As I embark upon new ventures in my own life, quitting a corporate career, and voyaging on to New York City to attend Natural Chef Training I couldn’t help but feel unexpectedly energized.
Purging belongings, renting out my home, and jumping into the unknown brings on a certain kind of exhilarating feeling.
When just weeks ago I was finding myself groaning at the sound of my alarm clock at 6am, I am now bouncing out of bed at 5:30am to hit up 6am yoga classes! Why is that?
AnnMarie Colbin, the founder of the Natural Gourmet Institute where I plan to attend in the coming weeks describes change as “the real secret of a successful life — the ability to adapt to new circumstances, new forms, new events that arise out of the old.”
When it comes to life circumstances or our diet — change continuously “helps slough off old cells, get rid of metabolic waste matter, blood and lymph flowing easily.”
As with the changing of the seasons, it can be a good idea to change our diets — mainly based on how you feel.
If you are feeling ready for a change or if what you are currently doing isn’t working — change it up already!
It is important to recognize that your diet should not block your health, your activity or your work in anyway. You should not feel bloated, depressed, tired, or overweight and what you put in your mouth should not cause you any guilt!
So if you’re feeling like your food choices are not giving you what you’re looking for, it’s likely time for a change.
Many people even go from eating raw foods to adding cooked, or from cooked to more raw, or reducing protein to increasing protein. The way you eat should help you feel balanced in your own skin, clean and comfortable.
Your food should be tasty and satisfying and nourishing.
It should give you the energy you require to perform your daily functions with ease and restore you back to health if you have fallen under the weather.
And if you’re in need of a bigger change than just your diet — why not consider the possibilities?
In the meantime, enjoy some cauliflower soup with all this cold weather coming on…
Warming Cauliflower Soup
(Dairy Free, gluten free, delightfully delicious!)
Drizzle Olive Oil
1 Head Cauliflower
1 Can Coconut Milk
1 Large Yellow Onion, diced
2-3 Cups Vegetable Stock
1 Lemon, squeezed
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Dice up cauliflower, put in baking dish with sea salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Roast at approximately 450F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Dice onions and sauté in pan on medium heat.
Add roasted cauliflower to incorporate flavours. Add coconut milk and bring to boil at high heat. Reduce heat, add juice of lemon and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix with hand blender. Add 2-3 cups of water or vegetable stock to desired consistency blend and re-season to taste! Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of cheese… and perhaps your favourite herb or just as is!
Kristin Fraser, BSc, is a holistic nutritionist and local freelance writer. Her column appears every second Wednesday. She can be reached at kristin@somethingtochewon.ca.