Allison’s Secrets for Healthful Living

People often ask me how I stay slim while owning a company devoted to sweets. One of my secrets is that I eat only premium-quality, organic foods, even when it comes to treats. Even though my dedication might be more expensive, I am much more satisfied when I eat foods that are pure and thus I eat less. Definitely not a junk food vegan, I seek out the very best of everything I eat. Though I may occasionally have a taste of something less healthy once in a while, those items don’t make it into my regular diet.

Secret #2 is that my breakfast usually consists of vibrant, fresh organic veggie juice. It keeps me energized while feeling light for up to 3 hours! That pile of veggies is the quantity I include in my daily juice, which contains mostly greens. It took a couple of tries to come up with a balanced flavor combo, but now I notice a big difference in just about everything in my life when I don’t have my daily quart of fresh veg juice. Mainstays include cucumber – excellent for hair, skin, and nails; celery – high in minerals and reduces inflammation; parsley – potent and helpful for migraines, romaine lettuce – calming for the nervous system; chard or spinach – lots of iron and good for bones; beet – purifies blood, liver, and kidneys; dandelion greens – improves circulation and anemia; lemon – balances the bitter greens and makes their iron bio-available; and ginger – warming, delicious, and great for digestion and boosting immunity. Sometimes I’ll use a different leafy dark green like kale or collards, or add bok choy, but the above is what I have most often. Try adding some fresh (mostly) green veggie juice to your daily regimen and see how great it makes you feel!

Secret #3 is that I regularly practice Nia, which is a very deep joy of mine. What is Nia? Well, only the very best thing since chocolate!!  Nia is the most holistic, integrated movement form I have ever experienced. Most people who know me really well know that I don’t much enjoy exercise. In fact, if I can avoid it, I’d rather not sweat – um, I mean ‘perspire,’ at all. However, if you can trick me into moving because I’m having so much fun that I don’t realize I’m working out, well, then you’ve got me. I’ve often said that some of the most fun I ever have is dancing. By combining dance (!), martial arts (kick ass!), and healing arts (like yoga); in addition to affecting the physical body, Nia also touches the emotional, mental, and even spiritual bodies. There are Nia Studios all over the world. Find one near you. And if you live in Portland, OR and haven’t tried it, you’re missing out because Nia HQ is in PDX! Get yourself over to the studio and find the fun your life’s been missing. Here in Nevada City, CA, I teach and attend classes at Core Movement Center. If you’re ever in the area, come dance with us!! (I’m in the photo below – far right in the turquoise!)

You have some secrets too – I just know it! So, I’m curious, what do you do to bring joy and vibrancy into your life?