nutrition

Fill Your Cup

As a wellness professional, I am all about self care and the movement that it has become. However, I am a little disheartened by the “focus on me; forget about everyone else” mentality maquerading as self care that has taken over our culture. But that’s a post for another day.

With that said, I am a firm believer that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Filling yourself up with the things that make you happy and feel good are important. And remembering to take care of your basic needs such as adequate hydration, optimal nutrition, and well visits should be on all of our lists…hopefully, somewhere at the top.

As an introvert, being surrounded by a lot of people constantly is very draining. I like to recharge my batteries with solo activities such as reading, pampering myself with a hot showering/body scrub/luxurious skin creams, watching a movie or my favorite indulgence the latest episode of any Real Housewives series.

Knowing what helps you recharge is key, and it will look very different for each person. Here are a few tips to make self care a part of your daily habits:

🧡 Try different activities. If you’re not sure what helps you recharge, take this as license to try a variety of activities until you find the ones that fill you with joy. For me, I like my alone time, but maybe you’re more extroverted and a day hike with friends is more your jam. Perhaps a weekend getaway is what you’re craving. The key is to just do it!

🧡 Make it a part of your routine. Develop a schedule for activities such as skin care. I like to make Sunday evenings my time to wind down and get rid of the Sunday Scaries. I’ll make time to take a hot bath, exfoliate, and treat myself to a luxurious skin cream or face mask.

🧡 Make it non-negotiable. I can’t say it enough…you can’t pour from an empty cup. Let your loved ones know that this time for yourself, whether it be 30 minutes or an hour, will allow you to be more present for them. They will understand.

What’s your favorite way to fill your cup/recharge?

Recipe Review: The Chunky Chef’s Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

I’m patting myself on the back for preparing another new recipe for my family! It’s always a weekly goal, but it seldom comes to fruition. If you’re not using Pinterest for recipes, you’re missing out, because today’s recipe and last week’s recipe have been total hits!

I knew that I only needed to have three meals prepared this week due to the Christmas holiday. I usually try to do a red meat dish once a week, then split the rest of the days between chicken and fish/seafood. Monday, I prepared Bolognese sauce with fettuccine, a side salad, and breadsticks. Since last week I prepared a dish with shrimp, I decided to try a salmon dish this week. To Pinterest I went and this simple, done in 20 minutes, glazed salmon was a gem.

The Chunky Chef’s Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon is one of the best salmon dishes that I have tried in a while. Just like the shrimp dish, this recipe is great for week nights, but it’s so flavor-packed and elevated, that you could easily prepare this for your guests this holiday season or anytime that you’re hosting–you will blow them away! I loved that it was no-fuss, and the ingredient list included a lot of items that I already had in my kitchen. Did I mention that it’s all prepared in one skillet?! Win-win-win!

The salmon was so tender, that my long filets practically fell apart as I moved them in the skillet. The honey garlic sauce was the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

I paired this entrée with Birds Eye Chicken Flavor Seasoned Rice and Vegetables side dish. Don’t let the chicken flavor fool you, trust me it pairs very well with the seasonings in the salmon. The rice dish includes carrots, broccoli, and onions. I also used their Steamfresh Whole Green Beans. Frozen vegetables often get a bad wrap, but they are actually packed full of nutrients in that they are flash-frozen at their peak; locking in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This post is not sponsored by Birds Eye; I just really like how easy it is to throw one of their Steamfresh bags in the microwave and have delicious sides in less than five minutes.

I hope that you’ll give this recipe a try. I know that I will be making it again very soon. Tell me what recipes you have tried in the kitchen this week that really blew you away?

Recipe Review: Low Carb Shrimp and Sausage Skillet by The Bettered Blondie

In an attempt to eat healthier (and reduce the number of trips to the drive thru!), I searched Pinterest for healthy recipes that I knew my family would love. While a lot of recipes looked delicious, just by the image, you could tell that it would require a chef’s culinary skills and more time than I have available with a 9-5 and a four year old to create.

Lo and behold, I came across Sarah’s Low Carb Shrimp and Sausage Skillet recipe from The Bettered Blondie . The recipe boasts being keto, paleo, and Whole30 friendly (so if any of these diets are your jam, this recipe is right up your alley), but what attracted me to the recipe was the tons of veggies and protein included in the recipe. The fact that it took 30-40 minutes to prepare was an added bonus.

The fiber and water content from the zucchini, bell peppers, and onions make this dish so voluminous that you don’t miss having any starchy carbs. Although layering this dish over a half cup of Jasmine or brown rice, quinoa, or couscous would also be delicious. Paired with protein-dense shrimp and andouille sausage, you will leave the table with a happy belly! And I strongly recommend following Sarah’s advice to use raw, not pre-cooked shrimp…it makes a world of a difference.

The blend of spices to season the dish in addition to diced jalapeños for a little heat really make this skillet dish stand out. This is definitely a recipe that I would make again and again for my family.

Click the link above for the full recipe and story behind Sarah’s wonderful dish!

Bon Appetit!