76: Kitchen Conversations During Quarantine with Amber Pankonin, David Orozco, and Melissa Joy Dobbins

I thought it would be fun to hear from three fellow dietitians and podcast friends about navigating the day-to-day grocery shopping and cooking during quarantine. I know that my shopping and cooking habits have changed, and I’ve become a lot more organized about meal planning, which isn’t typical for me. We all need a little inspiration during these days, and I think you’ll enjoy today’s episode with my three special guests. 
Amber Pankonin hails from the great state of Nebraska. She hosts the Healthy Under Pressure podcast, where she interviews entrepreneurs about how they thrive and grow even when faced with daily stresses and challenges. Amber has important words of wisdom for each of us about giving ourselves a break during difficult times and not feeling like we have to be Wonder Woman or Superman right now. She reminds us that we don’t have to play the comparison game. I am not making sourdough bread at home, and I’m no longer feeling guilty about it. 
David Orozco is a “guy-e-titian” who hosts the One Small Bite podcast where he addresses nutrition topics for men. He joins us from Georgia with survival stories from his home kitchen. Every night he’s there with his wife and daughter as they prepare healthy dinner meals that double up as lunch the next day. No PB & J for this guy-e-titian!
Melissa Joy Dobbins, from Illinois, hosts the Sound Bites podcast. She has a magical way of taking the latest science and nutrition and translating it into essential news that we can all use. She’s home with her husband and two kids now, and she’s craving variety because she’s bored with the same old meals. You could say that the pandemic has brought out the chef in Melissa as she has explored new mealtime creations. She’ll share her inspiration with us. 
 
Show Highlights:
From Amber:
Get to know Amber and her podcast
How we stay healthy during stressful times:
Take care of yourself
Don’t play the comparison game
Give yourself grace

How Amber’s shopping habits have changed as she is more intentional about food waste and more experimental in the kitchen
Liz’s dinner plans for tonight: Asparagus Quiche (check out the recipe in Resources!)
Why Amber is more intentional about meal planning
How living in Nebraska gives Amber access to local meat and produce directly from the farmers
From David:
Get to know David and his podcast that’s geared to men
How David is handling the pandemic with weekly grocery trips that include masks, gloves, and extra cleaning measures
The biggest difference for David and his family is that they are home together for all three meals---and the dishwasher runs almost non-stop
Repurposing family dinners for lunch the next day:
Cuban Pork Sandwiches made from leftover tenderloin
Buddha Bowls made with leftover tofu stir-fry

Why handmade pizza is a favorite for dinner--and breakfast--and lunch
David’s Colombian roots, his childhood in NJ, and the last 30 years in Atlanta
From Melissa:
Get to know Melissa, her podcast, and her family
How Melissa has coped by shopping less often, mostly buying the same foods, but keeping more junk food on hand
The changes in Melissa’s household: her husband has started making homemade bread again, and they have made homemade birthday cakes
Why dinnertime for Melissa’s family has included more variety and more comfort food
How Melissa finds one-pot inspiration from Shelley Rael’s The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan cookbook
Why ordering takeout has become a huge treat for the family
Melissa’s advice for feeding a family during a pandemic: “Find what works for you.”
 
Resources:
Links for Amber:
Amber’s website: www.stirlist.com
Amber’s podcast: www.healthyunderpressure.com
Instagram: @RDamber
Twitter: @RDamber
Liz’s Asparagus Quiche:  https://www.lizshealthytable.com/2014/06/06/crustless-asparagus-quiche/
Liz’s cookbooks that she’s revisiting: https://www.lizshealthytable.com/cookbooks/
 Links for David:
David’s website: https://www.onesmallbite.net
David’s podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-small-bite/id1492400550
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_tdwellness/
Links for Melissa:: 
Melissa’s podcast: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/podcast/
 Instagram: @melissajoyrd
Twitter: @melissajoyrd
Facebook: @MelissaJoyDobbinsSoundBites
 Do More with Dinner initiative: https://www.soundbitesrd.com/download-m-o-r-e-dinner-kit/
 Joan Nathan’s chicken soup: https://food52.com/blog/6142-joan-nathan-s-chosen-matzo-ball-soup
 The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan by Shelley Rael, MS, RDN