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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 grateful
for everything
and everyone
in my life.
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| Excerpt from Anna's
November
Newsletter |
We welcome Anna back!
Please read on:
"Fear may be particularly prevalent this month. That feeling of things breaking apart can be interpreted as "something's wrong." In order for something new to come, the old must be broken down"
To read more continue on
to Anna's newsletter...
.
To reach out to
Anna Francesca Celestino
author of
Igniting Change
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| Where to find me |
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You can now
find me on Facebook and Linked-In!!
I am starting a group entitled Simply Leda.
Come join and let's create an open forum for discussion on how to keep ourselves in balance beginning with good nutrition.
See you there...!!
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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues,, but the parent of all others.
- Cicero
Dear Friends,
It is the heart of autumn and the time for Thanksgiving. We are reminded by those first Pilgrims in Plymouth to celebrate and give thanks to both God and Mother Earth for the bountiful crop we receive on a daily basis. Their simple act of gratitude symbolized both respect and acknowledgement and should serve to remind us all of the many things and people we should be grateful for in our lives. Re-examine what you are grateful for in "Finding Gratitude". Look deep and your answers just might surprise you.
Gratitude is not limited to things that come to us from the "outside". We need to be grateful for ourselves and all the wonders our physical body can accomplish despite the abuse we give it. We are all "Beautiful Body Types".
Our food focus this month is the ever wonderful, very nutritious and very under used pumpkin. With organic canned pumpkin so readily available we can enjoy it's versatility year-round. Although I have included a pudding recipe for the kids there are also some savory uses of this great orange vegetable. Check in with my blog.
You can now find me on Facebook and Linked-In!! I am starting a group entitled Simply Leda, come join and let's create an open forum for discussion on how to keep ourselves in balance beginning with good nutrition. See you there...
And finally, I want to thank all of you who have written me expressing your support of my work. It is difficult for me to personally respond to each one of you but it really means a lot to me and at times it is what keeps me going. I acknowledge you and thank you for your unending support.
With gratitude,
Leda
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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 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. |
| Food Focus: Pumpkin |
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At this time of year, all of us usually associate pumpkins with Halloween, carved and used as Jack-o-Lanterns or in pies, soups and breads during the Thanksgiving holiday. But the nutritional content and natural low fat of pumpkins make them a great choice for consuming any time of year; especially with canned pumpkin so readily available. Pumpkin is one of the few exceptions were the canned is pretty equal to the quality of fresh.
As a member of the squash family, pumpkin is typically bright orange in color and it's rich in beta-carotene, potassium, Vitamin C, calcium, fiber and anti-oxidants. Beta-Carotene converts to Vitamin A which helps reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases, while the antioxidants strengthen our immune system. Pumpkins also have a high water content which makes it an excellent snack.
Pumpkins are very versatile in their uses for cooking since most of it's parts are edible; the fleshy shell, the seeds and even the flowers. It can be baked, boiled, steamed or roasted. When using pumpkin in various recipes, you should be aware that it is usually the addition of other ingredients that boost the amount of calories in items such as pumpkin pie or pumpkin breads. To eat pumpkin on its own, try roasting it with spices like cinnamon, ginger, clove or nutmeg, or blending pumpkin puree with apple cider for a deliciously healthy drink.
Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are a snack sold all year round, but they are also very good for you as well. Pumpkin seed nutrition is high in essential amino acids and zinc and are even said to lower cholesterol. Typically, you can find pumpkin seeds roasted or raw, shelled or unshelled. Pumpkin seeds contain a large variety of minerals and other vital nutrients, such as iron, protein and fiber. Raw, they are also very high in essential fatty acids.
Pumpkin seeds can be used in tossed salads, casseroles, soups, and other baked goods, either ground or whole. Although the roasted pumpkin seeds tend to be better-tasting, you'll receive higher nutritional value from the raw seeds.
*References from Fabulous Foods and Associated Content |
| Finding Gratitude during Thanksgiving
by Leda Anagnostopoulos |
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After much struggle and hardship the 53 remaining pilgrims were finally able to reap the rewards of their efforts with a bountiful harvest. Their gratitude was expressed through prayer and celebration; and with abundance. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days and to the table came and sat both settler and Native American, officer and peasant, adults and children. It mattered not. All that mattered was the joy of the moment and the expanded inclusive feeling of gratitude.
I'd like you to reflect for a moment: do you think the pilgrims were grateful for more than their harvest? What did their struggle and hardship ultimately teach them to be grateful for?
The custom amongst the pilgrims were to "give thanks" as the occasion arose - a very important lesson to the rest of us living in the 21st century. When do we express our gratitude? We unconsciously say "thank you" throughout our day to all of those who provide us with a service.
But what are we grateful for?
Most of us are grateful for our health, our homes, jobs, spouses, children...in short, all the things that we love and brings us some form of joy. Still, some of us are grateful for the rain, the sun, the air that we breathe, the ability to arise out of bed everyday, the very gift of life itself. All of this is wonderful, of course, but gratitude should not just be given for the things that please or accommodate us. Life, as we know, is a great polarity - what of our obstacles? our struggles? our frustrations? our conflicts? How many of us are grateful for those? Now, I know you might be thinking "what? are you kidding?" But, in truth, what of these things? We should be most grateful for our adversities in life because they are our greatest teachers. They force us to look within at our attitudes and beliefs. Every adversity should be seen as giving us meaningful information about our life and it's path or purpose, not as negativity. An external adversity always represents an inner belief. Are you willing to take a look at that internal belief and make the necessary changes?
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
What is this obstacle trying to show me?
What in my belief system is causing me to struggle so much?
What belief do I hold that has attracted this situation into my life?
Once you have uncovered the meaning behind your adversities you can then let them go and express gratitude to the situations and persons involved, knowing that there is no real conflict only lessons to be learned.
This Thanksgiving give gratitude to those people and situations in your life that have caused you to move out of your comfort zone and release an inner belief you held that no longer serves you. | |
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| Recipe of the Month |
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A quick and light idea for turkey (Thanksgiving) leftovers...enjoy!!
Turkey Waldorf Salad
Yield: 4-6 servings 
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded leftover turkey meat
2 stalks celery w/leaves, coarsely chopped
2 crisp apples, such as Gala, cored and chopped
1 cup cranberries and/or 1 cup red grapes
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup non-fat yogurt
2 tbsn light mayonnaise
1 tspn honey
1/4 tspn salt
freshly ground pepper
Boston lettuce, washed and trimmed
Directions:
In a large bowl, gently toss the turkey, celery (w/leaves), apple, cranberries, and nuts until combined. In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined. Add the dressing to the turkey mixture, season with salt and pepper, and toss gently.
To serve, spread the lettuce leaves onto a serving platter, top with the dressed salad and serve immediately. |
| Kids Recipe of the Month |
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This is one of those recipes that I just love to serve both at the holidays and all year round.
It's a healthier version. Kid's love it!! Try it and see!
 Pumpkin Pudding Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups - 2% reduced fat organic milk
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 large organic eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 tspn salt
1/8 tspn ginger
1/8 tspn ground cloves
1/4 tspn nutmeg
1/2 tspn cinammon
1/2 tspn molasses
1/2 tspn vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped spiced pecans
Directions:
Whisk milk, sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs together and gradually add half of the milk mixture whisking constantly to temper the eggs. When incorporated add this back to the saucepan. Continue to cook, whisking, until thickened. Remove from heat and add pumpkin, salt, spices, molasses and vanilla extract.
Spoon into 6 custard cups and chill 30 minutes or until pudding is set.
Top with chopped pecans just before serving.
*It is very important to constantly whisk to keep the cornstarch from clumping. |
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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