I have a cold :(

Yep, it happens - we all get sick, even vegans, even yogis we are all human beings and whether we want to admit it or not, it happens.  A few nights of poor sleep + increased stress left my immune system compromised. And here I am lying in bed headache, sneezing, eyes watering and crying because feeling awful makes me feel sad. 
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Our inclination may be to power through with over-the-counter meds and go on about our lives, but I choose to rest and use this as an opportunity to nurture myself. Extra sleep, saying no to appointments that aren't necessary, lying down and being silent, eating well, lots of fluids. This is what I crave. 

After waking up this morning to a sneezing fit and watery eyes, it was Neti Pot to the rescue.  I like to Neti in the shower since I can't seem to use the thing without water running down the side of my face. I followed this with Nasaya Oil which felt so soothing.  Feels so good to breathe! When I'm under the weather I crave orange juice and fruit in the morning. I like a Smoothie Bowl because I eat slower with a spoon making it more satisfying. I topped this simple bowl with some chopped nuts for texture. 

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I'm often asked what I eat when I have a cold now that I don't eat chicken soup.  I have a couple of variations of a miso veggie soup that are my go to recipes. When I had a cold last year, I made a hot water concoction containing hot water, fresh ginger, cayenne and lemon juice. It tasted good, like a spicy broth, and it made me sweat. I combined this with a soup that my good friend Savitree makes and created a simple, spicy and satisfying Ginger Miso Soup for lunch. I served it with rice because we had some made and added a bit of kimchi. I was sweating when I was done eating which I find to be so satisfying.  A piece of high quality dark chocolate was the perfect sweet taste after this flavorful soup. Excuse the image - it was steaming hot and I was ready to eat!

I kept my hot lemon water near by and sipped it throughout the day.  For a snack, I had a banana and a small handful of nuts. For dinner, I had a glass of OJ and 2 slices of toast topped with coconut oil and Everything but the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joes (love that stuff). It was just enough as I was ready for bed.  

Be well, here's to health and happiness in 2019.