Check out my progress on On Feeling Old
Earlier today, I attended my first organic chemistry lab session. As part of the introductory agenda, we were all to complete a form listing our medications and health information—including our ages. I looked over my shoulder at the gentleman, nay, boy, standing next to me. He filled in the blank with “19.” I returned my eyes to my own paper and sheepishly filled in my form with “23.”
Sigh. Ah, to be young again.
This whole experience lasted all of two seconds, but it transformed my thinking for the whole day.
First, I started pondering my apparent age, that is, I began asking myself, “How old do I look?” I’ve matured a lot in terms of my appearance over the past four years, but I think I could pass for 19. What do you think?
(Apparently I am always posing with food. Go figure).
Then, my pondering shifted gears toward how life was different in the past, say ten years ago. At a mere 13 years old, life wasn’t exactly a delight (Aunt Flow’s first visit, crushes, and braces, oh my!), it certainly was less stressful (see yesterday’s post). I wouldn’t mind returning to 2001 for just a day.
So now it’s your turn.
How old do you think you look?
Would you ever want to return to some era in your past? Which one would you choose?
Aside from feeling geezer-ly, I did eat some good grub.
This morning’s breakfast was a simple smoothie from Ellie’s cookbook, Peanut Butter Split Smoothie.
My tweaks:
-I used Greek yogurt instead of plain nonfat yogurt because, well, who can say no to Fage?
-Instead of nonfat milk, I used unsweetened almond milk, as it’s my milk of choice.
-I added several sprinkles of cinnamon for a little excitement.
As you might guess from such a simple recipe, there were no surprises in the flavor department for this dish. Peanut butter-banana is such a classic combo that it will always be tasty, but I prefer to add my own twists—next time, I’m thinking coconut will enter the picture.
For lunch, I packed a hefty portion of Artichoke Hummus. As always, it reminded me of pizza in goop form. It sure is ugly, but I lurve the flavor.
Tonight’s dinner was inspired by a recent Trader Joe’s purchase:
I’ve never prepared leeks for myself, mostly because I hear that they’re quite a pain to clean. Accordingly, when I spotted these frozen leeks, with all the sand and grit already removed for me, I jumped at the chance to experiment. They showed up tonight in combination with some mashed potatoes.
Alright, it’s time to cuddle up with my nutrition textbook. G’night!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
I look like I am 10. LOL.
I look my age I think, but some people think I’m a little older just because I’m so tall….guess thats what happens when you are 5’11″
i’m not sure i really do look that young anymore, but a phrase that used to drive me crazy in med school now is my favorite compliment: “how old ARE you?”
You can definitely pass for 19!
I completely understand feeling old though; my 22nd birthday is next week! Yikes! To me, 21 is still irresponsible and carefree, but 22 sounds like an ‘adult’
On the bright side, I’m told I look like I’m 16, so that’s a plus!
Oh I’m 23 too, but I like 16. I look SO young but at least that will be good when I’m even older??
I’m 25, and I usually get asked if I’m still in college! Someday I will appreciate it!
Sadly, at first glance, anybody would wave me as 15– maybe even 13, sad I know. Despite, I keep rocking my age and showing my maturity wherever I go. Hey, when I’m 50 I’ll most definitely want to look 15!
Definitely not. I wouldn’t mind being younger again at some point, but I’d rather not go back in time to my younger selfes. Ive had quite a turbulant puberty in which I was really insecure, and at age 19-22 I had a full blown eating disorder. My prime time is now, when I finally feel happy and secure with myself and eating
.
good topic though!
ps: 1.5 years ago I got guessed being 15. I was 21 at the time :p
artichoke hummus sounds AMAZE! and its very unfortunate but ppl say i look like im 13.. COOL
You look like 20 years old!
I love my age and my mental state now that I’m 30, but if I could go back, I’d go to 20 yrs
Oh, to be 23 again… Now 28 feels even older! =)
I totally know what you mean though – just this year I decided that the 16-year-old version of myself would be disappointed to find that I hadn’t even received my first graduate degree yet. I’m sure that we will always feel older than someone, no matter what age we are!
I’ve ALWAYS looked younger than my actual age. By quite a bit. When I was 26, people thought I was 18 (not so good considering my son was 4 years old at the time). I think my looks might be closing in on my age, slowly but surely.
BTW, I’m 34.
Caroline! 23 is not old! Just wait till you’re 30, hah
Regarding leeks – don’t be afraid. People say they’re hard to clean cause dirt can get trapped in between the layers, but honestly none of the leeks I’ve ever worked with have been that dirty.
Silly girl
23 is a great age! The smoothie sounds yummy. I bet the almond milk just helped bring out the nuttiness. And your artichoke hummus? The BEST!
i think you could pass for 14! you are NOT old. don’t think that at all, instead enjoy being young. anyway, no worries about looking young. I’m almost 30 but people say I look 21-ish all the time. you appreciate that more as you get older and the people around you look wrinkly
Oh honey. You make me giggle. Age is a bit of a sore spot for me. At nearly 30 (ahem, 28 to be exact) I am the mother to two small children but because I look only about 18 I face a lot of prejudice; nasty snubbing from the other moms on the playground at school because I couldn’t be as old as I say I am. I don’t suppose it would bother me so much that I look 18, maybe 20 but it does when people watch my every move in a way that isn’t done to the mothers who are obviously in their 30s – “You have TWO children? Oh my.” then they take a closer look. I think it’s why I feel especially protective of the smattering of silver hairs growing along my hairline. Finally! A sign of age!
On to tastier things, your peanut butter smoothie looks delightful.
Yesterday I turned 25 – a quarter of a century and I feel old. I wish that I could go back to 23 and yet I am happy at where I am and what I have learnt.
Shari from http://www.goodfoodweek.blogspot.com
I’m 20, and people tend to think I’m a year or two older… They have since I was bout 17 though (actually, when I was 17 they thought I was 22, so I dunno haha).
That smoothie looks sooo good!
I am 20 turning 21 in a few months. I have always looked so much younger than I actually am. I was actually pulled over by the cops when I was driving in my dad’s SUV a couple of weeks ago because he thought I looked too young to be driving. I think the cop laughed when he saw my drivers license!
I just turned 26 last month and I guess I look my age, but there is something about making the progression into my “late” twenties that makes me feel old! Sometimes wish I could go back in time to the days where my biggest worry was passing a history test or finding a dress for prom, but then again, I have learned so much over the years that I would hate to give that up just for the chance of less responsibility.
Your dinner looks great! I’ve only cooked with leeks once (I made a leek and sausage breakfast casserole for Christmas a couple of years ago–It was heavenly). I didn’t think it was too hard to clean the leeks. I just cut them into slices and let the soak in some water and then I just rinsed them in some fresh water. Looked clean enough to me!