Are You Dying Slowly...or Living Vibrantly?

A lovely friend of mine posted the following poem (Muere Lentamente) written by Martha Medeiros and translated to English by Pablo Neruda.  

You Start Dying Slowly

Kinda thought-provoking and beautiful, right?  

And then I thought...why do we have to go down that path? Why can't we change our direction...change our mindset...focus on the positive?  So here's what I've got...

So my wish for you today is that you find ways to live vibrantly.  Let me know how it goes!

Hugs to you!

Dorothy

A Confession....

 Hey Lovely Humans!

I need to tell you something.  I'm going to post more recipes on my blog.  A lot of them.  But I have a confession to make.  I'm not a chef.  To be honest, I might not even be that great of a cook!

But bear with me.   I'm trying.  I'm making an effort to eat at home as much as I can.

Why?  Lots of reasons.  Like a million reasons.  But I'll only list my top 5 here.


First Reason.  Veggies.  Real ones. 

Honestly, when I go out to eat, my veggie of choice is usually fries.  Or maybe sweet potato fries (Because for some reason, in my head, those are more healthy.  Maybe it's the orange color?)  Regardless, eating at home means more real veggies (you know, the green ones?) and less fries, which we all know are not good for you.

Second Reason.  Additives and Preservatives 

Yeah, I'm talking about all those weird chemicals they add to food to make it last longer, look better, improve the texture, or cause you to want more.  (Feel "addicted" to some foods?  Yup, you're not crazy.  There's an actual chemical reason for that.)   Besides, a lot of those weird additives (preservatives, stabilizers, food coloring, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, etc.) have links to really serious stuff like headaches, asthma, rashes, anxiety, hyperactivity, diabetes, nerve issues, thyroid problems, chromosome damage, fertility problems and cancer.  And here's the REALLY scary part...a handful of those additives are banned in other countries, but not here in the U.S.  What?  Yup.  How does THAT make you feel?

If you need a little eye opener, check out this great little article on Food Matters:   https://www.foodmatters.com/article/22-additives-and-preservatives-to-avoid .   It gives you some specific creepy chemicals to look out for--and the best part is...if you cook at home, you can avoid them altogether!

Third Reason.  The Cost of Health

So you know I'm trying to eat healthy, right?  Well, the "healthy" menu items (steak and veggies, baked fish, organic items, farm to table stuff, etc.) always seem to come with a crazy price tag.  So what do I do?  "Burger please!"  And there I am with this ginormous hunk of commercially raised, antibiotic and hormone stuffed meat topped with day-glow cheese, sugar-sweetened sauces, probably bacon, and enveloped in a big doughy bun (made doughy by those nasty chemicals mentioned above).  And oh yeah, there's the fries again!  Enough for six people.  And I eat them all!   I just can't help myself!  

BUT, if I eat at home, I can spend the same amount of money, get rid of all the creepy chemicals, have delicious healthy food (organic, even!), in normal sized portions, and make four servings for the same price as feeding just little old me!   It's a win, right?  Financially, it just makes sense!

Fourth Reason.  Vitamin L

OK, get ready, this is going to sound a little hokey.  But trust me, it's a thing!  

So, Joshua Rosenthal, the founder of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, talks a lot about Vitamin L and its importance to our health.  Vitamin L is Love.  He says you can eat all the broccoli and kale in the world, but if you don't have love you still won't be nourished enough to be healthy and happy.  

So when I eat at home, there's a lot moreVitamin L than there would be when I eat out.  It's intertwined with thoughtfulness when I'm thinking up what I might whip up for hubby or guests that will make them feel cared for and loved.  It goes into the food prep when I'm peeling and chopping as I hum along to my favorite song (Have you seen food prep in a restaurant?  Not always a lot of Vitamin L or positive vibes...).  And, most importantly, there's a lot of Vitamin L when I get to sit down with hubby, family, or friends and share food and stories without being surrounded by a bunch of noisy people, having big screen TV's in every corner, or staring at the water glass sitting in front of me that has someone else's lipstick still smudged along the rim (gross).  

Plus, it makes me feel really good when I see hubby dig into some strange new recipe I decided to try out...and he actually likes it!  :)

Fifth Reason.  Practice makes Progress.

I'd love to say, "Practice makes Perfect", but we all know, nobody is perfect!  :)  

Like I said, I'm not a great cook....right now.  

But the more I cook at home and the more I experiment, the better I'll get.  And I want to be good--not just so I can feel confident nourishing my family and friends, but so I can help others do the same.  

As a health coach, I want to be a great resource for others...  

Want to make meals that are quick and easy?  Need something gluten-free, dairy-free or egg-free?  Need something vegetarian that tastes great?  Want to get rid of that sugar addiction?

I want to have options for people--options that are nutritious, healthy, and promote bio-individuality (not every meal works for every person's dietary needs).  

So I'm going to practice.  

And you can practice too.  I'll post a recipe.  You try it.   Let me know what you think.  How would you tweak it to fit your needs?  Is it something your family would like?  

Is there a recipe YOU make all the time that you just LOVE?  Share it with me!  I'll try yours too!  

Cooking at home should be fun...and easy!  We don't have to make some big fancy thing every night.  Just something fresh and nutritious made with Vitamin L!  It is possible!  Let's give it a try and Live Better!

Namaste,
Dorothy

Recipe: Instant Pot Balsamic and Tomato Chicken with Greens (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

We hosted a small cookout at our condo on the 4th of July.  I bought a Costco-sized package of tomatoes for slicing and to chuck into  a bean salad I was making, but I still ended up with a TON of leftovers (I'm clueless when it comes to figuring out how much people actually eat!).  So anyway, rather then waiting a week and then throwing a bunch of tomatoes out once they went bad, I decided to be proactive and find a yummy, healthy recipe and use them up.  

I think I found a winner!

But be warned...

Taste=10     Looks=4  

LOL!  Not the prettiest dish.  

So I'm thinking if you're a gluten eater, you could pair this with pasta (and a crusty bread to soak up all the nice liquid).  If you're not, you could serve with brown rice, polenta, quinoa, or even riced cauliflower.  If you eat dairy, I can imagine it would be fabulous sprinkled with a little Parmesan or Romano after its been plated!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I cut them into big chunks, but you can also leave them whole)
• 1.5 tsp sea salt (divided)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, cut into chunks
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 C balsamic vinegar
• 3-4 large tomatoes, chopped (or 1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes)
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bunch of  coarsely chopped greens (power greens, spinach, baby kale...whatever)
• Cooked pasta, brown rice, polenta, quinoa, or riced cauliflower

HOW TO:

• Prep your chicken.  Cut off extra fat.  If you like, you can cut the thighs into large chunks.  Sprinkle with 1 tsp of the salt and some freshly ground pepper on both sides.
• Place your Instant Pot on the counter...make sure it's not under your cabinets (if you're new to the Instant Pot, you'll see why later.)
• Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and hit "Saute".  Add the olive oil.  When the oil is hot, add the onion and saute until just tender.  Press "Keep Warm/Cancel".
• Now add the chicken, remaining salt, garlic, balsamic, tomatoes (juice included), rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano.  Stir until well mixed.
• Put the lid back on, secure it, and be sure the vent is turned to "Sealing".
• Press "Manual" and then press the + or - button until the timer is set for 12 minutes (or a minute or two less if you cut your chicken into chunks).
• Walk away and let the pot do it's magic.  For those of you new to the Instant Pot, it may make some noise as it comes to pressure.  Once it is at pressure, the red button on the lid pops up and the timer starts to count down.  The pot will signal when it's done cooking so no worries.
• When the Pot signals that your cooking time is done, open/turn the vent CAREFULLY to vent.  (Don't hold your hand over the top of the vent--the steam comes out forcefully!  BTW, this is why we don't set the pot up under the cabinets. They don't like that much steam! If you have painted cabinets, it might peel the paint off!  LOL!)  So I like to lightly drape a paper towel or regular towel over the vent--again be careful not to burn yourself--because sometimes the ceiling gets moist from all the steam.        
• So once the steam has vented and the red button goes down, open the pot.  
• Stir in your greens and serve immediately over pasta, rice, polenta, quinoa or riced cauliflower.  (BTW, if you think you'll have leftovers...maybe stir the greens into each individual bowl rather than the whole pot...greens tend to get soggy as leftovers!)
  

ENJOY!

I'm Going To Be A Health Coach! A Whaaa?

Me:          "I'm almost done with my training."
Friend:    "Training for what?"
Me:          "I'm going to be a Health Coach!  I'm SO excited!"
Friend:    "Did you say 'Health Coach'?  Ummmm.  Okay.  I have NO idea what that                              means..."


Oh, Friend, you are not alone!  There are even some health coaches who aren't really sure what it means. (On that note, if a health coach claims they can diagnose you, cure your serious disease, medicate you/take you off medication, save your soul, or be your doctor/nutritionist/psychologist...RUN the other way! That is NOT what health coaches are trained to do!)   

But I digress.  I'm here to give you the lowdown on what a health coach actually does do!  So here goes...

A Health Coach...

Listens Well

Ever been at the doctor's office and felt like they had their hand on the door handle the whole time just waiting for you to stop talking?  (No offense to the Docs...it is the nature of the system.)  Most primary care doctor appointments are 15 minutes or less. Crazy, right?  I mean, this is your health--the most important thing there is!   

It's different with a coach. You talk.  A health coach listens. No judgement. You are heard and valued and un-rushed.  Telling your story is therapeutic...it feels good to let it out to someone who really cares and wants to listen.  

Asks Questions

A coach knows you are an intelligent human being and that you know, in your heart, what is going to make you look and feel your best.  We ask questions to get you thinking--out loud.  Have you ever heard your inner voice aloud?  It's amazing how hearing that voice can really increase your self-awareness.  And guess what?   Self-awareness creates behavior change!

Collaborates

OK, so your health coach isn't going to tell you what to eat, how to exercise, what time to go to bed, who to date, or what to do with your time off.  Your health coach IS going to help you to figure all that out for yourself.  Remember?  We ask questions...lots of them.  These questions help you to figure out what's important to you and what's not.  You create your OWN goals and your OWN steps to reach them.  That way your goals come from within and are meaningful to you.  You have to care about something in order to make real, lasting change.  

Motivates You

First, your coach will help you figure out WHY you want to work towards certain goals.  That way, they are meaningful.  For example, losing 30 pounds is great, but knowing that you're losing those 30 pounds so you actually have the energy to play with your kids at the playground is so much more motivating. A coach will help you uncover the reason for your desire to change.  

Makes it Easier For You

Breaking bad health habits takes work. A health coach can make it a little easier. They can give fun tips and tricks for success, such as helping with time management, finding affordable healthy foods, and recommending resources for recipes, apps for food tracking, videos for exercise workouts, books to read, meditation apps...you name it!  

Takes a Holistic Approach

There are so many things that affect our health. It's not all about our leafy greens.  Sleep, hydration, stress management, environment, relationships, exercise, career, self care, joy...these all impact our overall health. A health coach will help you figure out if anything feels out of balance for you.  If it does, your coach will guide you to make goals in the areas that need a little boost, and celebrate those areas that are going great!

Stays With You...Every Step Of The Way

Attaining good health is a journey.  And not always an easy one.  A health coach is there for you when you hit that plateau or for when you fall off the wagon and land headfirst into a giant hot fudge sundae.  A coach picks you up, dusts you off and gently places you right back on the wagon so you don't go through some crazy downward spiral lined with negative self talk and chocolate chip cookies.  We're looking for progress, not perfection. Setbacks are normal.  We are, after all, human.  Your coach will stick with you through these setbacks and help you use them as learning moments, finding strategies for dealing with temptations and triggers.

Holds You Accountable

So once you make your goals, a coach is going to check up on you.  Regularly.  And it's no surprise that people are way more likely to stick to their goals when they know they're going to be held accountable.  

Celebrates With You 

Getting healthy and feeling your best is a journey.  EVERY step in this direction (no matter how small) is cause for celebration.  Your coach wants you to succeed and will totally do the dance of joy for even the smallest steps towards better health.  It's awesome having your own personal cheerleader! 


Sooo....do you feel a little more comfortable saying you know what a health coach does?  If not, let me know.  I'll help out and clarify where needed!

Take care, Friends!

Dorothy