A Healthy Spread

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Rush, rush!

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Despite my miserably slow start to the day, I ended up getting a lot of work done.  I wrapped up the initial outline of the Operation Beautiful II book.  Although I’m mostly looking for tween and teen stories for the book, I’m going to include an “It Gets Better” section in the chapter about bullying.  A few other bloggers/tweeters gave me this idea, and I think it’s fabulous.  I’m going to look for stories from adults (like you?) about being bullied / being a bully really soon.  I think the bully-er perspective would be really interesting.  I’ll post a link to the submissions page when it’s up (hopefully tomorrow!).   

 

After writing, I rushed to Statesville, which is about an hour north of Charlotte, to talk to a group of Girls on the Run coaches about Operation Beautiful

 

Ate an apple on the way:

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The dinner was for 25 coaches and featured an awesome, tasty, and healthy dinner!  GOTR tries really hard to promote healthy eating so I liked that they made the effort to have a big salad bar with loads of veg instead of hosting a pizza party.

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The salad bar included goodies like:

 

  • Organic greens
  • Shredded carrots
  • Tomatoes
  • Broccoli
  • Fruit salad
  • Nuts
  • Cheese
  • Edamame salad
  • Cucumber
  • Hummus
  • Pita chips and sweet potato chips
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Raisins
  • Grilled chicken
  • Black beans
  • Rolls

 

I had a salad with edamame, tomatoes, rolls, cucumbers, greens, sweet potato chips, and hummus. 

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I went back some more carbs + cookie!  Mmm.  The cookie was delicious and the perfect drive-back snack.

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The presentation went well!  :)  Everyone was so nice.  I can’t believe the GOTR 5K is on Saturday.  The Spring season doesn’t start until February – I’m going to miss coaching for the next few months.

 

I WILL sleep well tonight. 🙂

{ 43 comments }

 

  • gabriella @ embracement December 2, 2010, 9:18 pm

    If you think it, you’ll do it! It’d definitely be interesting to hear from the bully-ers and see what they think of it now.

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) December 2, 2010, 9:40 pm

    Good luck on the 5k on Saturday! They will do great 🙂

  • Amber K December 2, 2010, 9:45 pm

    What a great salad spread! Definitely awesome for them to do that.

  • SR December 2, 2010, 9:47 pm

    hi caitlin! love your blog + posts! just a note – the “it gets better” project was something started relatively recently by dan savage (in response to the recent and tragic suicides by young gay teens). just might want to credit that title/phrase to dan (and that project) just in case: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:57 pm

      Oh most def! I am a huge Dan Savage fan and will not steal the phrase – just want to include perspectives from adults because I think it will help young kids!

      Isn’t Dan the BEST???

      • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 9:57 pm

        I’ll link to his site in the post, too!

        • SR December 2, 2010, 9:59 pm

          hehe yes and yes! congrats again on the book + all the wonderful work you’re doing!

  • Kjirsten- Balanced Healthy Life December 2, 2010, 9:47 pm

    Salad bars are always so wonderful! I am happy your presentation went well. I don’t think I could ever give as many presentations as you! I would be such a nervous wreck stressing about them!

  • Jessica December 2, 2010, 9:56 pm

    I really like your “it gets better” idea! It breaks my heart that kids are going so far as to end their own life as a result of bullying. I think that it’s just as important to teach kids tolerance and kindness as it is to teach them the importance of standing up for themselves or others when bullying occurs. I wish I would have been brave enough to step in more often as a kid!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) December 2, 2010, 10:02 pm

    I am so glad your day got better! I love that they had a salad bar! I would actually have been able to eat there! Sleep well tonight Caitlin.

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss December 2, 2010, 10:04 pm

    That salad bar sounds delicious! So much variety 🙂

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) December 2, 2010, 10:04 pm

    I am so excited for you and for the new book! I know that it is going to be great! I am currently reading the Operation Beautiful book that I got my cousin for Christmas. I’m going to have to buy myself a copy. 🙂

    • Caitlin December 3, 2010, 9:09 am

      Thank you so much Katy!

  • Amanda (Eating Up) December 2, 2010, 10:09 pm

    I love when you’re pleasantly surprised by the catering options at an event! I give a mental fist pump every time it happens 🙂

  • Tanya @ Vegan Faith December 2, 2010, 10:10 pm

    Thanks so much for speaking at our event! Everyone had wonderful things to say and I’m hoping one of our girls will make the book! Ha ha, I love all the fun comments about the salad bar! It was my pleasure to put it together! The best part is all the leftovers in my fridge! I should have sent you home with some. Maybe I should just invite you up for a repeat salad bar experience! Thanks again!

  • Ashley December 2, 2010, 10:15 pm

    I hate when there is only pizza options at events, it gets a bit repetitive and tiring. Good luck on the sleep!

  • Nicole @ yuppie yogini December 2, 2010, 10:22 pm

    That first picture of Charlotte is awesome!

  • Tricia December 2, 2010, 10:22 pm

    I am so excited about operation beautiful for tweens! I was talking to a girl to a 14 yr old girl today about operation beautiful, after we talked about kids calling her anorexic. Being a former anorexic when I was 15 (now 21) sometimes I am one of the first people to notice when other people around me struggle with it. And from everything I can tell she is not. It drove me nuts because they were picking on her for being TOO thin when she is actually right where she should be for her age and height. I can not wait for this whole bully section because that brought new perspective. Let’s let our girls be girls, beautiful just the way they are!

    • Caitlin December 2, 2010, 10:25 pm

      I’m going to include a section about kids being teased for being ‘too skinny’ – I hear this a lot! Do you think she would want to create a note and include a story in the book?

  • Tricia December 2, 2010, 10:30 pm

    She might. She was pretty frustrated and wanted it to stop and I told her to check operation beautiful out. I will definitely ask her!

  • Tricia December 2, 2010, 10:31 pm

    She might. She was pretty frustrated and wanted it to stop and I told her to check operation beautiful out. I will definitely ask her the next time I see her on!

  • Lauren December 2, 2010, 10:39 pm

    This is a great idea – I always hear stories from my sister whose in high school about drama and bullies in high school. It’s so annoying and frustrating to hear cause it really affects her and her friends.

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing December 2, 2010, 10:56 pm

    Your book sounds good and really interesting, even to those of us not pre-teen!

  • ari December 2, 2010, 11:09 pm

    i was bullied in middle school, so i’m really excited for the bullying portion of the book; especially if you get any input from bullies. i would love to see that. congrats on the book deal again and good luck at the 5K!

  • Sana December 2, 2010, 11:27 pm

    I feel bad but I can’t remember if I bullied someone, I know I have laughed at people which is the same thing. Sigh being young and stupid is so sad.

  • Camille December 2, 2010, 11:30 pm

    Congrats on getting your outline done! I can’t wait to see how it develops!

  • Heidi - apples under my bed December 2, 2010, 11:38 pm

    I love the sound of GOTR, such a great thing to be involved with! Great salad spread too!
    Heidi xo

  • Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table December 3, 2010, 1:21 am

    Thank you so much for giving props the It Gets Better project too! As someone who feared being shunned for being “different” in school, it would have made all the difference to have a resource like It Gets Better or an Operation Beautiful.

  • Laura December 3, 2010, 1:22 am

    I heart Brussel sprouts! Yours look so good! I have a really hard time get them all roasty crispy on the outside without them getting mushy. Any tips?

    • Caitlin December 3, 2010, 9:18 am

      Try roasting them at higher temps for shorter time – like 425 for 15 minutes.

  • Sarah December 3, 2010, 4:26 am

    Hey there! I just wanted to stop by and say congrats on your next book deal and that I think it’s great that you’re writing for tweens. The earlier girls learn that a postive and healthy attitude are the secrets to beauty, the better!

  • Jess @ NZ Girl Runs December 3, 2010, 4:47 am

    I LOVE the idea of a “its get better” section. I was badly bullied at school and am now training to be a teacher. I have pulled children aside who are having a hard time at school (with matters beyong my control) and said to the that no matter what crap is going on, its just school and they are and will be incredible people. Sometimes they just need reassuring that life won’t be like this forever!

  • Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) December 3, 2010, 5:28 am

    Yay I can’t wait for this project! I actually think my cousin has an interesting perspective on BEING the bully. She confessed to me once about how she felt so insecure about her own weight, that she took it out on others…
    Good luck with the GOTR 5k! It’s going to be great! 😀

  • Lacey @ Lake Life December 3, 2010, 6:56 am

    I LOVE that first pic!

  • Lauren December 3, 2010, 6:57 am

    Great job on the presentation!!! You are getting so good at this! 🙂

  • Allie December 3, 2010, 7:17 am

    Looks like you had a fun time at the presentation 🙂 Congrats with your new book deal! I asked my mom for your book for Christmas :))))))) so exciteddd!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey December 3, 2010, 7:20 am

    I love the idea about the “it gets better” section – there is such a high number of teenage suicide because of bullying… if they only could only wrap their heads around the fact that it only lasts so long, I think that those numbers would go down drastically!!!

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) December 3, 2010, 8:15 am

    It’s always great when events have healthy spreads! Have fun at the 5k 🙂 The girls will do great!

  • Laura December 3, 2010, 8:17 am

    If you include information about how to handle bullies, I suggest you check out resources geared toward school counselors. Also, suggesting they visit thier school counselor would be a great option– school counselors are different than they were when we were kids! (I recently completed a Master’s degree in school counseling)

    • Caitlin December 3, 2010, 9:19 am

      Oh yay! I am so glad to hear you are a school counselor. I def think kids need to know resources like you exist to help them 🙂 Thanks for being wonderful.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin December 3, 2010, 8:41 am

    That’s an amazing idea to include a section about bullying in your book. It breaks my heart to hear all the news stories about teens committing suicide because of it. Hopefully your book will give some teens the strength and reassurance they need to deal with bullying. 🙂

  • Raya December 3, 2010, 10:13 am

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so glad you decided to do that. I will definitely be writing something when the submissions post is up. 🙂

  • Michelle Hepler December 3, 2010, 1:45 pm

    Thanks so much for introducing your movement to our group of coaches last night! I am excited to read the book, and can’t wait to get started with my post it notes!!

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