Happy winter solstice, friends!
The snow is a comfort to my eyes. It’s memories of sledding with my brother and dad, snowball fights, snow angels and bravely looking up towards the gray abyss and catching fat snowflake clumps in my eyes and mouth. I dance in these memories. Nothing but pure joy on memories. I have many. This was my childhood. I need new memories in my 40s of winter. I’m planning on ringing in the new year in Colorado! I’m so excited to spend 6 days with my family in a beautiful cabin home. I will relish in these memories for years to come. Until then, I will bring some food comfort memories into the game!

I find myself skipping breakfast most days. I have been on a sweets kick for a few months now. It’s so annoying but I quit drinking alcohol so if I have a cookie or 2 a day it’s better than picking up a beer…or more, which usually is more than 1. So skipping breakfast is my balance. Some days, I’ll just have stewed apples. I’ll peel 2 small apples and cut them into chunks with filtered water and my chai seasoning spices. I’ll cook for 5-10 min and add more cinnamon before eating. I’ll save the hot spiced water to add to my morning herbal tea. I have been enjoying sipping on CCF (Cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds) tea throughout the day. I also, toast pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds and mix them in a jar. I will eat 1 tablespoon a day to help me thicken my hair. I’ve had covid once a year and the hair loss is sad 😔

So, if you know anything about Ayurveda then you should know your dosha. Doshas are based on elements of fire, water, earth, air, and space. I am Kapha – Pitta which affords me water & earth (Kapha) and fire & water (Pitta). I know I am missing space and air, so I can incorporate these into my eating habits. I create “space” by eliminating breakfast. I can add vata foods but since it’s winter, this is known as Vata season. I feel pretty balanced thus far. I make sure I check in every morning during my meditation to see where I’m out of balance. I can find myself feeling heavy if I don’t move and I feel too grounded and not connected to things that bring me joy, like yoga. Food can initiate pleasure as well, as long as it doesn’t create more kapha in me. Like fried foods, heavy meals late, sweets and buttery fats, geez typing this made me sweat. Lol!

So, my lunch will be between 11 and noon. I break my fast with a well thought out meal. I typically like to meal prep a big pot of stew or soup for the week I can eat off of but this week is short for me so I’m having leftover arrabiata gluten free spaghetti with beef and a kale salad. Beef is sweet, arrabiatta is pungent with garlic, onions, red pepper, parmesan cheese is salty, tomatoes are sour, basil dried from my summer garden enhance astringent flavors, and a quick tossed kale salad to introduce bitterness to my fully balanced meal.

After lunch, it’s important to let my body do its thing and digest. I will watch Youtube videos or read for a bit before beginning working. This is a sacred time for me to be with my thoughts and make sure I’m digesting my experiences as well. I won’t need to eat again until dinner. I used to be in a rush to eat before yoga but I feel an empty stomach gives me a better practice. I’m not sure why but instead of my body focusing on digesting, it can focus on my mind- body connection. I feel all the hallelujahs when I’m empty of food, not on love🤩

I have been enjoying dinner with my family. My daughter has been working on a 500-piece puzzle and I like to talk to her while she matches up pieces. I find eating the exact same thing my family eats at the same time gives me what I need in this season. It’s more 80/20 and I give myself leniency because I work for myself and not against myself. I find all the love in the season and take what I want to keep. I am not obligated to always be what I think I’m supposed to be. I’m evolving and taking my family for a ride on the crazy train! We love it cause we are together. We are a family that isn’t dripping in our perfections 24/7, I love them and they’re my perfect family🥹💞

For dinner, I enjoy a small plate of food with as much adherence to the 6 tastes as possible. I may have a cookie or 2 and a cup of cacao to settle me into my bed. Crumbs and all.
Namastè 🙏🏽
All pictures by Lenapè Spiritual Yogi Awakened.






































