Are you ready for it?
I don’t think we are ever ready to say goodbye to summer right? It’s tough to see the long summer days and green trees start to turn yellow and orange in.. ahem.. early August.
I do LOVE fall though, once I accept the fact that it is here. The colours of the trees up in the Yukon are just unreal! It takes hiking and nature walking to a whole new level. Holy moly..
I think as the seasons change, people start to relax a bit more and unwind after a busy wild summer of activities, travelling, kids at home etc.
I also think it’s a good opportunity to talk to you about how you can float into Fall feeling good and de-stressed ?
Today I want to share with you 3 stress busting tips for this Fall as well 3 of my fave cookbooks!
So.. let’s dig in!
PS: On an exciting note, as per my gut wrenching story (sarcasm) about my broken blender in August, I have to share that it is now back in my kitchen where it belongs and it looks like a brand new machine…(happy dancing). I am SO happy to have that baby back with me! There were hugs, tears and long conversations upon its return.. ?
3 Stress Busting Tips
Ditch the stimulants:
Think about giving coffee and sugary foods a break this fall. Your nervous system and blood sugar levels will thank you. These foods/drinks are stimulating to our body which in turn adds stress to our bodies (think adrenal glands especially). Consider cutting back on coffee and trying green tea, dandy blend tea as well as eating balanced meals and snacks in order to keep your blood sugar balanced and sweet tooth at bay.
Healthier treat options are always a good thing! The cook books I mention below have a ton of healthier treat options that are delish.
Face the stress head on:
I was inspired by a post by Marie Forleo the other week. She suggested actually having a stress log which is such a neat idea. When things are stressing you out, try sitting down for a chunk of time and doing a brain dump of everything currently bothering you. By seeing it and reading it, it can be easier to break down the stressors in our life and create a plan on how to tackle and diffuse them.
You may also find that the things stressing you out are more simple than originally thought, and not as overwhelming. Love it!
Ditch the violent media:
We may not realize it, but the constant negative or violent movies/news/media that we are surrounded by or view on the daily, can take their toll on us. If you are scrolling through Facebook or watching the late news every night, you may be subjecting yourself to a whole crap pile of negativity which adds stress to your body, emotions and nervous system.
Now I am not saying to avoid reality and the news altogether, but maybe take a break or become mindful of how violent shows/movies/media may be affecting your health! Put on the ear muffs or watch a funny or fuzzy warm show once in a while!
Side note:
I used to LOVE watching scary suspense movies growing up, but as my nervous system got a bit more tired over time I notice that I cannot handle scary suspense movies anymore.. They seriously stress me out! Haha small doses now.. I’d prefer to watch cute cat/dog videos (shhh…)
I hope these 3 stress busting tips help you to unwind and enjoy this Fall season with some added calmness ?
My 3 Fave Cookbooks
Make this Fall season a heathy one and grab a new cookbook! These cook books are value packed, full of plant based recipes (that are always customizable to tweak and add different types of protein) I also love these books as they have many easy n’ fast go-to recipes that a non chef like me can handle.
These are the books that I cook from most often these days ? Perhaps this X -mas there will be a giveaway draw for one of these … hmmm now my wheels are turning ?
- Joyous Health by Joy McCarthy
- Oh She Glows by Angela Liddon
- The Undiet Cookbook by Meghan Telpner
What’s a Fall to float into without a tasty energy packed recipe?
Here is a delish and easy recipe for peanut butter cookie dough bites from the Oh She Glows cookbook. These are great to have on hand at work or when you are on the go. Definitely a healthier treat compared to grabbing a chocolate bar or coffee.
Enjoy!
Cheers to cute cat/dog videos that I know you watch too!
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp organic peanut butter or almond butter
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup almond flour or almond meal
- 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
- 2 Tbsp mini dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
- In high speed blender, blend the oats until a fine flour forms.
- In a large bowl, combine the oil, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the almond flour, oat flour, and salt and beat again until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips
- Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 Tbsp). Place the finished bites on a plate lined with parchment paper
- Freeze the bites for 5-10 minutes, or until firm. Store the bites in the freezer in a freezer bag for quick and easy snacks.
