mindset & salad

A big salad at lunch is a game changer for health.  I remember reading The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes and her confession that, “what happened is, is that you change what your palate wants. I'm suddenly craving fish and salad."

A huge part of jolie is The Salad.  It is also one of the most challenging for clients. Somehow - I think it was the iceberg salads of the 80s - salads are seen as the quintessential diet, deprivation food. But, it’s all in your mindset. 

Let’s talk about mindset.  The mindset that gets me to eating another salad, to actually craving my salad, is first, I look forward to it.  As 11 rolls around I start anticipating my salad. I look forward to sitting down, taking a break, and enjoying my lunch.  I look forward to seeing the beautiful colors, to all the crunchiness, to the taste of olive oil, the creaminess of avocado or sweetness of fruit.  I look forward to the nuts or seeds. I look forward to the variety of lettuce, herbs, and veggies.  I look forward to what is seasonal in the salad that I can only have at that time.  

I also have a ritual around my salad.  I get out a large silver bowl. I dump the salad in and pour the seeds, nuts, and dressing over it and toss with two spoons.  Then I sprinkle a pinch of sea salt and pile it on to my favorite white (great color contrast), shallow salad bowl. I sit down. I take a moment of gratitude and enjoy.  

I love how full, but light I feel afterwards.  I love the variety of flavors.  I love how clean my palate feels.  Ummm.

You can look at your salad like that.  Or, you can say to yourself, “Another salad.  I know it’s good for me.  It’s going to make me healthier.  It helps my digestion. I know my skin loves it.  It will help me get these pounds off.  They say it will bring down my inflammation.” That too is a mindset.

Choose to cultivate a mindset that makes you feel good and excited about the choices you make.  Choose to look at your food in a way that supports your choice to give yourself the best.  When you set down to your next salad, think about how awesome it is that you are gifting yourself this bowl of amazingness that is going to energize you and make you feel great.

Learning to take on a mindset that supports you is a tool you can use over and over - whether it is making financial changes so you can switch jobs, training for a marathon, or going back to school.  Mindset and self talk is a power tool we can use FOR us!


Love,
Julia
xo