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Warm Greetings...
As John Lennon said in my favorite holiday song, "another year over, a
new one's just begun." It's the time of year when many of us wipe the
slate clean and make a plan for the coming months.
I was prompted
to look up the definition of resolution (as in, of course, “New
Year’s resolution”) and what I found confirmed my unease with the word:
the state or quality of firm determination; unwavering. To me, this
conveys a sense of inflexibility and hardness that can cause us to be
unkind to ourselves when we should be most open and generous. I much
prefer the notion of intention: a course of action that one
intends to follow; an aim that guides action; an objective. To be
intent is to have the mind and will focused on a specific
purpose. Similar, but very different, leaving a lot of room for growth
and change along with achievement. I encourage you to mindfully set your
health and wellness intentions for the coming year. The journey to
fulfilling them is often easier with the right support, education and
guidance -- so let's talk.
Shine on,
Bernadette
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Beautiful Body Types |
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Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. -Janis
Joplin
Almost all of us have a distorted image of our
body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance
and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities. On
a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to
another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about
your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you
similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make
improving your health or losing weight (for example) even more
difficult.
Our culture’s preferred body type shifts every decade or
so, but whatever it is, it is usually unattainable without spending
enormous amounts of time, energy and money. Think of all the intelligence,
creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your
appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your
valuable resources weren’t used this way? Constant emphasis on the
external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is
housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms
and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.
The body you
have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains
homeostasis, and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is
your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By
focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish was different, you may be
ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and
delightful.
What would your life be like if you were simply at
peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and
stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body,
instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness,
to limit the negative self-talk, and to reconnect with your inner wisdom?
Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean
celebrating your body, rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing
your body, rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your
body flourish just like a child flourishes when treated with care and
respect.
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Food Focus: Sweet Potatoes |
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Sweet potatoes are on everyone’s mind this time of year. They seem to
go hand-in-hand with winter holidays, and fortunately, eating these and
other sweet vegetables needn’t be limited to this time of year. Cravings
for sweets can be greatly reduced by adding sweet vegetables, such as
sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, beets, squash, turnips and rutabagas, to
your daily diet. Sweet potatoes elevate blood sugar gently, rather than
with the jolt delivered by simple refined carbohydrates, so there’s no
energy crash after you eat them. Much higher in nutrients than white
potatoes and especially rich in vitamin A, sweet potatoes offer a creamy
consistency that is satisfying and soothing. They are healing to the
stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and help to remove
toxins from the body. They can increase the quantity of milk in lactating
women and can lessen cramps and pre-menstrual symptoms. If you don’t have
any sweet potatoes in your kitchen, go out and buy some (organic and local
if possible) and try the recipe below.
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Recipe of the Month: Sweet Potatoes with Lime and
Cilantro |
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This very easy recipe is an eye-opener for those who find sweet
potatoes cloyingly sweet or whose only experience of eating them is when
they're smothered in marshmallows and brown sugar.
Prep time: 10
minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
- 2-3 limes
- butter or olive oil, salt (optional)
Directions:
- Wash the sweet potatoes and bake them whole, in their skins, at 375
degrees until tender, about 40 minutes.
- Wash and chop cilantro leaves
- When sweet potatoes are done, slit open the skin and place on
serving plate. Season with salt and dots of butter or a sprinkle of oil,
if you like, then squeeze fresh lime juice all over, and shower with
cilantro leaves
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Upcoming Events -- Save the Date |
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These are dates for confirmed presentations over the next few months --
others are currently being finalized. Please check my website for updates,
or contact me directly for details!
JANUARY
Thurs. 1/4
6.30-7.30 p.m. AND Tues. 1/23 6.30-7.30 p.m.
Great Grains Make Meals
Work/lecture-cooking demo FREE
We’re often too busy to spend
long hours in the kitchen cooking up delicious, health-promoting meals.
But, with a little advance planning and an understanding of how to use
whole grains as the backbone of your meal planning, you can create many
delicious food options from one main dish.
Location: Whole
Foods Market, West Orange Plaza, Prospect & Eagle Rock Ave., WO
FEBRUARY
Thurs. 2/8 6.30-7.30 p.m. How to Beat the
Sugar Blues/lecture FREE
If your mouth waters at the thought of
chocolate or you can't imagine life without dessert, this class is for
you. Sugar is a major addiction. We'll discuss ways to overcome cravings
that do not involve willpower and learn how to incorporate healthy,
nourishing sweetness into your diet and your life.
Location:
Whole Foods Market, WO
Sat. 2/24 Make a Healthy Transition to
Vegetarianism/lecture details to come
Location: Lotus
Yoga, 3 Midland Ave., Montclair
MARCH
Tues. 3/13 7-9 p.m. Great Grains Make Meals
Work/lecture-cooking demo
[see description
above]
Location: South Orange-Maplewood Adult School,
Maplewood
Registration starting soon; go to somadultschool.org
Thurs. 3/15 6.30-7.30 p.m. Eating for Energy/lecture
FREE
Everyone's heard the old adage "you are what you eat" and it
really is true. The foods we consume create our blood, go into our organs
and become our body. That's why everything you eat directly affects your
energy. So what exactly should you eat? What should you avoid? This class
will help you discover these answers and get your health back on
track.
Location: Whole Foods Market, WO
Tues. 3/27 7-9 p.m. Glorious Greens/lecture-demonstration
Ever wander through the aisles of the market and wonder how to prepare
some of the fantastic green vegetables you see there? Greens are the #1
healthy food missing from modern American diets; yet they are packed with
vitamins, minerals, fiber and, of course, delicious taste. This class is
an excellent opportunity to learn about the many benefits of greens -- and
quick, easy ways to prepare them.
Location: South
Orange-Maplewood Adult School, Maplewood
Registration starting soon; go
to somadultschool.org
Are you a member of a civic/religious/social group that welcomes
up-to-date, accessible and enlightening health and wellness information?
If so I'd love to talk with you (or your group's decisionmaker) about
developing a presentation for your audience. Contact me at 973.944.4878 or
shininglifenutrition@gmail.com
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About Shining Life Nutrition |
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Do you want to improve your eating habits, feel confident in choosing
and preparing better food for your self and your family, find balance in
all areas of your life, and experience a lasting increase in your energy?
Not sure where to begin -- or how to stay on course? As a Holistic Health
Counselor, I am committed to being your guide and advocate on the path
toward health and vitality. I can help you clear away the clutter of old
food and lifestyle habits so that your best self can shine out to the
world. Working together, you'll learn to tune into your body's innate
wisdom, find clarity about what really nourishes you, and move closer to
the balance that's essential for accomplishing all that you came here to
do. Please contact me for a complimentary consultation.
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