Category: LoveBites

Just a little bit.

LoveBites, Main, Mental Health, Mindfulness

LoveBites: 3 Ways to Temper the Holiday Madness

Let’s get real. The holiday season is in full swing. We’re getting swept up in parties, gift-giving, family time, and of course potlucks and holiday feast mode.

Not to mention if you’re the one organizing and hosting and making the food and in charge of the holiday gift budget ON TOP of all that other everyday stuff you still have to get done. <flailing both hands in the air>

So believe me, I understand if your needs have gotten bumped down a few notches in your priority list Continue reading “LoveBites: 3 Ways to Temper the Holiday Madness” →

LoveBites, Main, Recipes

LoveBites: Smoothie Bowls are Warrior Fuel

When the lovely people at Raw Elements generously send you a big ol tub of berry Warrior Blend and ask you to give it a try, you make a glorious super berry smoothie bowl!! 😍💜 Continue reading “LoveBites: Smoothie Bowls are Warrior Fuel” →

Hormones, LoveBites, Main, Recipes

LoveBites: A Mess of Goodness for your Hormones + Recipe

What is this mess of goodness? Roasted cauliflower with lemon garlic ginger tahini sauce and red & white quinoa topped with chives. This is a hormone-helping powerhouse meal! 💪😋 Continue reading “LoveBites: A Mess of Goodness for your Hormones + Recipe” →

Hormones, LoveBites, Main, Mindfulness

LoveBites: Stress Management

You know that stress management is important for your health. But what does that really mean? What can you do to reduce stress day-to-day?

Find ways to manage and reduce stress that are also in line with keeping you healthy. Coping mechanisms that are fun while they’re happening but ultimately leave you hurting (e.g. the morning after, sure, but also cumulatively in the future) contribute to the stress on your body.

So what ARE some healthy ways?

✔ yoga and gentle movement
✔ meditation and visualization
✔ journaling
✔ making time for creative expression
✔ aromatherapy
✔ massage therapy
✔ warm baths with Epsom salts
✔ loving sex – both partnered and solo
✔ time with friends – but only if you’re not already feeling over-peopled
✔ mindful eating and drinking – taking time to savour the indulgence
✔ choosing more foods with high antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties on a daily basis – eat the rainbow!

There are many more healthy ways to manage stress. What are your favourites? What will you try?

Photo credit @wellnessstockshop

LoveBites, Main, Mindfulness

LoveBites: Drinking Yo Calories

March is National Nutrition Month! I have a ton of stuff planned for you over the next 4 weeks…

First up: you may have heard “don’t drink your calories”. And for the most part, it’s true – we consume far too many calories from a variety of beverages throughout the day.

But consider what those calories actually consist of.

If we’re having coffee or tea with sugar (and a lot of us are also getting them with flavour syrups, whip, and toppings…), processed juice (or “fruit/juice drink”) and “smoothies” that are made of more sorbet/ice cream and sugar than they are real fruit & veg, pop, beer, wine, mead, Klingon bloodwine… then we’re just adding calories and a shit-ton of sugar and additives with little benefit to show for it (besides tasting good).

That said, there are 2 sides to this. Choosing fresh-prepared, cold-pressed juice or smoothies made with high-quality, nutrient dense produce can be a great way to getting a lot of nutrients and antioxidants into your system quickly.

It’s a balancing act… namely, a macronutrient-balancing act.

Do you need to watch what you drink?

Photo credit @wellnessstockshop

LoveBites, Main, Mental Health

LoveBites: A Goal is Something to Aim At

Setting a goal gives you something to strive for. It encourages you to move forward and do the work to even approach the vicinity of achieving it.

20180227_103614_0001Sure, it may not turn out the way you thought or hoped – but imagine the gains you might make in the process.

Consider a goal like “lose weight”. We all approach it differently, and our results will speak to that. If your intention in “losing weight” is simply to “get thin” or “lose my belly”, you may be disappointed if you don’t achieve exactly that.

BUT what did you gain in the process? Example: physical strength and endurance – maybe you don’t have slender ballerina limbs like you thought you would, but your arms and legs are now thick with firm rockin muscle that make it easier to dance all night at your best friend’s wedding or go on that awesome hiking adventure with your partner, you can breathe more easily after running to catch a bus, your stress level comes way down, and your medical blood work shows lower risk factors for CVD, diabetes, etc.

If you don’t reach your exact goal, reframe and celebrate what you’ve gained.

Need someone to help you set those goals and reframe? Hit me up.

LoveBites, Main

LoveBites: Eat Yo Veggies

Your friendly reminder to not rule out fresh-prepared and frozen fruit & veg. They are amazing time-savers in the kitchen, especially if you find yourself frequently slammed with fatigue, cramps, sadness, or other PMS symptoms you have to deal with, on top of needing something to eat, on top of worrying if that something is even healthy. If you’re going to eat for convenience, this is still a step in the right direction.

Remember when you can get your butt to the store to read labels – make sure there’s nothing funky added like sugar, salt, colour, etc.

I’ve professed my love for ready-to-eat beet spirals lately, and I use frozen fruit (I love the PC Organics power fruit berry blend, and mango chunks) in my smoothies all the time. I’m also a fan of frozen broccoli And butternut squash chunks, and use fresh salad greens mixes to eat as salad as well as to throw into pasta sauce, curry, soup, and of course smoothies. And while they’re not just simple veggies, I like to grab a bag or 2 of Ikea frozen veggie balls (sneaky veg!) when I’m there.

What are your go-to time-saver fruit & veg choices or tricks?