Happy Wellness Wednesday, Garden Fam 🌸
What’s on your menu this week? Hopefully you’ve been cooking up the good stuff! 😋
This week, I’m keeping it light and sharing a few of my favorite recipes. Most of them are healthy or at least healthier. Unfortunately, when many people think of healthy eating, they immediately imagine it to be boring, bland, or strict, but honestly, my journey to healthier eating has actually caused me to get a bit more creative. I’m a foodie, so if I had my way, every meal would be a delectable, tasty masterpiece (lol). With me wanting to eat as healthy as possible, cook and eat in a timely manner, and actually enjoy my food, I’ve tried more new foods, ingredients, and recipes than I probably ever would have otherwise.
I’ve especially enjoyed finding new (tasty) ways to incorporate more veggies into my meals. Vegetables don’t always have to be eaten as a separate side. They can be incorporated into your main entrée, added to a sandwich for lunch, blended into a sauce or smoothie, mixed in with your meat (if you’re a meat eater)... the possibilities are endless. Adding in extra veggies and switching out ingredients for healthier or more purposeful ones are ways to make small changes while still eating scrum-diddly-umptious food!
Long story long, eating healthy doesn’t have to be (and in my opinion shouldn’t be) boring, especially if it’s something you want to become a lifestyle. Check out a few of my favorite recipes. Some of them are basic ones everyone has heard of or made at some point, and others are a bit more creative or “out there.”
If you try any of them, feel free to share a photo and let me know what you thought!
Don’t worry, I got these online, so if you don’t enjoy it, it won’t hurt my feelings! Lol
Happy eating!
Have a healthy & wholesome week,
Love you bunches 💞
Baked Feta Pasta
This is one of my favorites, especially on a busy evening. You throw everything except the noodles into a baking pan and have a bomb meal within just a few minutes. For my vegan / dairy-free sistas, Trader Joe's sells a dairy-free feta cheese block that I love to use for this recipe!
Greek Salad
This one is quick, easy, and great for meal prep. Not only does it combine lots of veggies and other nutritious ingredients in a tasty way, but also, the vinegar helps it to last well in the fridge until you can finish it all.Of course, you can add in or remove ingredients as you see fit. I normally leave the olives out and use vegan feta.
Veggie Sandwich
This one is one of my favorite quick, filling meals, especially when I need to boost my veggie intake. Sooo tasty & refreshing! I usually add ingredients based on what I have a taste for in the moment, but I almost always include vegan mayo, stoneground or dijon mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, and vinegar. The rest depends on what I'm craving and what I have in the fridge.
Definitely feel free to get creative with this one. You don't really need a recipe, but watch the video for inspiration if needed!
Spicy Shrimp Quesadillas with Black Beans and Corn
I've only made these once or twice, but mannnnn, these jaunts were 🔥
I don't even have much to say except to try these ASAP. You won't be disappointed (unless you don't like spicy food).
I usually use Daiya pepper jack dairy-free cheese.
Overnight Oats
This was one I decided to give a try randomly one day, mainly because it doesn't require cooking and can be prepped to just grab and go in the morning. Now, I know what you're probably thinking, because I thought the same thing: "So I eat it cold?!"
Well, yes, but don't knock it until you try it! Depending on the oats you use, it will likely taste like pudding or something similar.
Like I mentioned with some of the other recipes, you can definitely customize this one to fit your tastebuds and nutritional needs. Like, for me, I'm not a fan of fruit in my oatmeal (or any other dish really), so I usually leave that out or have it on the side. Give overnight oats a try before you give up on it. You just might like it, and if so, you'll love the convenience!
Epiphani
Do you have a morning routine? Are there certain things you must do daily to be successful and to show up as your best self? Building a morning routine and more so, daily habits was one of the first things I dove into during my healing journey and now, these same habits continue to benefit me and really set my day off to a great start!
Today, I’m letting you in on a little of my morning and sharing 🖐🏾 habits that make my day, along with why I do them / what they do for me. If anything resonates with you, feel free to claim it and implement it in your life. Even if not, I hope it gets you thinking about what you already do, or maybe could do going forward to show up and take the day!
Love you bunches 💞
🖐🏾 Habits that Make My Day
Reading the scripture of the day before I do (or read) anything else
Even though I do have more intimate time with God later in my morning…
It’s a small way of acknowledging and putting God first in my life and my day
It ensures God’s voice is the first I take in.
Laying in bed for a few extra mins.
I know many other gurus say that it’s best to jump out of bed at the first sound of your alarm clock, but I have ALWAYS been a tiered alarm kinda girl.
One, I like to alert myself 15-30 mins before it’s time to wake up and then get those last couple mins of sleep. (Kinda like, hey, it’s almost time to wake up… but not yet girl, so snooze away! lol)
Two, once I’m awake, I like to lay in be for a few minutes to...
Wake my brain up — because you know sometimes, we wake up like, who am i? Where am I? What’s going on? lol
Write down or voice record any dreams I had
Provide space for God to speak to me about my dreams and/or guidance He has for my day
Check my calendar and mentally prepare for what’s ahead (and sometimes start thinking about what I’ll wear)
Making my bed
As soon as I get up, I make up my bed (unless it’s Sunday, then I’m washing my sheets 😄)
Even when my room gets a little junky on those busy weeks, a made up bed holds it together a bit and brings order to the (temporary) chaos.
I also like a clean palette to lay my clothes on before getting dressed.
Plus…
Making my bed minimizes the temptation to get back in it, and
Who doesn’t like to snuggle into a made up bed at the end of a long day 😌
Opening my blinds
Letting the sun in is a key to setting my atmosphere (& really notifying my body that it’s time to really wake up)
I favor natural light over artificial—as much as I can do by sunlight, I will before turning on a light (and tha’ts all day)
Not only is the sun good for you (vitamin D and other nutrients), but also, for me, it’s another way of letting God in (NOT the “sun god”—who dat?— but the one true God who created the sun).
There’s something special about nature overall, it’s like a tangible way of seeing the Hand of God, and I need that in my life on the daily!
Having breakfast
Major key alert!
When I’m not fasting, having breakfast is absolutely necessary for me!
One, it fuels the first half of my day.
This is where I can intentionally load up on nutrients my body needs
I do want to get to a point where every meal consistently is healthy and nutrient-rich.
I do my best, but tbh, I haven’t 100% found my flow with meal prep and shopping to make that a consistent reality… yet.
So long story long, breakfast is my superstar meal that holds down the fort just in case lunch and dinner fall short.
My favorite way to do this is with a smoothie.
You can throw so much in there — fruit (take your pick of vitamins & minerals), spinach (or other veggies), yogurt (hello probiotics), seeds (fiber power!), protein (💪🏾), powdered supplements, and whatever else you want or need at the time!
Sometimes, I’ll also pack some oatmeal or overnight oats, especially if I know I have lots to do and won’t have lunch for a while.
Bonus
Scriptural Affirmations
I pull scriptures based on the season I am in or ones God leads me to, and read them aloud—some daily, and some weekly.
Sometimes I personalize them with 1st person pronouns (I, me, etc) and other times, I just read them as they’re written.
Faith comes by hearing, so it’s a way to establish and strengthen my faith in what God has said.
Saying it aloud as an affirmation is also like making a decree and speaking it over myself and my life.
It’s basically a way to say what God says about me and my life, and to show that I agree with His Word and plans.
Keeping my phone on DND until after quiet time with God!
I am definitely pro-block out all the noise!
I started doing this even before we had the DND feature on our phones—I would just resolve to not read any messages, answer any calls, or go on social media (when I had it) until my morning routine was complete and I had already set the tone for my day.
Initially, I did it because I was worn out by people or news swaying my mood and focus before I could even establish myself for the day.
It would throw me off!
I recognize the importance of getting anchored daily before letting in the winds and waves of life, people, work, etc.
I find that when I allow myself time to wake up, be fed by God, and fuel my mind and body, I am much more ready to take on the world, and to actually do so with grace and kindness.
It’s really as much for everyone I am to interact with that day as it is for me 😄
There are a few other things that are a part of my morning routine, but these are my main non-negotiables. I need these 🖐🏾 e’ery day to be successful!
What do you do every morning that makes your day?
Epiphani
For years now, God has been refining my definition of health and the ways I take care of my mind and body. Somewhere along the way, I started feeling like, “Am I being extra?” 🤔 & maybe to some, I am, but the real truth is that I kinda forgot to remember the ‘why’ for many of the measures God has had me implement over the years, and also the positive results of following through. And honestly, some things I forgot or didn’t realize were actually instructions from God and not just me wanting to feel/do/be better—to be clear, wanting to feel or do better is reason enough on its own, but when obedience to God is at hand, I’m like…
This is why recording God’s instructions, as well as the journey that follows, is so important, whether on paper, by video, in a voice note, etc. Health wise, it’s also a good idea to record and circle back to your ‘why’ for implementing a certain habit or routine, eliminating a certain food(s), etc., especially when it’s been a while.
God has healed my mind and body in MANY ways over the last few years through measures I’ve shared across quite a few of our Wellness Wednesday videos and blog posts (and some I haven’t yet shared). From menstrual cramps, to bloating and indigestion, to intense seasonal and elemental allergies, to depression, and I’m sure there’s more. (Thank you, Jesus! 🙌🏾)
But to be candid, I kinda got a bit lackadaisical in carrying out some of the things God used to heal me in the first place. Granted, there are indeed certain things that are only relevant and applicable during the healing process, but this weekend, I was reminded that the lifestyle changes God has had me make over the years are meant to be carried out for a lifetime, or at least until the next instruction. I guess I kinda started thinking, “well, if I’m truly healed, then XYZ shouldn’t hurt me anymore” or “…being meticulous about XYZ isn’t a big deal anymore.” It was actually quite the opposite and in some ways, I had to be reminded of this the hard way 🥴 lol.
In our faith Friday series, we’ve been talking about obtaining and maintaining deliverance and freedom through Jesus Christ. Just like we implement certain things to get free and continue doing them to stay free spiritually, the same applies to our physical healing and health.The changes the Holy Spirit leads us to make with our eating, our physical activity, our visual and audio intake, etc. are often not just meant to heal us from illness, but also to help us lead healthy lives going forward.
I guess I kinda missed that second part, but thankfully, the Holy Spirit is our faithful Guide, teaching and instructing us in the way we should go and bringing us back when we veer off even a little.
So, long story long, don’t stop doing the things the Lord instructed you to do at first until/unless He gives another instruction. Continuing to treat your body with special care even after healing doesn’t mean you weren’t fully healed, but rather the opposite. Jesus did His part in sending the healing, and we must continue to do ours, obeying the promptings and instructions of the Holy Spirit to continue to care for our temples. Don’t intentionally or unintentionally re-contaminate what Jesus has purified by His Spirit and your obedience, and that applies both spiritually and physically. Maintain the vision He placed before you of a fully healed, healthy, and wholesome you, and do not cast off restraint. & if you’ve “fallen off the wagon” a little (or a lotta) bit, be encouraged & GET BACK IN THERE, SIS!
“For a righteous [woman] may fall seven times and rise again…” (Proverbs 24:16)
I hope this helped someone today, but even if not, it certainly blessed me! 😌🙌🏾
I love you all bunches! Have a healthy & wholesome week 💕