for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the damp collards and stir, then cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add the raisins and pine nuts, and stir. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, cover, and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer.


Note
The stems of the collard greens are full of minerals, so if you want to use them, chop them into 1" pieces and cook for a couple of minutes before adding the collard greens.


Its meals like this that make me love being vegan.  There are so many nutrients packed in this one delicious dish.  And the recipe yields 2-3 servings...but I really don't feel guilty chowing down on collard greens.  Its a great dish when you're in that noshing mood.

Hope you all enjoy making and eating this as much as I do.
XOXO,
MacKenzie Green

Meet My Meat Free Mondays Open Letter

I know the post title wasn't one of my best but it will have to do (haha).

Early in my reign I was able to write an open letter in support of Meat Free Mondays in the District.  The DC City Council passed the initiative.  So I wanted to post the letter I submitted (that was presented by Amber McDonald).

Its great to see so much change happening in my city...particularly healthy changes.  Hopefully what we do here in DC has a ripple affect that can make for a healthier nation.  And with it being 4th of July the best way to honor America's birthday is to make sure we're at our healthiest and most vibrant...so we can enjoy many more :-)

XOXO,
MacKenzie

In the process of preparing for Miss DC USA I did a lot of exercise and tried to diet like a madman.

I saw fast results at first eating tiny morsels of food, but that didn't work out well for me. With a hypoactive thyroid and insulin resistance my body rebelled against my drastic measures.  In a mass revolt, unlike any seen since the America rose up against the British.

So there I was a month and a half out from the pageant, killing myself in the gym and in tears because I was hungry, irritable, and not seeing results. It was at a time when I hit a low point in fighting my body that I know I had to make a change...a lifestyle change.

I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegan for quite some time. But I was convinced there was no way I could do it, and that I wouldn't have anything to eat. Thankfully like an answer from above, on a trip to the bookstore perusing the aisles I came across Alicia Silverstone's new book The Kind Diet

So I dove head first in to the vegan pool, intending to flirt with a truly healthy lifestyle...and that's saying a lot from a woman who loves cheese, bison steaks, and salmon. But honestly I'm glad I became a vegan, because now I‘m in love with my healthy life.

Even in the month out from the pageant I found myself feeling much better, not painfully bloated after I ate, not ready to rip off the head of the nearest person (my parents like that one), and I just felt all around better. Even though when I hit the Miss DC USA stage I wasn't where I wanted to be for the first time in a long time I felt comfortable and beautiful in my own skin.

I also made the change largely due to my uncle's cancer diagnosis. I have a grandmother in the early stages of dementia, my grandfather lost both legs to diabetes and eventually died of heart complications, and health issues run through my family. So with my decision to go vegan, aside from losing weight, I wanted to end the health issues with preventive issues now in the choices I make. I also felt that if I did become Miss DC USA I didn't want to be a hypocritical role model. I knew I couldn't stand in front of kids, talking to them about making healthy choices, and I myself was making destructive eating decisions that was throwing my already damaged metabolism out of whack. I would have felt awful telling them right from wrong when I could barely take care of myself.

I'm not a perfect vegan...but I'm still doing better than I thought and I'm loving every day as a vegan thus far.

I’m an advocate of Meat Free Mondays in the District because the personal journey I took.  In only a few meals of mindful eating, and truly feeding my body I got more in tune with myself and more thoughtful about what goes on my plate.

I think if others had the opportunity to spend a day making informed eating decisions, paying attention to the food choices they make, and eating nourishing almost guiltless meals.  The impact on the person and the planet in just one meat free day would be exponential.

I would be proud to see such an initiative happen in my hometown.  Washington DC is the city that the rest of the nation looks to as a catalyst for change and action.  To have such a health initiative happen in the city that I love the most would mean so much to me…it would further solidify why I’m a proud Washingtonian.

I spur others to support Meat Free Mondays, and I am a proud supporter of the initiative.

Love and Loyally,

MacKenzie Green

Miss District of Columbia USA 2010

Welcome to Miami!

I wanted to share with you all the NBC Miami article that was done about me.  I got to talk about school, breaking through the glass ceiling, and veganism...just to name a few topics we touched on :-)  I even threw up "the U" in public on a website that people saw (don't tell my friends of any University of Miami student athletes haha)!

...and if you want to go to the site, click here.

Hope you like it.

XOXO,

MacKenzie

Miami Senior Trying to Put the "U" in Miss USA

World peace? Sure, but there's one Miss USA hopeful who cares about Randy Shannon's contract extension.

By JANIE CAMPBELL

Updated 4:24 PM EDT, Sun, May 16, 2010

BUZZ UP!

23retweet

Technically, she's Miss District of Columbia USA and left the state of Florida to an Orlando Magic dancer.

But University of Miami student MacKenzie Green is still a 305'er these days, so we're totally claiming her as she competes in the Miss USA pageant tonight on -- oh, look at us! -- NBC.

The 21-year-old beauty has to be one of the most accomplished Hurricanes around. She's earned a double major in sports administration and broadcast journalism, all while holding down Miss DC USA and UM Alumni Ambassador duties, running UMTV,  working as the station's sports anchor, and a whole glut of volunteer work.

Kinda tops our beer pong title and "D means diploma" mantra.

Even in Las Vegas, it's all about The U for...

Donald Trump On Racy Miss USA Photos: "They're Artsy"

We caught up with Green between rehearsals in Las Vegas, and might just be the only media outlet willing to forego that whole world peace question to get a pageant contestant's thoughts on Randy Shannon. 

We're in Vegas, which isn't all that bad. How's the Miss USA experience been for you so far?
It's been pretty incredible. This is basically my second pageant ever; my first was when I won my state title. It's an incredible feeling to see and watch things that I used to watch as a little girl and dream about.

You're an aspiring sports reporter from The U. So even while busy at Miss USA, you've no doubt heard the news about Randy Shannon's contract extension. All in favor?
I'm for Coach Shannon coming back. I think he adds a level of discipline and maturity to the team that was kind of lacking for a little bit. With such a young team, you need a father figure, because so many of those players don't have a father figure or don't have a strong male around. He's somebody who can really encourage them and that I hope that they look up to, that they're willing to respect and keep moving forward.

There's a history of barrier-breaking in your family. Your father is one of the Little Rock Nine, and you're the first African-American and first woman to become station manager in UMTV's 29-year history. What barrier would you like to see go down next?
I'd like to see the glass ceiling finally break;. I want a woman in the White House! I love President Obama and I'm so proud, as a minority, to see another black person standing in that place.

But I'd love to see a woman there, in particular I'd love to see a black woman there one day. It's such a hard thing in America being a woman; when you look at the class system throughout American history it was men first, then women, then minority men, then minority women. To see a black woman, a Hispanic woman, an Asian woman -- just to see any woman up there -- would be amazing.

You're a strict vegan, so let's talk food. Miami's known for its cuisine, but it must be a bit harder for you. Do you have any secret spots?
I love, love, love, love, love, love Lifefood Gourmet. It is an amazing place. It's all raw vegan, and it's right off of Calle Ocho. I love the raw vegan pizza. You never feel bad when all you're eating is nuts, grains, avocado and diced tomatoes.

It's my primo go-to place.

Miami's obviously pretty different from D.C. What do you appreciate about it after having lived here four years?
Miami has the same feeling as D.C., it feels like a small big city. It's not L.A., where you feel like you're driving 80 miles to get anywhere, it's not New York where you feel like you're crammed with people and it's loud. It's clean, and it's nice, and it's got its own flavor. It's this multicultural mix where you feel like you're in a different universe that not everybody can come in to.

I just love the Latin rhythm and the flavor. You know, I'm all D.C., but I got a little of that Miami rhythm in me.

What was the hardest thing about juggling your double major, your senior year, and your duties as Miss D.C. USA?
A lot of my teachers didn't really seem to understand what I was doing and how big of a deal it is. It wasn't until recently that it hit one of my professors that 12.5 million people watch the show, that I hadn't left to become Miss Corn Cob County -- that I was actually leaving to compete in a really huge beauty pageant. The hardest thing was just getting everybody to respect that each job was important: being a student, being a pageant girl, being a reporter. Each deserves its own time and focus.

The Miss USA Pageant will get underway live from Las Vegas tonight at 7 on NBC. You can check out the rest of the contestants at MissUSA.com.

First Published: May 16, 2010 4:18 AM EDT

Tracye McQuirter interviewing MacKenzie Green

Not sure if I shared this interview with you all, but here it is :-)

XOXO,

MacKenzie

How it all Vegan

In the process of preparing for Miss DC USA I did a lot of exercise and tried to diet like a madman.

I saw fast results at first eating tiny morsals of food, but that didn't work out well for me. With a hypo thyroid and insulin resistance my body rebelled against my drastic mesures. I had been going to a diet doctor resorting to extreme mesures to lose weight. I had B-12 shots, counted my calories to stay within 1,000-1,200 a day...often times staying at 800 and doing cardio for hours. I was headed down a bad path to loose weight, and it was obviously not sustainable for the long run.

I initially lost 13 pounds, but in a mass revolt, unlike any seen since the America rose up against the British, my body gained it all back and then some.

So there I was a month and a half out from the pageant, killing myself in the gym and in tears because I was hungry, irritable, and not seeing results. It was at a time when I hit a low

point in fighting my body that I know I had to make a change...a lifestyle change.

I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegan for quite some time. But I was convinced there was no way I could do it, and that I wouldn't have anything to eat. Thankfully like an answer from above, on a trip to the bookstore purusing the aisles I came across Alicia Silverstone's new book The Kind Diet.

As I read through the book I was more and more intrigued. A large part might be due largely in part to the fact that Clueless is my favorite movie, and I officially idolized her after she was in Batman. At that moment I figured, "if this woman looks younger than she did when she was in Clueless, and I'm not seeing any results with this crazy method, then maybe I should give it a try."

So I dove head first in to the vegan pool...and that's saying a lot from a woman who loves cheese, bison steaks, and salmon. But honestly...and I'm not pulling your leg...I'm glad I became a vegan.

Even in the month out from the pageant I found myself feeling much better, not painfully bloated after I ate, not ready to rip off the head of the nearest person (my parents like that one), and I just felt all around better. And even though when I hit the Miss DC USA stage I wasn't where I wanted to be, but for the first time in a long time I felt comfortable and beautiful in my own skin.

I also made the change largely due to my uncle's cancer diagnosis. I have a grandmother in the early stages of dementia, my grandfather lost both legs to diabetes and eventually died of heart complications, and health issues run through my family. So with my decision to go vegan, aside from losing weight, I wanted to end the health issues with preventive issues now in the choices I make. I also felt that if I did become Miss DC USA I didn't want to be a hypocritical role model. I knew I couldn't stand in front of kids, talking to them about making healthy choices, and I myself was making destructive eating decisions that was throwing my already damaged metabolism out of whack. I would have felt awful telling them right from wrong when I could barely take care of myself.

I'm not a perfect vegan...especially since I'm in the midst of finals. But I'm determined to take a more "Superhero" approach (that's what the book calls it when you eat less processed foods, and in a macrobiotic style) to my veganism once I have time to really put in to meals...but I'm still doing better than I thought and I'm loving every day as a vegan thus far.

I'm in the process of reading The Hip Chick's Guide To Macrobiotics for ideas for the future. And I'm looking forward to my future as a vegan.

I used to be a gourmet cook, but I'm still trying to get my bareing on the vegan cuisine. But there is one thing that I've come up with that is my favorite comfort food to make. And especially now with my recent loss, and the stress of finals, a little comfort goes a long way.

The recipe features my fav super grain: QUINOA!!!

I like to call it a porriage...but you may call it yummy.

1/2 c. quinoa

1 c. water

1 c. almond milk

2 tbsp. brown rice syrup

4 tbsp. cinnamon

2 tbsp. flax seed oil

-Rinse the quinoa. Put the water and the quinoa in a small sauce pan. When the water has boiled down put the almond milk and brown rice syrup in with the quinoa and let that boil down. Once its at a consistency you like let it cool some. And before you eat add the cinnamon and flax seed oil.

...what can I say, I'm no Martha Stewart with writing recipes, but give it a try and add what you like to the mix, that's how I came up with my recipe. I'm at my humble vegan beginnings but as I travel to Miss USA I know there will be more fun, and vegan fun to be had along the way :-)

XOXO,

MacKenzie