Nourishment Menu: From Head to Toe, Guts to Soul

Nourishment
noun
The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
• The action of nourishing someone or something. 

Being properly nourished is highly underrated. Recently I wrote a post on 8 Ways to Better Feed Your Body, but eating healthy isn’t the only way to nourish yourself. Often we get so caught up in our busy lives we don't take time for ourselves and don’t listen to what our bodies are asking of us. As human beings we have cravings for pleasure, relaxation, adventure, sweetness, etc. The most important thing is to start by recognizing that YOU DESERVE IT! You deserve to relax. You deserve to have an amazing adventure. You deserves sweetness in your life.

We need to fulfill our cravings but it can be done in one of two ways. Sometimes we choose the destructive route, things like staying up late, binge eating, overspending, smoking, drinking, etc. The good thing is you can choose to take control of your life and actions and decide instead nourish your body in positive ways. Proper nourishment (eating healthy food and participating in other beneficial activities) can reduce the risk of diseases, build up your immune system to not only fight off illness but also to quickly recover, help your body heal from injury, increase your energy level, lower your stress, and improve your sleep, mood, and life.

Instead of waiting till you’re a stressed out messy disaster with no idea how to help yourself feel better (been there, done that!). Try to make yourself a menu of items to choose from whenever you’re needing a little pick me up! Here’s a list of my ten favorites to get you started:

  1. Get a massage

  2. Do yoga or meditation

  3. Dance!

  4. Take a hot bath

  5. Buy yourself flowers

  6. Clean your space

  7. Read a good book

  8. Get a pedicure

  9. Make yourself a yummy healthy meal

  10. Go on a walk/hike

I challenge you to sit down and brainstorm healthy things that you think might help you feel nourished and fulfilled (either stuff you’ve done before or maybe something new you’d like to try!). Make a list of your favorites and hang them up on your wall or write in a place that you can easily refer to whenever those cravings come calling, or even if you’re just needing a little extra self love. 

We could all use a little more more love and nourishment in our lives and if you’re not going to give it to yourself, who is!?

Isabel Cisneros