Why you shouldn't worry about what others think
And cumin, lime rice with cilantro and beans
Dynamics in a family or in a friend group can sometimes be dicey. We all have our role and it can be uncomfortable to try on or wear a new outfit. Sometimes the old role is no longer serving you and it could even have health consequences. Sounds dramatic? Maybe. It doesn’t have to be.
Similarly it can be a trust issue with ourselves. Let's say we are trying to eat more plants, more whole foods and less processed foods in our diet. When we are alone we do all the things we need to keep our bodies and our minds healthy. But place us out with friends and we’re ordering drinks and apps that are nothing like the menu at home. It can also be a simple night in with family watching movies and the popcorn or ice cream or m & m’s and stomachache inevitably come along for the ride. Why?
No one is asking us to not be who we are best at being. Sure, they may know us or knew us as part of the gang who celebrated with a glass of wine or two; or the one who likes cakes and dessert or maybe the bag of chips and other salty snacks or maybe a little of both. It is not for them to know our new habits. We must share, inform, and communicate what we are doing because no one can read our minds especially when we are out for a good time and it is presently going down.
Have you tried to communicate and gotten a less than supportive response? Perhaps even a laugh or joke accompanied with said response. Is there that one person who always says something?
Were your feelings hurt? They shouldn’t be but let's say they were.
Get curious about that. No one can “make” us feel bad. So it is our own thoughts and beliefs after hearing the snarky response or the “joke” that determines how we are going to feel.
Maybe you already feel uncomfortable doing something for yourself. Stating your needs out loud is not something you have done in the past.
Maybe you don’t know why you are doing this-eating this way. You know you want to eat more veggies, maybe beans, too, but you don’t know your way around these recipes yet so that small gap feels huge and easily derails you.
Maybe you don’t like to be different. Different equates to being difficult, at least in your family or your friend group growing up, and when that happened you were left out.
These are all beliefs.
Beliefs that you may not have recognized until this very moment. And in today's environment there are so many ways to be accepted you may want to take a moment to investigate your beliefs.
Your choices are for you, your internal, authentic self gets to make the decisions. When you allow external voices to validate you, you give away your power. Don’t do that. You are strong and you know what's best for you.
Every time I hear these words, It is none of our business what someone else thinks of us. I smile because it is true. We are human, sometimes it is hard not to think about it (what they say about us) if you overhear it or more so if they say it directly to us. However, you do have agency on how you react or what it means to you:
Maybe you decide to find a group online that is eating the way you do and delight in the supportive comments and recipes.
Maybe you look at the source of the comment and let it roll off your back like water off a duck’s ass.
Maybe you find some truth in the comment and that's cool.
Maybe you get to a place where creating food that makes your body and mind feel great is your happy place so comments don’t affect you. Now eat those lions mane gyros!
The great part is it is all up to you.
Stand in your worth and start with beans!
Recommended Recipe
Cumin lime rice with herbs and beans
This is one of those recipes that I forget can be a recipe. I make it often and with whatever I have on hand. The key is fresh warm rice to soak up the lime and spices and some type of herb. I make 1 1/2 cups of rice and get about 4 1/2 cups cooked. I use 3 cups in this recipe and the rest I keep in my fridge to eat another way. I usually have cilantro and parsley at the ready but thyme and basil would also be delicious especially with the Rancho Gordo chickpeas I make from scratch. I was also making a new batch of black beans and that is why I decided to go with fresh cilantro, lime, and cumin combo. Very simple. Feel free to add additional spices like chili powder (1 tsp), coriander (1/2 tsp), even smoked paprika (1/4 tsp). If you like heat add a little cayenne, chili oil, or sriracha sauce to your taste.
Ingredients
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 cup cilantro chopped, including tender stems
1-2 limes I used 1 juicy lime. Probably yielded 2 tablespoons of juice.
salt and pep
Prepare your rice following directions for a rice cooker or on the stove. The key is to wash it well so it is not sticky after cooking. I either put mine in a colander and run water over until it runs clear or I place the rice in a large bowl and fill with water, stir with my hands and pour out the water and refill and stir, and pour out the water 4-5 times until the water is clear. For me, this is the secret to perfect rice every time. If you like stickier rice then give it a quick rinse and move on.
Once the rice is cooked and you have fluffed it with a fork and let it sit for 5-10 minutes scoop out 3 cups into a bowl. Add your lime juice, cumin, cilantro and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.
This is a great base for burrito bowls and burritos. Add beans, roasted or raw veggies and greens. Add a little more lime, or crema, or hot sauce and enjoy.
On this day I added, roasted broccoli, scallions and kale from the farmers market, tomatoes and 1/2 a cup of black beans. Stir it all up. Enjoy.
Contact
If you have any questions on integrating beans consistently for gut health now and into the near future, please email me at Denisemancieri1@gmail.com. Feel free to comment below if there are topics you would like to see.
Please share this newsletter with others if you find it may assist them in adding beans to their diet. Or click the heart, below left, so I know you were here. Thank you!
Note: I am not a doctor. I am a teacher and an educator with an earned doctorate in educational leadership. I enjoy research and I can distill large amounts of information into easily understood and digestible pieces allowing people to understand what is happening to their body and possible steps to reverse it with food as medicine. I have healed my own GI issues through choices with food. I followed Karen Hurd’s bean protocol diet, I meditated and still do and I healed. I feel compelled to be in service and educate others as the more people eating beans, alongside a healthy diet and sharing their stories the more people will live a healthier existence. Joy, peace and freedom abound. Please see your doctor and discuss nutritional options before you change any course of action with your health.