Empowering you to to thrive through holistic wellness. Specializing in chronic illness support & low tox living. Subscribe to our newsletter where once a month you will get the low down on wellness topics hitting the news, low tox living, recipes and more. Check out the Products page for meal plans and other digital downloads. To book your complimentary Discovery Call click on the links tab. Together we will plant the seeds for tomorrow! Coach Jen
Healthy Holidays: Enjoying Traditions Without the Guilt- GWC November 2024
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The holiday season brings a series of food-focused celebrations—from Halloween’s candy to Thanksgiving’s feasts, followed by the cookies of Christmas, and ending with the drinks of New Year’s eve and day. It can be challenging to stay on track with health goals during this time, so let’s walk through strategies to enjoy holiday treats while still feeling great. First, a quick reminder: in our framework, food isn’t off-limits unless we’re allergic to it, don’t enjoy it, or it doesn’t fit our budget. Growing up, my mom made most of our treats from scratch, which taught me a lot about portion control. For example, we were allowed three cookies a day, with an occasional bonus if we were lucky. Even as an adult, I tend to think in terms of that “four-cookie” portion size, but sometimes I’ve gone overboard. For me—and maybe for you too—having a portion guideline can make a big difference during the holidays. Let’s also address a more challenging topic: alcohol. My advice is to approach alcohol mindfully, especially if healing and wellness are priorities. While drinking can feel traditional during celebrations, it’s also dehydrating, inflammatory, and can affect your mood. I’m encouraged by the growth of “sober culture,” and after evaluating my relationship with alcohol, I now only drink on rare, special occasions with clear boundaries in place. If you’re curious about your own relationship with alcohol, here are a few tips: 1. When you want a drink, pause and ask yourself why. Are you stressed, bored, or feeling left out? 2. If you choose to drink, check in on how you feel immediately afterward, a few hours later, and the next day. If you don’t feel good, that’s your body sending a message. 3. Consider the context—are you reaching for a drink simply to have something in hand? For those interested in starting a non-drinking journey, I have a Mocktail Guide you can download this month to add fun alternatives to your holiday celebrations. Coach Jen References https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(23)00217-7/fulltext https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/no-safe-level-alcohol-scientific-study-concludes |
Planting Seeds for Tomorrow
Empowering you to to thrive through holistic wellness. Specializing in chronic illness support & low tox living. Subscribe to our newsletter where once a month you will get the low down on wellness topics hitting the news, low tox living, recipes and more. Check out the Products page for meal plans and other digital downloads. To book your complimentary Discovery Call click on the links tab. Together we will plant the seeds for tomorrow! Coach Jen
As we move into a new year—and it’s only the 15th—many changes have already occurred. Some may affect you, and some may not. For those of us who use social media platforms, there are changes we need to be aware of. My goal in this issue is to help you understand how to use critical thinking skills to protect yourself from misinformation that can impact not only your physical health but also your mental health. There are countless ways for us to receive information today, and these are not...
For those who celebrate, the holidays are in full swing, bringing with them a lot of events and socializing. For anyone on a health journey, this can feel overwhelming. In this edition, let’s talk about enjoying holiday parties while giving yourself permission to eat what makes you happy. Many people approach the holiday season with the mindset that they’ll start focusing on their health in January. This is fine as long as it doesn’t cause additional stress or compromise your well-being. What...
While researching for this month’s newsletter, I became keenly aware of my own personal bias regarding our food system. In writing it, I made a conscious effort to set my bias aside and present a factual summary of the events rather than offering my own interpretation. I highly encourage you to watch the video clips yourself and form your own conclusions. My hope is that, by sparking your interest, you will leave this event feeling empowered by the information, no matter what your takeaway...