Hello Classmates and Dr. Perez,
I am in my last semester as an Interdisciplinary Studies major with a concentration in American Studies. After this I plan to go to graduate school and pursue a Masters degree in English Literature.

I am originally from Guatemala but my parents immigrated to the United States when I was just a couple of months old. Growing up my parents have always been very health conscious and although we had rice and beans and Guatemalan tamales for Christmas and New Years, the rest of the year we ate food that included a lot of vegetables, fruits, and lean meats and was for the most part pretty balanced.

The older I get the more I realize that I can no longer continue eating the way I used to. Within the last year or so I have made a conscious decision to choose what I eat in a more discerning way. I have tried to limit my meat, and dairy intake which have consistently been my vices (along with my love for vodka). This has led me to create and actively seek out recipes that have the same flavors I like without the unneeded fat and calories.

As an avid home cook, I have adapted this recipe for Paleo Egg Muffins to Mini Paleo Quiches with Spinach and Tomatoes. There is no crust in these quiches and they are simply egg whites with raw spinach and tomatoes, salt and pepper and topped with a light sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.  If I had to guess how much cheese was in there I would say about a teaspoon in each. They are baked in a muffin tin at 350 degrees for 22 minutes and store easily in the refrigerator for about a week. A year ago I was making these mini quiches with ground beef and cheddar cheese and those were pretty tasty as well!

I tend to enjoy simple dishes prepared with a lot of care. I often reflect on food as the simpler the better so I know what is going in. This is probably also due to my intense OCD (undiagnosed of course). I think I have also become hyper aware of ingredients in food due to my anxiety. While everyone exhibits anxiety symptoms in different ways, mine almost always presents itself as severe, and debilitating stomach pain and nausea. Anxiety, along with my IBS, that also insists on showing up as severe stomach cramping, has ultimately led to the way I eat now. A lot of the times when I am eating out I think about how this food will make me feel rather than how delicious it will taste.

I am looking forward to reading about everyone’s recipes and delicious favorite foods!