I don’t know about you, but I am really feeling the stress of the holidays. I think it’s because Thanksgiving was a week later so now there’s one less week to get everything done! Or maybe it’s because I was out of town at a retreat last weekend instead of being home checking things off my “to do” list?? Whatever the reason, I’m feeling it! Can you relate??
Whenever I get like this I know I really need to pay attention to my self care. Although the weekend retreat was a good dose of self care, I realized that my moments of being fully “present” were often overshadowed by the fact that I could not stop thinking about all the things I had to do when I got back home. Ugh…..
But you know what saved me from going off the deep end??? You’re going to laugh but that’s okay. The thing that saved me was a bowl of soup! That’s right….every day at lunch and dinner, the retreat center had a big pot of hot, delicious soup and it was like a big dose of instant calm for me. I was able to quiet my mind and just be fully present in the moment, enjoying every single spoonful. Who knew a bowl of soup could do all that!!
When we are dealing with excess stress, our digestive system can become compromised which is why it’s really important to stick to a diet that is simple and easy to digest. And there’s no better way to do that than with a hearty bowl of soup. Soup can make you feel warm on a cold evening, it can help relieve the stresses of the day AND soup is hydrating, easy to digest, grounding and restorative.
Now you may be thinking, “who has time to make a pot of soup when I have a million other things to do?” No worries……making your own soup does not have to be an overwhelming or time consuming endeavor. Soups are actually quite easy to prepare. Pretty much any ingredient can be turned into a soup. In fact, making a pot of soup is the best way to make use of your veggies that are starting to go bad.
Although soups can simmer on the stove for hours, the initial time investment is pretty quick. Just chop and drop! If you have a crock pot, that can be a real time saver because you can throw everything in, turn it on and walk away!
Here’s my basic template that I follow when making soup:
* 2 tbs. oil
* 3-4 different vegetables (1-2 cups of each vegetable)
* choose 1 protein: beans, chicken, or fish
* add flavor enhancers such as onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, pepper, aromatic spices
* add water or stock to twice the height of the vegetables
* bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
If the above recipe seems like too much work, you may want to try the recipe below. Everything gets thrown in a blender and you can have a delicious soup in less than 15 minutes. For the recipe below, I buy bottled organic carrot juice. You can easily substitute tomato juice or beet juice. If you do not have Brazil nuts, you can use almonds or cashews. Honestly, this recipe is very forgiving when it comes to switching out ingredients.
Choosing to prioritize your self care will not only help you manage the excess stress, it will also help you to stay centered during this crazy time of year. So give yourself some love, make a pot of soup, relax and enjoy every spoonful!!
Cheers!
RAW CARROT BRAZIL NUT SOUP
Yield: 6 cups
Prep time: 15 minutes
4 cups carrot juice
1/2 cup Brazil nuts
1/2 cup peeled and pitted avocado
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons minced fresh turmeric
2 teaspoons seeded and diced jalapeño pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1. Place 2 cups of the carrot juice in the blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend well.
2. Add the remaining 2 cups of carrot juice and blend until smooth. Serve hot, chilled or room temperature.
