Eat Less, Play More

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Eat Less, Play More

Remember when you were a child and you got so wrapped up in playing, imagining or creating that you didn’t want to stop when it was time to eat? Do you remember leaving your meal half-finished to run off and continue playing? Children innately understand that food is secondary to what is most nutritious and primary in life: fun and play.

As adults we seem to have lost our instinct to prioritize play. In our busy world, with its emphasis on work and responsibility, to be healthy and balanced we must work on more than just our bodies; we must feed our hearts, minds and spirits.

Have you noticed that when your body, mind and spirit are engaged in a creative project or happy relationship, your reliance on food seems to decrease? Likewise, when you are unsatisfied with your relationships, your job or other areas of your life, you may depend on food to cheer, soothe or numb you. When your life is out of balance, no amount of food can feed you where you truly need nourishment. The food that we eat is very important for health and balance, but what really feeds us—a full and fulfilling life—doesn’t come on a plate.

What is fun for you? What makes you light up? What excites you? Make time for it this week. Even if you don’t have much free time for fun, try approaching a “serious” activity with an attitude of play. This can greatly reduce stress and anxiety and bring more pleasure to your day. Take your focus off food, try adding more fun into your life and watch the magic unfold.

© 2010 Integrative Nutrition  5/10

 

Updates!

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The Hubz and I have been spending the weekend enjoying the sun and each others company.  I have also made a few updates to the blog that I want to let you know about.

1. Check out the new tab: Reviews– this tab will feature product reviews currently I have just added two, Kaia Foods (check out the giveaway) and Galaxy Nutritional Foods Vegan Cream Cheese

2. Newsletter Updates: I know that many of you signed up for the newsletter months ago and If you can remember how it was:

Then

Check out how it looks now:

Now

HUGE improvement! I really appreciate the positive feedback from those who received the most recent newsletters. I also would like to put it out there that if you are interested in any specific topics or have questions that you would like to see featured on the blog or in the newsletter please email me (Lindsay@cookingforaveganlover.com).

3. Special Health Counseling Rates for CVL Readers This also went out in the newsletter but since some of you have not signed up yet I will give you the chance to see it here. However to receive additional special CVL only rates, news and additional promotions/specials please sign up for my newsletter (you can do so on the side bar.)

How Do You Stay Active? March Update & Plans for April

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Incentives Program

For our incentives program each month we have a set of goals to help us stay on top of being active as well as to track our workout progress.The incentive part of it is that  at the start of each month we will each be eligible for $50* of fun money, to be paid out on the last day of the month IF we accomplish our goal.   The goal:

  1. Work out 80% of the days in the month  OR 70% of the days in the month and 1 hour for everyday missed from the 80% (example: March 80% plus Hours goal–>Must workout 25 days and Total of 15.5  hours OR 70% plus Hours goal–>Must workout 22 days and 15.5 hours PLUS 3 hours for the 3 missed from the 80% days so total of 18.5 hours)

AND

2. Work out an average of 30 minutes per days in the month (October-May) and work out an average of 60 minutes per days in the month (June-September)**

Read more

March Goals Review

March 2011 Goals

  • Must workout 25 days
  • Total of 15.5  hours

OR

  • Must workout 22 days
  • Total of 18.5 hours

So far this month I am on track with the 80% however since I only have 1 off day left I may be turning to the 70% plan this month…..we’ll see. This is where I am at as of March 31, 2011:

  • Days: 22/25 (70% of the days in the month)
  • Hours:  18 hours 30 minutes/15.5 hours

  • SUCCESS!!

My workouts include yoga, groove yoga, walking, elliptical, weight training and Insanity.

April Goals:

April 2011 Goals

  • Must workout 24 days
  • Total of 15 hours

OR

  • Must workout 21 days
  • Total of 18.5 hours
  • Workout goals:
    • Start the C25K
    • Continue with Insanity
    • More Elliptical
    • Try a new yoga class
    • MORE  yoga classes
    • more 3-4 mile walks with the Hubz
    • Possibly hiking (if we can find a spot that isn’t too muddy)

What are your goals for this month?

 

Food Focus: Beans

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Food Focus: Beans

Beans, or legumes, including peas and lentils, are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Beans are found in most traditional cultures as a staple food, offering grounding and strengthening properties that enhance endurance. They offer a highly usable, highly absorbable source of calcium for the body. A very inexpensive source of high nutrition, beans can be rich, delicious and satisfying.

(Source)

Lack of sexual energy is often due to overtaxed adrenal glands and kidneys. Beans are known for strengthening these organs (ever noticed the shape of a bean?) and can help restore vital energy as well as sexual energy.

Beans have a reputation for causing digestive distress, but this is usually because they have been undercooked or improperly prepared. To help reduce gas-forming properties, soak beans overnight prior to cooking, increase cooking time, add spices like bay leaf, oregano or cumin, or add kombu (a sea vegetable) when cooking.

 

Recipe of the Month: Easy Beans and Greens

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2-3 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 can black beans (or pinto, red, kidney—your choice)
  • 1 bunch collard greens (or kale, spinach—your choice)
  • your favorite toppings, such as salsa, avocado or guacamole

Directions:

  1. In a medium saucepan, heat drained beans. Add your favorite seasonings, if desired.
  2. Fill a separate medium saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
  3. Wash and chop greens (you can use the stems, too) and add to boiling water.
  4. Cook for 2-3 minutes until greens are bright green and tender. Drain off water.
  5. On a plate, arrange a portion of the greens, top with a portion of the beans and finish with toppings of your choice.
© 2010 Integrative Nutrition 5/10

Check out my posts on Beans, Beans The Magical Fruit… for more information on tips on how to prepare beans.

Here are some of my favorite bean recipes:

 

Soul Food

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Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.

-Rumi

(Check out my Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheeze)

 

Think for a moment of a food from your past, one that makes you feel great after you eat it for no specific reason. Maybe it is macaroni and cheese, slow-simmered tomato sauce, ice cream cones or potato pancakes. Eating comfort foods (every now and then) can be incredibly healing, even though your rational brain might not consider it highly nutritious.

Food has the power to impact us on a level deeper than just our physical well-being. What we eat can reconnect us to precious memories, like childhood playtimes, first dates, holidays, our grandmother’s cooking or our country of ancestry. Our bodies remember foods from the past on an emotional and cellular level. Eating this food connects us to our roots and has youthening and nurturing effects that go far beyond the food’s biochemical make-up.

Acknowledging what different foods mean to us is an important part of cultivating a good relationship with food. This month when we celebrate lovers and relationships, it’s important to notice that we each have a relationship with food—and that this relationship is often far from loving. Many of us restrict food, attempting to control our weight. We often abuse food, substituting it for emotional well-being. Others ignore food, swallowing it whole before we’ve even tasted it.

What would your life be like if you treated food and your body as you would treat your beloved – with gentleness, playfulness, communication, honesty, respect and love? The next time you eat your soul food, do so with awareness and without guilt, and enjoy all the healing and nourishment it brings you.

© 2010 Integrative Nutrition 5/10