If you’re just joining us, this post is part of the Mood of the Month series. This powerful approach to eating can help make meals (and snack times!) way less stressful, a lot more purposeful…and even fun.
And you do it with one simple question: “How do I want to feel?” Once you know the answer, you simply cook and eat accordingly. So, until the end of the year, we’re spotlighting a monthly mood and exploring ingredient ideas (along with some totally doable lifestyle shifts) that can help you feel how you choose. Read more about it here.
With the magic of the holidays in full swing…what better time to let your inner glow shine and feel utterly Radiant?? (Those twinkling lights and candles shouldn’t get to have all the fun…!)
Of course, who doesn’t want to be their most vibrant and luminous self all year round?! But with the extra harsh effects of the wintry weather and the busyness of the season, it’s an opportune moment to swap drab and overwhelmed for bright and calm. And what you eat (along with some mindset shifts!) can make a huge difference in whether you feel – and look– super stressed…or blissfully glowing.
To truly shine, you have to begin from the inside out – not just what you eat or what you put on your face, but what you send out into the world by your attitude and energy, too! The most expensive facial creams / scrubs / spa treatments won’t make you glow if you aren’t also taking steps to feel radiant inside.
Here are a few ways to shine from within – and “eat pretty,” too:
Say No to Stress
As soon as you begin to feel overwhelmed, it shows in your posture, your face, and overall vibe. So, banish that stressed-out look by beating stress! Breaking the overwhelm cycle can be as simple as a quiet moment alone with a soothing drink or a walk outside in the fresh afternoon air.
For me, exercise is a potent stress-buster. Some people swear by a feel-good comedy (with all the endorphins released by laughter…!) And who doesn’t love a luxurious bath? Whatever brings you back to your bliss, make time for it to create a sense of calm.
Go with Your Gut
Here we go with the gut again! Yes, and here’s why: mood-boosting foods are also, often, gut-nourishing foods, and vice versa. Your gut is a leading producer of your body’s serotonin supply (that feel-good super-chemical), and when you feel nourished and satisfied, it’s no surprise that you also look your best. So be sure to get plenty of fiber into your holiday diet, and reach for foods that aid digestion to keep your gut happy – and your inner glow shining.
Connect with Your Body
Reducing stress means taking a quiet moment, and nourishing your gut means tuning into how it feels. During those check-ins, take the time to really listen to your body. Have you noticed that when you eat a certain food, it makes you feel tired? Or weak? Or jittery?
Consider leaving that food off your plate for a few meals, then check in again. It’s a super-simple version of an elimination diet that will help bring you closer to knowing what works for YOU. And when your body feels great, it shows.
Now that you’re calmer and connected, it’s time to reach for foods to help boost the luminous radiance that you’ve cultivated! Here are a few of my go-tos:
Vitamin C
No surprise here: brightly colored fruits and vegetables like pomegranates, citrus fruits, and yellow peppers are loaded with collagen-stimulating vitamin C, which helps keep your skin firm and elastic. Bright colors = bright glow!
Protein
Whether from chia seeds, other plant-powered meals, or clean, organic animal protein, this building block is also crucial for collagen building, and will keep your skin looking supple and extra nourished.
Water
If you are what you eat, then you are definitely what you drink. And that means plenty of cell-plumping H2O! But don’t be afraid to think outside the tap: soothing teas, nourishing broths, even juicy fruits like melons are effective ways to keep yourself hydrated and help your radiant glow show.
Turmeric
Shout-out to my anti-inflammatory of choice! This power-packed spice is loaded with antioxidants, making it an amazing choice to sprinkle on…well, everything. But it’s also an all-natural way to manage and alleviate a host of skin ailments. Try it internally in my signature Turmeric Latte or externally in this healing face mask.
Fats
Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain your skin’s elasticity, and filling up on these healthy fats comes easily with some of my favorite ingredients: walnuts (which boast an optimal omega-3 ratio), avocados (my personal favorite with chlorophyll to reduce inflammation and biotin for lustrous hair and nails), and salmon (with EPA and DHA to moisturize your skin from the inside out and vitamin D for skin cell growth and repair).
Beta Carotene
Another bright-colored gem: vivid orange carrots and sweet potatoes don’t just add color to your plate! Their beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body, and will leave your complexion looking as vibrant as the vegetables you ate to get there. Start with bold Moroccan Chickpea Soup (it’s new!) or a batch of roasted veggies starring this vitamin superstar.
See how easy (and delicious!) it is to shine bright? Try it this month and learn how powerful it can be to choose your mood, then choose your food! Wishing you a truly Radiant holiday season!
Now it’s your turn: What’s your favorite food to get glowing? Let’s inspire each other to shine a little brighter – and take control of our mood with our food – in the comments.
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