Radiant You | 4 Steps to Nourish Your Life

4 Steps to a more radiant you: Taking nourishment from the plate to your life

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Feeling tired? It’s easy to lose touch with our radiance when exhausted, stressed and while rushing around. We can all get caught up in the day-to-day busyness — the key is to prevent this from becoming the new norm.

Low energy on a regular basis will definitely affect our moods, our thoughts and ultimately our interactions. How do we take ourselves higher? How do we get off the chronic low-energy rollercoaster that is reliant upon stimulants like coffee or sugar to get us through the day?

We receive energy in many ways and from many sources. A dominant one is the food on our plate — not to mention the quality of food on that plate.

Is it organic? Does it contain chemicals, additives, has it been treated with pesticides? Are you eating lots of dark leafy greens (like kale, collard greens, bok choy) and bright orange vegetables (like carrots, butternut squash, yams) — foods chock full of minerals, nutrients and enzymes that are enlivening and replenishing while also being gently cleansing?

Are you on a low-fat diet? Fats are essential for feeling satiated. Consuming healthy fats like avocado, coconut milk, coconut oil, raw nuts and seeds, nut butters and grass-fed butter provide satisfaction and nourishment for the brain, muscles, nervous system and joints.

Are you eating high-quality protein (pastured chicken, eggs with beautiful orange yolks, grass-fed meats, raw milk dairy, beans, lentils, spirulina)? If you choose to be vegetarian or vegan, it’s essential that you are incorporating mineral rich foods like sea vegetables such as nori, dulse, wakame, hijiki. Having a diet that has a variety of color and texture provides you nutrition and nourishment — not to mention, the deep satisfaction of the visual pleasure. There’s a reason why so many of us photograph the food on our plates and post it on social media. It’s inspiring. It’s beautiful.

We are sensual creatures and the more we can bring our senses to the table the more satisfying our food will be. We eat with all of our senses.

We also receive energy beyond the plate — with fun, pleasure, fresh air, sunshine, relaxation, moving our bodies, being in nature and connection with people you feel good with. Ask yourself, What feeds my soul — what makes me feel alive?

When we don’t make time for nourishment beyond the plate, we can feel cranky, short tempered and discontent. Reaching for sugar, skipping meals or overeating can go hand in hand with exhaustion. Did you know that you could be malnourished and overweight?
When you spend extended periods of time consuming a high carbohydrate and/or high sugar diet, you are left feeling hungry and unsatisfied while simultaneously packing on pounds and robbing your body of protein, minerals, healthy fats, and vitamins you need to thrive.
So how do you change the cycle? Taking one small action toward replenishment brings us closer to our radiance. Here are a few simple steps in the right direction:

1. Nourishment on the plate

Eat delicious nutrient rich food, especially soup. Soups are a wonderful way to fill the bowl with root vegetables, leafy greens, bright orange vegetables like squash, sea vegetables and protein from beans, fish or chicken. One pot meals will transform your world and bust the myth that you have no time to prepare healthy food. Break out your slow cooker, also known as a Crock-Pot. It’s a busy person’s best friend. Assemble your ingredients and the soup cooks overnight while you sleep or while you’re at work. Gotta love that! I love eating soup from a deep bowl I can hold with both hands and feel the warmth.

Take a few deep breaths and ask your body what it wants to eat. Be as present as you can in your food preparation.

If dining out is easier for you at a particular time, choose a restaurant with clean, delicious food. Take a few deep breaths and ask your body the same question before looking at the menu.

Notice how you feel before and after you eat your food choices.

2. Move beyond the plate

Get outside in nature. Walk, move, inhale deeply. Look at the sky, daydream amidst the clouds. Notice the trees. Take in your surroundings. Breathe the scent of the season. Allow life to give to you.

3. Move, dance & be playful

Grab a kid and get silly, or entice some friends to dance and play. Really. Play Twister! We are kids in big bodies and need to make space for our playfulness much more often. The more stressed out we are, the more we need to exhale, release, laugh and have fun. Observe how this makes you feel.

4. Take a nap

How’s your sleep? Are you tired all the time? Naps rock! Allow yourself the luxury of restoration. Even a short ‘cat nap’ will feel like a restorative hug to your physical self.

Lay your burden down and rest.

Once you’ve taken these actions, I know your glow will return. Radiance is yours for the taking. And you can make this part of your busy life in some form on a regular basis. This awareness and these practices have become as essential to me as the food on my plate. Let your moods be your barometer.

Wishing you blessings on your plate and in your vibrant and radiant-filled life.

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You may also enjoy reading Rest Is The New Hustle: A Meaningful Life Is Not Measured By Productivity by Paula Rizzo