Quote
"The night gives back more than the day takes away."
- Lazaris
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Welcome
In the heart of winter, just past the longest night of the year, there are many hours for solitude and rest. It's that time of year that in nature is a time of stillness, rest and renewal. The buds have already formed for next year's growth, but they lie dormant, gathering energy and waiting for spring.
In winter we need more warming foods. Maybe a little red meat, nuts, hearty soups and stews made from bone broth. We save the salads for spring, or even add them to soup for a warmer choice.
At this time of year, most traditions share the celebration of lights. Supposedly originally designed to lure the retreating sun into returning, we still like to light a candle, decorate a tree or build a fire. All to find warmth in the cold, a core of light in the darkness.
What inner light will you celebrate this year?
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Feature Article: Eat Less, Play More
Remember when you were a child and you got so wrapped up in playing, imagining or creating that you didn’t want to stop when it was time to eat? Do you remember leaving your meal half-finished to run off and continue playing? Children innately understand that food is secondary to what is most nutritious and primary in life: fun and play.
As adults we seem to have lost our instinct to prioritize play. In our busy world, with its emphasis on work and responsibility, to be healthy and balanced we must work on more than just our bodies; we must feed our hearts, minds and spirits.
Have you noticed that when your body, mind and spirit are engaged in a creative project or happy relationship, your reliance on food seems to decrease? Likewise, when you are unsatisfied with your relationships, your job or other areas of your life, you may depend on food to cheer, soothe or numb you. When your life is out of balance, no amount of food can feed you where you truly need nourishment. The food that we eat is very important for health and balance, but what really feeds us—a full and fulfilling life—doesn’t come on a plate.
What is fun for you? What makes you light up? What excites you? Make time for it this week. Even if you don’t have much free time for fun, try approaching a “serious” activity with an attitude of play. This can greatly reduce stress and anxiety and bring more pleasure to your day. Take your focus off food, try adding more fun into your life and watch the magic unfold.
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Laura's Bookshelf
One of my favorite cookbooks is All About Braising: The Art of Uncomplicated Cooking
, by Molly Stevens. I learned to braise chicken, celery and fennel from this book.
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Recipes: Garlicky Greens with Goat Cheese and Artichoke Hearts
Here is a healthy recipe that sacrifices nothing in taste and pizzazz.
I had this dish at a local and organic food restaurant in Asheville, NC a few years ago when we attended the Carolina Food Stewards Association’s annual conference there, and I liked it so much I came home and adapted it for my kitchen.
One of the great things about this recipe is that you can dress it up and dress it down as dictated by the occasion. For a week night home dinner, you can stop with just the onions, garlic and greens. For a holiday offering, add the red pepper, artichoke hearts, olives, goat cheese and toast for a fancy hors d’oeuvre.
Ingredients:
One bunch of greens: spinach, Swiss chard or Lacinato Kale (Dragon Kale) – these are the best greens for this dish because they have a soft texture when cooked, and they are unbelievably nutrient-dense. Greens should be triple-washed, stems removed (you can chop the stems and cook along with the onions, or you can save them for another use – they make a nice side vegetable steamed as well) and the greens stacked and sliced across in 1 inch strips.
One half medium onion, chopped
3-6 cloves of garlic, depending on your taste, minced
Olive Oil, 2 Tbsp
¼ Cup of water or chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat the oil over medium heat and sauté the onions for about 4 minutes, add the greens and stir for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic. Stir for about a minute and then add ¼ cup of water or stock, turn the heat to low and cover. Allow to braise for anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. (20 minutes will yield greens with a little more bite, and 45 will produce silky, tender greens.)
You can stop here, or you can make the deluxe version by adding the following after cooking:
¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
¼ cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
If you make the deluxe version, add the olives and artichoke hearts and heat through. Then put it all together.
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$50 for helping others
Your referral is the best compliment we can receive at Intuitive Wellness!
If a friend, family member or anyone else you refer signs up for an Intuitive Wellness six month program you will receive a check for $50 as a thank you AND you will have made a difference in the life of another human being.
Is there anything better than that?
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Free Report on Brain Health
If you're receiving this newsletter, you're already on the subscriber's list. With the relaunch of my web site, I've added a free report to those new folks who sign up for the newsletter. I didn't want to leave current subscribers out, so visit the link HERE to get your own free copy today.
Special Offer
Special offer from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Receive a $500 December Tuition Scholarship towards the Distance Learning program or Live program in New York City. Offer valid only for new enrollments from December 1-31, 2009; cannot to be combined with other offers or applied retroactively. Just mention my name when you call.
Plus, to celebrate the season of giving, IIN will donate $100 to charity on behalf of each student who enrolls in December. New students will have a choice of 7 charities, including: ChildFund International, Food for the Poor, Habitat for Humanity, Whole Planet Foundation, Nature Conservancy, HealthCorps and City Harvest.
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About Us
Laura Brown is a Certified Health Counselor (CHC) and the founder of Intuitive Wellness. Combining the principles of Integrative Nutrition and years of hands-on experience, Laura Brown helps clients tap into the healing power of food in their lives – one meal at a time.
Call or email to schedule a free health consultation with Laura:
770-953-0534, or laura@intuitive-wellness.com.
See www.intuitive-wellness.com for more information.
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