Nourishing Newsletter June 2008: Too Busy to Eat

Dear Friends,

Celebrate! Summer is here!

What do you love about summertime? The sunshine? Hiking? Playing baseball? BBQs and popsicles? Airconditioning? Make sure you give yourself time to savor them this season.

As I write, a bird is singing a song, familiar since childhood. I remember waking in the morning for school and hearing this sound. A light breeze passes through the window now and then and reminds me to take a deep breath. Everyday of summer is full of small pleasures. Life is good - enjoy!

Wishing you health and happiness,
Kelly

Upcoming Events

Laughter Yoga:
Laughter as a form of exercise and stress reduction!
** Free **
Mondays 6-7pm
Louis I. Kahn Memorial Park
11th & Pine, Philadelphia
Laughter Yoga uses light breathing and movement along with "laughter exercises" to promote health and happiness. You don't already have to be in a good mood to do laughter yoga. Discover for yourself, laughter really is the best medicine!


Summer Detox
** Free Lecture **
Tuesday, June 24 6:30-7:30pm
Queen Village Holistic Health
953 South 6th Street, Philadelphia
Learn techniques to cleanse your body, mind and spirit this summer.


Health Food Store Tour
** Free for LifeShine clients (past and present)
$20 Public
Tuesday, July 29 6-8pm
Whole Foods Market
10th & South, Philadelphia
Discover delicious new options, how to use healthy shopping skills in regular grocery stores, what all that weird stuff is, and what is not so healthy in a health food store.
To register please email me at kelly@lifeshine.net.

New Testimonial: Kelly R., Speech Therapist says:
"A Happier Place"
Lifeshine's nutritional counseling has led me to a better place than where I was a little over half a year ago. I signed up for the program expecting to learn some better eating habits, gain knowledge of the foods I was eating, and maybe look a little better after the fact. What I did not expect was support and guidance to help find contentment in other areas of my life. Kelly has been an accepting and loving light in my life that opened my eyes to not only ways to manage my nutritional intake, but also to ways to find increased inner peace. I hope that more people get to experience her patience and support. I believe with some commitment on the clients end, Kelly has the ability to gently lead clients to a happier place.

Special Feature: We are the World

Remember the 80's song "We Are The World?" As a young idealist, I was very moved by that song. Today, older and slightly more realistic, I know it's going to take a lot to heal the state of the Earth and humanity. Something else I have learned is: there is strength in numbers.

Is there an organization dedicated to making positive change that inspires you? Join up! Be part of the action. You don't have to tie yourself to a tree, just take one minute out of your week to sign a petition, or $1 out of your paycheck to contribute. Giving is soul food!


Here are a few petitions and organizations you may be interested in:

President Bush is thinking about designating sizeable portions of U.S. territorial waters as marine protected areas. Support this wonderful possiblility!

This week marked the first debate on comprehensive global warming legislation in the U.S. Senate. Tell your Member of Congress that we expect a serious debate that will result in strong, science-based global warming legislation.

Avaaz.org is a new global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want.

EcoWorld 100% of Reforesting Society membership fees and donations are passed through to nonprofit tree planting organizations.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities.


Article: Too Busy to Eat?

Are you feeling too busy to even make time to eat? Many of us with our fast paced lives rely on fast food, microwaves, sugar and caffeine to get through our days.
Food is our fuel. Our bodies are made to use food and water as our only sources of energy. Caffeine is really just a drug that taxes our adrenal glands, causes mood swings and can lead to chronic fatigue as well as many other health issues. So what's a busy person to do? Here are a few ideas that I hope you will find helpful during the busy (not so lazy) days of summer.

1. Salads! - Salads are an excellent source of essencial vitamins and minerals and the best no-cook way to get your veggies in!

How to make a quick super nutritious salad:
bag/box of pre-washed leafy greens
1 cup rinsed canned beans
1/2 cup organic cottage cheese
cherry tomatoes
sliced cucumber
shredded carrot
At the beginning of the week, open 3 cans of beans, rinse them, keep in a container for easy access. Wash and dry cucmbers and tomatoes. Keep all the ingredients next to each other in the fridge so when you reach to make a salad, it's all right there. Each night or morning make a fresh salad. Put the wet ingredients on the bottem, starting with the dressing of your choice. Keep the greens as the top-most layer to avoid sogginess. Throwing your salad together should take about the same time as sitting in line for the drive-through window. Experiment with different types of beans, dressings, and pre-chopped veggies until you find what you really like.

2. Keep a stash of organic canned soups at your desk with a hand-held can opener and a microwave-safe bowl. Try lentil and bean soups to fill you up, give you energy and great dietary fiber.

3. Instead of a candy bowl at your desk, make it a fruit bowl.

4. Purchase a rice cooker for about $20. At the beginning of the week make a big batch of brown rice. Keep a big bag of mixed frozen vegetables in the freezer each week. Each morning throw a scoop of rice and a scoop of frozen veggies in a travel plastic container. Reheat it at work with a bit of water in the bowl. Add a bit of soy butter, soy sauce or salad dressing for extra flavor.

5. Smoothies! See recipes below.

I hope these are some helpful tips for you. If you try any of these please let me know how it worked for you. If you have any tips of your own you'd like to share, please email me and I'll feature it in my next email. kelly@lifeshine.net

Keep breathing! Oxygen brings energy to the brain and body!


Recipes of the Month: Smoothies!
Health Nut Smoothie
1½ cups soymilk, rice milk, or almond milk
8 medium-sized dates (pitted)
½ ounce raw or roasted almonds (12 almonds)
1 cup frozen blueberries, strawberries or raspberries
1 medium frozen banana (peel before freezing)
Add "milk", dates and almonds to a blender. Liquefy for several minutes until smooth. Cut the banana into 1" pieces. Add the frozen fruit and blend until thick and creamy.

Caribbean Minty Ginger Smoothie
3 cups of soymilk or ricemilk
1 papaya - ripe peeled and seeded & cut into pieces
Fresh mint - a handful of leaves to taste
1 inch of Ginger root - fresh peeled and minced
1 tablespoon of honey or agave nectar
1 frozen ripe banana

Prepare papaya, ginger root. Put in blender. Add soy or rice milk. Blend. Add banana, mint & honey or agave. Blend until smooth. Yum!

Garden Smoothie
4 medium carrots
2 ripe summer tomatoes
½ lemon, juiced
¼ cup fresh basil leaves
1 c water

Chop veggies, blend.

Turkish Delight
2-3 lemons to taste
1 tsp rose water
2 tsp honey
2 cups cold water
Ice cubes

Juice the lemons. Stir in rose water, honey and cold water. Serve over ice.

Popsicles!
Remember, any smoothie can be frozen into popsicles! Here's a link to some fun ideas. If you decide to try any of these recipes, you can always omit the refined white sugar (bad for you!) and use apple juice, pineapple juice, or stevia (zero calories) instead!

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 B, Personal Assistant

"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, nutritious meals.
- 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!