Year's Reflection on Energy Drink of the Month -- YEAR TWO

Though some media outlets continue to paint all energy drinks with the same brush, the number of "energy drinks in disguise" is growing. Unless you're at an airport, it's getting easier to find an energy drink with less-than-extreme amounts of caffeine, no sugar, and no artificial colors or ingredients. You might even know someone who's tried to sell you an energy drink that can only be found online [buyer beware].
With the number of energy options increasing, it's growing more important to learn what distinguishes one energy drink from another. Through every Energy Drink of the Month post, we review the tools you need to consume caffeine safely, and discuss how to tell if an energy drink is right for you -- as in YOUR lifestyle and diet goals, and YOUR current energy needs or "Level of Fatigue".

Energy Drink of the Month -- A Year's Reflection

Caffeine Consumption in the USA - Part III: The best way to measure caffeine intake

Imagine you took a poll how many Americans eat salad, and you included potato salad, chicken salad, and fruit salad in the "salad category". Now imagine you classified potato salad and Caesar salad as different types or "brands" of salad, then re-calculated how many Americans really eat salad. How different do you think the numbers would be?

A study recently published in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology sought to answer this "brand-method" versus "category-method" question, but for caffeine consumption.With Green-Eyed Insight, we'll review what they discovered, and what it all means. (Read more -->)

Green-Eyed Guide featured on Fit Gurus -- July 2015

I'm excited to announce I've been invited to write for Fit Gurus. Here's what we've been talking about on FitGuru.com lately:

When Energy Drinks Dress Up Like Workout Supplements

Part I: Pre- and During Exercise supplements

Energy drinks may have started as highly caffeinated soda wannabes, but now there are energy drinks that resemble herbal teas, some that resemble bottled water, and some that resemble workout supplements. The evolution of the energy drink market is like the transformation of the 5K (back in my day we just ran; there was no mud, glow sticks or colored dust involved). Yet for every sport, there are limitations, and caffeine is no different. Does caffeine belong in a pre-, during- or post-workout supplement?

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Part II: Post-exercise supplements

Energy drinks are evolving, and many big name brands have come out protein-caffeine combinations that walk the line between energy drink and workout supplement. Caffeine may have a place in your daily routine, but does it belong in your workout supplement regimen? In Part I, we discussed the benefits and limitations of including caffeine in a pre- or during-workout supplement. In Part II, we evaluate the pros and cons of including caffeine in a post-workout supplement.

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Don’t Play Favorites — Caffeine, Drop Sets, and the 5 Levels of Fatigue 

When I tell people I wrote a book on energy drinks, they often ask, “What’s your favorite?” But picking a favorite energy drink is like choosing what shoes I’m going to wear: it depends on where I’m going, what I’m doing, my mood, and the rest of my outfit. The secret to finding the best energy drink for your body is just like choosing what exercise to do at the gym: it depends on your goals, schedule, fitness level, and what’s available in terms of space or equipment. (read it here -->)

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Food Science and Traveling: 5 Convention/Expo Essentials

I don’t always travel for work, but when I do, I always have five essentials. These five items ensure I don’t get stuffed up, bloated, undernourished, or worse, hangry. When I don’t have room in my luggage, I know I can find these five essentials almost anywhere my travels take me. Better yet, I know I can take these five essentials anywhere because they don’t require refrigeration or cooking. (read it here -->)

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 Thanks for your support! Did you know I also post full workout plans on FitGurus.com?

    

 

Women and Leadership at IFT15: Day in the Life of a Food Scientist

This is a series of posts in which I share snippets of what it's like to be a food scientist. As a product developer-turned Quality Systems Manager for dry powder shakes, there are some lessons I never learned in school and some challenges I never saw coming. 

At the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT15), a panel of three women with powerful roles in the food industry shared their insight and advice. The full article is available through the link below, but I've quoted some of the advice that really hits home for me.



Women Panelist Reflect on Leadership, and More | IFT15 News



The panelists:

IFT member and NASA food scientist Michele Perchonok moderated the
discussion, which featured panelists Catherine Woteki, undersecretary
for research, education and economics, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; Sara
Mortimore, vice-president, product safety, quality assurance and
regulatory affairs, Land O’Lakes; and Liz Myslik, CEO, Fresca Brands and
executive vice-president, Fresca Foods.



On Being Bold:

“Trust that you can do some of the things that you dream about,”
Mortimore agreed. She observed that women tend to be apologetic about
advancing their ideas, presenting ideas using language like “what if we
tried this?” versus a more straightforward expression such as “I think
this is a really good idea.”

It’s also important to recognize that the path forward may include
some missteps. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” Myslik counseled. “I’ve failed
so many times, and I’ve bounced back from them [the failures].”

On Strengths and Weaknesses:

The panelists also shared some practical tips for managing
effectively. For one thing, they said, leverage your strengths. “Lean
into your strengths,” and accept that everyone has some weaknesses,
Myslik advised.

As for overcoming weaknesses, Mortimore suggested seeking out candid
feedback and acting on it. “I think feedback is such a gift,” she
reflected.

On that every-elusive Work/Life Balance:

Asked about maintaining work/life balance, the women acknowledged
that it’s an ongoing challenge for men and women. Woteki said she and
her husband have successfully balanced the challenges of a commuter
marriage at points in her career, sometimes by agreeing to focus
wholeheartedly on work during the week but to allow time for themselves
on the weekend. Mortimore noted that becoming a mother at age 40 helped
her become effective about setting priorities and delegating
responsibilities.

“I haven’t ever met anyone who has figured it [work/life balance]
out,” said Myslik. “I try each day to accept wherever I am that day.
Some days my work gets 98% of me, and some days my son gets 98% of me.”

These women are an inspiration, and I love how women are gaining a presence in fields they've not commonly been a part of (like space travel to Pluto or coaching in pro-sports). As someone who has not yet started a family, I sometimes wonder how I'll manage a family and a Quality department at the same time.

...then again, I'm currently managing my full-time Quality Systems Manager role, two blogs, a YouTube channel, publicity commitments for my book on energy drinks, and a guest blogger role for FitGurus (and loving it all!) so I'm sure I'll be just fine.

What are you "Never Too Pretty" to do?
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Recommended & Related:

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead -- by Brene Brown