Veganism Through the Eyes of an Omnivore
***Disclaimer - I am not a registered dietitian or health care professional. This blog post is my opinion based on my personal experiences. Always consults a doctor or dietitian before making drastic changes to your lifestyle or diet.***
As some of you may know, on March 8th I decided to try going vegan. I want to first start off by saying I am not still vegan. I lasted about a week, and boy, was it hard work! The first day I was eating dinner with the judges at Miss Meridian, and I realized I couldn't have the bread because it had milk, butter, and eggs, and then when I went for the ranch dip for my vegetables I realized it contained some kind of milk product. There are animal products in so many food items and we never stop to think about it. The breaking point for me was heading to the Portland Roaster Show. If you think being vegan is hard at home, it is 10X harder when you're on the road. When someone says we are having hotdogs for lunch and they ask you what you want on yours, your answer should be, "Ketchup please!", especially when you are trying to please sponsors! I'm not saying it cannot be done. I'm just saying it's definitely not easy and I have a new respect for people who have any type of restrictive diet. Monitoring food is a 24/7 job.
My trip to Portland was one I will never forget, and I do not regret eating meat on my trip. Here is some insight on why I wanted to try a vegan lifestyle in the first place. Like most people in Idaho, I grew up in a family that hunts and eats meat everyday. My diet up to this point in my life has always included animal products; even more so when I was preparing for pageants (1/2 of my diet was chicken!) I care about nutrition, and I couldn't help but see the pattern of recommendations to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and raw foods. Apparently consuming too many meat and dairy products can promote inflammation. Let me explain this in a little more detail...this might be valuable information!
You know the Omega 6's and Omega 3's you always hear about? The approximate healthy ratio in our diet should be 4:1, but the average American's ratio is around 16:1. Omega 6's promote blood clotting and inflammation, and Omega 3's are anti-inflammatory. Both of these functions are necessary for your survival, but you can see how cardiovascular, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases can arise from such a skewed ratio of the two. Some Omega 6 rich foods are corn-fed meat sources, corn oil, most vegetable oils. Omega 3 rich foods include seafood, almonds, edamame, wild rice, pasture-raised animal products, flax seeds, beans and walnuts. (Many foods, like nuts and oils, have both.) You can see why I was interested in the health benefits of a vegan diet!
Not only did I want to live healthier, I wanted to understand what it meant to live a different lifestyle. I teach nutrition courses and talk to hundreds of people about the importance of what you eat; how can I preach to vegetarians or vegans if I have never experienced it for myself? For now, I will introduce animal products back into my diet with the goal of minimizing them to 1-2 per day total. I plan to encourage a "vegetarian" night for my family once a week. I think its fun to get creative with recipes, plus I LOVE beans and whole grains. I've tried couscous, quinoa, and lentils and they are amazing!
Look for more "food talk" on the Miss Idaho Facebook page!
Locals Season
It's that time of year...time to round out the Miss Idaho Class of 2014! In case you're wondering, here are our titleholders so far:
1. Kim Ford - Miss Gem County
1. Kim Ford - Miss Gem County
2. Paige Jensen - Miss Western Idaho
3. Laura Haun - Miss Three Rivers
4. Cynthia Huntsman - Miss Idaho Falls
5. Kayla Jepson - Miss Southeastern Idaho
6. Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley
7. Emma Humphires - Miss Canyon Rim
8. Megan Wilson - Miss Canyon County
9. Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello
10. Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City
11. Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise
12. Kristen Tatilian - Miss Capitol City
13. Morgan Hill - Miss Tri-Counties
14. Emily Hosman - Miss Nampa
Titles Still to Come:
Titles Still to Come:
1. Miss Meridian
2. Miss Treasure Valley
3. Miss Syringa
4. Miss Rexberg
5. Miss Upper Valley
6. Miss Riverview
*If you're interested in competing email missidahoboard@gmail.com*
We only have three local pageants left, and I cannot wait to see what ladies will be competing at Miss Idaho this year. Being able to spend time with the contestants at local pageants as Miss Idaho instead of a fellow competitor has been amazing. I get to relax and get everyone pumped up for each area of competition. One of my favorite parts is helping run the show from backstage...there's just a special feeling you get when you see everything come together as each girl goes from being nervous and shaky to rocking their area of competition. There is no doubt that the Miss America Organization is a launching pad for women's confidence!
Outside of local pageants, I have been busy with appearances. Now that the weather is warming up, I will have the chance to visit farmers' markets around the state and help get people starting on their personal gardens, including my own! The 11-week St. Luke's YEAH (Youth Engaged in Activities for Health) Program is only a few weeks from ending, and I have just started the 6-week Cooking Matters Program with the Idaho Food Bank. I will also be speaking to a class at Boise State on Nutrition, participating in the Speed to Feed Idaho 5K, continuing my nutrition series with the YMCA, starting a 30 day hot yoga challenge, getting some amazing photos taken, making school visits, touring the State Capitol, judging National History Day, attending the Miss New Hampshire pageant, visiting Philadelphia, and much more! Although my year is on the downhill slope, I can go full throttle until the very last day! If any of you have suggestions for appearances or you would like me to speak at your event, please contact me by emailing missidahoboard@gmail.com!
*If you're interested in competing email missidahoboard@gmail.com*
We only have three local pageants left, and I cannot wait to see what ladies will be competing at Miss Idaho this year. Being able to spend time with the contestants at local pageants as Miss Idaho instead of a fellow competitor has been amazing. I get to relax and get everyone pumped up for each area of competition. One of my favorite parts is helping run the show from backstage...there's just a special feeling you get when you see everything come together as each girl goes from being nervous and shaky to rocking their area of competition. There is no doubt that the Miss America Organization is a launching pad for women's confidence!
Outside of local pageants, I have been busy with appearances. Now that the weather is warming up, I will have the chance to visit farmers' markets around the state and help get people starting on their personal gardens, including my own! The 11-week St. Luke's YEAH (Youth Engaged in Activities for Health) Program is only a few weeks from ending, and I have just started the 6-week Cooking Matters Program with the Idaho Food Bank. I will also be speaking to a class at Boise State on Nutrition, participating in the Speed to Feed Idaho 5K, continuing my nutrition series with the YMCA, starting a 30 day hot yoga challenge, getting some amazing photos taken, making school visits, touring the State Capitol, judging National History Day, attending the Miss New Hampshire pageant, visiting Philadelphia, and much more! Although my year is on the downhill slope, I can go full throttle until the very last day! If any of you have suggestions for appearances or you would like me to speak at your event, please contact me by emailing missidahoboard@gmail.com!
Life Lessons from the Crown 158
158. That is the number of days as of tomorrow until I pass my crown on. I know time flies when your having fun, but time goes Mach 5 when you're a titleholder. Since my year is more than halfway over, I've had time to think about what I've learned so far. I thought it would be appropriate to share these lessons as I begin to push my reign into high gear! I'm jumping back on my Miss America workout and eating plan, recruiting local contestants, and making some big plans for the end of the year! So, here are a few things being Miss Idaho has taught me.
1. Nothing is ever accomplished by just one person. Having my friends and family surrounding me has been invaluable, and the generosity of our sponsors has been amazing. Whenever anyone congratulates me on my accomplishments, I thank them right back for being part of the team that helped me get there.
2. You can never please everyone. There will always be that one person who just doesn't like you. The best thing you can do is love yourself and love that person anyway.
3. Always try to get to know someone. As a titleholder, you meet every kind of person. Children, homeless people, wealthy business people, Asians, nursing home residents, Africans, veterans, Americans, Jews, parents, Muslims, Christians, people with mental disabilities, people struggling with eating disorders, models, musicians, artists...I think you get the picture. EVERYONE. Listening to someone's story will always teach you something new, and it helps to give a new outlook on the world. It seems to hold true that the people who think that they don't make an impact actually make the biggest one in my heart.
4. "Titleholder" is synonymous with "Role Model". I used to say that the job of a titleholder is to be a spokesperson, which is true. But the most important job, above being a talented performer or being an advocate for your platform, is being a role model. Working to be your best, accepting others, and always staying positive in your endeavors creates a far-reaching impact that many titleholders never know about. Never forget that.
5. There is no definition of what "Miss America" should be. Every young woman in America should know that she can grow up to be Miss America. I am so proud of my Miss America class for breaking false stereotypes. Miss America can have tattoos, dark skin, blonde short hair, Asian heritage, one arm, Autism, or any mix of those traits and many other traits. Each contestant is very different, but that is the beauty of the organization.
6. Always make yourself available to help. This one seems like a no-brainer, but it is easy to get wrapped up on your own life instead of seeing how you can help others. I am grateful for those people who have given me their help expecting nothing in return. I hope to be that kind of person.
7. Say what's on your mind. If you really like someone, you should tell them; you never know if you will see them again. Send a thank you to someone who went out of their way to do something nice for you; it might just make their day. When your exhausted and your feet hurt, say so; people like to see a real, down to earth person underneath all the makeup and bling.
1. Nothing is ever accomplished by just one person. Having my friends and family surrounding me has been invaluable, and the generosity of our sponsors has been amazing. Whenever anyone congratulates me on my accomplishments, I thank them right back for being part of the team that helped me get there.
2. You can never please everyone. There will always be that one person who just doesn't like you. The best thing you can do is love yourself and love that person anyway.
3. Always try to get to know someone. As a titleholder, you meet every kind of person. Children, homeless people, wealthy business people, Asians, nursing home residents, Africans, veterans, Americans, Jews, parents, Muslims, Christians, people with mental disabilities, people struggling with eating disorders, models, musicians, artists...I think you get the picture. EVERYONE. Listening to someone's story will always teach you something new, and it helps to give a new outlook on the world. It seems to hold true that the people who think that they don't make an impact actually make the biggest one in my heart.
4. "Titleholder" is synonymous with "Role Model". I used to say that the job of a titleholder is to be a spokesperson, which is true. But the most important job, above being a talented performer or being an advocate for your platform, is being a role model. Working to be your best, accepting others, and always staying positive in your endeavors creates a far-reaching impact that many titleholders never know about. Never forget that.
5. There is no definition of what "Miss America" should be. Every young woman in America should know that she can grow up to be Miss America. I am so proud of my Miss America class for breaking false stereotypes. Miss America can have tattoos, dark skin, blonde short hair, Asian heritage, one arm, Autism, or any mix of those traits and many other traits. Each contestant is very different, but that is the beauty of the organization.
6. Always make yourself available to help. This one seems like a no-brainer, but it is easy to get wrapped up on your own life instead of seeing how you can help others. I am grateful for those people who have given me their help expecting nothing in return. I hope to be that kind of person.
7. Say what's on your mind. If you really like someone, you should tell them; you never know if you will see them again. Send a thank you to someone who went out of their way to do something nice for you; it might just make their day. When your exhausted and your feet hurt, say so; people like to see a real, down to earth person underneath all the makeup and bling.
The Miss America Class of 2014 Debuts in FL
Fifty three amazing and beautiful women gathered in the sunshine state to show their support for the 9th annual Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition! The calendar was filled with wonderful photo shoots and filming opportunities to showcase our 2014 Miss America contestants who met for the very first time. They will soon meet again for the historic return of the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City airing on Sunday, September 15th live on ABC!The contestants’ first official event began on Thursday evening on the third night of preliminary competition for MAOTeen. Prior to the Competition, Miss Florida’s State Executive Director, Mary Sullivan and our two very gracious sponsors, David Lang and Carry O’Neal from Regalia Magnificent Apparel, hosted an elegant, private dinner at Maggiano’s. Our contestants had the opportunity to get to know one another while enjoying a dinner of signature Italian family style, prepared especially for them.Miss America 2014 Contestants at Maggiano's With Hosts David Lang and Carry O'NealThe Class of 2014 was invited to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resorts on Friday, where they were filmed touring the attractions and enjoying the thrills of the world-famouspark’s most requested rides. They were provided fast passes so they could move quickly through the park and enjoy highlights such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more. The contestants had a wonderful time together as they began to build their new friendships.2014 Miss America Contestants Being Filmed by ABC's 20/20 at Walt Disney World® Resorts in FloridaFinally, Saturday evening, the contestants gathered for an autograph session that was open to the public before the MAO Teen Competition. Immediately following, the contestants witnessed the final night of competition and were incredibly supportive of the young teens who were all shining brightly on stage. The crowning event of the evening was when Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2014 was announced. The title was awarded to a very excited young woman from Florida, Leah Sykes, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2014.The 2014 Miss America Contestants' Autograph SessionMiss America 2013 Mallory Hagan with her new sister,Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2014 Leah SykesThe Miss America Organization proudly thanks all of our supporters, our sponsors, our state Executive Directors, our contestants and everyone at MAOTeen for making this trip to Orlando so memorable.We wish our contestants the very best as they prepare for their historic journey to the 2014 Miss America Competition in Atlantic City next month!###
Vote for Miss Idaho 2013!
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