Meatless Mondays

For some strange reason, the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ sends most people into a tizzy. I always ask: “If you aren’t what you eat, what makes up your body?” I find it comforting that I am what I consume. It gives me a feeling of control. Even when I ‘sin’ and eat something I know is bad for me (looking at you last Thursday’s lunch), I acknowledge what I did, ask myself if I enjoyed it (last Thursday was epic) and then take conscious steps to heal the damage. ‘Sin’ by the way is a term from archery that means ‘missing the mark.’ I offer you this reference instead of the Catholic flames of hell one I grew up with in Brooklyn. Anybody relate?

‘Food sins’ can spell damage to the microbiome. They are also a siren call to the food addict who lives inside everyone. A taste of sugar or salt can release her and I know the sick to my stomach feelings a binge can cause. The American diet is geared to sweet & salt especially when you look at processed and packaged foods. A treat every now and then is certainly in order but it’s good to recognize the food cravings that can be unleashed and beat them back with a return to healthy choices and maybe a probiotic like Seed or a swig of ION gut support. I take both daily.

In my 8-Week Journey to a Clear Mind & a Clear Space ( join the waitlist) I introduce my students to the idea of adopting a Meatless Monday tradition in their home. Every week you receive a recipe from a chef I admire. Not all my chefs are vegan or vegetarian. The great Ottolenghi, for example, has recipes for every type of diet and they just happen to include recipes that make for spectacular Meatless Monday meals. His cookbooks are works of art so if you have to get a gift for someone on your holiday gift list, I suggest his newest offering Comfort

Holiday Prep

The upcoming holiday season is the perfect time to re-organize your day-to-day eating plan and include more fruits & vegetables while consciously cutting back on salt, sugar and high fat products. If you make this move now, your taste buds will change and you won’t be as tempted at parties and big holiday celebrations to over indulge. I Loved my flourless chocolate cake last Thursday but I will admit it made me a little queasy because I don’t usually indulge in anything so rich & sweet. A few bites would have been perfect. I ate the entire slice.

After you get used to one type of diet it is what your body craves. What is my go to dessert? Cut fresh fruit topped by plain, unsweetened yogurt. Most vegan yogurts are abysmal but if you can find the brand Cocojeune, I think you will be surprised and delighted. It’s at health food stores and markets like Whole Foods. Give it a try. Here’s the website for the company that makes it. I’m sure they will guide you to a local store. In fact they have a newsletter, blog and recipes Cocojeune 

Plain Yogurt is a lovely snack before you hit a holiday party so you don’t enter famished. My favorite dairy yogurt is full fat, plain FAGE. It’s Greek yogurt at it’s best. If yogurt is too tart for your taste buds, a few drops of stevia will do the trick. You won’t be surprised to learn that this company also has a packed website complete with everything you ever wanted to know about FAGE including recipes FAGE

I can hear the chorus of “I hate yogurt!’ “I think tofu is a tasteless joke!” “Hey, you only live once, right?” “Is she crazy? I want to enjoy my food.” I get it. The reluctant, rebellious part of you is the part that does not want to change and feels threatened. You think I just told you that you were wrong for the way you are eating now. You think I want to control you. Let’s take a deep breath, shall we? Maybe a few rounds of box breathing are in order? Here is why I suggest this change without ever once saying that you could Never indulge again:

1. Extra weight around the waist invites high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other health related problems nobody wants to deal with. You follow me to learn how to create a Mindful lifestyle, right? I want you to do the work with ease because you are healthy and then I want you to enjoy the fruits of your labors for a long, long time. This is why Zen Organizing deals with food choices.

2. Meatless Monday saves you money! I do not know how big families do it. I spend $100 a week at various stores and I am mostly vegan. I want you to give up meat, fowl, pork and fish just one day a week to save money! Calculate what you save and put that amount in a jar. I bet you will fund a weekend away or a few holiday gifts in no time.

3. Factory Farming is bad for the environment. As we cut back on our demands we make a gesture to help save the planet.

4. Consider composting and you will cut down on your literal trash output. It’s mandated now in many big American cities. Get on board and be in the vanguard for positive changes in trash!

5. At the end of the month or better a year, there will be a few cows, chickens, fish and pigs that weren’t slaughtered because you reduced consumption. I think that’s a great benefit.

There are many sources for protein. Google it and be inspired. Here’s my daily lunch recipe that is the same and totally different every day. How is that possible? Get a paid subscription and find out!

Ottolenghi’s Fava Bean Burger

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Organizing Tips:

I have no words for how much I love Mason jars for food storage. Use them for a wide variety of kitchen tasks like leftovers, canning, fermenting or decanting in the pantry. They come in various sizes. Here's a link to the large, wide mouth variety: YEBODA 6 Pack Wide Mouth Mason Jars 32oz Glass Canning Jars with Airtight Lids and Bands for Preserving, Jam, Honey, Jelly, Wedding Favors, Sauces, Meal Prep, Overnight Oats, Salad, Yogurt 

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