tea time

Tea has been quite the saviour for me as I try to maintain a yogic lifestyle and, well lets be honest, not eat too much. I have quite a variable schedule - some days I get up at quarter to 6 and others I start my workday at noon. I finish working at any time from 7 on an early day to 10 or 11 on a late night.

This has made developing an "eating schedule" a bit difficult. Nutritionists and exercisers usually recommend 4-6 small meals per day, while some yogis fast part of the day, maybe only eating one large meal at midday. I think most of us can control what we eat during the main part of the day, or at least keep track. Whether we bring lunch to work, eat at home, or go to a restaurant with friends, we can account for what we've consumed and counted it as a meal.

However, when at home, it's not so simple. Does that piece of fruit, cup or two of juice, bag of chips, or sandwich (or two) count as a "meal"? Or maybe a snack? Or possibly half a snack? And then when can we eat the other half?

This is when tea comes in handy. My fiance and I must have at least 10 boxes of tea stored in the cupboard, ready to suit every mood, time, and taste. Whether it's a morning peppermint or green, a cleansing blend of berry or rooibos, or a soothing evening tea such as chamomile or "Bedtime," the brew of the herbed bag is there to comfort and help fill an empty or wanting stomach. We have a lot of the "Yogi Teas", partially because the have little inspirational quotes on the tags and partially because the flavors are great.

While getting ready for the day or while preparing for bed, it's easy to make a cup or pot in a few minutes. The warm, tasty liquid is great when it's too late or too early to eat and you're hungry or about to get there. It is kind of an indulgence, but a sophisticated one that can help shed pounds instead of adding them. Speaking of which, I think I'll go warm the kettle.

am juicing

I just had to share a wonderful little juice I put together this morning after my yoga practice. I'm nearly always running late, so it can be hard to find something quick that is also nutritious and feed the body in a post-workout fashion.

I usually like bananas in my smoothies, but today there were none. After a brief scan of what was on hand, I put together the following in a small food processor (you could use a blender as well) and got something that was sweet and tasty, a red juice that reminded me of melted sorbet or a red slushee... yum.

serves 1

4-8 fresh strawberries

1/4 cup pomegranate juice

1/4-1/2 cup water

2 teaspoons agave nectar (you could also substitute 2-3 dates, fresh or soaked)

By the way, the strawberries contain Vitamin C and fiber, and pomegranate is full of antioxidants. So you can enjoy increased immunity, healthy digestion, and disease prevention in a simple glass. :-)