Better digestion, Getting Organized + My Favorite Plant-Based Restaurant
I was in my HAPPY PLACE this past week. Any movie, show or song that was playing in our house had a Christmas theme. As soon as the sun went down, the twinkling lights turned on. There were parties, last minute shopping trips and holiday baking all in the spirit of the season. Paul might have wanted to toss my overly cheerful tush out the door at times, but he kept me around ;) Plenty of memories made as we created our first California Christmas.
Needless to say, there was no shortage of inspiration. Check out my picks below for what gave me all of the good feelings this week…
DINE: Plumeria Vegetarian. A spontaneous date this past weekend at one of the first plant-based restaurants that we were introduced to when we moved to San Diego last January. Everything from the super cozy ambiance to the hearty and insanely delicious Thai cuisine, to their promise of only using 100% organic non-GMO products has quickly made this a clear favorite. I'd suggest the garlic edamame or Thai salad to start, and the pumpkin curry (ask for extra veggies!) for an entrée. Although you really cannot go wrong with any dish on the menu.
NOURISH: Digestive Enzymes. Better late than never with this recommendation...these supplements have been my best friend throughout this holiday season. Great to take before heavier meals ( I suggest 2 capsules) and offer extra support for your body to absorb valuable nutrients from your food. I’ve noticed a positive change in my overall digestion and will be sticking with this habit into the new year.
LISTEN: Mind Body Green Podcast Episode 34. A must listen. This weeks guest, Dan Buettner (know for his work on the Blue Zones) delivers a powerful interview about commonalities of the worlds happiest cities. He talks on everything from how much someone should strive to make for income, to creating a special place in your house dedicated to good memories. I’ve recommended this to so many people and will probably listen again myself because it’s THAT good. This is an interview that will make you want to take charge in your own life and re-think some of the normal day-to-day rituals.
CREATE: Evernote. If you’re making organization a priority in 2018, this app is where it's at. I had heard person after person rave about Evernote for months and finally took an afternoon to see what all the fuss was about. Game changer. I’ve swapped my entire life onto this platform and use it for everything from taking random notes to saving pictures (even within the note!), to Pin’s that you want to make more of a priority. So many features, but not to a point where it’s overwhelming and the thing that I like the most about this is you can customize in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle. Check it out.
EAT: Chines Eggplant. If you took a peek at my Instagram post this past week I had mentioned that preparing this veggie was a first for me. I get it- eggplant is kind of a love it or hate it food. But if you fall into the first category you MUST try this recipe. SO simple and you can really make it your own through pairing with various spices, sauce etc.
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Take 2 full eggplants and wash to prepare. Chop off the stem at the end and cut lengthwise (there should be 4 long pieces).
3. Place the eggplant in a baking dish or on a tray with the purple side facing down, white flesh facing up.
4. Pour 1-2 TBSP olive oil in a little dish. Take your cooking brush and coat the oil onto the face of the eggplant (white side). You could also drizzle the olive oil, but I like brushing it on to make sure that the entire piece is covered.
5. Sprinkle sea salt, ground pepper, garlic powder and a bit of oregano over each piece.
6. Pop in the oven for 10 minutes to bake and then broil for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the eggplant starts to lightly brown on top.
7. Remove from oven, let cool and serve!
Cheers to a fabulous NYE and some time off work to relax, reflect and play with friends & family.
Lots of love + healthy vibes!
KP
