Hi, everyone!
This week I started a new part-time job as part of my plan to
save a bit of money prior to graduation. I will be working about
15-20 hours per week at a local health food store. This part of my
plan will allow me to continue my courses right now, complete all
class work, then in a few months, complete my studies in student
clinic and main clinic here at NUHS.
This job is well suited in that the store is within walking
distance of both campus and my apartment, so I can save on fuel
expenses. The working hours are flexible to accommodate my class
schedule as it changes from trimester to trimester and a few of my
fellow students currently work in the store. Another benefit is
that working in a health food store assists with keeping my mind
sharp on the nutrients in certain foods, understanding customers'
requests when they describe a specific supplement, mineral or
nutritive product they need based upon a physiological
requirement.
The reality of graduating from medical school encompasses the
costs of moving, setting up shop or joining a practice as well as
being able to "pay the bills" after graduation. The months after
graduation and prior to sitting for NPLEX II (or the second round
of national board exams) can be quite lean, based upon the
experiences shared with me from recent grads. I am taking action
now to help alleviate the challenge of those first few months after
graduating.
A little "whole foods diet" update for this week for you. The
new way of eating is going well with a couple of hiccups. I fudged
and had some chocolate-covered peanuts (I know! Milk chocolate with
perhaps the most inflammatory food...peanuts!). At the same time, I
have been enjoying some incredible smoothies with a good friend as
well as making "lettuce wraps" out of everything from chicken to
squash with butter lettuce leaves. Here's a quick pic of my simple
organic chicken lettuce wraps with some hot sauce on the leaves (in
other words, whatever I have in the cupboard or fridge gets thrown
in a pan or the oven and added to the lettuce leaves to make a
lettuce wrap, hehe). Nice!
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Organic Chicken Breast (boneless, skinless)
- 1 large whole organic onion (diced)
- 4 cloves organic garlic (minced)
- 1 head butter lettuce (organic if you can get it)
- Soy Sauce
- Hot Sauce that you like (peppers, vinegar, salt,
water)
Instructions
- Dice and sauté the chicken in a wok or saucepan.
- Dice and add the onion and garlic once the chicken is nearly
done.
- Add soy sauce to taste.
- Remove from heat and serve with lettuce leaves and hot
sauce!