Subject: Tips for "falling back," working through stress, and one-pan-meals for your rotation

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Hi Friend,


I hope this message finds you well! I'm sending this later in the week because of a technical issue over the weekend. Though the message was intended for "Fall Back" Sunday, the tips in this article are still pertinent: Why the Time Change Is Trickier When Working From Home (also here).


A key recommendation is to get outside as early as possible and use light to your advantage. I've written about why morning light is so important as well as adjusting lighting in the evenings, but here's the gist: light is a critical cue for our bodies, and early exposure of about 30 mins is shown to promote alertness and productivity. The trick is that it must be outdoor light, even on an overcast day. Lighting also influences sleep and the timing of food cravings--a couple reasons why bright lighting in the evening should be avoided.


Though merely sitting outside is helpful, going for a walk is even better! If you're not already doing the 10 Walks A Week Challenge, I urge you to join us and make a morning walk a priority. Here's a little more about the challenge and a few reasons to jump on the bandwagon.


If you don't have a walking routine, check out this post for some inspiration: 5 Things To Do On Your Walks. If you're into podcasts (tip #2), I've got one to add to your queue below. There're also some easy, nourishing meal ideas that you can pull together when you get in from your evening walk.

 
 

3 Easy One-Pan-Meals for Your Rotation

Roast Chicken with Artichokes & Lemons

Roast Chicken with Lemons & Artichokes

The prep takes 15-20 minutes and the rest of this meal is hands-off. Since a whole chicken can get you through a couple of meals (depending on how many you're serving), I like to throw in extra artichokes to stretch this meal into another lunch or dinner later in the week.


Tip: you can make this in the oven or in a Traeger grill or something like that with indirect heat (however, not a regular grill with direct heat and no control over the exact temp).

One Pan Pizza and Broccoli

One Pan Frozen Pizza with Veggies

This one is very flexible. The point is that you can roast asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts on the same pan as a frozen pizza to have a more nutritious and complete meal.


Tip: my go-to frozen pizzas are from Cappello's. They're gluten free and the only brand I've found that doesn't use vegetable oil. We usually use their naked crusts and do our own sauce and toppings these days.


Asparagus and salmon

One Pan Salmon & Asparagus

This fast and healthy meal is a go-to in our dinner rotation. The post includes a :30 video that shows the entire 3 min(!) prep. Exactly why this was the perfect meal for dinner on Halloween after our long walk around the neighborhood.


Tip: Look for wild salmon. Groups like Seafood Watch and the Environmental Defense Fund have put nearly all farmed salmon (which includes Atlantic salmon) on their "red" or "avoid" list.

 

My Favorite Podcast of the Week

I loved Brené Brown's interview with Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. They discuss what stress does to our bodies, the physiological impact of it, and how to move through it. Spoiler alert: one tactic is "moving your body" and it turns out that Brenéé is a walker also!


One of my favorite excerpts: The good news is that stress is not the problem, the problem is that the strategies that deal with stressors have almost no relationship to the strategies that deal with the physiological reactions our bodies have to those stressors. To be well is not to live in a state of perpetual safety and calm, but to move fluidly from a state of adversity, risk, adventure or excitement, back to safety and calm, and out again. Stress is not bad for you. Being stuck is bad for you.”


 

Thank you so much for reading!


If you're doing the #10WalksaWeek Challenge, let me know how you're feeling or if you have any good tips to share (motivation, how you're making time, accountability, etc.). And as always, if you have a chance to try a recipe, let me know how it turned out with a comment on Instagram or a rating for any that are on Kaleifornian.com -- these are much appreciated!


Wishing you a safe and healthy week ahead.


Be Well,

Jess XO




P.S. Do you know someone who'd appreciate yummy recipes, clean products recommendations, and healthy living tips? Here are some links you can pass along: weekly newsletter sign-upInstagramPinterest, and Facebook. Thank you so much for sharing!



 

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Please feel free to ask if you have questions about any of these products. I will always give you my honest opinion and do my best to point you in the right direction!

 
 

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