I looked after a sweet little one year old boy tonight who shared with me his wisdom on life...
We played on tabla and drums. We shook our booties to the music. We pointed out beauty around the home (he appreciated our ceiling fan, candles and African wall art).
And as he was drifting off to sleep, he looked me in the eyes and just started giggling. And as he giggled and smiled, he put himself to bed. They say not to go to bed angry, but this boy takes it to a whole other level! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all fall asleep just happy and giggling? I'm inspired and it was nutrition for my soul. I truly do believe in the power of positivity, and this was just such a great example of how good energy can be present at any moment.
Speaking of sleep, there's an article I read the other day linking poor sleep to unhealthy eating and weight gain. It basically says if you don't get enough sleep, you eat more calories when you're awake and tend to choose high fat, high calorie foods. Apparently lack of sleep and ice cream is a popular combo. Now I don't know if this means you are just awake longer hours so you have more opportunity to consume those extra calories, or if there is something truly in the brain telling you to crave certain types of food to make up for the hours of sleep lost...but either way, it's no good. Plus, the article touches on the double whammy of also then being too tired to exercise which does not help the problem either.
Maybe that's why college freshman and residents gain weight so easily. Or perhaps it's because ice cream is one of the few appealing things in the hospital cafeteria at midnight. Either way, it warrants careful watching. So, when you can, go to bed at a decent hour. And when you can't because your job thinks it is healthy to work you for 30 hour shifts or because you feel the need to pull an all-nighter, be mindful of your choices. Take easy snacks with you (a container full of mixed nuts, some cut up fruit). Or write down what you've eaten for the day so you can keep track of it amidst the sleepiness.
Recipe of the Day: Spinach, Baby Potatoes and Mushrooms in a Yogurt Gravy
Inspired by this recipe on the divinetaste blog, which of course I couldn't follow exactly without adding my own twist.
You can use peas, carrots, beans or cauliflower either individually or in combination.
1 cup spinach, blanched, chopped and drained - I used frozen spinach.
3 medium Potatoes, boiled and cubed - I used a bunch of baby potatoes boiled.
I added 1 cup of sliced portabella mushrooms.
1 ½ cup thick plain yogurt
½ cup water
1 tbsp coriander powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
For the seasoning:
2 tbsp oil - I used a little less
4 cloves
1" piece cinnamon
½ tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
½ tsp asafetida powder (hing)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 tsp gram flour (besan)
I added 1 cut green chili pepper
1 ½ tsp salt - I used a little less than that
In a bowl, mix the yogurt with the water, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander leaves into a smooth paste. You can use a whisk or a spoon to obtain a smooth consistency.
In a wok, heat the oil over a medium flame and drop in the cloves, cinnamon, cumin seeds and bay leaf. After the cumin seeds turn golden brown and crackle, stir in the asafetida and grated ginger. Lower the flame and put in the gram flour (besan). Stir into a smooth paste and cook until the flour turns golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Pour in the yogurt paste, raise the heat to medium and put in the boiled and cubed potatoes and the blanched, chopped and well drained spinach (This is where I also added the mushrooms and cut green chili). Bring to a boil while stirring continuously and mix in the salt. You have to stir well so the yogurt doesn't curdle.
Serve with rice (brown!!), roti or your favorite breads.
That was dinner tonight!! And now it's bedtime! Goodnight everyone! I hope you laugh yourself to sleep!
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