Grounded on Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and caretakers out there! Today was the one day out of the 365 (or 366 this year) that is devoted to burnt toast and lukewarm tea, doing something special for the one who does the special stuff all the other days of the year. Tomorrow it will be back to life as usual.

So, moms, how was your day? Speaking as a nutrition-oriented, food-oriented person, if I could have my loved ones doing something nice for me, it would probably be cooking a meal for me and doing all the clean up.

So here’s some food for thought:
If you could have anything you wanted to nourish you and make you feel special, what would it be? If it’s food, then think about how particular foods make you feel. There’s a food for every mood.

Because it’s raining here today, I really didn’t want to go out for Mom’s Day. Instead, we took the joy of cooking into our own hands and created food that made us feel grounded, warmed, and comfortable. A nice piece of baked sockeye salmon with a creamy, savory mushroom and shrimp Creole sauce served with a bit of brown rice with parsley and basil. Dark, delicately-spiced, piquant, flavorful. That’s what makes a dish perfect for a rainy, dreary, draining kind of day.

Here are some of my favorite “kitchen tools” to use to influence energy and mood.

To increase energy:
1. grapefruit–use in citrus sauces and serve with fish or chicken.
2. onions–raw onions have more energy than cooked.
3. garlic–my grandfather always said it would put hair on your chest. Not necessarily the best intention, but if it’s a testament to the power of garlic to get up and go, it’s a fair statement.
4. cinnamon–a “secret ingredient” to spice up a cream sauce, coffee, or tea. Also makes a great rub for chicken or red meat.
5. ginger–mince and saute with onions and garlic for an easy, flavorful taste sensation
6. cayenne–a purported aphrodisiac, increases heart rate, great for clearing the sinuses

To calm your nerves:
7. chamomile tea–I’d write more about this, but I’m getting sleepy! Makes a great stock in which to steam vegetables.
8. mint tea–great for digestion and to cool the fires of indigestion. If you happen to overdo the hot spices, take some mint tea after your meal
9. fennel–a digestive aid that’s been used for centuries in India. You know those candy coated seeds you see at the entrance to Indian restaurants–that’s fennel. Chew a pinch of seeds after your next spicy meal to reduce overheating.
10. high cacao dark chocolate–raw cacao is a fabulous antioxidant (that’s right, it’s good for you!), and when processed into an organic dark chocolate bar, you’ll feel calm and relaxed. That’s actually thanks to the magnesium, but that would be boring to list by itself, don’t you think?

Next time you are wondering what to serve for dinner, decide how you want your family to feel afterwards, and feed them the foods that will create that result.

And remember, Dads, dark chocolate and red wine are a perfect combination to set the mood, after you put the wee ones to bed.

In health and harmony,
Sally