Thanks Giving Issue | November 2013

Free | November 2013

s k n a Th g n i v i G Issue!

Plus A Special

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

just for you!

Letter from the Editor Thanks GIVING ....

A time of the year that brings in holiday festivities, family traditions and even a possible change in temperature (... well depending where you live!).

Thanks GIVING ....

A time of the year to remember the beauty of life, the true essence of the holiday and share it with those in your life.

Thanks GIVING ....

A time of the year when we can all come together in the spirit of love, and acknoweldge all the many beautiful blessings we have.

Regardless of how you see this festive holiday, where you are on your path of life, or what circumstances are unfolding around you .... the intention of this edition is to remind you that when we start living with a sense of gratitude . . . everything in our life becomes a praise to Life itself.

From my heart to yours, I wish you the most wonderful ThanksGiving Holiday.

Table of Contents Mind - Body - Spirit

4

A State of Gratefulness

8

I Am Thankful

by Angie Romero

by Shagufta Khatri

11 3 Ways to Increase Your Confidence via Your Best Style!

by Jill Laine

Parenting

14 Brady Bunch Zen: 4 Simple Ways to Keep the Peace in Your Blended Family

by Wendy Witt

Nutrition

19 Surviving the Holidays Gluten Free!

by Varouj Kachichian

22 What’s Eating You? Gain Control of Your Eating to Lose Those Pounds

by Michelle Lee

Bonus Sections

17

Kidz Corner - Thanksgiving Feature Article

21

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

24

Seductively Tasteful

by Valeria Salazar

by Varouj Kachichian

of e t a t S A

s s e n l u Gratef

By ANGIE ROMERO

In the United States we will soon be celebrating Thanksgiving Day.

American history teaches that the First Thanksgiving was the celebration of the Pilgrims with the Native Indians after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. They -- the New England colonists --were accustomed to regularly celebrating ‘days of prayer’ thanking God for blessings. It was a tradition ( a custom if you will ) that they had of giving thanks.

Then, it was President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 who proclaimed the national holiday saying that “Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelt in the the Heavens.”

Now, lets fast forward to 2013.

What do you think of when there is talk of Thanksgiving?

Me, personally, I think its that great 4-day weekend holiday that’s right in between Halloween and Christmas!

I think of Black Friday Sales.

I think ‘Christmas is coming!’

I think ‘Big Feast!’

Sure, I think of God and a prayer when we sit down to eat, but I’ll be honest . . . that’s about it.

Somewhere way in the back of my mind I know its a day to give Thanks. A day to contemplate gratitude. To appreciate the many wonderful things I do have in life, and the miracles that have come before me and will continue to come to me.

Yet, 90% of my thoughts are on other things.

Where are we gathering? What will we be eating? Oh, my... what will I wear!? LOL

I’m going to step out of line here and say I’m sure that is what many of us do.

And, isn’t that the truth about every other 364 days?

We live caught up in everything else. Dwelling about the past or creating anxiety about the future.

Constantly looking at the time wondering if we will make it to that next appointment on time. Even when we have a 2 minute break we check our smart phones for the latest emails, checking FaceBook newsfeed or following news headlines. Maybe, just maybe, we can even send that quick text before the traffic light turns green!

We think of everything we “need to do” and find time for it .... yet, so many of us rarely really use that time (however long or short it could be) to just sit back and give thanks to life.

Doesn’t that make you ponder?

How we all make the time for everything else, but our own deep sense of Gratitude?

What’s my point here?

Well, I have three actually.

1

We are constantly and habitually living in those 90% of other thoughts. Thoughts that are often probably causing more worry and anxiety than needed. Many of those are about material things in life (such as problems with the car, the house, the phone, the job, the neighbors, the trip, etc).

2

We have to start changing those constant and habitual thoughts of worry into thoughts of blessings and gratitude. Start changing our mental habits of seeing the worst in situations, to finding the good in them. This sometimes isn’t as easy as it sounds, I know... but then again, it is easy once you are able to find so much good in the world.

If you have trouble with this find a good coach or therapist.

3

We have to start entering and living that state of gratefulness ... of thankfulness. To just simply stop our incisive mind for even a couple of minutes a day and whisper to God ... “Thank You” and really mean it.

Develop for yourself little ways of how to create a habit of stepping out of those 90% thoughts, and really step into those 10% of gratefulness. They could be small things such as a sticky paper on your computer that asks “What are you thankful for right now?”

I think its time that we as a society change. And in order for that to happen, we must each change individually. If we don’t begin to do the work for ourselves, how will we ever hope for life to be different?

This Thanksgiving, let’s understand profoundly the true meaning of blessings, of gratefulness and of miracles. Let’s take a step into that awareness of gratitude, and let’s start seeing the holiday celebration for what it truly was meant originally, taking time to give thanks and praise.

Angie Romero is a Life and Wellness Coach for Women, a Holistic

Practitioner, Editor/Publisher of HappierHealthierWomen.com, and Recipient of VIP Woman of the Year by The National Association of Women for 2013 for her service to women worldwide to live Happier and Healthier in all areas of their life.

For more information on courses, seminars and transformational packages, visit www.AngieRomero.com

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “Thank You”, that would suffice.

- Meister Eckhart

I AM

Thankful

By SHAGUFTA KHATRI

“I am t h a n k fu l , g ra t ef u l t o You L or d t h a t we (my fam ily) are “I am thankful, grateful to You Lord, for the food we eat, clothes we wear, the

home we live in, the cars we drive, the money I spend”

Seems like a cheesy line from a D grade movie… Not if, your near and dear one was a victim of a crazy shoot out while going to watch a movie…I do not take the safety of my family for granted.

Not if, a loved one was kidnapped or went missing while on a business trip to a third world country…just knowing that he is still alive and safe would be the happiest news one would pray for.

I could go on and on with examples. Just turn on the news channel, and listen to all the bad news…

Each one of us has a lot to thank the Lord for.

Was I always like this, No! A dear friend changed my outlook, with this one simple sentence.

“Pick one thing to thank for, be grateful for… and add to your list, as you go”.

I did exactly that, and today my gratitude list runs over 100 lines.

I have hand-written it in my diary and read it each time I am down.

I also have it on my iPhone (in notes), because I have my phone with me all the time and use that list as pick me up anytime, anywhere.

I have another list too.

A list of things that make me smile :) Yes, this list can save the day from being disastrous.

Sometimes no matter how positive we are and try to be…some people can really push the buttons and I use this list to “turn their negativity off” See, if I tell you to “Not think of a pink elephant”… what are you thinking of…a pink elephant, right! The only way to not think of a pink elephant is to think of a blue giraffe. It works 8 times out of 10.

See, I do not claim to have all the answers!

I do know that for some, life is far from rosy, maybe for you it is difficult to think of even one thing to be thankful for…it has been raining bad news for weeks and months probably.

What can I say…

Most of you readers have never met me but for those who know me, think I have “picture perfect life”. I would love for all of you and for me to believe that… but it is not true, but I do know I have a lot of things to be thankful for, grateful for to the Lord.

One day, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I just decided that it was my choice of what I focused on, on a daily basis…on all things I did not have and wanted or on all I already had.

Do you know what I began with, yes, that I was still alive and that I was living in America, land of opportunity! I could choose to believe the doom and gloom news about the bad economy or I could believe that I still had a ton of opportunities.

Like I said, I do not claim to have all the answers… but if one friend’s, one sentence changed my outlook

Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level.

- Shakti Gawain

and my life…what if I could be that friend for just one of you…what if you caught yourself reading this and said what the heck, I am going to try this sh*t she is talking about!

Just to finish off; may I give you the

3 advantages of “Attitude of Gratitude” It is all in your Perception: Think about events in proper perspective.

It may not be the end of the world, even though it seems it is right now.

Time may not heal all of the pain…but it will diminish it.

My favorite quote here is, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries within it the seed of equal or greater benefit”…Napoleon Hill.

Gratitude helps you Stay Grounded: In both situations, grounded when you are doing very well in life, gratitude helps you in not getting carried away. Also when things are not going too well for you…on days when feelings of being not good enough and what you have is not enough… showing gratitude for what you already have, will keep you strong just for one more day.

My friend, just one more day, just one more step…it will get you through Gratitude Positions you for Success: Think about it this way, why will the Universe give you more of anything, when you are not thankful and grateful for what you already have? Makes sense; Appreciate and be thankful for whatever you

have and work from there. You have been dealt your cards, play it wisely, do not spend your days whining and crying.

A Bonus Tip These days, if I want something badly from the Universe, I put it on my Gratitude-List and thank for it, as if it already is . Little bit woo-woo and out-there for someone like me, a very practical and number crunching Money-Coach, but trust me it works!

Someday, I will write a full blog about things that “happened” just because I put them on my “gratitude-list” and thanked for it, daily. Get the knowledge, do the work but what brings it all together is Belief. The faith, without the Gratitude…is like pizza with no cheese If nothing else works: Do something small for someone today, that will make their day(life) better…and see it come back to you multi-fold. Expect nothing in return, just do it out of the goodness of your heart. The warm mushy feeling in your gut is Gratitude stirring up!

Giving brings out feelings of Gratitude.

Be thankful each day.

Happy Thanks Giving to all.

Shagufta Khatri is a Mentor/Coach to Entrepreneurs who struggle with Consistent

Cash-flow and want to “Keep more of the Money they Make and Make as much Money as they Want.” She works with clients in 3 strategic areas that impact their business’s bottom-line achieving a 40% increase in their net profits, within 3 months of taking her 5 week signature program “Make your Biz Your A.T.M”.

If you like this article, you will also enjoy my weekly money tips. I am rebranding my website and once ready, you will get an update on the FB page about your free gift, so do remember to hit “LIKE” http://Facebook.com/ShitThatMatters

Increase Your

Confidence 3 Ways Your Can Increase Your Confidence via You Best Style I invite you to play a game with me. Think for a moment about wearing your perfect outfit, something that expresses your full beauty and being. See all the details: the shoes, the jewels, and all the other yummy accoutrements.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in this outfit, take it all in. How do you feel? Now imagine yourself interacting with other people from this place, perhaps your boss or a first date….what does this feel like?

Next, envision yourself wearing something old and stained, something that doesn’t fit, or that doesn’t support your best style. Close your eyes again. What do you feel like now? How does this affect your interaction with others via your

By JILL LAINE imaginary scenario? Would you want to meet an important client dressed this way? How about that first date?

I humbly submit to you that how you adorn yourself, your style, does matter. The feelings you have about yourself from the lovely land of your best style allow your inner light and your confidence to flourish.

Though others may be impressed by your outward appearance, it’s more about the inner you shining through that they see, and respond to.

When your confidence is soaring and you’re seeing the tangible benefits in your relations with others, it’s a never ending cycle of feel-goodness. Wash, rinse, repeat.

This isn’t to say that our external presence should guide our entire self esteem or confidence. It’s dangerous to sum up our multi-fabulous, multitalented, multi-dimensional selves in one dimension alone.

How do we divide ourselves when our spirit, internal and external are inexorably one? I submit to you that living your best style allows you to expand yourself in all areas of your life, which increases your confidence and overall energy that others pick up on. When you’re in this magical

confidence-high energy zone you’re more apt to share your quick wit, brilliant ideas, and all the other things that make you so spectacular.

So, now that you’re convinced and ready to unleash your best confidence and style, where do you start?

Wear What You Love Just like in romance, life is too short for like.

It’s all about LOVE! Buy and wear items that you love, those that make you feel beautiful and alive. This sounds easy enough, though in my work I find that many women blindly follow what the fashion industry is currently offering, as opposed to exploring what works best for them.

If you’re lost and unsure about what you love, have no fear, I have an easy exercise to help you. Grab a stack of magazines and cut out the looks or items that excite you. As you go through this process, set aside all internal judgment and instead go with your gut instinct and intuition. You can do this online as well, with sites such as Polyvore.com.

Again, you’re withholding judgment and just experimenting with what resonates with you.

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

- Maya Angelou

When you’re finished, spread out your picks and take notes about what patterns you see.

What’s different with these items from what’s currently in your closet? What new colors, textures, looks and styles are you interested in trying on?

Next, set aside a day to experiment with your newfound style epiphanies. This doesn’t have to be about buying, this is more about having fun and playing to see what works well for you. You can hit up your favorite stores, but I encourage you to try some new ones as well, just to mix it up.

Remember, this is about you playing, having fun, being curious, and experimenting with your style! Try some things that you never ever ever would have tried before. You’ll

either have a good laugh, or find that you’ve stumbled onto something fantastic.

Wear What Fits and Flatters You To really feel confident and beautiful, it’s imperative that you wear items that not only fit you, but flatter your body as well. I always say that fit and flatter are the peanut butter and jelly combination of style. You need both, together!

If you’re on a tight budget and concerned about where to find fit and flatter on a dime, consider using a talented tailor to fit those less expensive items to you perfectly.

Clear Your Closet Clutter

Jill Laine is a Personal Wardrobe

Stylist and author of interactive eBook: ‘The Conscious Closet’. By discovering their Unique Style Address (USA) and aligning their closets, Jill’s clients have found greater levels of confidence, personal happiness, lasting love, and even made dramatic increases in their income.

She has been a regular style contributor

My last tip for style confidence isn’t what you need, it’s for Fox and ABC as well as various other about what you need to get rid of. When you clear the TV shows, and a trend-spotter columnist for SheKnows.com clutter from your closet (clutter defined as the items www.JillLaineStyle.com that are no longer serving you and your best style), then Jill@JillLaineStyle.com you create space for the items that you love, and those that support you.

The things we choose to live with are symbolic of who we are, and in no place is this more true than the intimate items that we clothe our bodies with every day.

When we consciously choose to change the items that surround us, choosing what’s best instead of what is merely average, then our lives shift and our confidence soars!

Brady Bunch Zen

By WENDY WITT

4 Simple Ways to Keep the Peace in Your Blended Family As much as we’d all like to be like Carol and Mike Brady with their 6 loving children, Greg, Marsha, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy, most blended families don’t quite fit the 1970’s TV family mold. Instead, resentment, jealously, and worry are commonplace. If you’re a stepmom, are you viewed as the ever-loving Carol Brady or as Cinderella’s very wicked stepmother?

There’s a lot you can do about how you are perceived. Fortunately, there are 4 ways that estate planning goes a loooong way to positioning you as Carol Brady-esque and keeping peace in your blended family. With good planning in place, you can minimize family discord immediately.

Your family will be in “Brady Bunch Zen.”

Do These 4 Things to Keep Peace in Your Blended Family 1) Communicate Your Plan No one likes to talk about incapacity, death, and money. I get it. Even after 15 years of being The The bottom line is that you have to love your family more than you want to avoid the issue. You either will do or have done the “birds and the bees” talk and you can do the estate planning talk as well.

Mama Bear Attorney and helping parents protect their children, I still don’t like to talk about estate planning when it comes to my own family, but I do it.

All you have to do is tell your children and spouse that they are protected and will be provided for. If your children are old enough to ask questions, answer them. If you need help, your Estate Planning Attorney can provide talking points or even lead the conversation.

As age appropriate, let each loved one know who is in charge when. For example, explain who will make health care decisions, if you cannot, and who will serve has Power of Attorney and Trustee, managing your assets – and why you chose that person.

It often makes sense to have this conversation with your ex – the other parent of your children - as well. He or she is likely to be worried about your joint children, knowing that very often children of a previous relationship are ACCIDENTALLY disinherited. It happens all of the time.

It is imperative that each family member be told that he or she has not been replaced in your heart or in your wallet. Money does matter. Not only does it provide necessities, security, and comfort, money represents love – whether we like it or not.

2) Put Your Plan in Writing Health Care Documents: Family upset often occurs when there is a crisis and you’re no longer available to keep the peace. Be sure to have a Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will, and HIPAA Release in place so everyone understands who you wanted to be in charge of health care decisions and what your specific medical wishes are.

You can avoid the 15-year Terri Schiavo family battle by having a Living Will in place. If you want to avoid medical heroics and life support if you ever are in an irreversible coma or persistent vegetative state, then be sure that you have a legally valid Living Will in place and that your loved ones have it available to them.

Final Arrangements: Most family fights revolve around final arrangements and personal property.

(We’ll talk about how to avoid fights over personal property below.)

Let your family know what you want in regard to final arrangements and be as specific as possible.

Jot down your wishes and let your loved ones know where you keep the instructions (as well as your other important documents and papers.)

Over the years some of my clients have wanted a full Catholic mass with a military burial – others want to be cremated with just a small gathering of family and close friends – still others have a huge Celebration of Life. There is no right or wrong – all that is important is that your family knows exactly what is

Do you have a service or product that would improve the lives of women worldwide ?

If you do, we would love to hear from you!

Email us your name, company and website address, and we will look it over and reach out to you if we feel it’s a good fit.

important to you and what is not. The clearer you can be, the better.

Personal Property: Be super sure that your spouse, who is not the parent of all of your children, does NOT inherit all of your personal property. In way too many blended families, the spouse inherits all of the personal property (aka “stuff”) automatically and the children have nothing to remember their parent by.

While you may want your spouse to have most of the household furnishings, make sure you have a listing of “special stuff” to go to each child and grandchild. Examples would be family heirlooms or something that represents your individual relationship (e.g. jewelry, book, or rocking chair.)

You can include your list of special stuff in your Will or on a Memorandum that goes with your will. If you do nothing, your children from a previous relationship will get nothing – even though sentimental gifts are highly treasured.

Wendy Witt

(The Mama Bear Attorney) has been a mama for 19 years and has been helping moms protect their cubs with good estate planning for 14 years.

If you’re a Mama Bear and you want to

protect your cubs and feel less anxious, you are invited to download FREE Mama Bear Guides at www.MamaBearAttorney.com.

Will and/or Trust. Of course, you also must have a legal document that distributes your property after you die. Be sure you understand how your Will or Trust will distribute property and what property the document actually controls.

Most people don’t understand that they actually disinherit their children by naming the spouse as the beneficiary of life insurance and retirement plans and by putting property in joint names with a spouse, who is not their parent. Neither a Will nor a Trust controls contracts and jointly owned property.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

- William Arthur Ward

KCiodrnzer

rent e ff i D A View Point of Drip, Drop. Drip, Drop went the rain. “Everybody, listen

up please. Recess has been cancelled. Sorry guys” my teacher says. Everybody in the class moaned. “But I want you guys to write a card for somebody because THANKSGIVING is coming up” said my teacher.

Then the big idea just popped into my head. Why don’t I make a THANKSGIVING quiz card? Then I sat down and started writing as quick as possible.

Can you complete the THANKSGIVING quiz on the next page? When completed let me know what you think of the quiz and of the story.

Kids.

They have no filter, do they? But they have such valuable lessons.

Lessons that we adults sometimes should take the time to learn.

This section of our magazine is just for that purpose. To remind us of the innocence of childhood, the purity of simplicity and the joy of life from a perspective we have so long ago left behind.

Ask an adult what gives them happiness, and they draw a blank. But ask a child what gives them happiness, and their list is usually endless!

Valeria Salazar is nine-years-old and is in fourth grade. In her spare time she enjoys to sign, dance, make Rainbow Looms and watch Shake It Up Chicago from Disney.

Surviving the Holidays The holidays are just around the corner, and as warm and fuzzy as the holidays make us be, they present a special challenge to those of us living a gluten-free lifestyle.

Gluten Free!

By VAROUJ KACHICHIAN

After all, baked goods are holiday staples across the globe, if not a downright indication of the holidays. Nothing says Thanksgiving more than a pumpkin pie, and nothing screams Christmas like a Stollen, a Buche de Noel, a Panettone, or even the simplest classic decorated holiday cookie, reminding us of grandma’s cooking and great memories with family and friends.

Let’s face it; most people still believe that non- Celiac gluten sensitivity is just a trend, another diet.

So how do you survive the holidays being gluten-free (GF)?

And for many, gluten and dairy free?

How can you avoid being the “black sheep” in the family?

Do you just avoid the gathering for the sake of not listening to your mother- in- law, who already believes you would do anything to draw attention to yourself?

Do you just nibble foods that you might think and hope are GF, keeping your strategy hush- hush to avoid explaining to everyone your food sensitivities?

Do you just suck it up, give in and eat whatever you are offered just “for the holiday season,” with the false belief that you can do damage recovery after the holidays?

In case you are considering the last option, I urge you to think again. Keep in mind that it may set you back six months or more to remedy the damages caused, even from a single bite of gluten containing foods. Six months! Is it worth it?

Personally, I love all the holiday goodies I mentioned, especially Panettone and Stollen. They fill my heart with warmth and love and with that unexplainable fuzzy feeling that only holiday spices and aromas give us (my mouth is watering just thinking about it.) I am fine being the black sheep! I will take the time and explain to anyone, that as much as I would love to eat everything on the menu, especially that great loaf of crusty bread, I can’t! They may or may not get it when you tell them you are gluten sensitive, but explain a few of the symptoms you experience such as bloating, fogginess or whatever your symptoms are, and chances are, someone in the crowd will start to wonder if the bloating he or she has been experiencing is from gluten.

No one is living in my body, experiencing the foggy brain that will linger for days, getting irritated for no apparent reason (as a man, I can’t even blame it on PMS!) not to mention the damage to my body, every part of my body where blood flows to, yes EVERY little vessel! That is not how I want to spend my holidays!

So what can you do? Here are few suggestions…

1 .

4 .

Offer to help preparing one or two items that you can make gluten free and by making it yourself you can be sure it’s totally GF. This way, you are not being a “burden” on the host.

2 .

If possible, host the gathering, you can prepare the entire meal gluten free and no one will know the difference, including stuffing and pie.

If all else fails, find out from your host about the ingredients, watch for red flag ingredients such as thickeners in gravies and salad dressings (unless GF thickeners like potato or corn starch are used) prepared spice mixes, canned or prepackaged products, and anything that may contain additives.

5 .

3 .

If you must have traditional gluten-full meals, you can ask others to prepare some items in their homes, at least that way, you don’t have to worry about cross contamination, and you can keep your kitchen gluten-free.

When in doubt, skip the menu item.

That includes beverages.

If you are not sure about the ingredients, don’t chance it.

As a precautionary word of advice, when choosing the main attraction of the day, be sure it has not been grain-fed and your bird is gluten-free. To be sure, opt for free range, organic birds that are specifically labeled gluten free.

In the spirit of the approaching holiday season, and to make sure you don’t cheat yourself, I have put together a complete ( yes, it even includes a sumptuous apple pie), GLUTEN-FREE and mostly

DAIRY-FREE Thanksgiving and holiday menu with recipes and step- by -step how -to videos for you to download and enjoy.

Click on the link http://culinarycreator.com/ detox-friendly-gluten-free-mouthwateringholiday-dinner/ and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal from scratch. And for a quick appetizer, here is one of my favorite, easy to make butternut squash or pumpkin soup to start your Thanksgiving meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chef V. Last but not least, join the very first and FREE gluten summit with over 20 of the world’s leading experts. It is not to be missed, it could change your life! The world’s experts and opinion leaders (scientists, researchers, and nutritionists)--those on the cutting edge of food sensitivities, celiac disease, autoimmunity and what to do about them--will be discussing how to improve your health from November 11-17. Register for this FREE event now! Visit https://gg110.infusionsoft.com/go/tgs/ TheGlutenfreechefV/ to register for this free, online event today.

Butternut Squash Soup Yield: 8 Servings

4 Pounds Butternut Squash, Peeled 3 Large Turnips, Diced and Diced 3/4” 10 Cups Chicken Stock 1/2 Cups Olive Oil 1 Teaspoon Cayenne, Optional 2 Onion, Diced Salt and Pepper, To Taste 1 Cup White Wine 3 Gluten- Free Rolls (plain), diced 2 Carrot, Diced 1 cup cream (optional) Step 1 In a large pot, sauté onions with ¼ cup of olive oil for 5 minutes, add the wine and simmer for a minute longer.

Step 2 Add butternut squash, carrots, turnip, and 8 cups of stock, cover and cook for an hour.

Chef Varouj Kachichian (chefV)

has more than 20 years of culinary experience and is a certified gluten practitioner. His mission is to help gluten sensitive individuals transition and live a gluten free lifestyle, inspire them to cook and eat healthy and delicious gluten-free meals in 30 minutes or less, so they have more energy, eliminate toxins and manage their weight, all without feeling deprived.

Step 3 Sauté 3 GLUTEN FREE rolls with 1/4 cup olive oil (in batches if necessary) until golden brown, add half to the soup, serve the other half as a garnish.

Step 4 Puree the soup and return to the pot, add cream or coconut milk, seasonings, simmer for few minutes, taste and adjust as needed.

Step 5 Use additional stock only if necessary to thin the soup.

What’s Eating You? Gain Control Of Your Eating To Lose Those Pounds.

By MICHELLE LEE

Do you eat when you are unhappy, stressed out, or lonely? If so, then you are like many people who let their emotions dictate when they should eat instead of eating when their bodies tell them that they need food.

And this habit can result in those extra pounds.

Prior to putting any food in your mouth, ask yourself if you are hungry for food or something else.

Drink a tall glass of water, before your meal. Remember that your stomach is only so big, and by filling it water will use up some space, and may help you feel fuller.

The good news is that this situation can be prevented with a few simple tips.

If you think that you are unhappy, try identifying just why that is and focus on feeling better instead of turning to food to feel better.

If you feel stressed, aim to de-stress your life, and not turn to food as a crutch.

If you are lonely, call up a friend, or family member who is sympathetic, and easy to talk to, and try not to raid the refrigerator.

Before reaching for food when you realize you’re not really hungry, engage in some sort of physical activity, be it walking, riding a bike, or even doing housework that you’ve been putting off.

Michelle Lee, Life Coach BS, MA, Life Coach,

Certified with Coach Training Alliance, M.Ed-Health Promotion. Coaching individuals to reduce stress, create a better work/life balance and shed unwanted pounds without having to diet, so they can start relishing their life now.

If you absolutely need something to munch on to make you feel better, remember to aim for lower calorie food items, such as microwave popcorn, string cheese, and of course, fresh fruit and vegetables.

By remembering to control your emotions, you can more easily control your weight.

As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.

- Terri Guillemets

“It’s easy to take off your clothes and have sex; People do it all the time.

But opening up your soul to someone, letting them into

your spirit, thoughts, fears, futures, hopes, and dreams ....

That’s Being Naked.”

- Unknown

y l e v i t Seduc ful Taste

Develop an attitude of

gratitude,

and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.

- Brian Tracy