Mint Pea Pesto Linguini

Ladies (and gents)… here we have the fourth edition of Friday Feature. I am having so much fun with these — hope you are enjoying them, too.

Today, my blog buddy Elle, of Nutritionella, and I have done a post swap. I mean, our blog titles alone indicate we’re twins at heart… just kidding! Anyway, Elle is an absolute doll. I’ve been following her blog for quite some time now, as she endured her dietetic internship, moved across the country, married in Euope, and landed one incredible City job — congrats, lady!

I love that Elle’s blog showcases a variety of her interests from nutritious eats, to creative exercise, current fashion, and general well-being. If you haven’t met Elle, read our Q & A below for a taste of this RD’s unstoppable inspiration — enjoy (and happy Friday)!

Ice Cream1 e1344247866612

Q & A with Elle Penner | Nutritionella

1. You recently moved to California, specifically the amazing San Francisco. What do you love most about your new city, and what do you miss most about the Southeast?

Oh man, where do I start? There is so much to love about San Francisco. Hiking among Redwoods, incredible restaurants and a farmer’s market within walking distance, enjoying city living with my husband, and going to my dream job every morning!

That being said, I miss a lot of things from North Carolina – my grad school girls and UNC, Saturday night bluegrass concerts on the lawn, the summertime heat and humidity, my flat, 4-mile running loop, sweet potato fries with brown sugar, trips to the beach in my Jeep, and last but not least, my little, red living room.

2. What are some of your main responsibilities as the newest and cutest MyFitnessPal.com RD?

I can’t share many details, but recently I’ve been working on developing the company’s blog. Following the re-launch in the near future, I’ll be regularly contributing food and nutrition content for the MyFitnessPal blog. As for my other projects, all I can say is we have some new and exciting MyFitnessPal features in the works!

3. What are your go-to weeknight meals?

Salmon salad and Mint Pea Pesto Linguini are two quick favorites. I also typically have a stash of veggie burgers in the freezer that are great on rolls, served over fresh greens or crumbled into quinoa with a bit of cheese. On exceptionally tired nights, I heat up a bowl of piping hot tomato soup with brown rice, black beans and shredded Cheddar cheese mixed in. It’s a bowl of healthy, fast, comfort food.

Bbq black bean brown rice burgers6 thumb

4. As a fashionista, what are current top five items in your closet?

The cool and foggy San Francisco summers are nothing like what I was used to in North Carolina. My summer wardrobe has dwindled down to one pair of shorts, a few maxi dresses and a handful of tank tops! Currently, my top five pieces include:

My dark wash, J. Brand skinny jeans
A light chambray
Short dresses with long sleeves
Cute, comfy flats for commuting
Summer scarves & a light military jacket

City western04

5. What keeps you motivated and inspired to maintain your beautiful blog? Do you have any future blog plans and/or goals?

I get a lot of inspiration from reading other beautiful blogs – everything from the design and color scheme to the tone of voice other bloggers use. Over the years I’ve let my love for food, cooking, fitness and fashion inspire the content. The evolution is an ongoing process though, and as I grow older, I find myself occasionally wanting to write about other topics – like love, family and relationships, even some of my latest DIY projects. Whether or not that means I rebrand my current website with a whole new name, I haven’t quite decided yet – but I definitely want to continue to cook, eat and write my way through life via this little blog.