Eat

When emotional tempests strike, we all tend to reach for comfort food to chase away the clouds and give serotonin levels a leg-up. Still, if emotional eating gets out of hand, your body will be in for a few unwarranted inches, and your health will be at higher risk of serious problems, such as diabetes type 2, obesity, and hormonal imbalance But can you stop yourself from reaching for the cookie jar when you feel a mood swing coming on, and how can you efficiently shake food cravings?

Living in France, I am tempted by cheese all the time. Famous for beautiful ash-rubbed rounds of chévre and silky soft “moelleux” wedges of Camembert, one wonders how the French manage not to overindulge. One secret in French culture is the cheese course of a meal traditionally follows the “plat,” or main plate, and after one has (hopefully) already filled up on protein and vegetables. Another secret here on the French Riviera, near the Italian border, is parmigiano reggiano, a staple in Italian cuisine.

Peppermint is in the genus Mentha which includes more than one hundred species, and is thought to be a natural hybrid of spearmint and forest mint. Its origin is believed to be in North Africa and the southern Mediterranean basin, and has been used in recipes and as a medicinal herb since 1500 B.C.E.  It found its way as far north as Scandinavia and was mentioned in the Icelandic Pharmacopoeias in the mid-13^th Century.

Magnesium deficiency can be hard to detect. Common symptoms can easily be mistaken for a myriad of other health concerns. Responsible for more than 300 chemical reactions, magnesium is hard at work maintaining proper body function. Getting the daily recommended amount is crucial to health. Yet roughly 80% of healthy adults have a magnesium deficiency.

Winter is here, and with it comes lots of temptation for sugary foods and not-so-healthy drinks. One of my favorite things to drink this time of year is hot chocolate, a staple for many people over the holidays. Unfortunately, traditional hot chocolate is often loaded with refined sugar and dairy, not to mention hydrogenated oils if you’re buying it pre-packaged.

Everyone knows, but doesn’t want to believe, that a diet consisting of too much sugar can eventually lead to all kinds of negative health consequences. It’s hard to tame a sweet tooth when said “sweet tooth” is undoubtedly the biggest tooth in that candy craving mouth of yours. However, it can be done. I promise that cutting back on the sweet stuff, and reaching a healthier you, is possible, which is why I have a few tips for how to do just that.

Cocoa is the bean from the cacao tree which is a native plant in the Amazon region of Brazil. It made its way throughout Central and South American during ancient times. The seeds are contained in a pod and were ground into powder. Today the food is known as cocoa powder. 

When the holidays kick into full gear, we can expect parties, office treats, and sugar cookies galore. What's a mindful eater to do with so much extra stimulus? Here's how to fully enjoy the holiday season while still fitting into your sweaters.

Have a signature dish.

In summer, livin’ is easy for so many reasons, one of them most especially being our seasonal food choice options. For breakfast, we can grab some fruit, whip together a smoothie, or grind up a fresh cooling and energizing juice.

While others curse its arrival in spring, I applaud it. The spunky little dandelion is a first flower for nectar-hunting honeybees. It pains me to see homeowners yank it from their yards, not only because they are eradicating an important food source for pollinating insects, but because the little plants can offer so much before their fluffy seeds are scattered to the wind!