During the end of May, I was lucky enough to attend the 2017 Today’s Dietitian Spring Symposium in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was my first time in New Orleans, I immediately feel in love with the culture, the food, the music- there was just so much to do!

California Strawberry Council

This also was my first time attending a Today’s Dietitian event. I was able to meet  vendors, dietitians, and listen to the distinguish speakers! For example, my former PSU professor Penny Kris-Etheron present on Saturated Fats, Rebecca Scritchfield presented on the end of dieting, and the real definition of #EatClean by Michelle Dudash. I must say one of my favorites was about integrative nutrition therapy for mood disorders.

“The End of Dieting” by Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RDN, HFS

After the conference my mother, godmother, and I decided to stay for the end of the week. If you have never been, I would consider sneaking time to visit the below sea level, Big Easy. 

Cinnamon’s Guide to the Big Easy

1. Eat a beignet! Hey- who is to say Dietitians only eats fruit & vegetables?! I highly encourage everyone to stand in line at Cafe Du Monde because their beignet’s are light, fluffy clouds to be shared with a hot cup of coffee! 
2. Walk around! NOLA is very easy to walk in foot with many parks! I went on a Ghost Tour with my former classmate, a cemetery tour to see the Queen of Voodoo Marie Laveau’s tomb, walk around Frenchman St and walk through the Garden District! My Garmin counts steps and I easily racked in 8-10 miles walking a day!
   

   A corn fence at the Garden District

   

   Walking through the Farmer’s Markets

   

   Queen of Voodoo

   

   Louis Armstrong Park

   

   Walking through the French Quarters
3. Listen to Jazz! A no brainer, but stop what you are doing and listen to what is happening around you! I did buy tickets to go to Preservation Hall but street music was just as fun to listen too!
   

   
4. Swamp Tour! What an ADVENTURE!  Make sure you bring H2O + Snacks because you will be on the boat for around 2 hours to see the wild life of Louisiana Bayous. Hopefully you will see an alligator

   

5. Eat what the Locals Eat! 
   

   Char Grilled Oysters- A MUST

   

   SHRIMP & GRITS

   

   Jambalaya

   

   Gumbo

   

   Muffuletta from Central Grocery Store

Stay Spicy!!!

XOXOXO Cinnamon!