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| Wednesday April 25, 2007 |
Today was an exciting day here at NutriFit! We love visitors, and especially enjoy showing our facility to motivated and interested health professionals, such as the group of graduating student dietitians that stopped in today!
Over the years I have spoken at, worked with and supported many events at the highly regarded Marilyn Magram School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Cal State Northridge. Today they visited us, and we had a chance to give them a first hand look at how we help our clients achieve their wellness goals. It was really fun, and I'm certain that they were impressed. I feel privileged to be included in the course work of Professor Tobarkian, and have an opportunity to speak with her students. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Sunday, December 3, 2006 |
| Can you believe it's December already? This year has flown by faster than all the others. As NutriFit has always been the trendsetter and leader in personal catering, we're looking forward to enhancing our client's health in 2007 with phytochemical and antioxidant-rich foods. These multi-benefit meals will provide natural solutions to many of the chronic health issues that people face, and performance boosting power to propel us to the next level! |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Thursday, August 17 2006 |
From Gibraltar:
Given it's strategic importance from a military standpoint, the roughly 32,000 inhabitants of Gibraltar have an important role to play in world geography. Located at the tip of Spain, Gibraltar occupies little more than the huge rock we have come to associate with the name. Interestingly, outside of the military and tourist income, the other contributor to the economy is online gambling.
Gibraltar has been occupied by nearly every nation at one time or another, and by the British for the past 300 years. Many of the descendants are Genovese, which influences the local cuisine. But Spanish is the second language, and one can certainly see why - Spain is right across the road (quite literally), as is Morocco (right across the Straits of Gibraltar). We enjoyed visiting the Barbary apes, so used to people that they will eat right out of your hand, yet wild and protected as a species.
Although we weren't able to sample any true local cuisine, our Gibraltarian guide and driver mentioned three dishes - Calantita, an Italian dish made from layered chick peas and vegetables, and Rosto, a spicy noodle and beef casserole, as his favorites, along with Pudding de Pan, a local version of bread pudding with cinnamon. Another day of nearly perfect weather, despite the rocky waters we navigated both in and out of the harbor! |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Monday, August 14 2006 |
From Ajaccio on the Island of Corsica, France:
How lucky for us - the port at Propriano was too choppy for the tenders (small boats that ferry passengers from the ship to the shore). Instead, we docked at Ajaccio (also on the island of Corsica), birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. And, as we happened to be here on the 14th of August, we were able to watch a local celebration that takes place in the main square, where locals dress up in authentic attire and commemorate his birthday with a march through the streets (fife and drums playing) and concert. It was a delightful start to our brief visit.
From the square it was a short walk to the daily open air market, where local merchants set up their stalls and tables loaded with fresh cheeses, dried meats, fruits and vegetables, and of course, French bread and pastries of all types. What a treat - I had a great time smelling, tasting and buying a "bite of France"!
The local sidewalk cafes are full of people, some enjoying big bowls of mussels, wine and interesting crepes. The sky was bright blue, the water even more so, and to top it off, the Nutella-flavored ice cream looked absolutely incredible! |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Sunday, August 13 2006 |
From Naples, Italy:
A rainy start to our day, complete with lightning and thunder showers, but our driver was waiting at the dock, and we were determined to make the most of our morning. We were off to Pompeii, passing Mt. Vesuvius on the way, shrouded in clouds. The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD froze an entire society at one instant in time, and by doing so, enabled us to see the lives, customs and conditions of 2,000 years ago. This is a big ruin and excavation, and as we wander through it, we can still see frescoes, mosaics and even how the shops and villas were organized. How elaborate and richly elegant the villas were! From Pompeii we travel to Herculaneum, a lesser-known, smaller archeological site. Unlike Pompeii, however, Herculaneum was buried in a flash, by mud and pyroclastic rock that lead to a phenomenon of preservation far different. Here we saw organic artifact, miraculously preserved entire frescoes, plants, fabrics, furniture and even wooden structures.
Naples is the home of Limoncella, a libation made from lemon peel. Lemons grow everywhere - some as large as acorn squashes. And, Naples is the birthplace of pizza, the original version consisting of a very thin, soft crust with a high outer ridge of soft dough. Pizza Marinara came topped with garlic, oregano and tomato sauce, and Margherita followed, with basil, tomato and Mozzarella. Also typical of Naples is Spaghetti con Livongole, made with basil and garlic. Our guide also shares a tip with us ? DeCecco brand pasta has a higher classification than Barilla. What is it based on, this classification system is news to me. He shrugs - it is just so. After the ruins, we spend an hour wandering along the streets of Naples - it is Sunday and everything is closed, except the flea market we happen across. Naples reminds us of the parts of downtown L.A. that are awaiting renovation - dingy, dirty and unappealing, with graffiti-covered walls. While I'm certain that this is not all there is, I'm not in a hurry to come back, next time we'll go to Capri! |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Saturday, August 12 2006 |
From Rome, Italy:
We docked in Citavecchia, a small port city near Rome, known primarily for the summer villas of politicians and the Pope. This Estrucean area is known for the white summer wines and flower-filled greenhouses that dot the countryside.
Our tour escort, Assunta, a young Italian girl tells me that 50% of the traditional cuisine of Rome has it's origins in the Jewish tradition ? and that the best restaurants are in the Jewish quarter of the Eternal City (as Rome is called). Carciofi Alla Guida, or Artichokes the Jewish Way, is one of her favorites, made from tender artichoke hearts dressed with olive oil, garlic and mint. But here, as in other Italian ports, we see that pizza and pasta dominate the menus. There is a growing awareness of obesity, though, and the dangers of smoking, too, but "not so much" about fitness. We also learn that the word cappuccino comes from the hooded (capucco) frocks that the friars (puccini) used to wear. Assunta loves cappuccino, as well...
Once we reach Rome, built on 7 hills and the Tiber River, which is now heavily polluted, we are told about the 4 major cathedrals of the city. We will visit only one, the best known to all the world - St. Peter's Basilica. But first, a stop at the Coliseum, and you can almost feel the presence of the crowds of 50,000-80,000 that would fill it's seats to watch gladiators fight wild beasts in the morning, public executions at noon, and each other in the afternoon. After passing the Forum, where chariots raced, we see St Peter's square, and enter the smallest country in the world, the Vatican city. The borders of the Vatican are guarded by carefully chosen Swiss soldiers in colorful uniforms. St. Peter's Basilica is overwhelming in it's magnificence and size. The scope of it is breathtaking. Michelangelo?s famous statue, the Pieta, is in one corner, but everywhere you look you can see the work of famous Italian artists and architects - and you can see why it took over 100 years to construct the cathedral.
On to lunch, a multi-course meal in typical Roman fashion, although we ate sitting, not reclining, and with forks, not fingers! Thick tubes of mosticiolli, coated with a bright red tomato sauce and topped with crumbled Mozzarella cheese, is the first course. Along with a small piece of coarse-crusted bread and half a glass of white wine, I am close to full - no room for the meat, potatoes and peas that comes next. But by dessert time, the tiramisu looks very tempting. Dusted with cocoa, it's a light, cream & cake layered delicacy, perfectly paired with a tiny cup of good, strong coffee. We're fortified for the trip to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum, opened exclusively for the Princess Cruises tours, as the sites are closed to the public on Saturday afternoon. Lucky for us, a private tour to this unbelievably gorgeous, breathtaking place. There are few words to describe it - and they seem so inadequate. It must be seen to be believed - and it humbles you to think that these works were created by
man. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Friday, August 11 2006 |
From Cannes, France:
Today's itinerary reeked of glamour - famous places that we've all heard about! Cannes, St. Tropez, the Cotes d'Azur, a nice slice of the Provence region of France. It was a beautiful day, and the Mediterranean sparkled for us as we made our way from Cannes along the Golden Corniche, passing the resort home of Pierre Cardin, and the King of Norway! In addition to learning a bit about the history of the region, I learned that the food of Provence is very similar to Italy - lots of garlic, olive oil and aromatic herbs, hence, herbes de Provence.
Lunch in St. Tropez was a classic Salade Nicoise, complete with anchovies (not for me, though) and of course, blush wine (specialty of the region), and fresh French baguettes, which were everywhere. I'd like to try the Eggplant Caviar recipe suggested by the tour guide - and plan to adapt to a healthy option. It may take more work to make the rabbit recipe she shared fit into our cooking scheme - but if I can do it with chicken, why not? |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Wednesday, August 9 2006 |
From Barcelona, Spain:
Barcelona is a fabulous port city just 130 kilometers from France. A charming mixture of old and new - much of Barcelona was behind walls until the 17th century, when the city finally pushed out of the walls that had contained it since the 4th century and expanded into the present day Barcelona. Of course, parts of Barcelona are even older - the gothic quarter was founded 15 years before Christ by the Romans. Ancient history is all around, and modern history, too, including the Miro museum, containing over 11,000 works of the famous artist.
Gastronomic specialties include Filoa (spelling?), a local dish that is similar to paella, except it's made with noodles. While a typical Italian meal might start with pasta, in Barcelona a first course would include vegetables - perhaps a summer dish of red bell peppers, onions and zucchini, called Escalda. Regardless, the saffron from Spain is some of the world's finest, and of course, I had to bring some home, along with local pates!
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Tuesday, August 8 2006 |
From Lisbon, Portugal:
Lisbon, a city of beautiful mosaics and tiled buildings and walls, has been home to many different cultures over the centuries. The result, a history doted with periods of expansion and contraction, exploration and conquers. Portugal was, at one time, the ruler of Brazil and parts of Africa. So, its cuisine reflects those influences, in addition to the heavy emphasis on seafood. Specialties include grilled sardines, in season now (during the summer) when they're fattest and most delicious. And every cook dries cod, then uses it in a myriad of different ways. From the south (Morocco), comes a national favorite, arroz con mariscos (pork with clams and rice), infused with oregano, coriander and piri piri. This cayenne pepper infused olive oil is used to spice up local dishes.
Perhaps most notable, though, is the wonderful Port wine - an incredibly rich, sweet and powerful dessert wine. Of course, I had to try a 40-year old Port - and just a couple of sips was enough to convince me that local legend is not exaggerated - in Lisbon, Port is a must!
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Monday, August 7 2006 |
From Vigo, Spain:
This small port on the coast of Spain is home to 300,000 inhabitants whose main source of income comes from the maritime industry. Most interesting on our drive to Visi Santiago de Compuesta (home of the famous cathedral of St. James) were the BADEA - coastal fishing platforms used by mussel fishermen. There are some 3,500 of these 8 foot platforms dotting the coastal waters. Also notable were the curious looking ARREOs, miniature grainaries shaped like tiny chapels on the hillside. In Santiago de Compuesta, the shop vendors stand outside their doors with plates of samples of the local delicacy, almond cakes, offering bites for all to taste.
The cuisine reflects the geography - seafood is king! Of particular note was the bustling oyster market, where every afternoon, women set up stalls in the middle of the narrow main street. The short passage is lined on both sides with restaurants - well, outdoor cafes, really, where locals sit before huge platters of seafood. Piled high are shrimp, lobster, octopus and of course, plates of freshly shucked oysters purchased from the women cleaning them. What a treat for the eyes, nose, and of course, the palate.
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Monday, July 31 2006 |
I am so pleased to have been able to appear on The Today Show. What a great group of women I met last week ? the moms, the wonderful babies, and the people associated with the show!
A thought early this morning about my experience on The Today Show?I?d like to really work on having an email option for following the Body After Baby moms who aren?t in our delivery radius at the present time. That will be my goal for the next level of the plan.
Hope these people will be interested in something like this!
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Monday, July 17 2006 |
| Today I?m organized for a quick start in the morning! What a great feeling ? starting the day that way. If you organize just one part of your day ? from the ?get go?, you can accomplish a lot more consistently, throughout the day. Try it with one aspect of your life, just one part at a time, and see if it works for you. Then take pleasure in a job that?s done ? quickly and correctly. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Friday, June 23 2006 |
Fridays are great days for me! I have an opportunity to really catch up with the piles that have accumulated on my desk, and can look forward to family time on Saturday. I?m always hoping to take a hike on Saturday, as well ? it?s my way of relaxing. It strikes me that exercise is really my way of relaxing, as opposed to being work.
Take something active that you love doing, and do it often. Pretty soon, you?ll be doing it well, and enjoying it while it brings you great benefits.
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Saturday, June 10 2006 |
| Traveling via plane requires that you really plan what you?re going to eat, drink and occupy yourself with. I find it a challenge to keep a consistent diet when time zones change. I think that one must stay all prepared. I can see how easily you could get off track with your eating. Drinking enough water to compensate for the altitude changes while not wanting to disturb your fellow passengers with repeated trips. Out of your seat is another issue too. Small snacks are the key. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Wednesday, May 17 2006 |
Today was quite a day. Because I had the opportunity to speak with a dozen or more TV stations across the country, I got a sense of the significance of Body After Baby. Truly a humbling experience? This country is so vast, yet the questions that I was asked are all about the same issues. There is truly a universal common concern for good information about the topic of health and appropriate ways to get to it. I?m just glad that I have something to contribute that others may find valuable.
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Mother?s Day, May 14 2006 |
As I sit here working on Mother?s Day, I?m reminded that as a mom, we?re always working, in one way or another. At least I am ? but it doesn?t feel like hard work, just demanding activity away from my children (which is where I?d rather be).
I have a number of moms here with me, too, working as I am, away from their children on this ?special? day. I guess for us, and millions of other women, the challenge will be to find another way to feel very special with respect to our ?mom? status.
Perhaps for me it will be by virtue of the fact that NutriFit, my business, does a very ?mom? like thing ? we feed people healthy food, designed to keep them well.
Yes, that?s going to be my Mother?s Day gift to all of my clients ~ the gift of nourishment, in the best sense of the word. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Saturday, May 13 2006 |
Today we participated in a wonderful community event, the Revlon Run/Walk to raise money for women?s cancers. There were about 50,000 people participating with us ? some walkers, some vendors, some entertainers ? but all dedicated to the same purpose?raising money and awareness for this terrible affliction.
It was a very moving experience to see that many people, from all walks of life, a true ?only in L.A.? mixture of folks in one place. I was proud to be a part of it and to have NutriFit still involved in this kind of charitable work after 19 years!
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| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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| Tuesday, May 09 2006 |
Today marks the first day of my blog. How appropriate that it is the very same day my book, Body After Baby, is released. Coincidental that it took nearly 10 months to get the proposal done, and then another 9 months or so to write! Clearly, the most difficult of my giving birth experiences to date...
I hope this beautiful book does as well as my children - they are wonderful citizens of the world, truly good people. Helpful, kind-hearted and caring, I'm proud to say.
I love hearing about them from the parents of their friends, their teachers and others with whom they interact.
I only hope that when I hear from the "world" about my book, the same types of adjectives are used - helpful, caring and kind in tone - a good book. |
| Posted by:
Jackie Keller |
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