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You can watch some of my other videos for a ‘day in my life’ of healthy eating – but I thought it would be even more useful if I laid out how I flow through the year being as healthy and happy as possible.
The specifics of my healthy choices fluctuates throughout the year.
I don’t do the same things in summer as I do in winter to be healthy and happy.
Take a minute to reflect on that, because it might sound obvious, but it can be difficult to remember that our bodies are in different modes at different times of the year.
Sometimes our expectations don’t shift accordingly
That might make us feel guilty for not living up. So think about how your priorities and interests change through the year.
Whether we’re standing at the end or the beginning might be a matter of perspective.
Year Round
- Healthy meals: I eat a variety of beans and legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fresh fruit and vegetables – and season them with spices and herbs. It helps to plan out meals through each day and week, to make sure all the nutrients are covered, but as a nutritionist I have the ability to improvise because the knowledge is all ingrained in my mind.
- Supplements: I take a few supplements every day, as a back up to overall nutrient density. Two vitamins – B12 and D – are important for vegans. There might be some specific supplements to add for individual needs or deficiencies.
- Exercise and activity: I like to get a mix of cardio and strength workouts through the week, by running and either doing this quick 5 minute strength/stretch routine or a bodyweight workout.
- Mindfulness: I do yoga as both exercise and moving meditation. I also try to note down something each day that I feel grateful for – often something that my healthy body has allowed me to do.
Fall: Learning – Organizing – Planning
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September:The urge to pick up some new knowledge dies hard! I tend to go with continuing education for nutrition, but cooking classes are also fun, or getting into a new sport or hobby… | October:As we go into cold and flu season, I like to do a veggie cleanse to boost immunity by maxing out on vitamins and minerals, while avoiding refined sugar. Making sure you have enough protein can help, too. | November:This is when I start getting way more into soups and roasted veggies and warm foods. I`m also getting ready for the holidays with vegan recipes and gift ideas. |
Winter: Grounding – Warming – Resetting
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December:I’m usually laying low this time of year, getting programs ready for January. It’s a great time to declutter your mindset with a decision detox to simplify and reset before the end of the year. | January:While so many people are setting New Year’s intentions, only to crash out a week or two later, I like to focus on taking new goals in baby steps, so that they stick for the long term. If there are any bad habits I want to ditch, I do it by crowding them out. | February:This is the month of chocolate, so I show love (to myself and my friends) through healthy treats. I definitely have some high-quality fair trade chocolate, too! |
Spring: Energy – Cleansing – Finding the Glow
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March:I get feeling the spring cleaning vibe for my body, and usually do a combo cleanse to boost energy and kick any bad habits that may have crept in over the winter. It’s also a great way to clear up skin if you’re looking for dietary culprits for acne. Chocolate, dairy, and sugar are all pretty common – all of which are plentiful in February, so try to resist the discount Valentine’s candy. | April:With the change in temperature, our adrenal glands can take a hit so it’s important to fully nourish ourselves this time of year to make sure we have all the energy to do everything fun that starts happening in the spring. | May:There’s a half marathon that I usually do in May, and in the lead up I not only think about training but about how to get the nourishment to sustain my energy for training and race day. This is a great time of year to get active, look at races, or join a fun group class. |
Summer: Fun – Cooling – Active
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June:In the summer, I start eating more raw foods, and usually do a quick smoothie cleanse to keep cool and detox. | July:This month is all about BBQ’s and burgers for Canada Day/July 4th! | August:I like to get outdoors a lot for the last month of summer, have some fun, and often wind up filming videos on the go (which is why I’ve built up some tricks to help phone videos look good!). |
One question I want to answer:
“Why are you vegan? Do I have to be vegan to follow you?”
I was drawn to veganism after learning about the environmental impacts of industrial food production. There are a million and one reasons that I continue on this path, but that was my tipping point.
I realized I could do something to make a difference.
Something that was entirely under my control.
I can help inspire and motivate you to take control of your own health and energy levels through conscious choices about what you eat.
But I’m not going to tell you what to do.
So if you want to be vegan: fantastic! I’ll show you how to make that fun and as easy as possible. If you’re not ready yet: that’s fine. Just try some plant-based meals and recipes. It’s totally ok to start off taking baby steps.
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