When life becomes overwhelming,
find a safe place and take care of yourself.
When I’m going through stressful times, a lot of my “good habits” can fall by the wayside. Basic and important habits, like taking my supplements and staying hydrated.
Motivation and solution for hydrating?
Coconut water is wonderful, or …
Magic Cherry Soda!
1 oz cherry juice concentrate
1/2 c coconut milk (or other milk of choice)
1/2 c carbonated water
or more, depending on fizzy preference
7-9 drops vanilla stevia
1/8 tsp sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C)
Delicious and replenishing! Anti-inflammatory, too!
The sodium ascorbate is super important for enhancing the anti-inflammatory properties of the cherry juice, so don’t leave it out!
It’s important to drink pure water throughout the day. We have a Big Berkey water filter that makes any water taste delicious. It’s one way to make sure the water we are drinking and cooking with is free of heavy metals, chlorine and other toxins.
Having something appealing to drink often helps me talk myself into taking my supplements. If I have something delicious to sip, then swallowing all those capsules becomes easier. Gotta keep those vital chemical reactions going in the body! Vitamins, enzymes and minerals interact in our bodies to create detoxification, repair, healing and energy! They are all required for good health! ALL of them! Take your vitamins!
“Good” Comfort Foods
Sometimes I make poor food choices when I’m stressed. This can only lead to further misery in the form of digestive upsets or body-wide inflammation, so even if I’m maxed out emotionally, I try to maintain focus and feel satisfied from eating whole “easy” foods, like carrots or apples. Or what about a bowl of blueberries? My husband is super helpful in this regard because he certainly doesn’t want me to have more inflammation. Nothing like a crabby spouse to make stressful times even more unpleasant!
Comfort food is sometimes simply required, so I try to keep a list of our favorite comforting recipes on the refrigerator or in the notes on my phone. That way, when I’m feeling cranky and can’t think of something good to eat, I can reference the list.
These are a few of our favorites:
Organic popcorn
Red pepper slices
Grapes
Cole Slaw
Chia pudding
Avocado
Pesto on Tortillas – made with cilantro, parsley, dried nettle and hempseed
Posole
Saag – chard, kale, nettle, arugula, spinach or other greens
Soup with lots of garlic
Mushroom gravy on cauliflower rice sprinkled w hempseed
Carrot raisin salad with hempseed
Overnight oats w blueberries and hempseed
Broccoli salad with tahini dressing and banana peppers and hempseed
I also have a Pinterest board with lots of delicious vegan recipes. I seek out and collect vegan recipes specifically because I avoid eggs and dairy like the plague. And I like to eat a LOT of greens, fruits and vegetables. Turns out there are zillions of amazing and super delicious egg and dairy-free recipes out there in every category! Thanks, all you crazy vegan bloggers! Following are a few of my favorite blogs that offer up loads up free recipes:
Hell Yeah, it’s Vegan! – Love her attitude! Many of her recipes are fantastic!
Spunky Coconut – I like many of Spunky’s recipes. REALLY like her vegan pumpkin pie and many of her ice cream recipes. No dairy!!!
Pinch of Yum – The “Life Changing” Masala sauce is amazing!! So delicious!
Empowered Sustenance – This blogger came up with an egg-free mayo recipe!
Gimme Some Oven – Offered up a raw carrot cake recipe, which is astoundingly good.
Nouveau Raw – Presents a beautiful, easy and delicious raw blueberry pie recipe. Mmmm. You can even skip the crust and just eat the blueberry goodness!
Next time, I will be talking about my favorite basic skin and hair care hacks. Simple is always best in my experience.
Until then, nourish yourselves!
Blessings,
Sarah
