Mission Nutrition

I filmed more "Mission Nutrition" videos today at Hy-Vee. We'll be wrapping up filming for our Mission Fitness/Mission Nutrition DVDs late next week, and editing will begin so that the final product will be ready for Iowa schools yet this fall.

We filmed 1-2 minute segments on a ton of fruits and vegetables - from mangoes and tomatilloes to plums and zucchini, we focused on produce that will make mouths water!

Team Nutrition will be utilizing some of these videos for Pick a Better Snack toolkits, and they will be paired with our Mission Fitness videos to help kids on their mission to be more physically fit and nutritious! When the final products are ready, I will post some on here.

In the meantime, here are a couple of still shots from our shoots so far.



Finally, with the Iowa vs. Iowa State game tomorrow, I can't resist this. GO CYCLONES!!!


Jennifer

Happy Almost-Fall!

Can you believe it? Fall is almost here.

I apologize for not posting much throughout the summer, but I have been very busy. After Miss Iowa, I became a traveling woman! I took several trips to Michigan to visit my fiance's family and also went to my favorite event of the year - the Iowa State Fair.

My family and I have gone to the Iowa State Fair for ten years now, so needless to say, it is a family tradition. We go there each summer and look at the biggest boar and biggest bull, try to sneak a peek at the butter cow, ride on the sky glider, scope out the baby animals, and taste some of the infamous fair food. My favorite? Even though I am a nutrition nut - the cheese curds will always hold a special place in my tummy :)

In terms of my platform, I have also had some very exciting developments. First, I filmed an 8-week TV Series called Get Movin', which will air in October on WQPT in the Quad Cities. I had a blast filming the exercise segments and got to work with eight fabulous kids, as well as a wonderful crew.

In addition, I have been working with Pick a Better Snack and ACT (through the Iowa Department of Public Health) to promote healthy snacking among youth and adults in Des Moines by offering samples of yummy vegetable dishes at farmers markets throughout the Des Moines area. Talk about fun!

I've also been writing my Stories in Motion, which Team Nutrition will use in the upcoming year as physical activity breaks for schools across the state. Kids need brain breaks during the day, just like adults do, and I thought it would be fun to write them. Thankfully, they are thrilled about the idea and are helping me disseminate them to Iowa schools!

Finally, I am working on two DVDs. One is called Mission Fitness, and the other is Mission Nutrition. Essentially, I am taking kids on a mission to become more fit, and a mission to become more nutritious by working with local YMCAs and Hy-Vee stores to teach youth about activities that can be done with little or no equipment and fun fruits and veggies to try.

Needless to say, I've been busy! But, I'm loving every moment. I've got more to share, but there is no time to write a novel today. I'll post more (and pictures) soon.

Happy Tuesday!
Jen

An Overdue Post :)

Just about one month ago, I was competing for the title of Miss Iowa for the fourth time in my life.

When I first stepped foot on a pageant stage back in February of 2007, I remember not even being able to smile at the audience I was so scared, so timid, so unsure of myself. But, in the interview room, I was passionate about my cause. I knew I wanted to promote healthy lifestyles and be a force to be reckoned with in the wellness world. In or out of pageants - that was my mission.

Four years later, this June, in fact, a bigger, more purposeful version of Jennifer Neal stepped on stage. I smiled every second I was in front of the audience, had a blast performing my talent, and felt very confident in my interview. Did it turn out the way I hoped it would? No. But, that is okay.

I used to think that competing in the Miss America Organization was all about my dream of becoming Miss Iowa so that I could travel across the state making a difference with my platform. Wrong :)

I have gained so much more from this program than I could have ever asked for, and thinking about the way it has transformed me into a more purposeful, passionate version of myself makes me get a little emotional. Sure, I would have given anything to be Miss Iowa, but I'm realizing it was not in God's plan for me. I think it's safe to say being involved with MAO was in His plan for me, because I have developed lasting friendships and a desire to give back.

Fortunately, I still have a few months left as Miss Pearl City, so I plan to make the most of them. I have a parade coming up in late July, and will also be sharing my Snacking Smart message with more students before January arrives.

I will post pictures from Miss Iowa soon.

In my personal life, I'm excited to train for the Des Moines Half-Marathon, kickbox, go to spinning classes, apply for my Dietetic Internship, film fitness videos for kids, spend more time cooking/baking, and start preparing to write a book :) I'm sure I'll think of more things to add to the list. My mom has always said that I have no trouble filling my schedule, and she sure is right!

More soon,
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 3

This week is flying by!

We began our morning with interviews at two local radio stations, the B100 and Star 93.5, which is always a blast.





Later, we headed to Neil Armstrong Elementary to assist our current Miss Iowa, Anne Michael, with an all-school assembly. She does such a fantastic job with the students and incorportated a few of the contestants into her presentation to demonstrate the importance of getting involved in activities from athletics to music and other extra-curriculars to learn valuable life skills.

Then, I visited with a third and fifth grade classroom to share the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss and to deliver my Snacking Smart message with the students as well. I take full advantage of any opportunity to spread the word about my platform and the importance of healthy habits, and the students were very excited about the fresh fruit kabobs, banana freeze pops, and zucchini sticks, which are all included in the cookbook I wrote.


For lunch, we dined with the Bettendorf Rotary Club and had a chance to learn about what the organization does as well as hear more of the Miss Iowa contestants' talents and a presentation from Miss Iowa 2009.

This afternoon we transported all of our competition gear to the Adler Theater, where the Miss Iowa pageant will take place on Thursday and Saturday night. It felt so good to get settled in and see the stage; it looks beautiful!

We finished our day with dinner at Lancer's Grille in Eldridge and a dress rehearsal. Time for bed, though!

The part of competition I am most excited about - interview - is tomorrow. I absolutely cannot wait.

Hope to see you at the show tomorrow!
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 2

Today was yet another great day of Miss Iowa week, and my birthday, to boot :) I am officially 23 years old, and have never felt better.

My facebook account was inundated with Happy Birthday messages, my cell phone exploded with text messages and phone calls, and my fellow contestants serenaded me this afternoon at the Golden Corral. I could not have asked for a better way to spend my special day.

This morning, we traveled to Iowa City for one of my favorite events of the week, visiting the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. I met a family from very near my hometown of Epworth who traveled from Manchester for their daughter Gabrielle's check up. Gabrielle was born with biliary atresia, something I learned about in my undergraduate career at Iowa State University, but have never witnessed in real life. Thankfully, the doctors at the University of Iowa detected it early enough that Gabrielle was able to avoid a liver transplant and has had normal labs for over a year now.


There were kids coming in and out of the pediatric unit all morning for check ups - from six months to 17 years. I even met a soon-to-be Iowa Stater, which is rare in Hawkeye country :)

This visit was so uplifting. It is not every day that you meet two year olds who have survived liver cancer, or 17-year-olds who are preparing for transplant surgery. The most amazing part of it all is that they literally radiate joy. If the kids I met today didn't walk in for check-ups and doctor visists, I would never know they were facing any health issues because of their attitudes and the way they carry themselves. Some of their parents even said they loved being at the hospital, which to me, speaks to the value of the Children's Miracle Network and the way that it changes lives. It was such a blessing to have experienced everything I did with those children this morning!

We had some time to relax this afternoon, and then traveled to the Golden Corral for dinner. The evening ended with a quick rehearsal, and I must say, I am thrilled about the production this year. We are singing! You will enjoy it - there is no doubt in my mind.

With that, I am in need of some rest.
More tomorrow,
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 1

What a WONDERFUL day!

We started off with Jazzercise at 7 a.m., and I must say, what a fun way to workout! Then, we got ready for the day and left for yoga and massages at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage in Davenport. Bonita Howes so kindly donates the time of her staff to us, and I speak for all of the ladies when I say how appreciative we are! The massages are one of the highlights of the week before competition, without question. Thank you to everyone at the institute for being so gracious!

Later, we visited Senior Star Assisted Living Center for a wonderful, nutritious lunch and many of us were able to perform our talents. Anne Michael, our current Miss Iowa was there as well, and WOW, was her talent phenomenal! She is such a gifted young lady, and I had such a blast listening to her perform and chat throughout the day. She really is an inspiration.


We then went to the Ridgecrest Senior Center and heard even more of the contestant's talents. Talk about entertaining! The young ladies did a great job, and I had a blast performing Chopsticks again. I can't wait to do it in full costume on Thursday night ;) It is such a fun piece and really allows me to connect with the audience.

For dinner, Hy-Vee very generously donated an all-access pass to their buffet lines. I know the girls would agree with me when I say it was de-lic-ious! Thanks to all of the Hy-Vee staff for being so welcoming to us. It is one of our favorite places to dine during the week!

We finished the evening with a quick rehearsal and some down time in our hotel rooms. What a full day! There we so many laughs and memories already shared today, I can hardly wait for what's to come.

More tomorrow,
Jennifer

Sign In at Miss Iowa :)

It is finally here, and I could not be more excited.

Yesterday, I started off my day at the crack of dawn with a 5-mile run around Gray's Lake in Des Moines, and finished all of my packing for the week.

I then traveled to Iowa City to meet my family for a quick birthday lunch with my family at the Brown Bottle. What a great way to kick off the week; my youngest sister, Nicki, presented me with a homemade book of pictures of me with quotes about the type of person she thinks I am. In the back, my family each wrote me a good luck message filled with some of my favorite quotes from The Office, which inevitably make me laugh. I could not possibly feel more loved and supported by my family than I do right now. Love you guys!

By mid-afternoon, I arrived at the Clarion Hotel in Davenport, who so kindly sponsors the Miss Iowa contestants each year. My board of directors - or my army as I called them yesterday - was there to help me move in. They also had a giant cooler of fruit, a pageant week survival kit (you can only imagine what might be in that bag!), and several other bags filled with useful items for the week. They have been absolutely incredible to work with this year, and I would not be where I am without them. Thank you, ladies!

We had our first dinner as a group around 5 p.m. where we were able to reunite with our hostesses and introduce ourselves once again. It was great to see everyone. We finished the evening with a meeting in our head hostess's room to discuss plans for the week.

To say that I am prepared for this week is an understatement. I really left no stones unturned this year preparing not only for the Miss Iowa competition, but for the job of Miss Iowa. What a blessing it is to be here in the midst of such wonderful young ladies while interviewing and competing for the opportunity of a lifetime. There is nowhere I would rather be.

All my best,
Jennifer