How to Make the Kitchen Your Friend
By Darshana Weill
Food Freedom Coach and Yoga Teacher
Growing up with a stay at home mom I had mixed feelings. On one hand it was awesome to have mom around all the time, helping me with all the little things, dedicating herself to my interests and hobbies by bringing me to dance classes and friends houses and being the support a young girl needs to navigate the world.
On the other hand I saw that the life of a stay at home mom included a lot of laundry, cleaning and worst of all cooking.
“No way,” I said. That is not the life I plan to have. I remember very clearly the moment I made the decision to create a life that did not look domestic at all. Unfortunately, with that decision came a lot of health issues and struggle, especially with food.
As a result, I was at the mercy of take-out, restaurants and to be honest, the bulk bin at the health food store. And for “some reason” the only thing I could see in those bins was the granola.
It wasn’t until my discovery that I could take my yoga practice off the mat and into the kitchen did my love for cooking blossom. Well let me be honest, the love didn’t happen all at once. I was suffering from horrible PMS, digestive issues and had developed a very unhealthy relationship to food. Uncontrollable binges being the main culprit.
Trying to heal health concerns through the western healing model was getting me nowhere and since I had heard rumors that food could be the medicine, I figured I’d give it a go.
Since the love had to be developed I took it on that cooking would be a “practice” just like yoga. I gave myself lots of room for the feelings I had about being a woman in the kitchen and the fact that I was really bad at it when I first started. I burnt more pots and pans than I want to admit. But I was determined to change my health holistically and so I stuck to my YOGA IN THE KITCHEN.
As a result my health and my life improved through the power of food.
And the best thing is that I actually feel more empowered as a woman in the world.
In honor of this month’s theme, honoring the feminine I thought I would provide you with some recipes that help support women’s health.
And I am here to help. Give me a shout if you want some support making the kitchen and food your friend.
In health and service,
Darshana
SPICY SAUTÉED COLLARD GREENS
With the spring cleanse well on its way our group is immersed in green vegetables. An excellent source for both the liver and gallbladder.
Sautéing leafy green vegetables enhances their naturally vitalizing nature.
See, greens give us great flexibility–so does cooking with oil. Bring the
two together with the vitalizing energy of cooking with the high fire of
sauté and you have created a dish that’s bursting with energy, but won’t
leave you nervous and edgy.
WHAT YOU NEED
Sesame oil
1/2 dried chili pepper, seeded, finely minced
1 sweet onion, thin half moon slices
soy sauce
1 bunch collard greens, rinsed, thinly sliced
1 lemon, quartered
WHAT YOU DO:
Heat a small amount of oil in a deep skillet.
Sauté chili and onion, with a splash of soy sauce, for 1-2 minutes.
Add collards, season lightly with soy sauce and sauté just until the
greens are limp and a rich, deep green.
Serve with lemon wedges (the lemon’s astringent quality aids the body
in digesting oil).
ADZUKI BEAN TEA
By Christina Pirello
What woman wants puffy bags under your eyes? If you don’t then this tea is for you. Puffy, swollen eyes indicate that the kidneys are becoming flaccid, overcome by too much liquid, sugar, even fruit juices. Little red adzuki beans help regulate the kidney function, restoring moisture balance in the body. For best results, take this tea 2-3 times a week for about a month. You’ll see clearer, fresher eyes and feel incredibly vitalized.
WHAT YOU NEED
1/4 cup adzuki beans, rinsed well
1/2-inch piece kombu
1 cup spring or filtered water
WHAT YOU DO:
Place beans and kombu in a saucepan with water.
Bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium heat.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain out beans and drink while hot.
Makes 1 serving.
Note: You may continue cooking the beans for soups or stews
GINGER SALMON
Fat. The feared word by women yet one of the most essential elements for women’s health. That’s why in all my programs I help women create a positive relationship with the word fat, the fat in food and yes even the fat on their body. Fat is required for the production of serotonin, which elevates mood and promotes good sleep. It helps digest fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E &K. It is essential to the production of hormones: especially reproductive hormones. It helps you feel comforted, satiated and satisfied because it contains more energy. We need our fats ladies, so lets learn to love them.
WHAT YOU NEED
3-4 ounces of salmon
1-2 carrots cut on diagonals or diced
1/2-cup broccoli cut into florets
ginger- grated about a 1/4-cup (more or less depending on your taste)
garlic- minced (optional)
1 onion cut in long length width pieces
1/2 cups leafy greens (choose something you like: kale, collards, bokchoy)
olive oil
tamari or salt
(feel free to use any other veggies)
WHAT YOU DO:
In a frying pan or wok place olive oil and sauté onions and garlic (optional)
Place about 1/4 cup of water and add carrot, salmon and broccoli.
Cook for 3-4 minutes
Add grated ginger and let fish simmer in the ginger water and veggies until almost done 5-6 minutes.
Add leafy greens and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Add tamari or salt to taste (optional)
*the more ginger you use the tastier the dish.
QUICK BOILED SALAD
If you suffer from digestive upset in any way this salad might be the right medicine for you. Raw vegetables can often be harsh for some women’s digestion. But a little quick boil can break down the enzymes just enough to help the digestive track without losing too many vital nutrients.
WHAT YOU NEED
Greens- chopped
Carrots, diakon, radishes, etc.. roll cut or cut in 1/2 if smaller
Sesame seeds
WHAT YOU DO:
Put water in pot, bring to boil or use a steaming basket.
Steam or blanche
Each vegetable for 3-6 minutes or until vegetable gets bright.
Remove from water.
Eat hot or cooled.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds
Darshana Weill is a Food Freedom Coach and yoga teacher. She founded Break the Binge Cycle- 21 days to taking control of food without feeling deprived and the 5 months to Food Freedom Program. All her programs aim to support women to use consciousness with their relationship to foo. She works with individuals and groups. She also teaches a variety of health related workshops around the Bay Area, Santa Cruz and nationally.
WORKSHOPS DARSHANA TEACHES AT THE YOGA TREE
Cleanse and Renew; A 3- week springtime cleanse- The Yoga of Food: How is life feeding you?Nutrition 101, Sugar can be Medicine, Women’s Wellness: Treat PMS Naturally, To Be or Not To Be a Vegetarian and Yoga and Food For Emotional Eating.
To find out more about Darshana’s program
FINDING FOOD FREEDOM
Check out www.darshanaweill.com or
www.findfoodfreedom.com/liberate
To contact Darshana directly call 510-423-0603 or email her at darshana@darshanaweill.com
Want more recipes? Check out Darshana’s 50 quick and easy recipes Ecookbook: http://darshanaweill.com/page/cookbook-1
