Fed and Fit Lately Spring 2014 | Fed and Fit-1

Are you ready for this? It’s a doozie! We have so much to catch up on, Gus and I hardly know where to start.

It’s impossible to give you a “lately” snapshot of this evolving brand without rewinding the clock a bit. Once upon a time, it was January of 2014 …

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Backed by some of the most brilliant and energetic minds I know, we kicked off the year by launching the 1st Annual National Gluten-Free Day (NGFD)! WHOA, right?

The day was recognized on January 13th and is set to reoccur the 2nd Monday of each New Year. We hosted a Gluten-Free Gala in San Antonio, TX to commemorate the occasion. Pictured above is the fabulous Emily Tucker (NGFD Vice Chair Extraordinaire and owner of Elite CrossFit) leading the introductions for the evening.

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To bring more publicity to our mission (which is to cause a wind-storm of awareness to the dangers of modern wheat gluten), I appeared on a few television segments! Pictured above is a snapshot of my piece on San Antonio Living. Shelly Miles and I made my Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies and Chicken Fingers!

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The morning of our Gala, I then appeared on Fox Daytime with the oh-so-lovely Kimberly Crawford! We made my Blueberry Scones, played around with healthier latte alternatives, and chatted about Real Food substitutions.

The Gala itself was a fabulous affair.

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All proceeds went to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund – an incredible organization working to keep avenues open and our options available. The lovely Elizabeth Gamsky Rich, Esq. (pictured above) who serves as the Vice President of the FTCLDF, gave an incredibly moving speech on the rights of farmers and consumers – she earned a standing ovation and inspired so many.

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It takes a village to raise an occasion like this from the ground to a national platform in just a few months. Among the many who helped, Whole Foods was our title sponsor for the evening! Pictured above with Emily and myself, Zach Lutton, owner of Zedric’s, and his team of kitchen wizards prepared our gourmet dinner. It was beyond fabulous. If you’re in San Antonio and looking for Paleo-friendly, Real Food prepped and ready to go, Zedric’s is a must.

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Nothing says “Gala” like chocolate chip cookies, right? Good, I thought so.

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Check out those studs! The handsome guy on the left is the other owner of Elite Crossfit, Jeremy Tucker (husband to Emily) and that dreamsicle on the right is the love of my life, Austin. I’m sure it goes without saying, but that evening (and so much of my work) was made possible because of his unwavering support.

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The evening finished with a live performance by the ALWAYS entertaining, Spazmatics! For the record, I’m pretty sure I remember them all confessing that our Paleo-friendly cookies are better than their wheaty cousins.

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Since NGFD, I’ve been back on Fox Daytime a couple times with my good friend Kimberly! I absolutely LOVE crafting exciting new Real Food education points and leading these televised cooking demonstrations. I love it so much, it’s inspired my next project …stay tuned.

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In the world of fitness, I recently introduced my sweet Mamma to yoga! Ashtanga yoga, to be specific. She is just the cutest little yogi you’ve ever met. Ashtanga isn’t exactly an introductory program but she giggles her way through it and has the best “maybe I’ll get it one day” attitude. I think she’s a great example of how much fun you can have when you throw doubt, fear, and pride out the window. Each new day is an opportunity to start a new adventure – be it fitness, eating healthy, financial freedom (threw that one in there for my passionate-about-finances boyfriend), or how you show up for your loved ones. Who do you want to be? Well then, go be it! It really is that simple.

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I also participated in a CrossFit competition with these awesome peeps! They decided on the name “Fed & Fit” …so, naturally, t-shirts were in order.

Since that competition, I’ve skipped a LOT of workouts. Like, a lot. Ever been there? Maybe it starts with a trip out of town. Then, you give yourself some “time to settle back in” or you want to “catch up on sleep” (which, for the record, is actually very important). The longer you’re away, the more difficult it is to go back. Sound familiar? I want you to know that I go through it too. Everyone does, in fact. Reschedule your day, recommit, and just go. You’ll find your groove again in no time.

More importantly, I want you to know that regardless of whether you’re working out consistently, skipping workouts consistently, or haven’t yet started a fitness program, you are OKAY. You’re okay. There’s nothing wrong. Working on your health and fitness is a destination-less journey. Forget perfectionism. Just find something you enjoy and get moving.

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Stepping off of my fitness soapbox now, I want to introduce something new! Balance, stress management, and fun are really important components of living a healthy life. Listening to fictional audiobooks during commutes and long drives has become MY favorite way to destress!

I have been “reading” like a mad woman, y’all. For every scientific, nutrition, research-related literature I devour, I also make myself read (listen to) something just for fun. It’s my own little balancing act between work and pleasure …which can be difficult to keep track of when you love what you do this much.

Here are some lightening-fast reviews:

This I Believe is a collection of short essays written and read by school teachers, politicians, famous business owners, and everyone in between. The concept started in the 50’s on NPR and has evolved into a book and modern-day podcast. Austin and I love the audiobook for drives across Texas. Because it’s not one story, we can take long breaks from listening and not worry about forgetting the plot.

The Fault In Our Stars was a beautiful, real look at teenagers diagnosed with terminal cancer. This book reminds you of what it feels like when you fall in love with someone for the first time. I’m left wanting to whisk Austin off for a weekend stay in Amsterdam so we can sip champagne under the stars and falling flower petals.

Tell The Wolves I’m Home is a story told through the eyes of a 14 year old girl. It was a strong reminder of how I interpreted life at that age. It also made me want to hug my sisters so, so tight. I’m beyond thankful that we’re so close.

The Book Thief was one of my favorites. I know some people who couldn’t get into the story but I ate up every word. The book has a very unique narrator who tells this lovely story from an enchanting perspective. I recommend you read before the movie.

Room still haunts me. Narrated by a 5 year old boy, the disturbing story unfolds in the most innocent way. The book covers some tough topics but I highly recommend it.

The Casual Vacancy was a miss for me, I’m sad to say. I was fully prepared to experience a book that was REALLY different from Rowling’s famous Harry Potter series, but wasn’t prepared for such a slow-moving story. It was well written and the characters were well developed, but I was left wanting more.

Any good book recommendations? I’m all ears!

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Oh yes! Gus read a book, too. He thinks Liz Wolfe is the best.

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I met Liz on the evening of her book launch in Austin, TX! She’s as sweet in person as she is online and in print. I can’t recommend her stuff enough: Skintervention Guide, Eat The Yolks, Real Food Liz (blog), and the brand new, “Good Food for Bad Cooks!”

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In other news, my sisters and I adventured on this year’s Annual Sister’s Trip to Fredericksburg, TX! Two Christmases ago, the three of us decided that every single year we would check out of our lives for a weekend together. No boyfriends, no (future) husbands, no (way in the future) babies. Just time for us three girls to relax and enjoy our friendships. Strong family bonds are really important to us. We know that setting this precedent now is vital – life only gets more complicated and the excuses will get better. I planned our trip to Seattle last year and Kimberley planned this year’s. I can’t wait to see where we go in the future.

For our Fredericksburg stay, we rented the cutest little cabin at Barons Creekside where we champagned, hot tubbed, and cooked our own delicious Paleo meals in the quaint little kitchen.  Loved that place. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a Texas Hill Country getaway.

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There’s a good chance Sam (middle) and Kim (right) are going to hate me for this picture …but it looks like it was our only option! Are we cuties?

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You know what’s not boring? These Crispy Buffalo Chicken Fingers that were featured over on Stupid Easy Paleo.

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Also not boring? Babies with cereal. Gus, it turns out, is a big fan of babies with cereal. This sweet little munchkin is one of Austin’s nieces.

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Oh yes! Paleo f(x) also happened! Good grief, this year has been wonderfully full.

Paleo f(x) is a fantastic conference held each Spring in Austin, TX. All the Real Food, Paleo, and fitness bloggers, authors, physicians, and physiologists come out from their corners of the world to convene for this one weekend of awesomeness. The conference hosts a fantastic array of panels, demos, presentations, and fitness activities – there’s really something for everyone! While the wealth of information and expertise is impressive, my favorite part is being able to meet some of you and so many of my fellow bloggers. When everyone lives in different parts of the world, meeting friends in 3D, hugging, and laughing in person was such a treat.

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While in Austin, I drank more delicious buttered coffee from Picnik’s than you can shake a stick at. Go there, get some buttered coffee, and pray that they have a slice of gluten-free quiche left. You want that quiche.

I also ate an energy bar made from cricket protein! It wasn’t as weird as it sounds …it was actually kind-of delicious. Check out Exo!

Yes, that is a beef stick in my pocket. #incaseofemergency

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My favorite day of the conference was when I played a little hookie with these three beauties (Vanessa, Juli, and Stacy). Sunshine, shopping, and an afternoon on South Congress were calling our names.

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Oh, and these gelato cups from Dolce Neve were also obviously calling our names.

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What’s one of the (many) great things about spending time with fellow foodies? You eat really, really well. Oh, and everyone (seriously everyone) whips out their phones to take pictures when the food/drinks arrive. It’s hysterical and made me feel so at home. On the last night of the conference, we enjoyed this massive plate of ribs plus other fantastic meats at Freedmen’s.

Since Paleo f(x), I’ve been hard at work turning a box of fabulous grass-fed, pastured proteins from US Wellness Meats into some even more fabulous recipes! One recipe, I’m thrilled to say, is a special just for puppies. The fantastic company asked me to be their featured chef for the month of May. Whoop! Keep your eyes set on their website for when my featured chef piece goes live. I’ll also post each recipe this month right here with my signature step-wise photography.

Did you see that awesome article in The Wall Street Journal questioning the validity of the widely accepted link between saturated fat and heart disease? It got our Real Food/Paleo community all abuzz. I recommend you give it a read.

Speaking of the health-promoting benefits of saturated fat, have you ever put butter in your coffee? Bulletproof coffee has become quite the popular morning beverage among health enthusiasts …and butter enthusiasts. Would you like a recipe or how-to video? I’m happy to put one together!

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Almost last piece of news! Grab yourself a copy of this month’s Family Circle Magazine and flip to page 79 to see a familiar name! The magazine called me a few months ago after they stumbled on my blog article about Paleo Glamping. After a few interviews, they said the piece would be featured in their special on girlfriend getaways. How fun is that?

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NOW we’re at my last piece of news. Kimberly Dunn, aka my fabulous middle sister, aka the girl who taught me how to wear makeup, aka one of my best friends and most talented people I’ve ever met, is up to something special! In case you didn’t already know, my sister is a county music star. Seriously! Look her up.

Kim started her own non-profit called the Dunn Good Foundation which works to support various good causes throughout the year. Right now, Kim Dunn and Granger Smith (another country music star) are teaming up to promote the 4th Annual Boot Walk. Granger leads a 100 mile walk from Austin, TX to Fort Hood wearing combat boots and flanked by an army of promoters. The event concludes with a concert at the Fort Hood Harley Davidson this Thursday, May 8th. Proceeds will be contributed to the Boot Campaign, a national 501c3 non-profit “dedicated to promoting patriotism, raising awareness, and providing assistance to military families.”

You can contribute to the Dun Good Foundation here and/or check out Kim and Granger in person at the show!

Also know, if you happen to be in Austin, TX on Wednesday, May 7th, you MUST go to the Rattle Inn at 8 p.m. Kim is putting on a HUGE show that is guaranteed to be a good time. If you plan on making it, let me know in the comments below! I’ll bring some Fed & Fit cookies for the occasion.

And that’s a wrap!

Cheers to you for making it through that entire update. To stay current with other Fed & Fit happenings, follow me on Instagram @fedandfit or #fedandfit! I post there daily.

As I plan and map out the rest of this year, I want to know …what else would you like to hear/learn about? Natural skincare? How about, vacation planning? We could talk about reading lists, fitness regimens, meal plans, nutrition guides, you name it! I’m all ears and here for you.

Talk soon,

Cassy



About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.


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12 Comments

  1. I’ve just discovered your site and Instagram, and I love it! I enjoyed your update and reading about who you are and what you do, and your recipes are helping me immensely with carb-free options for my 7-year-old who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I’ve found some filling carb-free options for snacks that she is enjoying.

    1. Hi Lisy! I’m so glad you’ve found good filling snacks for your daughter. Please let me know how else I can support you both.

  2. I live on Fort Hood! How could I not know about this!!! Apparently I live in a hole and need to work on not getting so far behind on my blog posts! Also, I saw you at paleo f(x) but was too shy to say hi. So I’ll say hi now when you can’t see my rosy red cheeks 😉

    1. Hi Kiersten!! Hopefully next time we’ll get to catch up 🙂

  3. I’m a new subscriber today, loved reading your last newsletter! Gus looks like a lovable huggable teddy bear, so sweet! Yes, please, to a buttered coffee video, I have not heard of that, sounds intriguing! As far as requests on mapping out the rest of your posts this year, absolutely love the reading lists and reviews, and the idea of hearing more about natural skin care and meal plans. Will be trying your ranch dip recipe and the Paleo Pesto Pizza bites, looks delish! Thanks!

  4. That was a doozy but a pretty awesome one! All very exciting things and it’s fab so see your aspirations becoming realities! Keep it up! Buttered coffee scares me a little [and by a little I mean a lot] but I will try just about anything for nutrient density. Sign me up!

  5. Yes, buttered coffee how to!!
    I have been doing coconut oil in my coffee but would love to try the butter.

  6. I’d loooove a recipe/how to vid for bullet-proof/buttered coffee! I’ve been reading about it and seeing it everywhere, but no one really talks about how to do it! LOL Thanks so much!