I was listening to an episode of The Balance Blonde’s Soul on Fire Podcast with Mary Beth LaRue (ep 23) and they made an interesting point about labels. They brought up this Instagram post by Sophe Jaffe which conveys the message that we should be living for ourselves, not for others. If we are doing what feels right, yet, we have to explain our thoughts and behaviors to those around us, there is something wrong in that situation. The insecurity we feel over what others will think weighs too heavily on our opinion of ourselves. Consequently, when we try to explain ourselves to others, we use labels to justify our way of thinking. Pre-set normative stereotypes might be a little part of what we are but they aren’t all that we are.
In my experience, when we use labels to fit in, we restrict ourselves from being our truest selves.
I have a history of trying to meet the expectations of who others want me to be. I like to think that I’ve always been a little more thoughtful and mature for my age but as a teen in school, that didn’t make me “fun”. So, I would look to what friends were doing to “fit in”. It feels good to fit in…momentarily. Though, it doesn’t take long to realize that trying to be who others want you to be isn’t fulfilling. Cue Best Coast. Even now as an “adult”, the peer pressure is still there.
Oftentimes, I feel the need to do exactly as Jordan (The Balanced Blonde) and Mary Beth discussed on the podcast: explain myself. I feel the need to explain why my interests are different. I justify why I don’t fit the construct of a “typical” college graduate, fit person, single female, or young adult. Yet, to embrace even more specific labels like anxious, introverted, creative, or even vegan involves a tie to a community. They help describe some of what I feel to others but there are expectations with any label. In some ways, I desire to be part of the typical case of one of the labels because then I’ll have a fellow community. Still, even if I’m some of those labels, I know I’m also more than those labels.
I’d like to think that our truest selves are so individual that labels don’t do us justice. We all have interests, talents, and abilities that make us unique. In an ideal world, we would admire ourselves for the spectrum of things we have to offer and be appreciated for the individuals that each of us are.
Admittedly, when you ditch labels and try to just be yourself, that doesn’t mean everything else will fall into place. People won’t automatically accept you for simply being “individual” and not “fitting the norm”. In fact, it might even be harder.
As a recent example, a friend of mine was getting on my case because I casually said to her that I couldn’t remember the last time I had a drink. She asked if I was totally against drinking. I’m not, I just don’t desire it. So, she insisted we needed to meet up with some other girlfriends and go to the clubs. I politely turned her down; saying club dancing wasn’t really my idea of fun. She then said, well, it isn’t fun until you get a few drinks in to loosen up. I shrugged at her to show my disinterest and said, I just don’t really like drinking.
Then, she pounced: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DRUNK?! I said no, to which she rambled on about how I needed to; so we should go to the clubs and it will be so much fun! I mean…I can respect that that all might be her or someone else’s idea of fun but it isn’t mine. So I wish for my thoughts to be respected in return. I said to her that clubbing wasn’t my thing and she tilted her head and told me to think about it. Though, from the look on her face, she pitied me for not yet understanding what real fun can be.
Part of me wants to succumb to the ideas others have so that I can be accepted. If I follow what others, whom I respect, have in mind then, surely that would make me happy, right? Unfortunately, I would sacrifice the genuine qualities of myself if I try to just “fit the mold” of what someone else laid out. I owe it to myself to recognize that I have gut instincts and desires that are real. It is a shame to cover that up to satisfy someone else.
It certainly sucks when someone else doesn’t see what is real but I’m not living for anyone else—just me. I’m still learning to trust myself to make decisions after relying on others opinions for so long. For now, I take comfort in knowing when my thoughts and behavior are my own and I am being true to myself.
Welcome to Part 2! On my last post I described my suggestions for how to begin reducing sugar. See the full post for details but, to recap: we want to avoid added sources of sugar and ideally try a week without any added sweeteners. Whether or not you have yet tried a sugar detox, this post might be helpful. Whole foods are the best and ideal alternative to added-sugar foods that allow us to intake sugar in a balanced manner.
Before we get into today’s post, I will say it is important to recognize that sugar is a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates can come from simple sources, like a teaspoon of white table sugar, or a complex source, like an apple. Complex carbs are the better option and can be found in whole foods. Typical sources of whole food complex carbs are: fruit, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Although there are some natural sugars inherent in all complex carbs, we won’t feel the sharp rise and fall in our energy from whole food sugars as much as we would with simple carbohydrates.
Why do whole food carbohydrates react differently in our bodies than refined or simple carbohydrates? It all comes down to nutrition. An apple, for example, has slower-digesting carbs, minuscule amounts of protein and fat, but also fiber which plain sugar on its own simply does not have. Together, the nutrients found in a whole food, like the apple, help slow the absorption of the natural sugars in our bodies.
The take away point here is to choose whole foods over straight-up sugar.
Maybe you tried a sugar detox already but you’re wondering how well you can maintain the no sugar lifestyle. You might be thinking: okay, I want to reduce my sugar intake but eating an apple is NOT as satisfying as a slice of chocolate chip banana bread. I hear ya! We will feel the cravings for sugar most when we do not eat the previously mentioned, whole foods and slow-digesting complex carbohydrates.
Consequently, the key is to banish those sugar desires is to increase the satiating aspect of food. More than likely, the nutrient to increase is fat. Sugar is what contributes to cravings for unhealthier treats and quick carbs but, fat keeps us satiated. Most importantly, fat isn’t going to make you fat. 🙂 I digress.
Here are some of my favorite ways easy ways to swap out sugar from the food I already make:
In homemade salad dressing, simply omit the sweetener. If desired, chop up a little bit of fruit to accent the salad you are eating.
Balance out homemade sauces and dressings by adding a bit more olive oil or acid like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to add more zing! This way the sauce will still be super flavorful but you won’t miss even miss the sweetness!
Substitute date paste for maple syrup or honey in baked goods. Minimalist Baker has a great date caramel tutorial and I’ve had success substituting it in muffins, loaves, and other baked goods.
Instead of drizzling honey on your banana toast, how about using nut butter or coconut butter + cinnamon?
Enhance the sweetness of foods with a pinch of salt. I love sprinkling pink Himalayan sea salt on top of fruit like peaches or bananas, on salads, and even a dash in my smoothies will enhance the sweetness!
Okay, I’m calling this a wrap now. Though, I’m thinking of assembling a list of some of my favorite sugar-free ideas and recipes but that’s still TBD. Is that something y’all would be interested in? Let me know what you think or what you want to see more of by commenting down below or emailing me. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or dietician. Nor have I ever claimed to be. I am merely fascinated by health research and have seen positive results from my own reduction in sugar. I am only sharing this to encourage others to reevaluate their sugar intake but, by all means, do your own research, too!
I’m not talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend. That form of sugar can stay 😉 Bad pun?
Right now, I am concerned about the sugar added to food. A few months back, I was startled to realize how much sugar I had on a daily basis. It doesn’t even have to be obvious culprits like candy or ice cream. There is sugar in other places, too. It requires some investigation and lots of label-reading but, once we have the knowledge of where to spot sugar, we can work to reduce our sugar intake.
Let’s start with the basics: any sugar that does not naturally occur in food is considered added sugar. The same goes for artificial sweeteners. Real or fake added sugars are most common in processed food. Processed food is anything pre-made like: store-bought granola, cereals, canned tomato sauce or marinara, portioned fruit cups, applesauce, and snack bars. As well, “sugar-free” snacks, gums, coffee creamers, or other products are often laden with artificial sweeteners (AKA fake sugar) that we want to stay away from. Occasional added sugar isn’t bad but the tricky part is determining how often you have that added sugar. You may likely have added sugar in each meal or snack throughout your day. See some common names for sneaky sugar here.
So, we’ve established there are lots of places sugar can sneak into our food. Perhaps, now you just wonder what the big deal is. Why should we reduce sugar intake? Well, a diet high in added sugars can contribute to:
Of course, this list is a slimmed down version of sugar’s detrimental effects. Please, do some research. There is lots of information about sugar coming out every day. Find your why and that will help you feel more inclined to stick to a goal to reduce sugar.
Also, I want to address the reason we may add sugar to our food in the first place. In my experience, we add sugar to make food: a) sweeter and b) taste better. Consequently, everyone’s tastebuds prefers a different level or sweetness. Nonetheless, we can all train ourselves to be satisfied with less sweet foods. Personally, my favorite way to do this is through a sugar detox.
I strongly encourage everyone to try challenging themselves with a week of no-added sugars. The “cold turkey” sugar omission allowed me to pinpoint times in my day when I craved food with sugar. If I decided to only cut out some added sugar sources, I would still sugar ingest sugar in other places. The goal is to clear your body of all added sugar and its effects. The week challenge allowed me to feel stable and energized at 100% added sugar free. From there, I could better recognize my sugar tolerance and sensitivities. I highly recommend checking out the Sugar Swap guidebook put together by my pals Dana and Mary Ellen from Eats2Know and MilkandHoneyNutrition. They hosted the sugar-free challenges that I did this year in and their guidebook can help you out if you want some additional guidance.
Again, you only need to omit added sources of sugar. You will be happy to hear fruit is not off-limits. I enjoyed fruit every day during the challenges but kept it in moderation so that I was not overcompensating for the lack of added sugar. Remember: we want to limit sugar in its granulated or liquid forms. In addition, let us stay away from artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Sweet N’ Low, and Equal—they are not good for our health. They only disguise and exacerbate our cravings. Instead, consider your savory options out there, too! I bet many of the meals you already eat (or beverages) can be made without added sugar.
Still, if you’d like some tips and recipe ideas, check out Dana and Mary Ellen’s Sugar Swap guidebook found here . I’ll be back with some ideas for how I ditch added sugar in the next post.
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or dietician. Nor have I ever claimed to be. I am fascinated by health research and felt positive results when I chose to reduce sugar. I am only sharing this to encourage others to reevaluate their sugar intake but, by all means, do your own research, too!
I’m such a fan of sweet potato. I used to eat whole sweet potatoes all by myself, multiple times a week, every week. Oh, the good days. Now, I sync food with my cycle phases so I mostly consume sweet potatoes during my luteal phase. The more I cycle-sync, the more I’ve adapted my cravings to phase appropriate foods. So, this shake is a mash-up of WomanCode recommended luteal foods like sweet potato, cauliflower, and peach. More deets about cycle-syncing here, but you don’t need to follow WomanCode to enjoy this smoothie!
The Sweet Potato Cinnamon Peach Smoothie does require a bit of prep work for the veggies but once you have these items in your freezer arsenal, you will be able to reap the benefits of many future smoothies! So, I promise it’s worth it!
First up is the cauliflower. Raw cauliflower can wreak havoc on the tummy so I steam and freeze it for smoothies. It’s also easy to rinse and chop cauliflower and then stick it in the microwave for 3-5 minutes until tender. Let it cool to room temperature before freezing it on a tray to avoid clumps. Then, move it to a freezer bag or container. In a frozen state, the cauliflower makes a neutral and thick base!
Is there anything more delicious than roasted sweet potato? I think not. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness and caramel-like flavors in sweet potatoes so don’t skip this step. Once roasted and cooled, you can slice it into large cubes (to make it easier on your blender later) and freeze. The sweet potato can be used roasted and cold but frozen creates thickness to make this smoothie shake-like.
I also throw some dark leafy greens into my smoothie. Be warned: fresh ones will have a greener taste. Frozen greens, on the other hand, can hide their taste a little better in the smoothie. Both methods, fresh or frozen, and any leafy green should work.
I always prefer frozen over fresh produce for smoothies because frozen goods make a cold and frosty smoothie. Though, for this recipe, I’m taking advantage of summer peaches and using it fresh. The fruit is extra sweet when used fresh, just like how the fresh leafy greens taste extra green. I haven’t tested with frozen peaches but be sure to add more liquid if you go that route.
I cut out the flesh from aloe vera leaves (as shown) and throw it into my food processor. Once blended, the aloe becomes a sticky liquid which I pour into an ice cube tray. I fill each slot 3/4 of the way so that I can easily pop a cube into my smoothies each day.
Aloe Vera is the last and the optional addition to the Sweet Potato Cinnamon Peach Smoothie. Lately, I’ve been into adding a tablespoon’s worth of frozen aloe Vera gel to my smoothies. Supposedly the plant has crazy health benefits. My Mexican ancestors used to vouch for the spectrum of benefits cactus has. It can help everything from your skin to your digestion and even help your immune system. Though, store-bought aloe should also work if you want to incorporate it into this smoothie (or any other smoothie recipe)!
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Peach Smoothie
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Smoothie
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 smoothie
Here is where summer and fall meet. Warm flavors of sweet potato and cinnamon combine with the fruity freshness of peach to make a delicious smoothie. Admittedly, I like my smoothies thick so this recipe is more shake-like but smoothie sounds more pleasant in the title. 🙂
Ingredients
3/4 cup frozen sweet potatoes
1 cup frozen cauliflower florets
A large, fresh white peach
2 tbsp almond butter
1 cube frozen aloe vera gel, optional
A handful of greens
1 scoop vanilla protein
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp maqui berry powder, optional
About ½ cup water or milk (plus, more to thin to desired consistency)
Instructions
To make the layered smoothie, start with the base of sweet potato, cauliflower, peach, almond butter, aloe, and cinnamon. I like to blend these up with water before adding the protein powder. Otherwise, the protein powder seems to absorb the liquid without leaving any for smoothing out the ingredients.
Next, add the protein powder, and blend again, scraping down the sides if necessary.
Once smooth, pour almost half of the mixture into a serving glass. To the blender, add the maqui berry powder and blend again.
Add half of the maqui berry layer to the top of the first layer in your glass. Reserve the remaining contents for the green layer.
Scrape down the sides of the blender and add the handful of greens. The smallest splash of water also helps get the mixture going. When the greens layer is smooth, pour it into your glass.
The top layer will taste very GREEN so be sure to stir it up after taking a picture 😉
Notes
The prep time does not include freezing time. Most of the main ingredients are frozen except for the peach. See the post for preparation tips and why I use frozen vs fresh.[br]If you don’t have maqui berry powder, skip the middle layer and just make one larger green layer. It doesn’t contribute much flavor-wise, anyway.[br]If the layering business is too much of a fuss, the smoothie also tastes awesome when it is all blended up together at once.
This post is coming to you hot! 🔥 So hot that I literally just finished writing this the moment before it went live. Basically, I almost skipped writing an August favorites post until I realized that August has 31 days! Huzzah! That extra day gave me the time I needed to coagulate all of my favorite things from food, entertainment, and more! What have I been so busy with that I couldn’t write my favorites down? I can’t tell you all quite yet! Call me superstitious but I just like to get my ducks in a line before I make any announcements.
Also, I hope to get blog posts back on a regular schedule. I try to put out two a week but content and timing varies. I’ve got ideas for my next few posts but I just need to actually WRITE them. They are coming soon. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll be sure to get the latest and greatest there first! Anyway, let’s get on with my August Wrap-Up!
What I’ve Been Reading
How to End the Game of Catching Up
I am constantly seeking ways to improve myself. One of the most common thoughts that come to my head is: as soon as I get caught up with this, then I’ll have more time to do what I want. The mistake here is in putting off doing what I want in favor of things that are always going to be there. “How to End the Endless Game of Catching Up” over on Be More With Less describes exactly that.
Apparently, I’m a Highly Sensitive Person.
Who knew? Okay, I kind of always had a feeling growing up that I was extremely sensitive. I’m sensitive to a sales associate at a clothing store asking me if I need help the way others seem to be sensitive about the Game of Thrones halfway season finale. Both are startling (so I hear. I don’t watch GOT) but I will elicit a strong reaction to even the most miniscule of circumstances. So, I try to stay away from labels but I can’t help but relate and feel less alone when reading articles that seem to describe my life. I might cry over spilled milk but knowing there are other HSPs out there doing the same thing is comforting. Oh, and there’s a quiz here if you’re wondering if you could also be highly sensitive.
A Positive Spin on Bad Habits
On a funnier note, I often refer back to this Man Repeller post just to make me feel like less of a screw-up. I mean, I may be incapable of making a decision about ANYTHING but that makes me open-minded to possibilities and I can live with that. Sort of. What’s your bad trait?
Movie and TV Favorites
Atomic Blonde
I am a sucker for a female-led film and this one delivers. Charlize Theron plays a spy on a mission to recover a list of names during 1980s Germany, at a time when there is much instability surrounding the Berlin Wall. It’s spy against spy in this thriller/action film because it is hard to know who can be trusted. The dark and punk setting adds much to the overall vibe and theatrics of the film which leads like a wicked graphic novel as it switches from scene to scene. Plus, Theron can throw and take some serious sucker punches all while strutting around in uber-cool outfits. There is no other way to describe Atomic Blonde except: badass. As a disclaimer, the film isn’t very kid-friendly due to sex, language, and violence.
Orphan Black
On the smaller screen, I’ve recently started watching the series Orphan Black thanks to my Direct TV On Demand. (We recently switched satellite providers and I’ve finally got access to On Demand! Yay!) It is about a young woman who is trying to clean up her act to regain custody of her daughter but instead figures out that there’s a whole lot more to her origins. She engages in some duplicitous behavior and discovers she is one of many clones that look exactly like she does. It’s got drama, suspense, a super-cute gay friend that I wish was mine, and a story line that keeps twisting and turning. It’s Canadian entertainment at its finest. Earlier this year the show wrapped but I’m just getting around to seeing it and I’m hooked! Also, I’m only on season 2 right now so, please, keep the spoilers to yourself.
Food Favorites
Cookie and Kate’s Cookbook + White Bean Pesto (Dip)
You guys know I’m obsessed with the Cookie and Kate Love Real Food Cookbook. If you don’t, you must be new here. Hey, happy to have you here, new friends! 👋 Anyway, I’ve been cooking up different things from the cookbook like the Colorful Weeknight Burrito Bowls and Chickpea Tikka Masala with Green Rice. The recipes are so substitute-friendly for allergies, vegetarian/vegan, and, most-importantly, they are all majorly delicious!
Plus, I tested out a wicked White Bean Pesto from the Crostini recipe in her cookbook and OMG, it is SO GOOD. Honestly, I like dips but most of them just make me want to eat pita chips or crackers. The white bean pesto spread actually works as a delicious dip for veggies! As you can see, I was so hooked on these roasted veggie bowls with white bean pesto dip.
Half Baked Harvest’s Mean Green Detox Salad
I try to cycle sync my food but powerhouse ingredients found in this salad, like kale, broccoli, chickpeas, and avocado, are good anytime! Y’all know I don’t often repeat meals but I can tell you I’ve been very hooked on this one! I’ve switched up the fruit, too, and you can’t go wrong! Oh, and you’ll want to double the lemon tahini dressing because it’s so freaking tasty!
I’ve yet to post the recipe for this one. Is it mean of me to include it in my favorites? If so, I’m sorry for being a tease but, the recipe is coming soon! I’ve been trying to creatively pair WomanCode approved foods for my cycle and this smoothie is loaded with multiple luteal phase appropriate goods. Stay tuned!
What I’m Listening To
The Balanced Blonde’s Soul on Fire Podcast
Have you ever spoken to someone and they mention feelings or ideas that you have but you’ve never said out loud? That’s how I feel listening to the Soul on Fire Podcast. Jordan and her guests have all been through some miraculous and difficult experiences on their route to finding their passions. I truly find inspiration in each episode and that just motivates me more to find my path. I’ve been mentioning how I want to change some things in my life and this podcast is honestly a big part of that reason. I’ve been flip-flopping around through episodes but some of my favorites so far are the episodes with: Jonathan Albrecht, Jeannette Ogden, and Emma Mildon.
Jessica Murnane’s One Part Podcast
I had heard of Jessica Murnane when she released her cookbook but it wasn’t until I listened to her episode on The Balanced Blonde’s Podcast that I decided to check her out. Jessica’s One Part Podcast is similar to Soul on Fire but more concentrated on specific topics with each guest. I’d say OPP is educational but not in a boring way! Here are some episodes I’ve found fascinating so far: The Hidden Dangers in Healthy Food and Doing Your Dharma.
Magical Moment of August
I’m going to be a bit vague here for the sake of privacy. A friend of mine has been going through some wild things the past few years. He tried any drug he could get his hands on and abused all the substances, most notably alcohol. Of course, he was as vibrant and as could be when he would talk to me because he did not want to let on how much of a mess he felt like. I could see what he was doing to himself but we’re all adults here so you can’t force anyone to change their ways. They have to want that for themselves. Finally, he did.
I was talking to him on the phone just recently and he had a different zest about him. Over the years, he has left out key details about his life. In fact, he almost wasn’t going to tell me what had happened to lead up to his present, newfound passion for life. He said it was bad and he tries to just tell me the good things. That really struck me and, frustrated, I said:
You can’t just tell me about the good things that happen to you. Everyone has good and bad experiences that happen to them but you can’t learn from them if you’re only hearing the good part.
You know, or something like that. It made me think about how on social media is largely comprised of accomplishments, flattering pictures, and best case scenarios. Why? Well, people (myself included) like to share the GOOD things. That’s understandable but, if you ever have the chance, asks someone how they got to where they are. I bet you’ll find out the “bad” or less glamorous experiences that make up their story are a hell of a lot more worthwhile.
If you’re a regular reader, you may notice that my monthly wrap-up posts change depending on what favorites I have. Like, for August, there are no product favorites! What? I know. I’ve kind of been a shut-in this past month because summertime is like the equivalent of walking into an oven broiler where I live. No joke. That’s why I’ve been busting out so many smoothie recipes—‘cause that is all I want to eat! Anyway, I hope to have good news (and stories to go with them) to share with you all soon.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
