Liebster Award | Dana Artinyan, RD, LDN

Wow! I must say I was truly honored when Amy of Foods for the Soul nominated me for a Liebster award. Being relatively new to blogging, I must admit I had to look up the Liebster award at first. It is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers (like I said, I’m new to blogging!) and has several rules (copied from Foods for the Soul’s post, One More Present!):

Share 11 facts about yourself.

Answer the awarder’s 11 questions.

Ask 11 questions of your own.

Nominate 11 bloggers.

So, here it goes. Part one – 11 facts about me:

I can do pull-ups! It took me about a month to work up to, but now I can do three sets of five pull-ups.
I lived in Leuven, Belgium for 6 months, during which time I discovered a love for Belgian beer (Duvel is my favorite), fine chocolate and Leige Suker Waffle (AKA sugar waffles – completely different than regular “Belgian” waffles).
I absolutely CANNOT stand country music. #nailsonachalkboard
I have a major sweet tooth. Though I try to eat sweets sparingly, I could do some major damage. Fortunately, I love veggies, which helps counterbalance the love for sweets.
One of my culinary goals for 2013 is to roast a whole chicken.
I broke my foot (first metatarsal) in high school track whilst running a 200 m relay, and still got the best split in my relay team (wipes dirt off shoulder).
I took pottery classes throughout high school as well as some classes at a local studio in recent years. I absolutely love wheelthrowing.
Despite being 50% Armenian, I cannot tan to save my life. Pass the SPF 50, please!
I once split a Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster four-ways (not a moment I’m particularly proud of).
I attended University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (go Illini!) for undergrad and completed my dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago.
I have an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics – rap, pop, my fourth grade musical…I remember them all. This has led to some embarrassing moments when my friends and loved ones have forced me to sing/rap. Hey – at least it’s a good party trick!

Part Two – Answer the awarder’s 11 questions:

What flavor was your birthday cake this past year? Strawberry Shortcake from Frontera Grill in Chicago.
Where was the last place you flew in an airplane? Los Angeles, CA for a trip to Redondo Beach and Hollywood.
How often do you go to the grocery store? If I had my way, every day (I LOVE IT), but in reality, once a week.
What’s your favorite quote? Ben Harper: “If you’re gonna finish, you’ve got to begin. Don’t fear what you don’t know; Just let that be your room to grow.”
What would you most likely be found doing at 5 pm on a weekday? Working out. It helps me unwind from the day and gets my appetite rearing (plus gives me some time to plan my dinner!).
How many countries have you visited? Nine. In alphabetical order: Belgium, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United States.
Are you right- or left-handed? Right
What did you have for breakfast this morning? Went out for brunch: 1/2 an omelet with peppers, tomato and basil, 1 slice whole wheat toast with Nutella (my weakness!), fruit. Plus I snuck a few potatoes from my brunch date.
What was the last live performance you saw? One of my dearest friends, Janelle Kroll, at House of Blues Chicag
If you had a garden, what would you plant? Everything! I’m a fruit and vegetable monger – lettuce, arugula, berries of all kinds, kohlrabi, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, herbs of all kinds, mushrooms, avocados (if only I lived somewhere where they’d actually grow). Oh and lots of kale, obviously.
Why did you start blogging? I love to write, especially about topics that I’m passionate about, i.e. nutrition, food and health. I wanted to share my simple and delicious recipes with others and provide inspiration for people to start living a healthier life.