Frequently Asked Questions

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I want to become a Registered Dietitian, but I have an unrelated bachelors degree like you and will need to start from scratch. Help! Where do I start?

• Check out my page all about How to Become a Registered Dietitian. It explains the process, step-by-step, and is especially helpful if you’re applying coming from an unrelated field.

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What kind of camera and lenses do you have?

• I have a DSLR – the Canon Rebel XTI. As for lenses, I have three:
  • My “walk around” lens – the 50 mm f/1.4 lens. It’s great for portraits and dim lighting, but you can’t zoom. I usually bring this one with me when I travel.
  • A macro lens – the 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens. Amazing for super close up food photography.
  • A zoom lens that came with the camera body (I purchased it used from a friend) – the 17-85 mm f/4-5.6 lens. I love this lens for outdoor photography because of the zoom, and it takes great food photos, too, although it’s not the best in dim lighting. I used this lens exclusively for awhile before getting the other two lenses for Christmas in 2010.
• I also have a point-and-shoot camera that I bring with me on runs, bike rides, etc., and sometimes when I travel, too. It’s awesome and takes great photos, even in low lighting: Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera.

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What are your favorite restaurants in the Washington D.C. area?

• In D.C.:
  • Hook (Georgetown, upscale seafood – review post here)
  • Sea Catch (Georgetown, upscale seafood)
  • Sweetgreen (Various locations in DC, VA, & MD, casual lunch salads and the best frozen yogurt ever – review post here, and here)
  • Java Green (Midtown, vegetarian/vegan lunch – review post here, and here, and here)
  • Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe (Dupont – American food & a hipster bar/bookstore)
  • Teaism (Midtown, tea shop & cafe, vegetarian friendly – review post here)
• In VA:
  • Aladdin’s Eatery (Shirlington, casual Lebanese – review post here, and here)
  • Sawatdee (Courthouse, Thai food – review post here – the summer rolls are the BEST)
  • Faccia Luna (Clarendon, pizza/Italian)
  • Koi Koi (Falls Church, sushi – review post here, and here)
  • Boulevard Woodgrill (Clarendon, American food – review post here)
  • Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant (Falls Church, vegetarian/vegan – review post here, and here)
  • Northside Social (Clarendon, wine bar & cafe – review post here)
  • Liberty Tavern (Clarendon, bar/restaurant, American food – review post here)

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What are your favorite running/biking/hiking trails in the Washington D.C. area?

• My favorites for running and biking are the C&O Canal (stretches from Georgetown up to MD – check out my “Ode to the C&O Canal” post here) and the Mt. Vernon Trail (along the Potomac River on the VA side from Mt. Vernon up to Roosevelt Island).
• For hiking near DC, I love the Billy Goat Trail (the MD side of Great Falls Park – we hiked it for Matt’s birthday one year).
• If you’re willing to go a bit farther for hiking, Shenandoah National Park is my absolute favorite and only a couple hours drive from DC. Favorite trails to hike in Shenandoah are Old Rag Mountain (very strenuous 5 to 6 hour hike with lots of rock scrambling but super fun and gorgeous views) and White Oak Canyon Trail (about 4 hours hiking – lots of fun waterfalls – check out this post for more).
• Another great hike about 2 hours from D.C. in Luray, VA is a loop that includes Duncan Knob and Strickler Knob (strenuous and about 10 miles/7 hours – see my post about it here!)

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Any recommendations for what to do while visiting DC?

• My recommendations would be to walk around the whole city and sightsee! DC is very walkable. Here are some of my favorite DC-related sightseeing/photography posts:
  • Washington Photo Safari
  • Photo Journey of a Beautiful Weekend in D.C.
  • D.C. Victory Lap
  • I = Best D.C. Tour Guide Ever
  • A Beautiful Weekend to be in D.C.
  • Biking the Potomac
  • A Beautiful Day to be Free

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What are your favorite restaurants in the Chapel Hill, NC area?

• Weaver Street Market (Carrboro co-op grocery store with a salad bar/hot bar – like Whole Foods – great for lunch or a quick healthy dinner)
• Sandwhich (Chapel Hill, best sandwich place ever & wine/beer – review post here, and here)
• Elaine’s on Franklin (Chapel Hill, upscale/trendy American – this place is a bit pricey, but insanely delicious. Highly recommended!)
• Mt Fuji (Durham, Asian/sushi)
• Maple View Farm (Hillsborough – the best ice cream on earth. Go to their country store and sit in the rocking chairs!)
• Guglhupf Bakery (Durham, bakery & cafe – great brunch– review post here, and here)
• Butternut Squash (Chapel Hill, vegetarian/vegan – review post here)
• Foster’s Market (Chapel Hill & Durham, coffee shop & cafe – awesome biscuits – review post here)
• Jessee’s Coffee & Bar (Chapel Hill, coffee shop & cafe – great brunch – review post here)
• Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe (Chapel Hill, Indian, local/organic/vegetarian friendly – review post here)
• The Spotted Dog (Carrboro, American, vegetarian/vegan friendly – review post here)
• Il Palio (Chapel Hill, in the Siena Hotel, upscale Italian. Matt and I went here for Valentine’s Day!)
• Mellow Mushroom (Durham, sandwiches/pizza)

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What are your favorite running/biking/hiking trails in the Chapel Hill area?

• For running, I love the American Tobacco Trail in Durham, and the Carolina North Forest (also great for mountain biking).
• For biking, I love parking at Maple View Farm (hello, after bike ride ice cream treat!) and taking bike rides from there on the roads around farm country. If biking on roads isn’t your thing, I wouldn’t bike here, but traffic is generally very light and cars are pretty aware of bikers since it’s a popular area to bike.
• For hiking, I love Eno River State Park (posts about it here and here) and the New Hope Trail (post about it here).

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What are your favorite products?

• Pretty much everything in this fANNEtastic holiday gift guide post!

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Why are you so awesome?

• Juuuuuust kidding.

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