I understand Cinderella’s pain: When the clock strikes midnight each New Year’s Eve, I go from strutting my stuff like Beyoncé to real-life crying Michael Jordan in a matter of seconds.
Why?
Because at 12:01, the new year officially begins, and so do all the resolutions I vowed to make in 2018.
There’s a lot of pressure to keep New Year’s resolutions. It can be really overwhelming, especially when you feel like you’re competing with friends, family, and co-workers to see who can keep their resolution the longest.
That’s why instead of resolutions, I prefer to simply make achievable goals.
Same thing right?
“Well, a rose is a rose is a rose,” says Joanna Nunez, author and licensed clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions specialist with a private practice near Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. “But there is actually a difference in terminology here. A goal is a desired result that a person wishes to achieve. It can be short term or long term. A good goal is measurable and achievable. A resolution is supposed to be long term, and something you keep, not complete.”
Whatever you decide to call it, instead of caving to the pressure to make a resolution on New Year’s Eve, why not set those goals in December and get a head start on the new year?
Crazy, I know.
Hear me out.
Earlier this year, I resolved to run my first half marathon. I vowed to start my training Jan. 1.
But after some deliberation, I decided to start training in December, getting a jump-start on achieving my half marathon goal.
So far, it’s been great.
For one thing, all the treadmills at the gym are totally empty during the holidays!
But more importantly, I haven’t put any pressure on myself. If I miss a run day, it’s no big deal. During Thanksgiving, I happily stuffed myself with all the pie without stressing over whether I was going to make a six-mile run happen (I did not).
If you already know your goals for 2018, why not go ahead and start working toward them?
Creating a vision board is a good way to get a head start on your December resolutions. Vision boards are collages of images designed to motivate you to reach specific goals.
You can create a vision board on Pinterest, or you can go middle-school project and pull out magazines and poster board.
Either way, include images that inspire you each time you look at your vision board.
Have no idea what you want to achieve in 2018?
That’s just fine too.
Nunez says that planning ahead gives you time to set or change multiple goals.
“Planning now gives you time to edit [your goals]. …You’ve decided to give up sugar, caffeine, cigarettes, and start running 5 miles a day. …That part I said before about goals being measurable and achievable was important. If you wake up on Jan. 1 and decide this is your plan, you will probably crash and burn pretty quickly.”
Instead, Nunez suggests prioritizing your goals and starting with the one that is most important to you. Then work on ways to incorporate the other goals you would like to achieve in the future.
Setting resolutions in December gives you time to practice, Nunez tells HealthyWay:
“Say you decided to start with a running goal. If you’re not a runner, or not a regular runner, starting out at 5 miles a day would be frustrating, painful, and potentially dangerous. It would be great to start with small runs now, giving you time to build up endurance, make it a habit, make sure you like running, and make sure your body can physically tolerate running. This would give you time to reconfigure your resolution if for some reason running isn’t right for you.”
So whether you call it a goal or a resolution, when everyone else is schlepping to the gym on New Year’s Day, you can cozy in at home because you’ve been working toward your goals since Thanksgiving!
Tag: organic
Excess. It’s a word we hear a lot around the holidays. Excessive eating. Excessive spending. Excessive baking.
Excessive waste.
By some estimates, Americans throw out 25 percent more trash in the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than we do during any other time of the year.
Excess makes the holiday season fun, but it can also cause holiday stress … not to mention leave a heavy dent in the environment. If you’re already cringing over the post-holiday trash piles to come, it may be time to cut back just a wee bit.
But can you really stop the holiday train after it’s left the North Pole station? Oh, just wait…
The Gifts
If you’ve been scratching your head, wondering what to buy for people on your list, now is the time to give yourself a break. Guessing at gifts is a recipe for loading up the landfill, as yet another well-meant candle or body lotion is quietly dropped in the wastebasket by its recipient.
If you want to cut both your stress level and the growing mound of trash, consider asking your family to throw everyone’s name in a hat this year. Each member can pick just one other person to buy for, reducing the number of “maybe they’ll like it, maybe not” gifts you have to find.
Not a fan of picking recipients out of a hat? Suggest that everyone put together wish lists on Amazon. They may not get everything they want this year, but the chances that they’ll receive something they actually need will skyrocket, and you won’t have to worry about the item you order landing in the wastebasket.
Or you can opt out of “things” entirely! Take a page out of a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology and give your friends and family “experiences” in place of physical gifts this year. The study’s researchers found that people are actually happier receiving “experiential” gifts, and they think they’re a better use of money, too.
The Shopping
If you’re headed to the mall this year, grab your reusable bags, then pick up that phone and dial a friend before you head out. Carpooling has long been touted as an earth-friendly way to get around, and the science backs up the theory. Even better, when you shop with a friend, you’re turning one of the holiday season’s biggest stressors into an opportunity for healthy socializing and self care.
Shopping online will cut your drive out of the equation, but you’ll need to factor in the delivery truck’s gas and emissions. That said, if you’re given the option to have packages shipped to you as they’re ready or all at once, choose option number two. Mother Nature will appreciate it!
The Wrapping
Gift wrap tends to pile up around the tree on Christmas morning, only to be shoved in a trash bag and taken out to the curb since the dye, lamination, and thinness renders much of it unfit for recycling. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Old newspapers—especially the comics—make for fun, retro wrapping that can be recycled after every package has been ripped open. Add some pretty ribbon (also reusable!) or bakery string to tie the look together.
Oddly-shaped presents that don’t lend themselves to paper wrapping can be placed in reusable bags for the gift recipient to use again and and again. Or you can try your hand at Japanese Furoshiki fabric wrapping this year to really wow your friends (and recycle that old fabric you have lying around).
The Cards
Emails, social media, and even texting can be an easy way to make contact with friends and family this time of year, and it can take a load off your shoulder while saving a few trees.
Sure, you have friends and family who expect that photo card every year, and you can still send those. Even cutting your list in half by taking advantage of digital means of connecting does its part for the environment. Just make sure the cards you do buy are printed on recycled paper.
As for the cards you receive, don’t trash them at the end of the season! The fronts of traditional cards can be reused by crafters, so ask your local senior center or art and pre-school teachers if they could use a pile. Take any photo cards and stash them in an album—they’ll be fun to look back at in years to come.
Last year, our family celebrated Christmas in a way that my husband and I vowed to never repeat.
I am Jewish, but my husband’s family celebrates Christmas—to the extreme—and it was the first time we’d all been together since our kid was born three years earlier. Perhaps his aunts, uncles, and cousins were making up for lost time, but by the time the gift-giving was over, you can imagine the scene: paper strewn everywhere, toys hidden under other toys, manic children. Our 3-year-old had six times more stuff than we could fit into our suitcases, most of it plastic or singing some oppressively obnoxious tune on repeat. Most of it was stuff that she would almost instantly forget she’d been gifted.
After we flew home (having given 75 percent of the presents to my mother-in-law to store at her house for weekend visits), I checked in with my sister, who had just celebrated Hanukkah with her kids in the sanest way I’d ever heard. It changed the way I looked at gift-giving forevermore.
There are eight days of Hanukkah, and most families stretch out the presents over those days, but the same principles can be applied to Christmas giving. The idea behind it is that each of the presents given on the eight days is unique and teaches children that the holidays aren’t all about getting but about giving as well.
While you may opt for three, five, or 10 gifts (and can spread them out over the time period of your choice), choose a number and stick to it. Here are some ways to divvy up the love so the kids can take an active part in sharing the holiday joy:
Gift 1
This is the one your kid has been begging for all year—the massive Lego set, the scooter, the bike. Go for it! There’s nothing better than seeing their little faces light up after receiving something they’ve really longed for and you know they will enjoy.
Gift 2
If you have more than one child and the children are old enough, this gift is something they select and give to each other. It’s even better if it’s something they’ve made themselves. This turns the focus immediately from getting to giving. If the kids are little, help them make a painting, “write” a book, or assemble a photo album.
Research actually shows that we get more joy from giving than receiving, so sharing between siblings, cousins, and young friends should start in the early years.
Gift 3
Give to a charity of your child’s choice. Do they care about animals? The environment? Homelessness? Education? This gives you an opportunity to help them think about how they can help the world around them. Engage the kids about what matters to them. You can do this by giving money to a cause or actually volunteering your time during the holidays.
Gift 4
Invest in a gift that the whole family can enjoy together: tickets to Hamilton, a trip to Disneyland, a membership to the zoo, or even a dinner out at the kids’ favorite restaurant where they can eat all the dessert they want. Research shows that people enjoy “experiential” gifts more than tangible things. That enjoyment can contribute to cozy familial feelings and great shared memories when it’s experienced together.
Gift 5
Give your child a card with $5 (or $10, or $20) in it that she can spend however she likes. If she’s young, walk her to her favorite store and let her pick something out. This sense of independence will help her feel empowered and respected.
Gift 6
Pass along something old and meaningful. Does your son love to fix things with Grandma or play the guitar with Grandpa? Passing along a favorite tool or instrument can mean a lot to a child. A friend of mine who is in her thirties still has the special calligraphy set her grandmother gave her to teach her the art form.
Gift 7
Another reminder that the holidays are about helping others: Collect your gently used toys and clothes and donate them to a local charity in need…
Gift 8
…and finally: Buy a new toy for a family in need. This will teach your kids the joy of sharing with those who are less fortunate than them—and help them develop empathy for others. No matter how different a less fortunate child might seem, when you’re child imagines another young person enjoying the toy they selected, it will prove there is a common thread of joy and excitement that can be shared by all children. Also, because the children who receive donated toys may only get one or two gifts, it’s an opportunity to teach your own children that less is actually more—that there is great value in receiving one very coveted toy over 10 crappy ones.
Making a Holiday Game Plan
Being explicit is key here. If the kids are old enough, sit them down a few weeks or months before the holidays to explain the plan. This way they can think hard about what’s of material value to them, what activity they’d want to partake in as a family, and where they’d like to volunteer time and donate money. Getting them involved is the key to success—and a wonderful way to home in on your family values.
Okay, but what about Grandma?
This is a subject my husband and I bicker about: My mother-in-law is a giver. She buys Christmas presents in September, and giving them to our daughter brings her unbridled joy. My husband thinks we should just tell her to stop buying them—or at least to buy fewer. But the idea of taking that joy away from her simply because we don’t like the clutter—or, more vitally, because all that gift-giving doesn’t align with our values—is not something I am interested in doing. So how to deal?
The key is to be kind and clear. We are so grateful for all you’ve given us in the past, or, We know how much you love celebrating Christmas and we love to celebrate with you, but…
Explain that your child already has enough stuff (if you have limited space, feel free to blame it on that) and that it’s important to you to teach him the value of giving, which you find difficult to do when he is bombarded with gifts he can barely keep track of.
Be specific about the gifts your child has enjoyed from her in the past.
“Johnny absolutely loved the dolls you gave him last year and plays with them all the time. I know he’d love a few more of those. I don’t think he enjoyed the plastic dinosaur that much.” No one can read your mind—and no one knows your kid as well as you do—so clarity is key.
Ask for things you need.
Onesies, burp cloths, diapers. New pajamas, socks, a good winter jacket, mittens, new boots, a toddler bed. These are useful gifts you know your kid will get a lot of mileage out of.
Be even more specific.
A friend of mine asks for homemade gifts or gifts that are made from natural materials. This will really limit the options and cut back on the clutter.
Ask for experiences that will inspire your child.
Maybe Grandma wants to pay for dance or art classes, guitar lessons, or a year’s subscription to a favorite magazine. Other suggestions: a membership to an art museum or a year’s worth of baseball tickets.
Ask them to invest in your kid’s future.
Instead of giving your child five gifts, suggest that they choose two that the kid will really like (again, suggest things!) and invest the rest of the money in the child’s college fund or daycare bill.
Sharing is caring.
Tell your family that this year you’re thinking more about people in need and that you’d love for them to give all (or some of) the gift funds to a charity. They can even do it in their grandchild’s name! Suggest a charity or two or let them give to a place that means something to them.
When worst comes to worst…
If you know that your child will get way more gifts than you feel comfortable with, tell your child in advance that he or she will be able to keep a certain number (be clear about what the number is ahead of time), and that the rest will be donated to a child in need. This way she has to really think about what’s of value to her and what might be of value to another child.
Spread the cheer throughout the year.
If you know that there will be way too many gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, tell your parents (or whoever else) you are comfortable with them giving X number of gifts on Christmas or during Hanukkah. The rest they can give to you, and you will promise to distribute them on special occasions over the course of the year.
If the idea of limiting your kids’ gift intake is giving you anxiety (first-world anxiety), remember: Giving too many gifts can actually have adverse consequences. The last thing any of us wants is to turn a joyous occasion into an experience that triggers greedy, ungrateful, or monstrous behavior. Keep in mind what kinds of values you’re trying to instill in your children and hold onto them. Everyone else will come around. And if they don’t? You can always try again next year.
Picture it: the office holiday party, 2014.
It was a tradition to play Secret Santa, the game we all know and love, in which we’d all draw a name at random and secretly give that person a gift at the annual holiday party.
When it was my turn to draw a name, my worst fear came true. (Ok, my worst fear is getting stuck at the top of a roller coaster, but this is a close second.)
I drew my coworker Sally.
Sally (whose name I’ve changed just in case she’s reading this article and learns the truth about my 2014 Secret Santa snafu) was a perfectly nice person. The only problem was that I knew literally nothing about her!
Seriously, not one thing.
She kept no personal mementos on her desk. Even her computer desktop background was a plain blue screen.
The only intel I had on Sally was that she ate a tuna melt every single day, which did not endear her to the office.
So, it was safe to say I was at a total loss when faced with the pressure of buying her a Secret Santa gift.
For weeks I tried to find out more about her, to no avail.
Finally, the day before the holiday party, I spied a coffee-table craft cocktail guide at TJ Maxx and thought, “Good enough.” It seemed like a generic gift almost anyone would enjoy.
Fast forward to the party, where Sally opens up her Secret Santa gift.
I could immediately tell she didn’t like it.
To her credit, she politely put on a brave face and tried to guess who’d gifted her the book.
Later, I found out that Sally didn’t drink at all due to her religious background, and while she wasn’t offended by the gift, it wasn’t exactly something she could use.
Yikes.
Since then, I’ve become an expert Secret Santa gift-giver. I don’t want to let anymore Sallies down with lackluster Secret Santa picks.
If you have no idea what to give your Secret Santa recipient this year, I’ve got you covered.
From your mystery coworker to your dad, here are the best Secret Santa gifts under $30 that are sure to impress this year:
1. Birch Box Subscription
I love subscription boxes. One of my personal favorites is Birch Box—the popular beauty product subscription that can be gifted to just about anyone: your work wife, best girlfriend, or mom will all love getting a personalized box of goodies each month.
Starting at $30 for a three-month subscription, Birch Box now offers men’s subscription boxes, truly making them a gift anyone will enjoy.
2. Nuns Having Fun
“A wall calendar? But that’s so boring!”
Au contraire, my friend.
My roommates and I stumbled across the Nuns Having Fun calendar in college, and it has been my go-to wall calendar for the past decade. It’s a great gift for someone you don’t know very well because, seriously, can you imagine anyone who wouldn’t smile seeing nuns having fun?
At under $15, this is an affordable gift that can easily be paired with another item, like a gourmet chocolate bar, for the perfect office Secret Santa gift.
3. Essential Oil Diffuser
Is your work bestie stressed about a big upcoming project? How about giving her an essential oil diffuser this year?
Diffusers like this one from URPOWER are pretty inexpensive but can be used at home or in the office. Along with the diffuser, gift your Secret Santa a couple of different essential oils. Just make sure you buy oils from a reputable source.
4. Bacon, Bacon, Bacon
Does your Secret Santa love bacon?
Who am I kidding?
Everyone loves bacon.
Assemble a bacon-forward gift basket with the retro-inspired 101 Things To Do With Bacon cookbook, gourmet bacon-flavored salt, and a petite bottle of bacon-flavored hot sauce.
No time to assemble something yourself? While Man Crates are designed for men, they’re really a great gift idea for any whiskey-drinking, meat-eating guy or gal and they aren’t just for Secret Santa either. When Valentine’s Day rolls around, send your boo a delicious heart filled with gourmet jerky.
5. Have Mug, Will Travel
This isn’t your average travel mug. The Thermos insulated travel mug was tested by Good Housekeeping and was crowned one of the best travel mugs of 2017.
Everyone can use a good travel mug (especially if they’re like me and can never find a clean one in sight).
Not only does it keep drinks hot or cold for 18 hours, but it even has diffuser options for bag or loose leaf tea. It’s the perfect Secret Santa gift for a coworker or your dad (whose 30-year-old thermos probably needs an update).
6. Cozy Slippers
Studies show that the more comfortable you are, the more productive and happier you are at work. Alan Hedge, PhD, found that employees who were warm enough were more productive than those who worked in the chilly conditions of most office buildings.
You may not be able to change the thermostat in your office, but you can gift your Secret Santa a cute pair of slippers to slip on under their desk. These rose gold Minnetonka slippers will be sure to keep your Secret Santa’s feet feeling toasty and looking fabulous, even when the office feels like the frozen tundra.
7. Ready, Set, Write!
With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, this journal is a great gift idea for your coworker, friend, or anyone you know who is working toward a specific goal. While it does come in just a few dollars above the $30 price point, it’s well worth the extra expense (less than a cup of coffee!) for the motivation it provides.
8. There’s no place like home.
Is your Secret Santa homesick over the holidays? Cheer them up with these Homesick Scented Candles. Each state’s candle smells like a bit of home. I love to light my beloved North Carolina candle, which smells a little sweet and a little bitter, just like the perfect bite of NC barbeque.
Homesick candles cost between $25 and $35 each and can be purchased on Amazon.
9. Grow your own tree.
Give a gift that keeps on giving (in a good way) by gifting your Secret Santa a Bonsai Garden Starter Kit from Nature’s Blossom. In addition to giving them reason to slow down and take the time to plant and tend to their little bonsai, as the tree grows, it will enhance their space, whether it finds its home at the office or somewhere around their house or apartment.
An added bonus? Houseplants help rid the atmosphere of carbon dioxide and release oxygen thanks to photosynthesis, which means, in a way, you’ll be gifting them a breath of fresh air for the new year!
10. Stylish Reusable Tote
This solid jute tote from MudPie is a stylish, versatile take on the reusable tote. It’s a steal that can be used to carry everything from groceries to beach gear.
Want to make this gift extra thoughtful? Consider having your Secret Santa’s initials monogrammed on the side as a special touch.
Categories
The Beginner’s Guide To Handstands
An hour into my first advanced yoga class, the teacher announced that it was time for handstands. I dutifully started to drag my mat to the wall…but no one followed. These seasoned practitioners didn’t need it. Up they flew—weight on their hands, feet in the air. Balanced! It was like magic. I was amazed and inspired. And a little terrified and befuddled. How would I ever get there?
Handstand—or Adho Mukha Vrksasana—is an advanced yoga pose. But this doesn’t mean you need to be an advanced practitioner to build up the physical strength to turn yourself upside down. There are many building blocks that you can start working on today that will allow you to experience the benefits of this super fun pose.
Be aware that because this is an advanced pose, we recommend working with a teacher before attempting it at home.
Why go upside down?
As the master yogi, B.K.S. Iyengar, writes in Light on Yoga, “[Handstand] develops the body harmoniously. It strengthens the shoulders, arms and wrists and expands the chest fully.”
In other words, it’s a whole-body affair. As Iyengar wrote, not only does it strengthen so many parts of the body at once, it asks them to work in concert with one another.
This pose also allows us to improve our balance. By placing the weight of our bodies on our hands (eek!), we lift the burden of staying balanced from our legs and assign it to our arms for a while. In order to stay balanced we must make small, infinitesimal adjustments. The incremental work is wonderful for the body’s awareness.
And from a more philosophical point of view, there’s something powerful about seeing the world from a new angle—flipping your reality. Sometimes when we’re stuck or feel weighed down, it’s a nice way to recalibrate our perspective. Also—surprise, surprise—it’s so much fun! Who doesn’t want to feel like a kid again?
That said, handstands aren’t easy, and many people have all sorts of barriers up when it comes to attempting them. These may be physical challenges or mental ones.
The biggest physical obstacle is arm strength. The arms and shoulders must be strong enough to support the weight of the body. The biggest mental obstacle is often fear—of falling, of putting the head down, of kicking up and letting go, of what will happen. All these challenges can be worked through by taking the pose step by step.
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Handstands aren’t all about arm and shoulder strength, but it is certainly a big factor. Remember all those preparatory poses that come early on in a yoga class? Those will all serve you when building up the strength to turn yourself upside down. Here are a few vital poses to practice:
Downward Dog
This pose is formational for so many asanas, but especially for handstands. Although the weight is distributed pretty evenly between arms and legs, your arms are taking on more than they are accustomed to, and you’re learning the proper hand-wrist-arm alignment you need. There’s also a misconception that your legs don’t need to do much work in handstand—not true! All the work you’re making your legs do here will help once you turn upside down.
Downward Dog With Your Arms on the Wall
Stand at a 90 degree angle with your feet on the floor and palms on the wall. Your body should be in an L shape. This gives you a chance to practice the arm and shoulder rotation and support without any weight bearing on your arms.
Plank
This is another arm strengthener. It also works your abs, which are vital for handstand. Start on your hands and knees, with your hands right under your shoulders. Reach one leg back and curl the toes under. Add the other leg. Your legs can be glued together or slightly separated. Reach your heels back to strengthen the legs. Lift up energetically through the wrists.
Chatturanga
This one can be practiced with your knees on the floor, or not. Hands are right under your shoulders, legs and abs are engaged. You bend your elbows back, close in to your ribs—not out to the side as you would in a regular pushup.
Jumping From Downward Dog to the Front of Your Mat
This one helps with building up the push-off power you’ll need to get your legs up in the air.
Building Blocks
Before you hurl your legs up in the air, it’s important to remember that handstand is a challenging, advanced pose that should be attempted and practiced (for many months!) with the help of a teacher. We do not recommend flipping yourself upside down alone in your living room! But you can begin by attempting these two variations. Before beginning, make sure you’ve cleared your area of any furniture.
Variation One
- Position yourself on your hands and knees with your toes curled under and your heels against the wall. Your arms should be shoulder width apart, and your middle finger should be pointing straight to the top of the mat. Press down on your inner thumb and forefinger. Look between your hands.
- Push up into downward dog—it will probably be a shorter dog than you’re used to, so feel free to bend your knees.
- If you’re feeling strong here, lift your right leg up onto the wall at a 90-degree angle, and press your foot into the wall. Your body will be in an L-shaped semi-handstand.
- With added power in your arms, bring your left leg up to join the right, and press both feet strongly into the wall. If it’s too challenging with your legs straight, keep your knees slightly bent. Draw in your abdominals and breathe for 3 to 5 seconds.
- Bring one foot down, then the other. Rest in child’s pose.
Variation Two
- Position yourself on your hands and knees, only this time put your hands about half a foot from the wall, fingers facing the wall.
- Push up into downward dog.
- Look at the space between your hands. Lift your right leg up in the air a foot or two. It should be straight with your foot flexed—an engaged, active leg.
- Bend your supportive leg and hop up off the ground a few times.
- Practice this on the other side.
- Rest in child’s pose.
Bonus Round!
- Reposition yourself in downward dog. Lift one leg up, bend your bottom knee. This time, make the hops bigger until the upper leg touches the wall. The other leg should quickly follow.
- Once your heels are on the wall, flex your feet and engage your legs. They should be just as strongly engaged as if you were standing on them. Draw in your abs.
- To come down, draw in your abs and land as softly as you can on a bent knee.
- Rest in child’s pose.
Please note: We do not recommend using a friend to support you unless you are in a class setting, or your friend is a yoga teacher.
Advanced Variation
Once you’ve been practicing the pose for some time, it’s really fun to try this completely free of the wall so you can balance on your own. Again, you want to make sure that you’re not near any furniture or other people. This is why it’s always best to practice this pose in particular at a yoga studio where there’s plenty of room.
Organic, healthy, one-bowl meals have been in vogue for quite some time. Over the years, they’ve gone by a variety of names: hippie bowls, macro bowls, sunshine bowls, and so on.
But a recent trend taking off on Pinterest has given these one-dish meals a brand new name (and a fresh twist). Known as Buddha bowls, these most recent incarnations contain a filling mixture of roasted or raw vegetables, a variety of greens, healthy grains, and beans. For added texture and flavor, bowls can also contain seasonings, sauces, nuts, and seeds.
Buddha bowls are healthy, tasty options (not to mention easy and quick!) that encourage you to get creative in the kitchen while staying healthy and feeling full.
What’s the Buddha got to do with it?
You might find yourself wondering if there’s a religious connotation associated with this meal. Are they supposed to help you when it comes to meditation? Not really; in fact, the name is a bit of a misnomer. A Buddha bowl is supposed to be so stuffed full of healthy fuel for the body that it resembles the round belly of the Buddha. Except Guatama Buddha, who founded the Buddhist tradition over 2,000 years ago, actually had a more average build. The rotund, smiling Buddha we often see, whose name is Budai Luohan, the Laughing Buddha, was a Chinese monk who lived hundreds of years after Guatama.
But no matter what they’re called, there is no denying that Buddha bowls can be life-changing. They are inherently vegetarian or vegan, but the great thing about them is that they are endlessly customizable. You can add any combination of fruit, vegetables, protein, grains, and greens you want to induce a tastebud explosion.
Keep it authentic.
When reaching for the healthy, tasty meal of your dreams, make sure that it’s actually a Buddha bowl. InStyle provides a helpful breakdown of the core contents that shouldn’t change: “For the uninitiated, [Buddha Bowls are] a meal (often vegetarian or vegan) that typically contains 15 percent lean protein, 25 percent whole grains, 35 percent vegetables, 10 percent sauce, and 30 percent extras, like nuts, seeds, or sprouts.”
Using that basic formula, a true Buddha bowl will contain all the nutrition you need to get you through the day. That’s why they make great meal options, regardless of whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
There are literally hundreds of variations of Buddha bowls out there. Of course, any of these recipes can be customized to suit your unique tastes, but here are some great bowls to get you started:
Perfect for Buddha Newbies
If you’re new to Buddha bowls and want a good place to start, try this basic recipe that walks you through each step of building a bowl, from picking your base all the way through to choosing the perfect sauce or other topping.
A Take on Thai
If you like Thai food, try the Thai Tempeh Buddha bowl, which boasts 20 grams of plant-based protein and 16 grams of fiber topped with delicious cashew curry sauce.
Going Southwest (and Spicy)
Are you constantly craving the smoky chili flavor perfected by your favorite burrito joint? If yes, do it yourself with this recipe that uses maple chipotle black beans and chipotle peppers over sweet potatoes and quinoa.
Eating With the Season
For a seasonal twist, check out the Fall Harvest Buddha Bowl with butternut squash, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg. As if that weren’t mouthwatering enough, it’s topped off with an apple cider cashew dressing.
Whatever your taste, style, or nutritional goals, Buddha bowls make nutritious, scrumptious, easy meals that encourage your creativity and let your taste buds soar. Try one out today!
Remember the rituals you loved most as a kid? Did you listen to the same holiday radio station at exactly 7 p.m. every day in December? Or spend Friday evenings sitting around the dining room table reciting the kiddush? You might even be carrying around some of those rituals with you now, repeating them daily, weekly, or just once a year.
We tend to get caught up in routines when the kids arrive: bedtime routines, morning routines, teeth-brushing routines. They’re steps we take every day that help us keep all the plates we’re juggling way up in the air, but they don’t tend to take a lot of thought. We do them. We move on.
Rituals, on the other hand, stick with us. They take thought to do and put us in another frame of mind entirely. And the rituals you start now will likely stick with your kids for the rest of their lives.
Even better? There’s solid science out there that shows these rituals help us through tough times and ward off “negative emotions” such as stress and anxiety.
In a stressful world, who couldn’t use an extra ounce of armor against negative emotions? We certainly can, and our kids could too.
But getting stressed out about how to pick a ritual to develop with the kids would defeat the purpose of all that stress relief, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Try some of these options on for size to find one that works for your family.
Remember it.
Rituals don’t have to be long, drawn-out affairs. They just have to be repeated actions that are done with mindfulness. One easy but effective ritual? Go around the dinner table each night and ask each member of the family to talk about one good thing that happened during their day. Repeating the practice will help make it stick, but the practice itself can help re-focus everyone in the family on the positives in life.
Don’t always get to eat dinner together? That’s life! But similar practices can be done any time of the day. Try asking everyone in the family for one thing they’re excited about at breakfast time!
Try it.
We all depend on our routines, but if you’re caught in a rut, a ritual might pull you out.
Think about it: When’s the last time you tried to make something different for dinner? Tried to shop at a new grocery store? Did anything…new?
Spice up your family’s life and create a ritual with a “try it” day. Pick one day of the week when you and the kids try something new, whether it’s an activity or a food. Not only will you create a practice that the kids can take with them into adulthood, you’ll teach your kids not to get complacent.
Walk it.
We all mean to fit exercise into our lives, but somehow that 5 a.m. yoga class doesn’t sound quite as attractive when you were up until 2 a.m. sewing a costume for “dress like an old person day” at your kid’s school.
Make movement a ritual with a daily (if possible) or weekly walk with the family. Just 15 or 20 minutes of walking and talking is all it takes.
Book it.
Reading with our kids is often part of the bedtime routine, and it can be a bit mindless when you’ve just read If You Give a Moose a Muffin for the thousandth time. But choosing a book that’s got special meaning and reading it just once a year can become a ritual that your family repeats again and again.
Whether it’s picking a chapter book that you read over the course of a month, every single year, or reading a special holiday-themed favorite every December, the mix of repetition and reading is both ritual and a chance to push the love of reading. Win–win!
Theme it.
Take a page out of the PTA fundraiser book and make theme nights your ritualistic friend. Pick a country once a year that your kids will learn about via books, plan a dinner around the country’s cuisine, and watch a movie set there. Or throw out the educational element (yes, it’s okay to just have fun) and make one night a month all about a favorite film, with eats centered on the movie and the whole family indulging in a quotefest.
Just a few years back, health-conscious women would think twice about leaving the house unless they were armed with a little bottle of hand sanitizer in their handbags, ready to take on the big bad germs out in the world with just a squirt. Now, more and more of people are intentionally spraying bacteria directly onto their skin.
Bacteria does not necessarily equal “bad.”
The skin is the largest organ of the human body, covering a surface area of about 22 square feet. And while that measurement is impressive, it might be even more helpful to think of your skin as its own ecosystem, for all across the creases, folds, and pores of your elastic epidermis live millions and millions of microorganisms. Yes, your skin is home to massive colonies of bacteria, fungi, viruses, mites—the very sorts of tiny biota we usually think we want to wipe out.
Not all bacteria are made equal, though. As many of us reaching for another serving of kefir and kale know, the presence of certain bacteria in our guts promotes digestion, metabolism, and nutrient uptake. These bacteria can also defend against disease. Similarly, scientists have been finding that many of the microorganisms on our skin—or skin flora, as they’re called—aren’t just harmless. They’re actually keeping us healthy.
Some cutting-edge research suggests, for example, that the cutaneous bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis helps boost our immune response to dangerous pathogens. Overuse of antibacterial soaps and sanitizers can kill off too many S. epidermidis, making it easier for harmful microorganisms to colonize our skin and harder for our body to fight off infection.
Mother Dirt is rethinking what it means to have clean skin.
Such findings have been compelling some to rethink their entire approach to skincare, which supports the sustainability of product lines that are compatible with our skin flora. Enter Mother Dirt.
Mother Dirt is a line of “biome-friendly” products for the skin developed by the biotechnologists and probiotic evangelists at AOBiome. According to the company, modern hygiene—from synthetic deodorants and moisturizers to over-showering and shampooing—have annihilated the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) our bodies need. AOB abound in soil and water and once naturally populated human skin. They break down ammonia, a major component in our sweat, and yield nitrogen-rich byproducts that may improve skin health.
As a response to the hypothesized deficit, AOBiome developed AO+ Mist, a patented and clinically tested spray containing those perspiration-hungry little AOBs.
Now, some hardcore AO+ Mist users have tried foregoing bathing altogether. AOBiome’s founder, David Whitlock, famously—or infamously—hasn’t showered since he was inspired to create his company after seeing some horses roll in the dirt well over a decade ago.
But don’t fear any BO bogeyman or greasy-hair gremlins: AOBiome recommends users spritz the product as a daily part of their hygiene routine, targeting the scalps, pits, feet, hands, and groin—you know, our sweatier crevices. And many misters have reported some seriously positive results: clearer, less oily and better-moisturized skin alongside reduced use of skincare products, which can be toxic to the environment in addition to having a harsh impact on our bodies.
The AO+ Mist runs around $50.00 and lasts about four weeks. It’s best kept in the fridge. Other Mother Dirt offerings include a face and body cleanser and shampoo.
For healthy skin, look to your lifestyle, too.
The science behind skin-based probiotics is young but promising. And more and more probiotic-enriched products are making it to market. Gallinée’s creams seek to return the skin to its natural pH levels, Tula’s serums and moisturizers incorporate superfoods like blueberries and turmeric, and the all-natural Crude hopes you’ll say sayonara to soap—and your acne, eczema, and rosacea—altogether.
Yet as with any new health trend, proceed with caution. In the last few decades, just think of the revolving cast of villains in our dietary drama: fat, carbs, gluten, sugar. Just as Mother Dirt wants to balance out your biome, aim for a balanced, holistic approach to your skincare. To help your skin flora thrive, you don’t need to rip out your shower and roll around in the dirt with Whitlock’s horses.
Revisit your diet and reach for skin-nourishing foods like strawberries, tomatoes, almonds, and fish. Rearrange your schedule to spend more time outdoors rather than being cooped up inside with sterilized surfaces and recycled air. Review your skincare products, including your makeups, for artificial ingredients and replace with natural alternatives where possible.
And reestablish your skincare reflexes. Yes, clean your hands thoroughly, especially after using the bathroom, while cooking, between dirty jobs, or when visiting a hospital, but consider washing up with a little soap and warm water—not immediately opening your palm for that bacteria-busting squirt.
During the winter it’s normal to feel a bit frazzled. After all, this time of year is incredibly busy as we struggle to meet everyone’s expectations around the holidays and get all our work done by end-of-year deadlines. If you start forgetting things along the way, it can be frustrating but totally expected! At the same time it’s understandable if your mood takes a dip during the winter, with shorter days, longer to-do lists, and less time outside.
Fortunately, there are natural remedies that promise to give your brain a boost this winter. These four supplements can help to improve your mood and your brain function, making you happier and more efficient this holiday season. Here’s how they work:
Magnesium
Magnesium is essential to keeping your body and brain functioning well. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), magnesium helps with everything from nerve functioning to developing DNA. That’s pretty important stuff! Unfortunately, the NIH also say that most Americans don’t get enough magnesium through their diets.
Magnesium is found in legumes, beans, and leafy green vegetables. But to get the recommended 320 milligrams a day that adult women should have, you might want to rely on a supplement. The health benefits will be well worth the effort of taking an extra vitamin: Magnesium has been shown to help in treating depression and can even alleviate PMS symptoms.
Zinc
Zinc is another often-overlooked but important nutrient. It helps the body repair wounds and build DNA. It has also been shown to have powerful effects for fighting depression, especially in young women. In addition, zinc has been shown to be important for maternal mental health.
Women need about 8 milligrams of zinc per day, which they can get most readily from red meat, shellfish, and poultry. A zinc supplement is a great way to boost your intake. In fact, many supplements combine zinc and magnesium, giving you a double brain boost.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. These good fats provide fuel for your body and help you absorb other vitamins. Despite their importance, only 2 percent of Americans are getting enough omega-3s.
Taking fish oil supplements is a great way to boost your intake, which can help your brain function better. Taking fish oil has been found to improve brain function and is thought to contribute to alleviating depression. When you’re choosing a fish oil supplement, be sure to select one that is high quality.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps your nerves carry signals from your brain to every part of your body. Since vitamin D is absorbed from the sun, you’re likely to get less of it during the winter, which can leave you feeling sluggish or down. Getting enough vitamin D (even through a supplement) has been shown to prevent depression and lower the likelihood of cognitive issues as your age.
Sometimes we can all use a little boost. Consider adding these supplements to your routine to help yourself feel your best!
The story of Hanukkah, also known as the festival of light, is one of miraculous perseverance and rich tradition. According to legend, Jewish rebels were able to recover their holy temple in Jerusalem after being forced to worship pagan deities for many years against their will.
When it came time to light the menorah they realized they only had enough oil to keep it burning for a single night. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days and the Jewish people were able to make more oil to keep the flame lit forever afterward.
The Importance of Oil in Traditional Hanukkah Foods
Many of the delicious foods which are traditionally served during Hanukkah are a directly inspired by the symbolism behind the miraculous oil that burned for eight days. Specifically, deep-fried doughnuts (called sufganiot) and fried potato pancakes (latkes) play a big part during Hanukkah celebrations.
Latkes are a tasty introduction to Jewish home cooking and can be made with just a few easy-to-find ingredients.
Get going in the kitchen with crispy potato latkes.
Latkes are super-crispy potato pancakes that are shallow-fried in oil, which is why they’re eaten so plentifully during Hanukkah. The trick to making these latkes is to remove as much moisture as possible from the grated potatoes before adding any binders. This will ensure a perfectly browned exterior and a creamy center.
Olive oil and schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) are used in traditional recipes but may not be practical for the average home cook due to their relatively low smoke points. Grapeseed, avocado, and peanut oil all work well, as does melted ghee (or a combination of these fats).
Cooking time: 1 hour
Serves: 4 people (2 latkes each)
Ingredients:
- 2 lb baking potatoes (such as Yukon Gold), peeled
- 1 medium-sized onion (white or yellow)
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp. sifted white flour OR matzo meal OR fine bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten together
- 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 cup of grapeseed OR avocado OR peanut oil OR ghee
- Sour cream or room-temperature applesauce (for topping)
Special Equipment:
- Box grater OR food processor with shredder attachment
- Large bowl
- Colander or fine mesh sieve
- Cheesecloth or clean tea towel
- Large skillet (cast iron works best)
- Baking sheet
- Cooking thermometer
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using either a box grater or a food processor with a shredder attachment, grate the potatoes and onion into a large bowl.
- Transfer the grated potatoes and onion to a colander or fine mesh sieve and press down with your hands or a sturdy wooden spoon. Drain for 20 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes and onion from the colander and place in the middle of a square of cheesecloth or a clean tea towel. Bring the fabric together and squeeze any excess moisture out, applying as much pressure as possible.
- Return the potato and onion mixture to the bowl and gently stir in the flour (or substitute), eggs, kosher salt, and pepper. Be careful not to overmix.
- Place a baking sheet in the preheated oven.
- Heat the oil to 360°F in a large skillet over medium-high heat using a cooking thermometer to check for readiness.
- Working in batches, fry the latkes in ¼ cup amounts until browned and crispy on both sides. This should take about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the baking sheet in the oven as they finish.
- Top latkes with sour cream or room-temperature applesauce before eating.