(As a heads up- this post is discusses diet culture (which I am not a fan of) and may not be for everyone. If you are not in a space where you can read this, it is ok!)
I’m not a dieter. I’ve been there, done that, and I’m still trying to mentally heal after the damage I’ve done to myself by restricting what I’m “allowed” to eat to a short list. Counting calories, working out for the sake of burning said calories, and feeling discouraged for not making any progress and, if anything, seeing the numbers go the “wrong” direction. The cycle was always the same. And it made me deeply sad and disappointed in myself. Not only that, dieting stole my joy.
About 3 1/2 years ago, I tossed out my scale, started moving my body in ways that made me feel great, and ate what made me feel great. The main goal? To be healthy and strong, mentally and physically.
Why am I writing about this almost a week after one of the worst days in American history? Why is this relevant after a group of insurrectionists…white supremicists…stormed the Capitol? Because if I’ve learned anything during these “pandemical times” (my favorite way to describe the past 10 months a la Emily P. Freeman) it is the impact our wellness has on our ability to process the constant stream of huge world and national events that seem to be coming our way. It can be tempting to numb all the emotion with food/drink/distraction, but when it comes right down to it, that doesn’t get us anywhere. Instead, we are foggy brained, tongue tied, or simply silent. None of these things are helpful, are they?
For the last week and a half, we have been eating a lot of veggies, fruit, healthy protein, and leaving out sugar, dairy, grains, legumes, and alcohol. We are truly doing this in an intuitive way, sticking to what makes us feel our best but also evaluating what we need more or less of by listening to our bodies. Eating this way has cleared up my head in a way that allows me to sit down and write my thoughts out on paper. It also helps me recognize what I need (and what I don’t need) as I move through my day. Sometimes I need a nap (that was Saturday). Other times an intense workout is in order (yesterday morning). And then there are most days when I just need to write and talk and brainstorm how to insist on justice and look ahead to eventual healing as a country. In between times, I take photos of life at home during distance learning, finish my to-do list, drink lots of water and tea, and listen to good music.
OK- now that I have all of that out of my system, here is a little bit about this Breakfast Fruit Bowl that I’ve been loving lately:
Combination of any fruit you like. My favorite combo is banana, berries of some kind, and apples.
Top with unsweetened almond butter, coconut flakes, and chia seeds. Cashews, walnuts, and cashews are all lovely additions to make it a little more filling if that’s what you need.
A sprinkle of flaky sea salt doesn’t hurt.
I’m a big fan of eggs, but there are some days when I just want something a little lighter and sweeter and special. Typically, this is the only fruit I have for the entire day and it absolutely hits the spot!
Moral of this post: You can’t pour from an empty cup and that is especially true in pandemical times/political turmoil/mid-winter. We can (and should) do hard things, my dears!