🏁NKO Club | asian chicken quesadilla & confronting "skinnytok"

01 OPINION:

“skinnytok” & the concerning trending rhetoric spreading on social media

“Skinny is a way of life: it’s not about control, its about having mindful restraint, it’s elegance, it—” PARDON, even typing a direct quote from a young women influencing thousands of others on this emerging language regarding body image was make my blood pressure rise and my jaw clench in sheer anger.

For many of us, we LIVED through the torment of widely publicized toxic language surrounding the optimal body. I distinctly remember the rise of photoshop and a particular Ralph Lauren campaign where they warped the poor models waist so much her upper frame wouldn’t be able to support her…sadly, myself and many of my friends had that image plastered in our see-through binders we would take to class and use as a the measuring metric and standard with which to compare our changing bodies to. Whether it was the “cocaine-chic” and gaunt models of the 90’s or now the emergence of dated and dysmorphic language encouraging young women to restrict calories and obsessively workout/ portion control to obtain a frail-looking frame, my concern is at an all-time high.

One thing I can promise you is this: I will ALWAYS stand to be a proponent of STRONG, properly fueled and functional bodies and not a particular aesthetic. Some of the healthiest/strongest bodies in the world do not “look” like the ever changing societal beauty standard. The cognitive dissonance of feeling strong but not seeing your strength represented as “optimal” can attack anyone’s self-esteem. Couple that with the new trend of ultra-frail bodies becoming on trend and it feels as if a pendulum of progress is starting to slide backward again.

So what can you do about it? Take action. And no I don’t mean in the comment section of these likely well-intended but not yet experienced young women vying to create community through shock and control (let’s give them grace and kindness and not add to the vitriol) but you can take action through your SELF first.

1) Honor your strength: Share your wins with truly supportive friends and family about progress you a making in yourself and your fitness goals.

2) Speak positively about our body to others. Especially if you are around or influential to the young women in your life, being an example of confidence for what your body provides you and how it’s evolved as you have is key.

3) Self-audit when negative language or “piling on” when in social situations putting ourselves down can become a form of connection. Take note of when this occurs and how it arises/ how it feels in your body.

4) Recognize and redirect “body-checking” or other behaviors

5) Give yourself GRACE

It’s very easy to point out the perceived “problems” we see in our bodies but ironically, when we consistently model that behavior, it wires in us unconsciously to see ourselves in a state of lack and comparison rather than in gratitude for where we are now (even if there are more steps in the journey).

Maybe body trends, like fashion trends, are cyclical, but I do hope this is one cycle we can break for good.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE STRONG and never let a TREND determine your worth: your value is TIMELESS & TRENDLESS.

xx

02 NUTRITION:

NEW! PROTEIN-FORWARD RECIPE ACCOUNT: @nkokitchen

If there is a way I share my love with people it’s often through food, particularly food that can be both DELICIOUS and nutrient-dense. So while I’ll continue to share recipes here, some of the favorites, the snack tips and more will also live on the NKO Kitchen IG account so you can easily save and share your favorites (*cough* until one day I have the time to finally put it all in a cookbook for y’all cough)

asian chicken quesadilla

 INGREDIENTS (quesadilla):

-1 lbs ground chicken

-1/2 cup panko flakes

-6 torillas (low-carb/ high protein is also an option)

-3 tbs soy sauce

-3 tbs siracha sauce

-1 egg

-3 cloves minced garlic

-2 green onions chopped

-2 tsp ginger

-2 tsp parsley flakes

-1 tsp black pepper

-1 tsp salt

 INSTRUCTIONS:

***whenever touching raw chicken always throughly clean hand and surface you prepped food on****

set oven to 400 F

in a mixing bowl combine the mince chicken, herbs and liquids listed above.

wrap tortillas in paper towels and place in microwave with a small mirowave safe cup filled with 1/2 -1 cup water. microwave and steam the tortillas for 1 min or until flexible & warm. cut the tortillas in half.

using a spoon, take a large tablespoon size amount of the chicken mixture and spread evenly on one-half of the tortilla. fold and place on the grased baking sheet. repeat until all the chicken mixture has been used and the quesadillas have covered the greased baking sheet.

spray with a small mist of high smoke point oil (avocado oil is great to use) and place in the preheated 400 F oven. cook for 10 min and then flip. cook for an additional 7 min or until cooked through and crisp to you liking.

let cool and serve with a sauce of your choice for extra delish flavor. (I love a high protein bang bang sauce ill share if you all REALLY want it!)

these are addicting and with 3 tortillas being about 38 g of protein its a wonderful and easy meal than can be reheated for up to a week in the fridge or freeze and store for up to two months.

tag @nkokitchen and #nkokitchen if you make this and let me know what other recipes you’d like me to put a healthier spin on!

03 WORKOUT:

Testing out some content-formats that are more “snackable” and easier to take with you to the gym and these two routines are great to incorporate into your weekly split.

Remember: It’s not about complex moves, it’s about proper form, simple exercises & challenging weight with CONSISTENCY.

04 YOUTUBE:

WEEKLY VLOGS + COOKING/ GROCERY HAULS & MORE COMING SOON!

Subscribe to my NEW YouTube channel here as we begin to build community with longer formats and more chances to truly connect.

WHAT CONTENT WOULD YOU LIKE? Email us back and I’ll hop on creating more feel-good, health & wellness focused content to keep us all locked in and in the fight.