1. Rebounder. A really small trampoline that you can accommodate in a 3 x 3 space, a rebounder is a little piece of workout equipment that offers huge value. Jumping is great for the lymphatic system — which gets rid of toxins in the body — and it is great fun too! It’s ideal for people who enjoy aerobic exercise but have to be extra careful with their knees because jumping in a trampoline liberates a lot of tension. I like to jump for 20 to 30 min. It wakes me up and feel focused and optimistic afterwards.
2. Raw cheese. Milk and dairy products can be healing foods or health detrimental depending on the quality. Raw cheeses — cheeses made with non pasteurized milk — are packed with nutrients and enzymes and I regard them as real super foods. Raw cheese is the only raw dairy product that’s relatively easy to find commercially in this country, but they must be aged for at least six months, which means no soft, young cheeses… at least not in a regular store. Raw cheeses are safe, yes, even for pregnant women — as any pregnant woman in France or Spain would testify.
3. My CSA share. During the harvest season, I absolutely love getting my CSA share every week. It allows me to eat seasonally, try veggies that I would not buy otherwise, and get very creative with my cooking. CSA veggies are usually picked the day that you get them, so you can’t beat the freshness — unless you grow them yourself. Getting a CSA share is probably the most effective way to dramatically increase your consumption of veggies.
4. Hot water bottle. I became very attached to my hot water bottle when I was single. Its warmth would comfort me when I felt lonely or homesick, and even though I don’t sleep alone any more, there’s no more efficient way to warm up my feet in cold winter days or quickly alleviate a menstrual cramp than my hot water bottle.
5. Meditation . This year I started meditating regularly and it is so worthy. I have become much more patient and loving with myself and more compassionate to others. When I meditate it feels almost luxurious to give myself this time, but when I reflect on this, I realize it’s so necessary. How did I keep sane and functional before?
6. Michael Pollan . Pollan is refreshing. He’s one of the few people in his position who actually knows what he’s talking about and is independent enough to say it. He has done a great job of bringing a holistic perspective to nutrition, explaining how our dependence on fuel, our defective food policies, our ambitious pharmaceutical companies, our chronic non-sustainability, affect the way we eat and vice-versa. I just hope to see more and more journalists and experts connecting the dots and talking openly and independently, without the filters of strong industry lobbies.
7. Mindful sweats. This year I also learned to enjoy short, intense workouts at the gym by being present and mindful. Gyms are not particularly inspiring places, which is why, I think, most people listen to music or watch TV while working out. This takes away from the experience because a workout happens in the mind as much as it happens in the body. So instead, I spend less time at the gym, but I am completely engaged while I’m there, giving both my body and my mind a reenergizing break and increasing the likelihood that I will stick to my exercise discipline.
8. Gymnema . An herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and it’s known as the “sugar destroyer” because it normalizes blood sugar levels and reduces the taste of sugar when placed in the mouth, making it a great supplement for diabetes, hypoglycemia, and intense sugar cravings.
9. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. My favorite book this year. It’s a beautiful, memoir of a family living “off the land” for one year. Kingsolver reflects on important issues around food, family, and real nourishment. I wanted to grow a garden and get some chickens when I finished, but for now, I settle with my window herbs…
10. French toast. I mean, who doesn’t love french toast? They’re definitely not an every day breakfast for carb-sensitive people like me — and 75% of the people I know — but they’re a great Sunday morning treat! I developed a method to make them really quickly. In an oven dish, put the slices — I use gluten free bread for myself and whole grain sourdough for Scott — and throw the egg mix on top. Let soak and turn over. Then put in the oven, and broil them in high. Careful, they will broil in one to two minutes! Turn them over once more and broil for another minute or so. That’s it! I top french toast with cream fraiche — or sour cream — walnuts, a seasonal fruit compote — that I make as I’m broiling the toast — and a dash of maple syrup. Yummy!!!
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