Special Sections

Young at Heart December 2022

Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1489373

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 1 of 3

Healthy... continued from page 1 with Shapiro's recommen- dation—it's delicious). "The foundation of healthy eating starts in our gut and our ability to digest what we consume," advises Shapiro. "Eating healthy foods and having healthy habits can help ensure that our gastric fire or agni (as talked about in Ayurveda) is burning strong." Going into the holiday season, he em- phasizes it's important to use "brisk walks, hot teas and a positive mindset" to balance any indulgence. "We are what we eat, and we are what we think, so keeping the foods whole and our minds clear and positive can make a huge difference to our health and happiness." I also spoke to Hollis Oatey, Regional Manager for Hula's (which has restaurants in Santa Cruz and Monterey), about healthy restaurant selec- tions and a couple tips: 1. At Hula's we try to create dishes that not only taste good but are also gentle on the environment and of course good for the body. We source as many local and organic ingre- dients as possible. Warm, hearty, "comfort" foods tend to be popular in the winter which can some- times mean that a cold salad doesn't seem that appealing. However, my personal tip for cooking at home, to ensure you still get your fill of vegetables, is to roast them. This way you can benefit from all the great nutrients they provide and still get that cozy comfort feeling we all love in the colder weather. 2. One of the top Fall/ Winter dishes that we offer at Hula's is our Hawaiian Fish Soup. With a coconut milk base and fresh fish, it's a hearty dish that doesn't weigh you down. Choosing dish- es with lean proteins like fish or poultry and brothy soups can really help you feel full and satisfied in the cold and dreary months. 3. The restaurant also offers many lean protein and vegetable rich dishes like Thai Chicken and Ahi Wasabi bowls (note from Tara: I've enjoyed both of these!). We also have a nice daily selec- tion of fresh fish options. Our lighter dishes include Ahi Poke and fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Also, we always welcome guests to ask for brown rice instead of jasmine. Hula's draws both kinds of customers: those look- ing to indulge, and those looking for delicious but healthy food. "While we love our guests to feel like they are on vacation and encourage people to indulge or treat them- selves when they dine with us, we also love promoting healthy, plant friendly eating," adds Oatey. "It's all about the balance—whether you pair the Fresh Vietnam- ese Spring rolls with our famous Mai Tai, or our delicious Hawaiian Cevi- che appetizer with a piece of our luxurious Ohana Pie. The options and combinations are endless which makes 'finding the balance' easy." Want to learn more about healthy eating or cooking? There is a vast amount of information available online. One example is a June 20, 2019, Harvard Medical School "Healthy eating for older adults" article published on the Har- vard Health blog. As the article states, there are many ways that aging can affect the appetite. "Physiological changes that come with aging can result in reduced calorie needs, which can lead to decreased food intake and altered body composition, even in healthy older adults." Also, chronic diseases such as "…can- cer, diabetes and dementia can affect appetite, energy needs, and weight." It's likely that seniors are on multiple medications; these can "interact with nutrients or produce side effects…that affect smell and taste." The above effects and changes can be barriers to healthy eating, so the article provides strategies to overcome these—such as eating certain foods for healthy fats and fiber (and why these are important), and what seniors should do if their appetite is a lot bigger in the morning than the evening. Recipe for Kitcheree Soup, courtesy of Dharma's Ingredients • 2 cups red lentils • 1 cup basmati rice Soak lentils and clean rice before- hand • 1 Tbsp brown mustard seed • 1 Tbsp cumin seed • 2 tsp turmeric powder • 1 tsp coriander powder • 1 tsp cardamom powder • 3 Tbsp chopped or grated peeled ginger • 2 tsp salt or to taste • Approximately 10 cups water • Approximately 2 Tbs oil of your choice Directions 1. Heat oil in pot on medium high 2. When hot, add brown mustard seed and heat till seeds start to pop 3. Add cumin seed and brown 4. Add ginger and sauté for a couple minutes 5. Add turmeric, coriander, cardamom powders and sauté for a minute 6. Add rice and lentils and stir well, sauté for a couple minutes 7. Add water (Yogi personally pre- boils the water first so it's all up to temperature) 8. Add salt 9. Once it is boiling again, turn down to low and cover 10. Cook for about 25-35 minutes depending on what consistency you prefer 11. Make sure lentils are cooked through Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, Year Three by Peggy Pollard, Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing, DVIDA trained Ballroom Dance instructor Oh no! Turkey shortage this year. Due to Avian Flu and inflation, the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture says turkeys are 23% more expensive this year (but I think the REAL reason is--my third anniversary of my first YAH article on The Turkey Trot – my dance video now has 1.3K views!). In any case, this is one more stress added to our already anxiety-prone lives. And this is why we NEED Thanksgiving. As you unfold this news- paper -- rustling those soft pages with relish, floating your computer mouse cursor through this article, or sliding your fingertip down your screen glass – absorbing my words of wisdom, Right. Here. On. This. Page. Now. -- let my words melt into your brain, like creamy Irish butter into your spongy sourdough dinner biscuit. On today's holy day of thankfulness let peace sink into your soul, as a healing balm, creating a mental haven of rest, a Chapter Ending for the global re-awakening we've all just lived in 2022. After this year of our lives being pummeled, squeezed, and stretched like a lump of bread dough-- kneaded by life's turmoil nearly into shreds, we, like any good soul-satisfying yeasty dough, need our required time of rest. Like the first rise of a thoroughly-massaged loaf, this time is needed to brew in us the right chem- istry of mind and heart, producing the constancy in our soul that gives our lives needed structure and flavorful growth. It's our time to decelerate. So why is that so hard? So hard to turn off your "Get it Done Fast and Furiously" stream of con- sciousness, so hard to turn on your "What just Happened" train of thought. But that is the process we need -- to mix the output of our memories of this year with the elixir of "What Does It Mean?" Our Thanksgiving reflec- tion allows us to choose how we color our memo- ries of the year. If you are now in a time of acute suffering, you have a choice -- to either choose despair or choose hope that your suffer- ing will be eventually replaced with a greater, longer goodness. Or perhaps you are down in depression. So many valid things to be de- pressed about these days: Long-Covid, isolation, economic turbulence, frightening climate change. Or maybe you are merely fair to middling, surviv- ing, yes, but not as well as hoped. Or maybe you are doing great, successful in your life goals, but perhaps feel unfulfilled, or fragile with a nagging dread that it could all fall apart. In any case, good times or bad, you always, al- ways have a choice. You can choose regret, leading to bitterness. Or you can choose thank- fulness, leading to peace and satisfaction, trusting that your hopes are not in vain, tis NOT all there is to life. There is more. So much more, just around the corner. So let us choose gratitude, to rest our souls in the higher goodness of life. Giving thanks is not merely a duty to pay re- spect to those persons, or forces, who helped your life. No, thankfulness is a time for YOU to grow whole. It's a time of resting your spirit, letting every molecule of your physical matter relax into the good- ness of your life. Knowing we humans, the wondrous masterpiece creation of the universe, are deeply loved. There is also always hope, if you choose to look for it. Because you are not alone. As the ancient sage, Mr. (Fred) Rogers said "Look for the helpers in life. You will always find people who are helping." Social dance is one such powerful place to find those who to help you really FEEL that help. Arm in arm, your dance partner's arms encircling you, feels pretty darn nice, it's true. Even better, YOU can be the heroic helper for another soul who needs it. Very satisfying indeed. Social dance is a gift given to us from the incredible power of good- ness that is pervading our universe, the power of life that expresses itself through the abounding creativity of all people on earth… including those special people, the choreographers who are continually inventing our wonderful dances. Partner dance is the epitome of our human dances. Social dancing such a complete package of so many satisfying/ happy elements: Music, movement, physical con- tact with others, in a safe, harmonious way. Unlike competitive sports it's a Win-Win, not Win-Lose, experience. In fact, social dance is a great way to express your thankfulness, to get out of your own private head, into the presence of others, to cast off your gloom, and clothe your- self in a spirit of gladness, to turn your despair into delight. What have you got to lose but your lone- some sadness? Start right now. While you may not be a Spring Chicken any longer, you CAN be an Autumn Turkey What better way to express your inner spirit of thankfulness on this epic day of Thanksgiving than… the magnificently silly Turkey Trot Dance! Yes, if you sacrifice your pride on the altar of holiday family/friendship fun, you can spark your Thanksgiving gathering, however large or small, into a flame of existential frivolity. In other words, if you share this dance with your loved ones no matter how young or old they will LOVE you for it. They will be thankful for YOU. Join our next Turkey Trot lessons online or in-person www.PeggyDance.wee- bly.com Search YouTube: "Turkey Trot Dance Lesson, by Peggy Pollard" https://youtu.be/R- 3df05X4AM (now up to 1.3K views -- please keep it going -- view, like and subscribe!) Bigstock photo

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Special Sections - Young at Heart December 2022