BAKE OR COOK SOMETHING NEW FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Today is about breaking up the routine so let’s bake or cook something new and different. I know the holiday season is crazy busy but there’s something about finding a new recipe and actually putting it together. Mental health is directly related to our overall wellness.
We spend hours upon hours doing the same thing…time to jazz it up
Thinking about it, we actually spends hours and hours every day doing the same thing. Over and over, and our brains and creativity go down the drain with it. By physically baking/cooking something totally new you’re accomplishing several things:
- Breaking up routine allows for creativity and refocus
- Any exciting new experience gives us something to look forward to and lowers cortisol
- When we step out of routine, we experience new things that benefit our mental health
- You end up with something good to eat
But I don’t cook
Do you rarely enter your kitchen and the thought of baking or cooking fill you with anxiety? Then put a spin on today’s action plan. Try a totally different restaurant today. Try a country’s cuisine you’ve never had. Or visit the gluten free bakery. Or meet a friend for tea when you would normally stop by the regular coffee cafe.
Eating or drinking something new and out of your routine is the point today and there’s the benefit of maybe finding something you totally love!
Just what’s needed during this wonderful Cold and Flu season
As I’m typing this, I have pneumonia…again. Earlier this year I tried something new and made my own elderberry syrup…so I’m including the recipe and instructions on how to make your own and if you are sniffling, coughing and feeling achy then try this recipe this week for your “bake or cook something new”!
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe
( follow us on Instagram for this and more recipes!)
Fresh elderberries – 1 Cup or 3/4 Cup dried elderberries
Distilled or filtered water – 3 Cups
Freshly grated ginger root – 2 TBS
Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp or 1 stick
Cloves – 1 tsp ground
Honey optional – 1 Cup
- Combine all ingredients except the honey in a pot and bring to boil. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 45 min to one hour. Remove from heat and strain mixture.
- Optional is to now add the 1 C of honey. (You can also leave without the honey now and add the honey later
- Transfer to a sealed glass jar or bowl and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Take 1 TBS (for adult) per day to prevent cold or flu or every 4 hrs when sick. Check with your pediatrician before giving to a child
I personally create a hot tea with my elderberry shots. Prepare your favorite herbal tea for colds like Gypsy Cold Care by Traditional Medicinals and mix in 1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 TBS Lemon Juice, and a dash of cinnamon. It’s best to also add 1-2 TBS of honey but I’m allergic to honey so I add in just some stevia drops to counter the sour APV and Lemon. Drink up and hopefully enjoy a short cold and flu season.
IDEA FOR COMBINING DAY 3 of our WELLNESS CHALLENGE AND TODAY’S NEW RECIPE
Reread our action challenge for Day 3. Contact someone and either invite them to eat your new recipe or how about asking them to join you for lunch or break at that new location to eat or drink something new? There may be someone else that is needing a break from their routine. Maybe they need to hear from their friend as a great stress relief! The holidays may be extra difficult for some and you may just be the break in their routine that they need. And remember that experiencing something new is beneficial for your mind and for opening up creativity so get up and find that recipe or new restaurant and cook up something different for your mental health!
What new recipe or eating place are you going to experience today or this week? Tell us! If you have a recipe share the recipe link and we can also add your recipe to our main social media pages!!
————————————————
WHO ARE WE?
Body Systems Active Apothecary Skincare Team is thrilled to have created the daily End-of-Year Wellness Challenge to help make everyone’s holidays healthier. Who are we? We offer bath and body products to help you get and stay active whether that is running a family, being an office warrior or for the serious athlete. Look at products now at Body Systems
SEND US SOME LOVE!
Everyone has had so much fun in participating in this Wellness Challenge that we’re already planning our next Health Challenge that will being in January 2020. Want to be one of the first to find out the details? Make sure to fill out our contact form to let us know!
Leave a Reply