Feel Good Monday Post: What are you craving?

Hi Everyone,

I hope this note finds you all happy and well!
This month I have been lucky enough to be hired to lead workshops for Adirondack Trailways bus drivers. The workshops started last week.  What I found myself emphasizing to them was the importance of "investigating what works for them food and exercise wise".  It has occurred to me recently that so many of us eat a certain way because we read it in a book or were told to do so by a nutritionist or some other health practitioner.  It is rare that we are encouraged to experiment and tune into our own "inner nutrition expert".   This is a process that takes trial and error but is so worth it because it will ultimately lead us to eating in a way that helps us feel excellent.  Experimenting with a variety of foods and different dietary approaches is one of the best ways to figure out your optimal "fuel".

The trickiest part of the journey is trying to figure out cravings.
Sugar cravings are especially hard because they come in disguise of many other needs.  I want to encourage you to ask yourself these questions when a sugar craving attack comes:

1. Did I drink enough water today?
2. Did I eat enough protein/fat today?
3. Did I get enough sleep?

The above are among a long list of what your body might actually be looking for when you get a sugar craving.  If you struggle with sugar cravings, please join me on February 19th, 7pm at the Stone Ridge Healing Arts in Stone Ridge, NY.  You can email me to register:  Lysa.Ingalsbe@gmail.com or call 845 679-5881. Cost is $20.  
We will spend the evening looking into sugar cravings and how to deconstruct them. We also will explore using a variety of gentle sweetners  that are kinder to your body and still taste great.

Please check out the Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe from the Paleo Plan Diet Website:

• Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• If dough seems runny, try adding some shredded coconut or rolled oats (can use gluten free if you want the cookies gluten free).

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375℉.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Set aside.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, and vanilla extract with a hand mixer, or wire whisk.
5. Pour wet ingredients slowly into dry ingredients and beat with mixer or fork until combined.
6. Add the melted coconut oil and continue to blend until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Drop Tablespoon size balls of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes.