February 2007 – Vol 2, Issue 2 

In This Issue
 
Thought of the Day
Soul Food
Food Focus: Beans
Recipe of the Month: Easy Beans and Greens
Upcoming Events
Relax, Reconnect, Recharge

  
February is upon us and it’s the perfect time to love ourselves up! By that I mean taking exquisite care of ourselves both physically and emotionally. We can all spend time getting more rest, slowing down, listening to our body’s intuitive messages and reveling in the pleasures of being totally present to savor our food. What can you do this month that celebrates you? My suggestion…practice the ecstasy of eating! Create a delicious meal in an inviting environment, that you can enjoy alone or with others that creates total pleasure. Let’s practice the art of soul food everyday.

In great health,

Wendy
 
 
Thought of the Day
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. – Rumi
 
 
Soul Food
 
Think for a moment of a food from your past, one that makes you feel great after you eat it, for seemingly no good reason. Maybe it is macaroni and cheese, slow- simmered tomato sauce, ice cream cones or potato pancakes. Eating a food like this, even though your rational brain might not consider it highly nutritious, and even though you wouldn’t eat it every day, can be incredibly healing.

Food has the power to impact us on a level deeper than just our physical wellbeing. What we eat can reconnect us to precious memories, like childhood playtimes, first dates, holidays, our grandmother’s cooking or our country of ancestry. Our body remembers food from our past on an emotional as well as cellular level. Eating this food connects us to our roots and has youthening and nurturing effects that go far beyond the food’s biochemical make-up.

Acknowledging what different foods mean to us is an important part of cultivating a good relationship with food. This month when we celebrate lovers and relationships, it’s important to notice that we each have a relationship with food—and that this relationship is often far from loving. We restrict food, attempting to control our weight. We abuse food, substituting it for emotional well-being. We ignore food, swallowing it whole before we’ve even tasted it.

What would your life be like if you treated food and your body like you would treat your beloved—with gentleness, playfulness, communication, honesty, respect and love? The next time you eat your soul food, do so with awareness and without guilt, and enjoy all the healing and nourishment it brings you.
 

Food Focus: Beans
 
Beans, or more accurately legumes, including peas and lentils, are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Beans are found in most traditional cultures as a staple food, offering grounding and strengthening properties that can enhance endurance. They offer a highly usable, highly absorbable source of calcium for the body. A very inexpensive source of high nutrition, beans can be rich, delicious and satisfying.

Lack of sexual energy is often due to over-taxed adrenal glands and kidneys. Beans are notorious for strengthening these organs (ever noticed the shape of a bean?) and can help restore vital energy as well as sexual energy.

Beans have a reputation for causing digestive distress, but this is usually because they have been undercooked or improperly prepared. To help reduce gas-forming properties, soak beans overnight prior to cooking, cook beans for a long time, and add spices like bay leaf, fennel, oregano or cumin. In addition, adding kombu, a sea vegetable, not only helps with digestion but improves flavor, adds minerals and nutrients, and speeds up the cooking process. And a word about salt…it’s best to add salt at the end of the cooking process once beans are tender, otherwise it will cause them to toughen up.
 

Recipe of the Month: Easy Beans and Greens
 
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients:
1 can of black beans (or pinto, red, kidney—your choice) 1 bunch collard greens (or kale, spinach—your choice) your favorite toppings, such as salsa, avocado or guacamole, and sour cream
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, heat drained beans. Add your favorite seasonings, if desired.
2. Fill a separate medium saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
3. Wash and chop greens (you can use the stems, too), and add to boiling water.
4. Cook for 3-5 minutes until greens are bright green and tender. Drain off water and reserve for drinking (it’s chock full of nutrients!).
5. On a plate, arrange a portion of the greens, top with a portion of the beans, and finish with toppings of your choice.
 
 
Upcoming Events
 
Tuesday, February 13 – The Ecstasy of Eating: Six Steps for Satisfying Self-Nourishment 6:00-7:30 pm, Yale University, Hall of Graduate Studies, New Haven, CT

During this month of love, what better a way to find satisfaction and tune into yourself then through the pleasure of eating? I’ll be working with a group of amazing graduate students at Yale University helping them discover the importance of Vitamin O (oxygen) and getting slow, not to mention four other steps to self-nourish. It’s sure to be a pleasurable experience!
Wednesday, February 14 – Health Body, Healthy Business!
12:00- 1:30 pm, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, 900 Chapel St., New Haven, CT

Are you a local real estate agent always on the go? Then join me for a 3-part series starting on February 14 (subsequent sessions will be held March 21 and April 18) designed to help you expand your business and grow your income by starting with you! When we’re eating healthfully and taking care of ourselves, our energy increases, we have a more positive attitude and we’re in the right frame of mind to grow our business successfully. Sponsored by Kim Hafford of Washington Mutual Home Loans and Edna Colucci of the Colucci Law Firm, LLC, this free series includes a healthy lunch, great learning environment and information to keep you healthy. For more information call 203.641.0653.
Thursday, February 22 – Wellness Stretch Class with Renee Baldo of Unlimited Potential Studio 7:30-8:30 pm, Jared Andrew Dance Studio, 42 State Street, North Haven, CT

You won’t want to miss the chance to stretch your body and relax your mind at this class given by my colleague Renee Baldo. Renee is a skincare specialist as well as a registered nurse and always uses a holistic approach to getting and staying healthy! All you need is a yoga mat, towel, water and loose fitting clothing. Come join the fun! For more information and to reserve your spot call 203.239.1966. Fee: $10.
Tuesday, February 27 – Nutrition talk at Kathleen Brennan School, New, Haven, CT

Helping kids get healthy? Can’t think of a better thing to do! I’ll be working with 7th and 8th graders at Kathleen Brennan school to teach basic nutrition tips and simple ways to eat for energy that even teenagers will love.
Wednesday, February 28 – Sugar Blues Workshop for Miller Association Seniors
1:00-2:00 pm, Hamden Senior Center, Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT

Did you know that eating sweet root vegetables helps to curb sugar cravings? Join me for an interactive workshop to help seniors learn tips and information to overcome sugar addiction. Doughnuts, cookies and cake be gone! We’ll be discussing lots of healthy, nutrient-rich options that can tackle even the worst sugar cravings!
 

Relax, Reconnect, Recharge
 
Looking for a way to reconnect with yourself, improve your health and have a more joyous, positive outlook on life? Join me for a complimentary consultation designed to learn more about how you can practice juicy living and be in optimal health. During this month of love, why not start with you? Call me at 203.641.0653 for more details or visit www.healthy-endeavors.com.
 
 
 
Forward to a Friend
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.
Sincerely,
Wendy Battles
Healthy Endeavors, LLC
 

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