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Leda is the founder of Simply Leda. She is a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). She received her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC and also holds a Certificate in Integrative Nutrition from Columbia University. She has studied all the different dietary theories from the top in their fields as well as both eastern and western nutritional philosophies. Leda also holds a BA in Journalism from NYU and a BA in French Studies from NYU, Paris.
Please see website for my services and more on my personal philosophy toward balanced healthy living.
www.simplyleda.com |
| Affirmation of the Month |
I am putting aside my daily worries... embracing instead the beauty and stillness of my spirit.
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| Excerpt from Newsletter by Anna Francesca Celestino |
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There is a feeling this month of deep sea diving. Though we are far below the surface of things, there is still a world of wonder to be explored. This depth may seem unfamiliar and consequently fearful, but take heart. It is precisely where we should be - deep down under. What happens far below impacts what happens further above, eventually reaching the surface into the light of day, becoming the winds that fill our sails. Exploring these deep, inner currents are the path to our future freedom...
(to read more, contact Anna and sign up for her newsletter) | |
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Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
-Ovid
Dear Friends,
Summer is a wonderful season for rest and rejuvenation. The warm weather pushes our activities outdoors into nature. There we find solace, connection to our planet and its wonders, and our inner wisdom. When our awareness of our environment grows so then do our hearts open. The realizations begin and change can then be made manifest, first on a more personal level and then in community. I urge you all to put your daily worries and chores aside, give in to the calling of your hearts, even for the briefest of moments and go take a solitary walk in the park, woods, or beach. Just get out into the sunshine and let nature take over from there.
In keeping with this premise, you will see that I have consolidated my July and August newsletters. I want to assist you all in staying away from your computers during these months! Come September, the newsletters will return to their monthly schedule.
Sorry to report the strawberry recipe contest did not yield results. But I have included one of my own favorite strawberry recipes that I concocted one summer evening about 3 years ago. Enjoy! It will be posted on my blog as well.
This month I have also included an excerpt from the newsletter of an esteemed colleague and friend; Anna Francesca Celestino, an intuitive healer, life coach and author of the book "Igniting Change: From where you are...to where you want to be. Her insights are uncanny and healings restorative. Her newsletters offer a monthly energy reading which I believe will assist you in getting through these trying times. Anna also offers private sessions, you can contact her at celestino.anna@gmail.com .
Have a great summer everyone, take time to relax, have fun and rejuvenate yourselves. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritiously.
See you in September!
Leda |
| Try Something New |
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The man who does things makes many mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all - doing nothing.
-Benjamin Franklin
Summer is finally in full force, and the living is easy! Do you notice how during summertime everything seems promising? The plants are in full bloom, and the sun feels glorious on your skin. The longer days give you boundless energy, making you feel like it's possible to achieve all your desires and dreams. Why not harness this energy, ride the wave of summer and try something new?
Throughout the year we live at an intense pace (physical, emotional and mental), and we often get stuck in routine, either for the sake of efficiency or out of fear of unfamiliar territory. The lack of variety in doing the same things over and over not only stagnates our minds, but also our bodies and hearts. Hesitant to break your routine? It is interesting to note that fear and excitement have the same physiological expression in our bodies; it is our mind that classifies the feeling as either positive or negative. So the next time you consider a change in routine and your mind says "scary" see if you can re-frame it as "exciting!"
What is something you have never done before, or that you wanted to do for a long time? Choose your own adventure: organize a kayak trip, take a dance class, do some exotic traveling or set a goal for a new personal challenge. Or try something simple, like playing tag with your kids and neighbors or reading by the waterfront. Maybe it's time to discover a new vegetable dish or to visit a new town, restaurant or beach.
Whatever adventure calls to you, use this summer to make it happen and enjoy the life you came here for. Increasing new experiences and excitement in your life can decrease your need for, and dependence on, artificial stimulants like caffeine and sugar, leading to more vibrant health. Watch out for massive improvements in physical well-being, mental acuity and motivation, plus a full portfolio of fun. |
| Food Focus: Raw and Cooling Salads |
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Why is it that in the summer we crave more fresh and raw foods? These foods have a cooling effect on the body. The lightness and high water, fiber and vitamin content work together to act as our internal air conditioning during these warm months. At this time of year we also need less dense, high-energy food, because we get so much energy from being outside in the fresh air and sunshine.
There is no better season than summer to have fun concocting your own fresh, tasty, creative salad combinations. By simply tossing together several of your favorite raw veggies, naked or with a light dressing, you have a perfect meal for a hot summer's day.
Try your favorite leafy lettuce with various sliced, diced or grated veggies. The possible combinations are endless. Fresh herbs are a wonderful option to mix in, as they are packed full of flavor. Experiment with adding diverse forms of protein to your salads, such as nuts, seeds, beans, tofu, fish or poultry. Pick up a light and healthy dressing at your local health food store, or mix up something easy, like lemon juice, black pepper and olive oil.
This is a great opportunity to try a new vegetable from your market. What are some creative flavors you've never tried before? Fennel and mint? Daikon radish and arugola? Summer squash with watercress? Whatever you choose, have fun with your food and stay cool.
Happy Summer! | |
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| Recipe of the Month |
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| Bok Choy Apple Slaw
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 
Ingredients:
6 stalks bok choy (1/2 head), thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 granny smith apple, sliced
1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds
Dressing:
1 tspn ground coriander
1 tspn dijon mustard
2 tblsn apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tspn honey
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
First make the dressing by combining all the ingredients and whisking well. Place all salad ingredients, except the apple in a bowl and toss with the dressing. Toss in apples just before serving.
Note Salad can be chilled before adding the apples.
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| Kids Recipe of the Month |
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Getting your kids to the table to eat salad is a challenge in some households. The recipe below incorporates both veggies and grains and seems to be a more appealing way to introduce the young ones to salad while offering up some nutrition in the process.
 Leda's Mediterranean Salad Prep Time: 15 minutes
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
4 whole wheat pitas (w/out pocket)
1 bunch of arugola, washed
1 Tomato, diced
1 english or kirby cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and sliced
1 handful pitted black olives, preferably
Kalamata
1 handful parsley, rough chopped
1/2 red onion, cut in half again and sliced
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or to taste)
1 garlic clove chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush pitas lightly with extra virgin olive oil. Place on baking sheet and toast in oven 10 minutes. (You can also put it under the broil for about 2-3 minutes per side, but you have to stand over it so it doesn't burn). Remove and let cool, then cut into small triangles. Prepare the next six ingredients and place in a large bowl. Add the cheese and the pita wedges.
In a separate bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour over salad and toss lightly. Top with walnuts. |
| Strawberry Recipe |
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 Strawberries with Grilled Haloumi on Puff Pastry
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
egg wash (1 egg beaten with two tablespoons milk)
4 tblspns quartered strawberries
1 tspn Grand Marnier
4 slices haloumi cheese, (about 1/4" thick)
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh Mint
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Remove stem from strawberries, rinse and quarter. Place in a bowl with the Grand Marnier and let sit for 1/2 hr.
Remove one sheet of puff pastry and cut into four rectangles, about 3" x 2". Place rectangles on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg wash and prick with fork in a few places. Place in oven and bake until golden brown, 10 min max. depending on your oven. Remove from oven and let cool.
Slice Haloumi cheese (a Cypriot cheese you can find at cheese shops and Mediterranean grocers). Pat with a paper towel to remove any excess brine. Light grill or pan on stovetop. Grill cheese for a few minutes per side, until it is slightly melted and had grill marks. Remove and sprinkle with a little lemon juice.
To assemble: Place puff pastry on a plate, top with haloumi cheese and then top with 1 tablespoon
of strawberries. Sprinkle a bit of finely chopped mint on the berries and then garnish with a mint sprig.
Serve immediately. |
Simply Leda is a philosophy of nourishment that embodies your whole self thus enabling you to find balance and come home to your essence. For more information of my services, please log on to www.simplyleda.com.
Eat well and be happy and healthy.
Leda Anagnostopoulos
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