Tag Archives: Holistic

Perfect Shouldn’t Be The Enemy of Good

Just Picked Organic Strawberries

Perfect Shouldn’t Be The Enemy of Good.
Let’s take these strawberries as an example. They are small, local, and full of flavor berries picked fresh and ripe from the vine. They haven’t traveled miles to get to you before you eat them. Some might consider them perfection and some might not. Maybe they are too small or not pretty enough. They have some blemishes. They also are full of flavor and vitamins and taste really, really strawberry-ish. I actually prefer them, but I still eat organic berries that have traveled when these are not available. Which kind do you prefer? Whichever kind you prefer, would you refuse to eat a strawberry unless you could get strawberries during strawberry season? How about vegetables? Would you never eat vegetables unless they were perfect from your own garden? That would deprive you of all the necessary, glorious benefits of vegetables for months. You may like to eat local and seasonal, and that’s ok. It’s great!
What’s my point? Do we choose perfection in our lives, and if something can’t be perfect, do we toss the idea, action, or life choice to the side and forget it? If so, are you missing out and holding yourself to such a high standard that you aren’t progressing in your life as you would like?
Maybe it is beginning something you have wanted to do, and you put it off, and put if off, because the time isn’t perfect, or something needs to happen before it is the perfect time.
If you decide to step out and do it anyway, whether it is starting to eat better, an exercise program, a job change or new career, cutting out the processed food, losing weight, working on a health concern, learning to cook healthier, asking for help, healing a relationship, taking time for spirituality, slowing down, speeding up, whatever is something in your life that you would like to address….Do it now! Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. One baby step at a time is sometimes all it takes to start propelling you forward in the direction you want to go. Step out in faith without fear and begin! Good is well, good! It is excellent, fantastic, positive, superb and marvelous! So go ahead. Get started! It doesn’t have to be perfect.
To work with me, contact me at sandrashieldshealthcoach.com
Or email me at: sandrashieldshealthcoach@gmail.com for more information

Are You Making Your Past Health Choices Your Destiny?

There is a quote from Nutritional Biochemist, Author & Speaker Dr. Libby Weaver, “Are we living too short and dying too long?”

Your genes and past health choices do not have to be your destiny. You can make a decision that you are going to get healthier, have more energy, and take better care of yourself starting today.

The human body is fascinating and amazing. It wants to repair itself! That is why the food you eat is so important. Does your body have to spend time figuring out what it is you are fueling it with (junk and processed food), or are you giving it real food fuel to let it spend it’s time using the nutrients to repair areas that need attention? Isn’t it a miracle that your body is like a very complex computer? It knows when to breath. Your heart beats and pumps blood through your system without you telling it to. If you are cut or injured it works immediately on beginning the process of repair. The top layer of our skin regenerates once a month. Every three months our blood supply is completely replaced.

Where are you on your health journey? What steps can you take today?

Wishing you a long, healthy life!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach
Visit sandrashieldshealthcoach.com for more information about working with me.

Green Beans with Figs and Bacon

I can’t resist fresh figs when they hit the market in the Summer. They are so elegant and miraculous when you cut them open and see the gorgeous insides. They are artwork and remind me of a kaleidoscope or a fireworks display. Figs are little packages containing calcium, fiber, potassium, iron, Vitamin A, niacin, folate and Vitamin C.

When I go shopping for food to cook for the week, as a nutrient seeker, I have an open mind and am looking for the freshest seasonal produce I can find. When I get it home, I decide what to do with it and get into my creative mode, which I find very therapeutic and rewarding.

This week I found fresh green beans, fresh figs, and some good quality organic bacon. A little bacon goes a long way to flavor a dish. I used two slices, but if you want more, feel free to embellish.

Green Beans with Figs and Bacon

The figs are halved and caramelized in olive oil which makes them sweeter. The natural sugars in the figs cause them to caramelize without any added sugar. They are natures perfect little plump package.

Green Beans with Figs & Bacon

Ingredients:

1 Pound of Fresh Green Beans, snipped and steamed for 5 minutes or until tender, drained and set aside

6 Fresh Large Figs (washed, halved and stems removed)

2 Pieces of Cooked Bacon, crumbled

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Aged Balsamic (I used 18 year old Balsamic which is very low sugar and amazing)

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Fleur de Sel Salt for finishing (optional)

Directions: In a large fry pan, warm olive oil over medium heat. Place the figs in a single layer cut side down, and sautee until caramelized (about 2 minutes).

Add steamed beans, salt and pepper, and gently toss with tongs to coat and warm the green beans. Add the balsamic and continue cooking until the balsamic forms a glaze. This will be accomplished quickly. Plate and sprinkle with crumbled bacon and a pinch or two of Fleur de Sel finishing salt.

I have an assignment for you this month to invest in your healthy life and longevity. Try one new vegetable and fruit from the produce isle each week. Swap it out for something you would eat processed, and eliminate that one processed food in place of a fresh, whole fruit or vegetable each day. If you need ideas, here is a Fruit and Vegetable List you can print and take to the store, or just browse the produce isle for interesting fruits and vegetables you haven’t tried before or haven’t had in a long time. Go home and Google recipes for what you buy. Remember, creating healthy habits that last a lifetime happens one step at a time.

This recipe is a delicious one that you will really enjoy, and it is beautiful to the eyes and body.

Enjoy your day!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Are You Getting Enough Primary Food?

Have you heard of Primary Food and Secondary Food? I am going to challenge you today to work on getting your Primary Food in balance! Below you can take a quiz to see how you are doing in the twelve Primary Food areas.

Taking small steps to work on areas in your life where your Primary Food needs improvement makes a big difference over time. A challenge for you over the next several days is to make sure you get outside daily and do something that involves moving your body! This can be anything outdoors that you enjoy! Gardening, Sports, Fishing, Jump Roping, Hula Hooping, Walking, Playing, Exercising, Looking at the Sky, Going Barefoot in the Grass, and more. Pick something you Love! You will be getting Vitamin D from the sun, fresher air (since indoor air can be the most polluted air we breathe), physical activity, and joy from getting in touch with nature.

As a Health Coach, I help my clients improve upon not only optimizing their nutrition (Secondary Food), but Primary Food as well in order to have a balanced and healthy life.

If your Primary Foods are out of balance, it can be difficult to be completely healthy even though you may be eating an optimal diet full of vegetables, fruit, healthy carbohydrates, good fats, protein, fiber, and drinking plenty of water.

This week make a point of being outdoors more, at least 30 minutes a day. Just going outside covers at least three of the Primary Food Categories (Health, Physical Activity and Joy). More can be added while outdoors, the choice is yours, for instance if you are spending time outside with another person you could be working on Social Life or Relationships.

The Main Primary Food Categories are:
1. Health
2. Physical Activity
3. Home Cooking
4. Home Environment
5. Relationships
6. Social Life
7. Joy
8. Spirituality
9. Creativity
10. Finances
11. Career
12. Education

Secondary Food is the Food we eat. Check out previous posts for nutrition tips.

So, take a Primary Food Quiz. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate each of your Primary Foods? (Ten being the best and lower numbers areas you would like to improve upon.)

What steps could you take to work on your Primary Food? Share with me an area you would like to improve and an area that you feel you are doing very well in below.

Enjoy your day!

Sandra Shields, Health Coach
I Work With People All Over the Country by Telephone

sandrashieldshealthcoach.com

sandrashieldshealthcoach@gmail.com