Be One with the Food....

Yoga:   physical, mental and spiritual practices to attain a state of permanent peace of mind in order to experience one's true self. 

The beauty of my Mother's Day
Brunch last year....

I started blogging a couple years ago due to a yoga-related mishap.   Even though I am not a "bendy and flexy" person, when I do go to the occasional yoga class, I am able to breath and find some moments of inner peace.  But I have found one form of yoga I could truly master...Food Yoga.  Even just saying the term "food yoga" makes me think of food on so many different levels.   I used this term recently with a client while describing the art of mindful eating.  What would my definition of food yoga be?

Food Yoga:  To practice healthy, wholesome and soulful eating while being mindful of both your inner and outer surroundings.

Think for a minute about our inner surroundings.  Eating is an incredibly complex process that we often take for granted.  It involves all five of our senses, all twelve of our cranial nerves, facial muscles, a complex swallowing mechanism so we don't choke on our food...and that all happens before the food even reaches the stomach!

Now think about our outer surroundings.What does the food look like?  Sound like?  Smell like?  Can you see the different colours on your plate?  Can you hear the crackle of  breaking bread?  The sizzle of steak on the BBQ?  Smell the wonderful aroma....take it in before really taking it in.  We have all or our senses activated before we even manage to actually eat what is in front of us.

The wonderful feeling of sharing a
holiday feast with family 

We take all of these food-steps for granted when we rush or eat mindlessly.  We may not even notice other aspects of our surroundings...the ambiance, the company we keep, the conversations we may miss due to rushing.  I am not saying we always have to be aware of every step, but practicing food yoga can help strengthen our relationship with food.  Ultimately, food yoga can enable us be mindful of what we are doing and focus on the enjoyment of eating and the afterglow of a good meal instead of rushing to the finish line.  What's that saying...it's not the destination, but the journey?

I know you may be thinking..."it's just food...what is she going on (and on) about?" but eating is something we do on a daily basis.  While we may not have time to practice food yoga everyday, maybe we should try sometimes to just take a moment during a meal....stop....close our eyes...and just.... breathe.

Calgary Herald....How to get your teens and tweens to contribute to healthy meals

I'm in the paper today!!!!

Woo hoo!!!

Follow this link and check it out!

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/your+tweens+teens+contribute+healthy+meals/9767882/story.html

Its all in your head.....running that is....

So, I am sure everyone is waiting to hear how my training is going for the Firefighter's Fun Run / Walk....

Here is a quick update.

I have been out running three times since my Fire! Fire! post.

Run # 1:  I ran just over 3 km, and ran most of it, but walked for a minute after the first 7 minutes of running, and then another minute of walking after that horrid hill on the way back

Run # 2:  I ran about 4.4 km and I will have you know that I RAN the first 2.2 km WITHOUT stopping!  And then ran most of the way back, just had to walk after that horrid hill (hate the horrid hill!).

Run # 3:  This was today.  I ran.....wait for it......6....SIX!!!!!  S-I-X!!!!!!!  6 kilometres today...and with my dog (though she ran ahead with my bootcamp buddy for a bit).  I ran the entire first half without stopping!  And then, of course, walked for my minute, and walked for another minute after the horrid hill!

No pictures today...shoulda thought of that!  But...had to share as I was so proud that I did this!!!!

And it is totally true what people say...it is a complete head game for the first 10 minutes.  I honestly feel like crying in those first 10 minutes and want to give up..then....something happens....and I just keep going.

Look out Fire-dudes....I'm gonna be so ready for May 4!!!!!  Wooo-Hoooo!!!!!!!!!

Lemon Kale Salad

Lemon Kale Salad with Trail Mix

Sunday night suppers are something that I really enjoy but it has to be something yummy with very little effort, as Sunday's are plagued with last minute homework, making school lunches, and getting ready for another week.  Tonight's menu?  BBQ steak, Saskatoon berry perogies and salad.  But not just any salad...a lemony kale salad that was inspired by a recipe I found on allrecipes.com. It was simple, easy and so flavourful and of course I have leftovers for my lunch tomorrow!

Salad:
2 bunches of ruffly kale
1-2 diced seeded tomatoes
3/4 cup of trail mix from Costco (can use any trail mix..this one had cashews, pumpkin seeds, raisins, dried apple, figs....)

Dressing:  
Juice from one lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix the salad fixings together and set aside in your salad bowl.  Mix dressing ingredients together and set aside.  Pour dressing on salad 5 minutes prior to eating, and toss.   For extra goodness, can crumble some grizzly aged gouda on top of your salad....super blissfully delicious!

Sunday Supper: BBQ steak, Saskatoon Perogies and the Kale Salad

Risotto in under 35 minutes....honest!

Last Wednesday I made a fabulous dinner in under 35 minutes....lemon garlic risotto, broiled char, and sauteed kale.   Mind you, I had planned it out, and had all my essential ingredients, but planning is ninety percent of the battle.

Lemon garlic risotto, arctic char and sauteed kale

I don't really like rice unless it is nice and sticky, or creamy or both.   Risotto is definitely something I love, and while it is tedious to make (sometimes) it is not that difficult, and with planning (and an eleven year old helper to stir!) the meal was ready in less than 35 minutes from start to finish.  The only downside for me was that it was an night that I had to go running (ugh!) and I could not eat my full meal (as seen above) until after my run!


Lemon Garlic Risotto (hint...make enough for leftovers)

3 cups of arborio rice
2 - 3 TBSP olive oil
a few cloves of minced garlic
Liquid:
Fresh squeezed lemon - juice from 1 -2 lemons throughout cooking
dry white wine - about 1 - 2 cups total throughout cooking
water - 4 - 6 cups throughout cooking
Using a deep pan (I used a wok-style pan), heat up olive oil. Have your rice and minced garlic ready. Throw in the garlic and within 10 seconds, add the arborio rice.  Sautee for 1 - 2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.  Slowly start adding in liquid, 1/2 - 1 cup at a time, each time stirring until liquid has evaporated.  This is the tedious part, but if you have an eleven year old to help you, I highly recommend it.  Slowly add the liquid, alternating the lemon juice and water, and then the wine. I did not measure, but tasted as I went.  It took about 25 minutes of adding liquid, and in between I seasoned my char and ripped my kale. You will know your risotto is done when it appears creamy and sticky (yum!) and it has a wonderful texture that is soft, but firm.  



Blackened Char

2 pieces of char, skin side down
Use any blackened spice
Lemon slices
Place char skin side down on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Sprinkle any blackened spice you have (I had a spice mix called "Open Season" which was delicious and low sodium to boot!).  Slice lemons and place in along the top of the fish.  Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. 

Sautteed Kale
2 bunches of ruffled kale
1  - 2 TBSP grapeseed oil
salt and pepper to taste
juice from a lemon or...yes....white wine
Preheat the pan with the grapeseed oil.  Once heated, throw in the ruffley kale, and hear it sizzle!   Toss around for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.  Add some salt and pepper, and then toss in a bit of vino.  The acidity of the wine (or lemon juice) helps to get rid of the slight bitterness that kale has, and then all you are left with is total delicious-ness!