Healthy Randomness

A full night of sleep (more or less) and a great four-miler with the work chicks yesterday had me really feeling my new year's health kick today!  In honor of all things healthful and replenishing in the first week of 2010, I thought I'd share more delightful randomness from across the interwebs, this time with a healthy theme in mind.

For starters, 101 Cookbooks' first 2010 post features some of Heidi's favorite recipes from the past year.  Our meal plan for the next two weeks revolves around cleaning out our cupboards and freezer and won't be terribly exciting, so I will have to share other people's recipes to keep things interesting around here.  To that end, I can fully endorse Heidi's Double Broccoli Quinoa recipe.  I've made it before and it is gorgeous and tasty, and even the husband was into it.  If you haven't tried quinoa, I command you to do so this week.  It is cheap, easy to prepare, a complete protein and a nutritional powerhouse; what's not to love?

My favorite new healthy product find is Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 pitas.   Food for Life products are made with freshly sprouted, certified organically grown live grains, and I've always loved their Sesame Bread, but these pitas were new to me.  They are delicious, sturdy and each one has only 100 calories and .5 grams of (unsaturated) fat, as well as 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.  You really can't beat that in a carb for your meal.  I had scrambled eggs with mushrooms, spinach and tomato piled onto one of these babies for dinner last night (love to eat breakfast for din when flying solo, and the hub was at a work dinner... shocking how well merlot goes with eggs, btw) and it was simply delish.  Try 'em!

I always feel the best when I am taking care of myself inside and out, and you know I am devoted to skincare.  I love Jurlique products, but they are very pricey, so I usually don't buy them.  However, I was given their Rosewater Balancing Mist as a gift, and think it is so worth the purchase if only to procure the amazing little bottle.  I've always loved shpritzing my face with rosewater after a shower (refrigerated rosewater during the summer is absolutely the best way to start the day), and this bottle delivers a fine, delicate mist like no other.  I now refill it with the more affordable Organic Rosewater from Lunaroma, but love the Jurlique bottle for it's perfect spray.  If you want a really special treat for yourself (or want to plant the seeds with your honey for a nice Valentine's gift), this is worth the investment.

 

The work chicks and I intend to run throughout the winter, and they both have some great gear worth sharing.   My friend swears by these Brooks Thermal Visibility Pants she has been sporting.  They have a moisture-wicking fleece lining that keeps her toasty, even when we are running in 8 degree weather, and I love the reflective features and the handy zippered back pocket (running with ID is a MUST, people... especially in this slip-and-fall type weather).  The flared design also makes them really cute.  I do not own them (yet), but given how stoked she has been, I feel confident in endorsing these (and my buns are freezing in my Nike pants, so I freely admit that I covet them).  Getting outside in the winter is so important, and great gear makes it possible!

Finally, in the realm of spiritual health, check out this little gem from Deepak Chopra's Daily Inspiration:  

The Law of Least Effort
Nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease, with carefreeness, harmony, and love. And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy, and love, we create success and good fortune with effortless ease.   I will put the Law of Least Effort into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. I will practice acceptance. Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur. I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. I will not struggle against the whole universe by struggling against this moment. My acceptance is total and complete. I accept things as they are this moment, not as I wish they were.
2. Having accepted things as they are, I will take responsibility for my situation and for all those events I see as problems. I know that taking responsibility means not blaming anyone or anything for my situation (and this includes myself.) I also know that every problem is an opportunity in disguise, and this alertness to opportunities allows me to take this moment and transform it into a greater benefit.
3. Today my awareness will remain established in Defenselessness. I will relinquish the need to defend my point of view. I will feel no need to defend my point of view. I will feel no need to convince or persuade others to accept my point of view. I will remain open to all points of view and not be rigidly attached to any one of them.  

Love that.  So worth considering and absorbing.

What is your favorite healthy find for the new year?