Thursday, October 18, 2007

LifeShine Nourishing Newsletter: Sweet October

Up Coming Events

Oct. 28: Pumpkin Party, Ladies Luncheon
(LifeShine members only)

Dec. 4: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Holiday Season
Treat Yourself Right Center (TYR members only)

Dear Friends,

Autumn is here, glowing with all the colors of a cornucopia (just like LifeShine's new fancy newsletter)!

Autumn is the perfect time of year for hiking and making leaf collages with the kids! Fall is also a great time to bring to fruition all those projects you started in the spring. Included in this newsletter are tips on time management to help you keep things rolling.

The feature foods this month are sweet root vegetables. One thing that eases the transition from the joys of summer to the quieter months of autumn are sweet vegetables like: butternut squash, pumpkin, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and red potatoes. I can smell the garlic and rosemary now!

What do you love about autumn?

Wishing you health, happiness and colorful scarves,
Kelly

Article: "All in Good Time"

Tips for Time Management
Have you ever wished for a few more hours in the day? Why is it that some people seem to get everything done effortlessly and others feel that time constantly eludes them? The secret to managing your time well isn't working more hours. The secret is working smarter, not harder. It is about prioritizing the important things and learning to use the time you have more efficiently and effectively.

Some of us, by nature, organize and get tasks out of the way before we relax, while others of us play first and work later. It is important to first recognize which type you are and whether your style is allowing you to have the life you really want. Maybe you are super-organized at work, but burned out because you don't know how to make time for yourself. Maybe you are naturally a less organized person who knows how to relax, but you are dissatisfied because you aren't fulfilling your goals and dreams.

Rather than labeling yourself or beating yourself up, realize that time management is an area of your life that you can strengthen. Like a new muscle, it takes practice and repetition to make it stronger. To help you get started, here are some steps to streamline your days at work and at home. Try the first one or two that jump out at you:
· Allocate time for planning and organizing.
· Create to-do lists that are realistic, not intimidating. Use only one to-do list.
· Under-schedule your time: leave time for the unexpected and for interruptions. When you estimate how long something will take, add on 1/3 of that time.
· Schedule your time in a way that reduces interruptions that lower your productivity.
· Practice the art of intelligent neglect: eliminate trivial tasks.
· Prioritize what is most important and do that first.
· Consider your biological prime time: at what time of day do you work best? Plan to do your most important work at that time.
· If you say yes to everything that comes your way, learn to say NO.
· Ask for help and delegate.
· In the evening make your to-do list for the next day, so it will be out of your brain and on a piece of paper. Leave work with a clear head and a clean desk.
· Acknowledge yourself daily for all that you have accomplished.

Also take a look at the two biggest hindrances to using time effectively: procrastinating and lacking purpose. We usually procrastinate when a task seems too daunting, too large, too complex, or when we feel we won't be able to handle it. When you get that "deer in the headlights" feeling, try "chunking": break the large task into smaller, manageable action steps, and start with the first one. We also often drag our heels or use our time inefficiently because we are bored, unengaged, and uninspired. The most effective people will tell you that they love what they do and are aligned with a greater purpose. When it comes to managing your time, you may need to ask the larger questions, "Am I doing what I love to do? Am I doing something meaningful to me?"

As you strengthen your new time management muscle, keep your focus on getting organized so that you can live the life you came here for. Instead of being a chore, good time management can be your ticket to more fun, greater satisfaction, and a vibrant, exciting life.

Food Focus: Sweet Root Vegetables
The roots of any plant are its anchor and foundation; they are the essential parts that support and nourish the plant. Root vegetables lend these properties to us when we eat them, making us feel physically and mentally grounded and rooted, increasing our stability, stamina, and endurance. Roots are a rich source of nutritious complex carbohydrates, providing a steady source of necessary sugars to the body. Instead of upsetting blood sugar levels like refined sweet foods, they regulate them. Since they absorb, assimilate and supply plants with vital nutrients, roots likewise increase absorption and assimilation in our digestive tracts.

Long roots include carrots, parsnips, burdock and daikon radish. Round roots include turnips, radishes, beets and rutabagas. Long roots like burdock and daikon are excellent blood purifiers and can help improve circulation in the body and increase mental clarity. Round roots are nourishing to the stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and can help regulate blood sugar, moods, and alleviate cravings.

Recipes of the Month
Sweet Roasted Root Vegetables
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25-35 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
1 sweet potato
2 parsnips
2 carrots
2 turnips or 1 large rutabaga
1 daikon radish (or substitute/add in your favorites, like squash or red potato)
olive oil
salt and pepper
herbs: rosemary, thyme or sage (fresh if possible)

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Wash and chop all vegetables into large bite-sized pieces.
3. Place in a large baking dish with sides.
4. Drizzle with olive oil; mix well to coat each vegetable lightly with oil.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and herbs.
6. Bake uncovered for 25-35 minutes until vegetables are tender and golden brown, checking every 10 minutes to stir and make sure veggies are not sticking.
Note: Any combination of vegetables will work. Roasting only one kind of vegetable also makes a nice side dish.


Rediculously Easy Baked Squash

Ingredients:
1 Squash (Butternut, Acorn, Buttercup, Spaghetti...)

Directions:
Set oven to 400 degrees. Put squash on a pan and into the oven. (That's right, just put the whole darn thing right in). Set timer for 45 minutes. Go do something else. Come back when the timer rings. Eat delicious, soft, sweet, baked squash.



Testimonials
"The first class was very inspirational, and I am doing a lot more cooking for myself. I am actually eating 'real' dinners now, about 5-7 days a week, which is a huge feat for me! If I was so inspired after one class, I know I'll be eating much healthier after two!"
- Alane Benson

"Kelly suggested herbs that help me sleep and that virtually eliminate monthly cramps, as well as a vegetable juice fast that helps regulate my digestion and my blood sugar. Kelly is not just a health counselor, she is an 'artist of being alive.' "
- S. Miria Jo, Singer/Songwriter

"Thanks to Kelly, I have satisfied both my appetite and my incessant need for energy! She taught me how to cook nutritious and delicious food, and gave me very helpful tips to sustain energy in order to cope with my busy lifestyle."
- Eynat, Fashion Designer

What LifeShine Holistic Health Counseling can do for You!
- Reclaim your health and happiness.
- Learn to understand cravings and how to disarm them without will-power.
- Lose weight normally and naturally.
- Increase your energy.
- Disease-proof your body.
- Discover delicious health-promoting foods.
- Plan simple, quick, delicious, power-packed meals, even if your time seems limited
- Create a joyful, successful lifestyle with step-by-step goal setting and support
- Become part of a fabulous community of people dedicated to living well
- Let your life shine!