The Natural Happy Soul

Chickpea grape salad wraps🥗One of my favorite plant based lunches right now!

So much chickpea love 🐥🟢

Just a few reasons you should love them too. . .

So much fiber! Nearly 10g in one cup = feeling full, lower blood sugars and happy guts!

An amazing source of protein (and yahoo, plant based!)

Selenium too! (which acts as an antioxidant and great for thyroid support.

And, of course, Super energy provider- chickpeas have plenty of energy supporting nutrients like b vitamins and iron, and who couldn’t use a little more energy here and there 😉⚡️

Ain’t that the truth ✨

Find your ☀️

Happy Earth Day!!!🌎

play outside
go for a hike
recycle
hug a tree
lie in the sun
do some gardening
pick up trash
smell some flowers

Enjoy and appreciate this beautiful place we call home ❤️🌎

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make the biggest difference ☀️

We could all use a little more kindness when it comes to self talk. Sometimes the answer isn’t to ‘push through’ our exhaustion, but instead to listen to our body’s and see if there’s a reason we’re feeling less energetic.

Rituals✨
 
Do you have a daily ritual, or would you like to create one?

Prioritizing your wellbeing is so important and having a ritual (whether we do them daily/weekly/monthly) is such a wonderful way to give back to ourselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. 

My absolute favorite ritual right now is my nightly tea latte (currently loving this lavender/chocolate/mint rooibos blend!)
Every evening a make one and sit down with my notebook to jot down and plan out my next day. It signals my brain that my day is done, the kids are in bed, and it’s time to slow down. 

Rituals are incredibly easy to do and don’t need to take up much time at all. It’s just about bringing presence and intention to an activity consistently.

I like to think of rituals as habits with a lot more mindfulness and love!

Here are a few ways to create your own daily ritual
1. ⏰What time works?: what time do you think you can squeeze in your ritual? Are mornings or evenings best? Whatever your day looks like, schedule it in.
 
2. 🧘‍♀️What’s your goal: be clear on what your intention is for your ritual. Are you wanting to decrease stress, or is it more to increase energy? Maybe it’s sleep? Connection? To feel more grounded? Clarity?  There’s no wrong answer!
 
3. 🌳Where: choose a space that fits whatever goal you’d like to achieve. Your surroundings play a big part on your energy so be aware of your environment. Do you need a place that’s quiet? Dark? Or someplace bright? Nature? Try to think of where would work best.
 
4. 📖Pick your activity! Keep in mind how much time you’ll be able to devote to your ritual and choose something you’ll look forward to.  It could even be something as simple as visualizing all the things you’re grateful for while brushing your teeth! Here are some other examples of rituals you may want to adapt
 
Walking in nature
Journaling
Reading
Having a quiet tea
Listening to music
Meditation/breathing exercise
Writing
Palo Santo or sage smudging
Enjoying a mindful meal
Visualization
Naming things you’re grateful for
Burn a candle
Have a mindful shower
 
☕️Fill your cup and you’ll be a better person for yourself and all those around you!

Did you know that women produce serotonin half as quickly as men?

This means women are more susceptible to serotonin deficiency issues such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, sleeping issues and much more.

Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in our body that is responsible for our feelings of happiness, well-being, and sleep. A serotonin deficiency is one of the most common findings in people with mental health issues.

So this stuff is pretty important to make sure we’re making enough of it!
 
Here’s a few ways to keep in mind to support your body to keep making that “happy hormone”! 
 
☀️Sunshine/nature: sunlight trigger our body’s to make serotonin (pretty cool right?) This is also a factor in why we can feel so blah in the winter months (lack of sunshine).  Getting out in nature also helps relieve stress and support our microbiome which encourages a healthy gut (also a serotonin supporter). Win, win, win!
 
🤸🏼Exercise: healthy amounts of movement and exercise help your body in producing serotonin (as well as dopamine). Exercise is also helpful in improving your body’s stress response!
 
🦠Gut Health: how our guts function is incredibly important to our mental health. It’s been recently founded that around 95% of our body’s serotonin is produced in a GI tract!
 
🥑Nutrition: what we put into our body’s has a direct impact on how we feel. When it comes to making serotonin, our body’s need certain nutrients from our diet including the main “ingredient” which is tryptophan (an essential amino acid). You can make sure you’re getting enough tryptophan by eating a  variety of whole proteins in your diet such as beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and quinoa.

If only we all had little chargers we could plug in to feel 100% 🔌 🧘‍♀️

We made it!!! Happy first day of spring! Bring on the sunshine and serotonin ☀️

A little green smoothie bowl love💚🥝
 
A big reason to love green food, is that (most) green foods contain chlorophyll (the stuff that allows plants to absorb energy from the light).

A few reasons to love chlorophyll. . .

💚Supports liver function and detoxification

💚Helps improve skin

💚Increases energy (through oxygenation of blood cells)

💚Supports immune function
and plenty of other good things!
 
Ways to get your chlorophyll. . . spinach, kale, herbs (parsley, basil, cilantro) spirulina, broccoli, green beans, peas, collard greens

1 kiwi
½ c pineapple
1 frozen banana
handful of spinach
1 tbs chia seeds
½ cup oat milk

Happy Monday!!! I hope the time change is treating all of us ‘west-coasters’ well! Apparently it’s National Napping Day too! 😴

Affirmations!! 🗣💛
Repeating positive affirmations with either saying them out loud or in our head, can be incredibly beneficial for our overall health by reducing stress and supporting our mental wellbeing.
Saying something over and over again, will eventually become our thoughts subconscious beliefs, which is why it’s so important that our self talk is coming from a positive place.
A few tips on how to create affirmations that work for you (from good vibes, good life)
 .
1)your affirmation should be what you want, not what you don’t want (for example something like “I am energetic, healthy and a magnet for positivity” instead of “I’m no longer tired and unhappy”
2)your affirmation should be spoken in present tense  (say it as if it’s already true)
3)know what you want and be clear (your affirmation should reflect what you genuinely want, not what you think you should want
Some super simple, easy to remember ones for positivity. . .
“I am becoming more and more positive everyday”
“my body is healthy, happy and full of energy”
“I radiate joy and am a magnet for positivity”
 
 
                       
                        

The Natural Happy Soul updated their website address.

Don't forget to check out the website for lots of freebies and downloads to start you on your balanced way!

https://www.feedyoursoulnutrition.com/

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Tropical Granola!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAOqf_zJipw/?igshid=6uid9vnphs0u

What’s your go to snack? . I can’t get enough of this stuff!!! I keep making a batch at the beginning of the week, thinking it’ll be enough to last, and sure enough it’s gone way too soon. Definitely one of the perks of all the time at home is getting to create all these yummy homemade goodies 👌🏼 . . Tropical Granola!! (Oats, nut butter, sea salt, dates, coconut, nuts and mango chunks), full recipe link in bio ;) . .#homemadegranola #selfcare #balancedlife #healthysnacks #yogurtbowl #healthyrecipes #soulnutrition #selfcare #lifestyle

Who else is a snacker?? A few tips for snacking right (especially right now 😉 . . .

1. Make it mindful (you know the feeling of mindless, bored snacking, when you don’t even remember eating it, well, don’t do that! When you do snack, enjoy it!!! Sit down, be present and truly take joy in it!

2. Make it blood sugar friendly. Spiking your blood sugar with high glycemic snacks isn’t going to do anyone any favors. This will give you a quick rush, but followed by a slump leaving you tired and “blah” (and also craving more sugar!). When you are eating sugary sweets, try adding in a little fiber or fat to slow the sugar release in your body. For example, if you’re eating chocolate, try adding in a few nuts or seeds for some healthy fats and fiber!

3. Plan it out! I always find it helpful to have an idea of some go to snack foods! Some of my favorite are apples with almond butter, chia pudding, homemade granola, pumpkin seeds with a few dark chocolate chips or chopped up fruit. You don’t have to stick to it exactly but having some healthier options on hand for when you are feeling a little snacky is always a good idea. Have cut up fruit and veggies sitting in your fridge, or nuts, seeds and dried fruit on hand in your cupboard!

4. Take note! If you find yourself craving the same things over and over again, it may indicate something else. Constant sugar cravings may mean a blood sugar, serotonin, or gut health imbalance. If you’re constantly reaching or craving certain foods, it could indicate a possible nutrient deficiency too, so just take note if you find your cravings are going beyond just feeling snacky

I'll be the first to admit that some of my recipes are hits but others can be huge flops. Just the other day I tried to make thumbprint cookies. The filling was amazing but the cookies themselves tasted like cardboard 🙈😝 , but these pumpkin pancakes are definitely a hit! Every time they turn out awesome and a fam favorite (kids and adults!).
For anyone who's not a pumpkin fan, these don't taste like pumpkin at all, just super moist (sorry) perfect pancakes 👌🥞

Pumpkin Pancakes 🥞🎃

1.5 C whole wheat/whole grain flour
1.5 tsp baking soda
*sea salt
*cinnamon
*nutmeg *adjust for how spiced you'd like
2 tbs butter (softened)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1.5 cup almond milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree

Mix well together and use as batter. Enjoy!

What People Think We Do, Vs. What We Actually Do (Written by Raina Dawn Lutz, R.H.N.) The Natural Nutrition Program prepares holistic nutrition professionals in a very practical way for complementary health care by counselling individual clients as well as through community education. The connection between body, mind and spirit is an integral and...

Halloween hangover snacking!!
These things do the trick when your kid's candy is all gone but you still need that crunch (plus incredibly high in fiber and protein 👍

Sweet and salty Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

Preheat oven to 450

Rinse and drain can of chickpeas

Lay on parchment paper lined baking sheet, and bake for 20 mins

Pull out and toss in avocado oil, sea salt, maple syrup, cinnamon, cardamom and a little cayenne and bake another 10 mins.

Let cool and enjoy!!

https://www.feedyoursoulnutrition.com/blog/4-simple-and-natural-ways-to-combat-the-winter-blues-this-season

A coupla' tips to get you through the time change 😉⏰

4 simple and natural ways to combat the winter blues this season! 4 simple ways to combat the winter blues!

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Oldie but a goldie, and with pumpkin pie season still swinging (I hope!), I had to share this 10 Ingredient Healthy Pumpkin Pie🍂
Paleo | Gluten Free | Vegan|Dairy free

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ6pI_dH60S/?igshid=1hqqsicbl4xh1

10 Ingredient Healthy Pumpkin Pie🍂 Paleo | Gluten Free | Vegan. . I love this season!!!!! 🦃 . Filling: 1 can pumpkin purée. 1 can full fat coconut milk. 3 eggs (or flax eggs if vegan). 1/2 C Maple Syrup. Spices: cinnamon/nutmeg/sea salt . Crust: 1.5 C almond flour. 3/4 C shredded coconut. .5 C Almond Butter. 1/3 C Maple Syrup. 2 Tbs Coconut Oil. . Bake 425 for 15 min, then at 350 for 35 mins. Top with whipped full fat coconut milk. 🍂 Thanks @primallyinspired for the inspiration!! . #pumpkinpie #thanksgiving #foodlove #easymeals #paleo #glutenfree #cleaneating #wholefood #natural #homemade

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