Chemicals are one way we are killing ourselves and the planet.  Buying organic or growing your own produce is one easy but HUGE way of being proactive about the environment, our health, and our kids’ health.

I love the big smile at the end!!

The point is, getting sick is your body saying “I want to CLEANSE!”

Sometimes the best and most thorough way to deal with a common cold or virus is to let it run it’s course, and while it might not be the most convenient thing that could happen, you may as well go with it and take the opportunity to work WITH your body to detox.  Taking medication that suppresses the body’s natural tendency to flush itself out does not allow for this to happen, and you could miss the chance to really get rid of some nasty stuff!  So in case you were wondering when you were going to get around to doing a cleanse…just know that you can always do a mini cleanse anytime you are sick simply by doing a few simple things:

So, here we have 5 ways to turn your cold into a cleanse:

1. Hot bath:  This is great when you first feel a cold coming on.  Sweating is one great way to eliminate toxins. Since you might not have the energy if you are not feeling well, taking a warm/hot bath can eliminate the chills and get you sweating.  Just be careful that it’s not so hot that you get lightheaded or dizzy!  Throw in some mineralizing bath salts or Epsom salts to ease the aches and pains.  Some baking soda (since it’s alkaline) in the bath is great as well to help balance acidity (what we usually have when we are sick)  and promote healing.

2. Drink hot fluids: I know this isn’t news to you.  But I’m always so suprised at how many people still drink cold drinks all day when they are sick.  Plus I had some recipes to share (see below). Hot fluids open the sinuses and soothe the respiratory tract, as well as cut mucus.  Non caffeinated is best, because caffeine is a diuretic and with all that sweating and sneezing and dripping  you are bound to get dehydrated, especially if you lose your appetite.   Yes, you will probably have to go to the bathroom a lot, but that’s your body flushing itself out.  Fluids in general are great, one of my favorite cleansing/cold drinks is the master cleanser: I never measure exactly, but about ½ lemon to 16 oz water (hot or cold) with a teaspoon of grade B maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper.  Herbal tea, broth, and soup are great also.

Here’s my favorite tea concoction taken from The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey:

Scratchy Throat BeGone Tea

30g of ginger sliced

1 stick of cinnamon, broken

1 teaspoon of coriander seeds

3 cloves

1 slice of lemon

1 pint of water

Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes and strain.  Sweeten with raw honey to taste, and drink as often as possible.  The book recommends to drink every two hours.  It’s so  delicious and warming.

Here’s another toasty, cold- busting, delicious soup that I often make from The Candle Café Cookbook.  I love it because the garlic, onion, cayenne are warming and help cut mucus, and the seaweed is very detoxifying.

Long Life Soup

1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms

½ cup arame seaweed

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced

½ cup minced garlic

½ cup peeled and minced fresh ginger

½ cup shoyu or tamari soy sauce

1-2 teaspoons cayenne, to taste

2 teaspoons brown rice vinegar

2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil

1. Place the dried shiitake mushrooms and the arame in 2 separate bowls and pour 41/2 cups of hot water over each.  Let sit for 15 minutes each.  Drain the mushrooms and reserve the water.  Thinly slice the mushrooms.  Drain and rinse the arame and discard the water.  Coarsely chop the arame.
2. Heat the oil in a sauté pan and cook the onion, garlic and ginger until softened, about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a soup pot and add the shoyu or tamari soy sauce, cayenne, vinegar, and sesame oil.  Add the reserved mushroom water, mushrooms, arame, and an additional 41/2 cups of water to the pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.  Serve immediately.

3. Skin brushing: Always good during a cleanse!!  That lymph system could use a little stimulation and your skin could use a little exfoliation, trust me. A little massage with some sesame oil is delightfully warming and moisturizing too.

4. Tounge scraping:  Sometimes during a detox or when you are sick you will notice a white or yellow coating on your tounge.  You can get a tounge scraper to remove it.  It helps to curb cravings and freshen breath too!

5. Take Vitamin D: Or maybe let yourself take in a little sun (but don’t let your skin burn!!) Lack of sunlight and vitamin D deficiency may be more the reason people get sick in winter than the cold weather.  It seems vitamin D has a big role in the immune system, maybe more than vitamin C!  So keep your intake consistent, especially if you wear sunscreen in summer.

6. Rest/Sleep:  The best rejuvenator ever!!!  So much healing happens while you are in deep sleep.  Go to bed early and let the detox begin!  You will be glad you did in the morning.

So, I’m curious, what do you do when you get a nasty cold?  Do you muscle through or take it easy?  Let me know your thoughts!

But then I began to realize that this way of being wasn’t really working, because by just letting things unfold on their own, I would constantly be unprepared for things.  Which would stress me out, which is not healthy (or pretty).

That’s not to say that you need to be a complete control freak in order to be prepared. There is a certain amount of flexibility and trust and letting go that needs to happen once you do what you can to have the best possible outcome.

For instance when I know when I want to exercise, if I schedule it into my day (rather than wait for “when I feel like it”) it’s more likely to happen, and I’m less likely to feel bad about letting it slip.  If I go out and buy the healthy food I want to eat for dinner, it’s there and I don’t have to struggle with the decision of “what to make for dinner” or worse, end up eating something that’s less aligned with my goals.  If I make the kids’ lunches, pick their clothes, get backpacks by the door and have them choose their breakfast the night before, things might go so smoothly that we can all have a relaxing morning together with maybe even a little extra time to spend as a family.  If I go shopping with a list, then I’m less likely to impulse buy things I don’t need. (I’m still working on a few of these, by the way. )

I say this all because by making the changes necessary to just be one step ahead of yourself can make the difference between being a ball of stress vs. calm and relaxed.

The stress response, even if you think you can deal with it quite well, takes it’s toll on the body.  Constant stress can result in muscle tension, digestive problems, hair loss, hypertension, depression, weak immune system, sleep disorders, and more.  I realize some stress is unavoidable and out of our control.  But even that we turn into an opportunity for managing that stress in a more constructive way.

Planning works because then you get to relax around the framework you’ve created.  It also sends the message that you want to set up something successful, no matter how big or small the project.  It gives the structure for “things falling into place”. Plus, when I do plan and prepare, I have more space in my day to really be spontaneous.  I can surf online, call a friend, read a magazine, stand on my head, whatever.  In terms of time in a busy schedule, the open spaces in my day become really free, rather than filled with “should be doing x” or “could be doing y”.

I see many people fantasize about things like getting really healthy, their dream body, conquering cravings, or about doing a juice fast or diet cleanse.  They jump in with good intentions but fail to take the time to do the planning and preparations.  Then they beat themselves up about not having any willpower or discipline, when it’s really just that they didn’t have a clear map, and they got lost.  Getting clear on the essence of what’s important to you (stress relief? Losing weight? Keeping in touch with friends? Saving for a home? Better quality family time? Etc.)  will make it much easier for you to map our your plan.

So, whatever your goal may be, think of it this way:

Get clear. Envision. Set up. Prepare. Plan. Think ahead. Structure.  (Not necessarily in that order.)

And then:

Let go.  Exhale. Surrender.  Be spontaneous.  Have fun.  Relax.

Oh…and ENJOY!

I would love to hear your ideas and comments.

Good luck!

Danielle

About 90% of the time I really go with the flow when I’m traveling.  But I do like to be prepared when it comes to snacks.  Because when I’m hungry, I’m seriously hungry.  The farther I’m traveling, the more prepared I get.

I just went on a ski trip with the family, and this is some of what I packed.

Airborne

I must say, that Airborne is some really good stuff!  After a 5 hour flight I woke up the next morning to a cloudy, rainy, Seattle day and a scratchy throat, the type that tells you a nasty cold is coming for sure.  I took 3 Airborne tablets in water throughout the day and that cold never had a chance.  This was the first time I tried it,  but I’m going to start keeping it around the house.

Emergin-C

I always take extra vitamin C when I’m traveling, especially if it’s to another time zone and my sleep patterns might get disturbed.  I prefer this to juice in the morning because it’s less sweet but has just as much vitamin C, plus the version I packed this time has MSM, which is good for joints and connective tissue.

Green Vibrance

I like this  because it comes as a powdered green drink in travel packets that you can carry in your wallet.  I like to travel with this because when I wake up in the morning in a strange place, I like to keep my morning ritual as similar as possible to my typical morning at home.  That includes lemon water (especially after flying, although I don’t always have a lemon so sometimes a big glass of plain water works), and a green drink.  There’s also some probiotic Green Vibrance so you don’t have to worry about packing a separate probiotic.

Bars

I like to keep a few bars I know each of us like.  The kids like the Kind bars and Larabars,  and I feel good about them eating these because they are hardly processed at all and don’t contain any extra sugar or  funky ingredients.  I stuck one in each kids’ ski suit pockets before we left to ski in case they got hungry. Luckily nobody in my family is allergic to nuts.  I like the Greens+ bars because they are a good source of protein yet are still  great when you are having a sweet craving or feel you blood sugar getting a little low.  They are really very satisfying, and they hold me over for quite some time.

I also pack, (but not pictured):

Fruit: Sometimes dried, (raisins, apricots, dates, etc.) depending on how long my trip is an how long I want to keep it.  Otherwise I stock up on fresh apples or bananas, but be careful about smashing the bananas!

Tea bags: Cammomile, Peppermint, Rooibos….because sometimes it’s hard to get caffeine free tea, even in a restaurant believe it or not.

Nuts: Healthy fat, satisfying to chew and easily portable.

Dark chocolate: Just plain good to have with you at all times!! You just never know….

Ganocafe:  Java lovers will appreciate this one:  This is delicious instant coffee that is actually alkaline and mixed with healing, anti-inflammatory ganoderma mushrooms. It also comes in small conveniently sized packets that you can toss into your purse.  Check it out at www.ganocafe.org.

By the way all these snacks are great (obviously) for everyday packed lunches, breakfast on the go or for long stretches between meals. These are all really simple and maybe even obvious ideas but as I’m learning…you can never be too  prepared!!

Danielle

1. Go Hydrated:  Drink several glasses of water in the hours before you go out.  You will digest your food better that if you were to drink water with your meal.  Also if you would like to have a cocktail or glass of wine you can have it without already being dehydrated.  We often think we are hungry when we are really dehydrated, so going out already hydrated could help curb your appetite.

2. Salad for Appetizer:  This is a great way to get some raw greens in on your empty stomach.  Chew your bites really well, this helps digestion and prepares for the rest of your meal.

3. Split a heavy entrée you are dying to taste: or ask for a half portion. This way you get to taste it but you don’t feel obligated to eat a huge portion of it.

4. Choose some side dishes:  Be creative.  Most restaurants will have healthy vegetable side dishes that can be combined with appetizers to make a tasty “custom” meals.

5. Talk to the waiter:  If you have any allergies or sensitivities, let them know. Most restaurants are very accommodating and can offer suggestions or substitutions.

6. Doggy Bag it! Stop eating before you are totally full, even if it is absolutely delicious.  (How many times have I said, “I’m so full but I’m still eating because it’s so good…..”) Ask your server to take it away as soon as you feel physically satisfied.  You can have it for lunch or dinner the next day.  Plus it leaves room for a few guiltless bites of scrumptious dessert…..

7. BYO:  (Speaking of dessert….)Bring your own bar of organic dark chocolate (my favorites are NibMor and Dagoba) along for when everyone else is having dessert.  You could also bring your favorite tea bags or even gluten free crackers to much while everyone else is eating bread.  It takes a little planning ahead and forward thinking, but this way you don’t feel deprived or regretful.  And at the end of the day, you’ve kept your promise to yourself to make healthy decisions, and that makes it well worth it!

Good Luck!!

How we eat our food is just as important as what we eat when it comes to how well we digest our food.  And good digestion is key for weight loss, cleansing, energy, and good health in general.  We have some control over it, once we know what to do.  For problems like constipation, diarreah, gas, bloating, cramps, a good place to start is to take a look at what’s going on with your eating habits.  More mindful eating=better digestion=happier you. Here are a few tips on ways to improve your digestion. They are some really simple things, but they really work!

1. Slow Down

I know time is precious, but when it comes to eating, giving yourself the time and space to relax, sit down and eat is so important. It doesn’t matter if you are taking a quick break to eat an energy bar or sitting down to a 5 course meal.  Wherever you are, give yourself a few minutes to stop what you are doing and concentrate on enjoying your food. Even if you don’t have a long time, that’s okay, slow down and be present for the few minutes that you have. You will swallow less air which will result in less gas and bloating, plus you will have more time to taste and enjoy and chew.

Also, notice if rushing is a habit for you. Even if you have the time but are used to having to rush through a meal, you could be stressing your body out.  Stress is a real, physical response, not just in your mind.  The body responds to stress by sending blood away from the stomach and other organs, and straight to the limbs (“fight or flight” response, since stress in the caveman days meant running from a predator, our bodies still respond that way) so we digest less efficiently when we are stressed.

2. CHEW!

Digestion actually begins in your mouth, with chewing.  Your saliva helps to liquefy and lubricate the food, but it also contains enzymes that actually begin chemically digesting carbohydrates in your mouth. The more you chew the easier it will be for your body to digest food and absorb its nutrients.  Take human bites and chew your food for as long as possible. Not only will this physically break down the food before you swallow it, but it will slow down the whole eating process so that you give your body time to feel full, and as a result you may eat less.

3. Drink water between meals

Drinking to stay hydrated is very important, but it’s best for digestion to drink about 20 minutes before or 20 minutes after eating a meal.  This is because water can dilute the digestive juices and slow down the process. Hydrating in between meals will prevent thirst during meals, and will allow the digestive enzymes to do their job of breaking down the food you eat.

4. Take Probiotics

Probiotics are a type of friendly bacteria in our intestines that help with digestion, immune protection, and monitoring the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms, such as candida albicans (yeast).  They can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, cultured vegetables and in supplement form.  While antibiotics kill disease causing bacteria, the problem is that they also kill the protective probiotics and leave no protection against the overgrowth of more harmful bacteria in the intestines.  That’s why supplementing with probiotics (especially if you have had to take antibiotics) is so important for overall health  as well as  digestion.

5. Eat Fiber Rich Foods

Fiber helps digestion by regulating the length of time food takes to travel through the digestive tract.  So if you are having diarrhea issues, that means the food is moving too quickly through the intestines.  Fiber can help bind and bulk up the contents of the large intestine so as to slow down and solidify it so that it can be eliminated in a more solid form.  If you are having constipation issues, food is moving too slowly. Fiber helps by absorbing water and softening the stools so they can pass more easily.

There are so many so called “healthy” foods out there which are processed and claim to have a lot of fiber in them such as  breads, cookies, crackers, bars, etc. The best place to get your fiber from is whole foods, meaning totally NOT processed.  This means fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and legumes.  Meat, fish, and poultry do not have any fiber.  As much as I love juicing, even the healthiest green juice has no fiber.  The body does not have to digest anything with a juice.  Sometimes that’s what you want, to give the digestive system a rest, as in a juice fast.  But if your not fasting, fiber is a great thing.  Smoothies, on the other hand DO have fiber because the whole food is blended. I highly recommend smoothies as an easy and quick way to get fiber.  My favorite things to add to berries and juice is flax and chia seeds and sometimes psyllium husk for added fiber.

6. Breathe

Most of us are not aware of how we are breathing, whether we are eating or not.  We can really learn a lot about ourselves by just observing how we breathe.  Of course this goes along with slowing down, chewing more, etc., but right before a meal is a great place to check in with your breath.  Notice what your normal habit is.  Start by just taking a deep breath and exhaling before your first bite.

7. Don’t eat too many snacks

Are you a frequent snacker? While there’s nothing wrong with a snack here and there, constantly grazing all day doesn’t really give your stomach a chance to digest fully.  Even if you like to eat 6 small meals, give yourself an hour or two in between eating sessions to fully finish digesting your last meal or snack (and drink some water ).

8. Include ginger, peppermint tea or apple cider vinegar

Ginger and peppermint tea (homemade or store bought) are known to be digestive aids.  You can also purchase digestive enzymes (they come in small pill form) at any health food store or Vitamin Shoppe.  Apple cider vinegar is great for helping stimulate digestive acids in the stomach.  Ten minutes before a meal, drink a 6 oz glass of water with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, and you are good to go.

1. You can start with using biodegradable non-toxic detergents and cleaning products or making your own cleaners from simple things you have around the house. This not only is better for your health, since you don’t have to breathe in all the harsh odors and chemicals, it’s better for the environment too. (All those chemicals have to go somewhere after they get washed down the drain; they don’t just go away). Products like chlorine bleach and ammonia are very irritating to mucous membranes and can cause burns. Many conventional cleaning products contain fragrance to cover up the strong chemical odors. And what if you used one product with ammonia and another with bleach at the same time? You might not even smell it, but the combination results in chlorine gas, which can be fatal. There are so many non-toxic, green cleaning products available now, so you have lots of options and most every supermarket carries at least one brand. My favorites are Method, Ecover, Seventh Generation and Earth Friendly Products.

2. Have a “no-shoe” policy: I used to think this was more important in the city than the suburbs, but now I just think it’s a good idea especially if you have carpets (which are like a sponge for dirt and debris) and/or small children (or adults) crawling, lying or playing on the floor. We have wood floors, and I find myself constantly sweeping up dirt and debris from outside. Removing shoes at the door prevents all sorts of unwanted things from being tracked all through your home. For me, it was mostly about the dog poop in the street. That’s what initially grossed me out enough to actually really do it and make it a habit. Don’t get me wrong, I do my best not to step in in at all, but you just never know what’s been on the sidewalk! And it’s not just the visible dirt – there’s urine, pesticide, and fertilizer residue, toxic cleaners and chemicals, old food residue, and I can only imagine what else. It helps if you have a designated spot for shoes near the door. The next best thing is to have a doormat right near the entrance to your home so that the majority of the debris and germs gets deposited on that rather than tracked through the house.

3. Use only soy wax or beeswax candles. Most regular candles these days, unless otherwise specified, are made from paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum waste product, so it’s really cheap and that’s why so many manufacturers use it. The black soot they produce is toxic if not carcinogenic. Soy and beeswax candles are natural, non-toxic, biodegradeable, and renewable. They also last up to 50% longer than regular candles, and the wax cleans up easier (won’t ruin your tablecloths). They might be a little more expensive, but well worth it.

4. Do less drycleaning
This is scary: You might be getting more than just stain-free clothes back from the drycleaner. Check this out: Alexa Dantzler, a high school sophomore, came up with a science project ideato test to see if chemical residue stayed in clothing after dry cleaning. She called a chemistry professor at Georgetown University to ask for help, and inspired a research study. The researchers found that perchloroethylene, a harmful chemical linked to cancer and nerve disorders as well as groundwater contamination, actually does remain in polyester, wool, and cotton clothing and levels increase with repeated cleanings. I’ve noticed several dry cleaning businesses around the city that claim to be “organic”, but apparently this means nothing since dry cleaning is not regulated by the government. Actually a process called “wet cleaning” is the best, least toxic option. I found this website while I was searching the web for more information on this. http://whatisorganiccleaning.com/learn.html.

5. Get some houseplants: They actually humidify and recycle the air, making it fresher and cleaner. They take carbon dioxide (what we breathe out) and turn it into oxygen (what we breathe in). Plus, they help remove other common toxic chemicals like formaldehyde (found in carpets, pressed wood) and trichloroethylene (found in paints, and drycleaning) and carbon monoxide (produced by smoking.) Bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, chrysanthemum and philodendron are some of the most air-purifying plants. Personally, I like spider plants because they are easy (and hard to kill) and fresh basil to use in my cooking. Check out my windowsill…

Breathe deep!

Danielle

I usually keep a zip loc bag of frozen, ripe, peeled bananas in my freezer.  I find this makes a creamier smoothie than using room temperature bananas and ice. But when I’m all out of frozen bananas then room temp bananas it is, with a handful of ice.  You can adjust ingredients based on how thick you like your smoothies.

1-2 bananas (I recommend frozen)

2-3 tablespoons peanut butter (almond butter is great too, or sunflower seed butter)

1/2 teaspoon non alcohol vanilla flavoring

1 tsp pure maple syrup or agave syrup (optional)

1-2 cups almond milk, rice milk, or water

ice (optional)

Blend it all together and serve right away.

Variations:

Add a tbsp of coco powder for a chocolate version.

Add strawberries or blueberries for “peanut butter and jelly” version

These also make great ice pops!

It’s very easy to make your own products at home with just a few things you probably already have around the house. Homemade products work just as good minus the “fresh clean scent” (which you can add yourself, by putting a few drops of essential oil into the solution). Personally I love to use lemon essential oil in my cleaning products, but you could try using peppermint, tea tree, rosemary or thyme. It’s so worth it knowing that your family is safe from the toxic chemicals that are in some of the conventional cleaning products.

Here’s how to do it:

Window cleaner:

1 bucket of water
2-3 tablespoons dishwashing detergent

Wipe solution on with wet sponge, and wipe off with newspaper for streak-free windows/mirrors.

Scour and Scrub: (Think Soft Scrub)

This mixture is great for cleaning the bathtub because it scrubs off any soap scum and doesn’t leave any grit.

½ cup pure baking soda
2-3 tablespoons liquid detergent
Add a few drops of essential oil of tea tree, rosemary, or lemon.

Make a paste and scrub gently with a sponge.

Scouring powder (Think COMET)

Pure, plain old baking soda! Just sprinkle and scrub!

Furniture polish:

½ teaspoon olive or jojoba oil
¼ cup white vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice
2-3 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Mix ingredients in a jar. Dab the soulution onto a cotton cloth (like an old t-shirt) and wipe on wood surface.

Deodorizer

White vinegar is great for kitchen counters or cutting boards. I use it also to spray and wipe off the bathroom sink from toothpaste scum. Just keep it in a spray bottle in a convenient place. I use it several times per day!! It’s also great for killing mold.

After having some experience with stress and burnout (who hasn’t???) I’ve learned to use some simple strategies to prevent it from being the focus of my time. Here are my top 4 ways to stay sane during the ramp up to the holidays, or anytime.

1. Make real space in your day: Schedule your breaks, and take them! The night before plan out your vision for the next day. Buffer the mornings and evenings with a little down time. For me, if I don’t schedule things, they don’t happen!! I use google calendar to map out my whole week every Sunday night. It syncs with my phone, so I can make changes on the go.

2. Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep. This keeps the stress hormones in your body lower, boosts your immune system and allows your body to heal. Eat well, drink your water, take your vitamins. Do not wait to be really sick to do this. Feeling nourished, rested and balanced in your body allows you focus and have energy to take on the tasks in your day without distraction. Take some time to slow down and enjoy a meal, even if it’s not a fancy one. Move your body every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

3. Surround yourself with stuff you like. This may sound weird, but for me, little things like this go a long way. It might not seem like it’s totally essential for your physical health, but just think of how your mood affects your stress level. Small details can make a big difference in how you feel. For instance, I love the Kiehl’s Coriander scented body lotion, so I picked some up the other day just because I know I’m going into a busy couple of weeks before the holidays. Whether it’s a piece of art, a scented candle, fresh flowers, your favorite song, or whatever floats your boat, make it a point to proactively design your environment this way. Right now I’m in a cozy Starbucks and they are playing Christmas music. Just the vibe of the coffee smell and the music is so inviting. I can only imagine what it would be like if they were playing heavy metal and the room smelled like garbage. How are you creating your environment to support yourself?

4. Think of what you are grateful for. Make a list or even just pick one thing. Even if you feel like your life is in the toilet right now, there’s gotta be something you can find gratitude for. This works because it changes your perspective, even if for only a few minutes. How about the fact that you don’t have to worry about the sun rising each day, or that someone else had to invent the pipes that bring you hot running water? It might sound silly, but theres a lot of good stuff going on. I used to take so many things for granted, but just thinking about what I have in my life right now – (my family, friends, freedom, food, great teachers, my health) and how it would be if I didn’t have them – makes me feel so grateful for so many things.

I hope this helps
Please share any other ideas/comments. It not only helps me to know what you would like to hear more of, but it gives other readers good insight too!!

xoDanielle

I first made this about a year ago, just after I bought Laurie David’s The Family Dinner, Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids One Meal at a Time (which is now one of my favorite cookbooks!) This recipe is from the book, which I highly recommend because it offers so much more than recipes. It has ideas for cooking with kids and how to get them interested and involved in food and prepping meals, as well as stories, playlists, great quotes, pictures and poems.

This is a great recipe if you feel like you or your kids are in a bit of a pasta “rut”. Plus, it’s a great way to include vegetables since they get to be creative designing their own pasta bowl. I don’t know who had more fun with this recipe, me or my kids! Don’t toss it, it’s great the next day too. Just heat it up and add fresh toppings.

For Peanut Sauce:
1 pound of pasta, any shape (I used regular pasta for this recipe, but you could also use rice noodles, whole wheat or quinoa pasta.)
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup soy sauce
2/3 cup warm water
3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoontoasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons white (rice or wine) vinegar

I put all the ingredients for the peanut sauce in the blender in order to keep it simple and also to make it easy for the kids to help. Blend sauce ingredients together and mix into your cooked pasta. Serve with small bowls of various chopped garnishes: red cabbage, cucumber, scallions, cilantro, red pepper, tofu, etc.

The picture above was taken after the pasta bowl was attacked! It looks soupy but it tasted delicious.

ENJOY!!!

It was one of those nights when I came home starving and without a plan for dinner.  The last thing I felt like doing was shopping, and I was too impatient to wait for take out.  I had some things in the fridge and really wanted to use them up.  So, I  made this without measuring anything and without a real recipe, just letting my taste buds lead the way. It came out absolutely delicious!

Quinoa is just an awesome base for just about any salad.  I know I’ve posted a few recipes for it in the past.  I actually used to eat it just plain with flax oil and lemon juice as dressing, and as much as I love it that way, I still need a change from time to time! This dish would be great with any meat or fish served on top as well.

I didn’t have any kalamata olives or grape tomatoes, but I think those would go nicely as well.

So give this recipe a try if it sounds good to you, or use it as inspiration to give your own creation a try!  When was the last time you stepped up to the “use-what’s-in-the-fridge” challenge?

1 cup quinoa

1 small red onion chopped

1 big handful arugula

1 cucumber chopped

about 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

juice of 1 lemon

roughly 1/3 cup olive oil

about 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 large clove garlic, pressed or minced

Cook quinoa by combining with 2 cups water and bringing to a boil.  As soon as it boils, remove from heat and let stand for about 10 minutes.  It may take more or less time depending on how long it boiled. Fluff with fork.  It’s done when grains are crunchy yet tender.

Combine vegetables with quinoa  in a large bowl.  Put dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Shake well, pour over quinoa mixure and serve.

Enjoy!

Danielle

I was talking with my friend recently about this.  We talked about it for a while and we were reminiscing about how the things we remembered from our childhood were things that were repetitive, or recurring, such as trips to see our grandparents, or trips to the same place summer after summer.  The memories that stuck with us were not necessarily the “one time” activities.  Kids love familiarity and repetition.  They love their bedtime bath-story-routine.  If I had a penny for every time my  kids have watched the Backyardigans’ “Super Spy”  I would be a millionaire!  But as we get older, the repetition can becomes too habitual and sometimes boring.  It seems having new experiences is what keeps us from getting stuck in a rut.

I remember a while back I was walking around in my neighborhood in midtown nyc, and ran into a neighbor, Larry, who looks as though  he is  maybe in his late 60’s.  I commented that he was looking great, and he said, “Thanks, I try, you know I’m 90!”    I was blown away that this guy was so youthful and active and sharp that I asked him what his secret was.  “Do you smoke? Do you eat meat? Do you exercise? What’s your secret? I never would have guessed that you were 90!”

Sometimes I don’t want to offend people by saying something like that, like, “Holy Crap, you are so old!!!”  But the reality is that 90 years old is longer than a lot of people live with a good quality of life – even these days with modern medicine supposedly keeping people alive longer.  I was really curious about what he does, if anything. (He wasn’t offended anyway.)

His response was not what I expected.  He said, “You know what I do?  I’ll tell you.  Whenever I go somewhere, I make sure I come back a different way.  I always take a different street or avenue to come home.”  He also grew up in NYC, walked everywhere as most New Yorkers do. Navigating city streets is something that you can get creative with when you do it on a daily basis.   He also never smoked.

But this got me thinking about how many habits, and “ruts” we might have that we are not even aware or mindful of.

For kids, they grow and change so rapidly that so much of what they learn and experience is new.  They are in school, and they are always meeting new kids, playing, imagining, building, creating.  One minute they are into Elmo, next thing you know it’s Barbies or Superheroes.  Every food is a new experience.  Every smell creates a new memory. As we get older there are less and less brand new experiences, unless we create them for ourselves and get somewhat out of our familiar zone.  (I’m sure there is a ton of research done on this that I am not even mentioning.)

Think about the things you do every day that you do completely on auto-pilot. I remember hearing somewhere that if you paid attention to the way you brush your teeth or dry yourself after a shower you would notice that you do it EXACTLY the same way every single time.  You could probably do it in your sleep, many of us do!  I also heard on the radio that some people are even texting in their sleep!  Can you imagine?  Having text conversations that they have no recollection of.  (Scary!)

We all have different tendencies towards being creatures of habit.  Some of these routines make us more efficient and streamlined in terms of getting things done.  We all know someone who has had the same commute to work for 40 years or eats the same thing for breakfast since they were 10.   What about those people on Oprah who have the same haircut since the 60’s?  A little bit of forced, conscious change in our lives here and there can wake us up a little bit and keep things interesting.   And who knows?  Maybe it will keep us young!

Here are some ways you can throw a little change into your life without too much of an overhaul:

Read a new book on a topic you don’t typically read about.

Take a class in a subject you’ve always wanted to try but never had time or always thought it wasn’t practical.

Watch a movie you’ve never seen before.

Take the back roads. In other words, change your most routine trip.  Even if you can’t always take a different route, you can listen to different music or let someone else drive.

Make a new friend.

Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand.

Travel, even if it’s just a drive or walk in a new neighborhood.

Try a new recipe or new food.

Check out a new restaurant.

Approach new opportunities and experiences with curiosity. Notice if unfamiliar people or places create anxiety or stress.  If  they do, just noticing is a new experience for you, since your “autopilot” response might be to retreat to where you are familiar.

What “new” thing can you try today?

Be well,

Danielle

Recently I attended a training at Omega in Rhinebeck NY called Off the Mat, Into the World, with Seane Corn, Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling, three of the most inspiring, amazing, trail blazing women I’ve ever studied with.  It was a workshop devoted to service in the world and conscious activism, identifying our own traumas and triggers, our own practice of being so that we can fully serve in the world consciously and with empathy.

While we did yoga every morning, the afternoons were hard core discussion, diving deep into ourselves to discover what our true passions and life purpose is.  It was the most life changing and practical training I have done. Even though I’ve been a teacher and practitioner for years, I don’t usually write much about it.  Since I took so many notes at this training and then went back and for my own understanding expanded on them later,   I thought I’d share for a change .

One of the things I love about yoga practice is that when you think about it, there really is no separation between what is done on the mat and in life. But what I practice on my mat is like a regular reminder of mindfulness, receptivity, stillness, awareness, subtlety, and presence that sets the groove and tone for where I want to be in relationship to myself, my relationships, the world.  I practice because…well, I need the practice.  It’s not easy, and sometimes it doesn’t go as well as I’d like it.  That’s reality of being human on this great planet earth, I guess.

Here are 3 of the many major themes I took away from my week.

Love comes first, change comes later. Don’t wait for things/people/situations to change before you love them.  (Or even yourself.) The energy of love is what gives the power to transform.   I once heard Rabbi Shmuel Boteach on the radio, and he said “Most people think of love as a feeling they are supposed to have, when in fact love is a verb, it’s an action.”  Its so empowering to look at it this way, isn’t it?  You can love, pro-actively, rather than waiting for something or someone to do something love-worthy.  Not that this is easy, it’s just another perspective. I love his book called “10 Conversations You Need to Have With Your Children.” It’s a must-read if you have kids.

We are spiritual beings having human experiences, not humans having spiritual experiences. If we remember that spirit is our true nature, it puts things in perspective.  We are here on the planet to learn what love is.  But in order to learn what love is, we also need to learn what love is NOT.   Our souls are trying to grow, they are begging for evolution.   It’s our ego that gets uncomfortable and thinks it sucks.    Without challenges in life, you can’t develop the wisdom to develop empathy.  And to quote the fabulous Nikki Meyers , (excuse my French, these are her words) “Sometimes you need to get through the ‘fuck you’ to get to the ‘bless you.’”

Apparently, those broken times are when transformation really happens. There was a 73 year old woman named Clementine in our group, a yoga teacher (with a beautiful yoga practice I might add), and she had been through almost everything having raised 6 kids. She said, after looking back, those times when things get tough are the best times of your life.  That’s when you come out so much stronger, and having shed parts of ourselves that we didn’t need anymore, like a snake shedding it’s old skin.    The struggle is what strengthens, like the newborn chick who would die if someone helped him hatch from his egg.  This is how we can have gratitude for our difficulties and challenges.  It’s how you can be grateful for those people or situations that are really pushing some buttons.  One of my favorite sentences I had in my notebook was, “The motherfucker was an angel!?!” (Sorry, gosh, I’m so not used to writing the F word! But that’s how they said it.)

“The issues are in the tissues,” again to quote my new friend Nikki Meyers.  Trauma lives in the body, not the mind.  Developing awareness in the body through yoga (and other mind/body modalities, like dance, movement therapy, Pilates, martial arts, breathwork)  is very healing, and unless you include the body, therapy is very limited.  Humans are really just balls of energy walking around, exchanging energy all the time.  The chakras are a good place to start looking into blocked energy.  There’s a great book that I highly recommend by Anodea Judith called “Eastern Body -Western Mind” which outlines each chakra and what energies each holds.

There’s more to come on this, but that’s all for now.  I hope this gave you something to chew on for a while!!

Be well,

Danielle

I love this recipe.  I just made it tonight.  I happened to have a bag of pre-shredded cabbage from Trader Joes and wanted to use it up.  In the past I’ve used whole cabbages and if you get a small one it takes no time to slice yourself if you have a good sharp knife.  The pre-shredded was just as good, though.

I found this recipe in Laurie David’s “The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids, One Meal at a Time.” It’s not only a great dish to have at home, but perfect for hot summer picnics because it can handle the heat.  It’s sweet, pungent, crunchy, tart, and delicious.  Plus, its great for digestion as well as cleansing the digestive tract.   Buy cabbages that are heavy for their size and have nice tight outer leaves – that’s a good sign of freshness.

Here’s a few other facts you may not know about cabbage:

*It has more vitamin C than oranges

*Good natural source of iodine

*The outer leaves contain more vitamin E than the inner leaves.

If you like vinegar-y things, you will love this salad!

So here it is:

Cabbage Slaw

1 small white cabbage

1 large carrot

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

¼ cup white wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (I never add these in but the original recipe calls for it.)

To make about 3 cups:

Cut the cabbage into thin strips.  Grate the carrot, or just keep peeling it with the peeler so you get thin strips.  Toss the vegetables with the salt and sugar and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Drain the cabbage and carrot well, and toss with the remaining ingredients.

It’s SO EASY and SO QUICK!  And it goes great with rice and beans, or anything spicy or Mexican.

Enjoy!

Danielle