4 Tips to Eat Pretty Every Day

Wisdom from Jolene Hart, health coach & author of the coveted Eat Pretty book series, on easy tips for eating pretty every day, for beauty inside & out. Here is a short compilation of the many in-depth yet digestible tips from one of the staples on my shelf . . .

Eat Calmly

Both Jolene & I agree that one of the secret keys to a digestive system that keeps us energised & radiant is our mindset before a meal. How we eat is equally as important as what we eat. This begins with a warm glass of water about 30 minutes before a meal to hydrate the digestive system in preparation for the meal. If you find yourself bloated after a meal, you can add 1/4 teaspoon each of chlorella & raw apple cider vinegar to your glass to increase alkalinity & stomach enzymes, which allow for easier assimilation. 

The second most integral step is to leave the computer, smartphone, the telly, & any other stressful company out of surroundings. Take a deep breath. One recent study demonstrated that relaxed breathing significantly reduced the body's glycemic response, which registers the effect food and sugars have on our body. When the glycemic response is stable, so is our metabolism and weight. 

Be your own company. Hear your own deep breath as you sit down to your meal rather than the ding of your phone or the buzz of another's thoughts or images on social media. 

Eat Fermented Foods Every Day

Eating fermented foods is one of the most effective overall mealtime practises that you can incorporate. Not only does it lead to an efficient digestive system but it also cuts sugar cravings, which is a main culprit for irritated skin prone to breakouts. The skin of our health is a mirror of that within our digestive system; when our organs cannot process, break down, & assimilate our food, the distress is reflected in our skin. Fermented foods—including raw sauerkraut, brined pickles, kombucha, & kefir—feed the trillions of healthy bacteria in the gut that optimise digestive processing. 

I recommend making them at home to ensure that the good bacteria are alive as they are sensitive and can be killed off during temperature fluctuations of factory-to-market transportation. Alternatively, look for a local maker at your farmer's market. 

Make an intention to eat even a small spoonful of fermented foods once per day, gradually seeing the effects the building of a healthy microbiome will have on your skin.

Meal Time Mantra

"Today's meals are a gift to my body, as this day is a gift to my life” 

— Jolene Hart, Eat Pretty Every Day

Multitask with a Mask

A favourite no-waste & multitask strategy that Jolene and I share is doing a mask while doing chores. Rather than using a store-bought face mask, reach into your pantry instead. You will avoid unnecessary ingredients and packaging while using that last little scoop of ingredient that might have gone to waste otherwise. Raw honey is a deeply healing mask, both for those with dry skin and those prone o breakouts. The enzymes in raw honey heal blemishes, ward off future breakouts, and draw moisture to the skin. After washing your face, simply massage a thin layer on your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with tepid water. For an even more moisturising treat, mix the honey with an equal amount of Tocos, which also contain enzymes & vitamin E to heal the skin. 

Create an End-of-Day Treat

For many of us, as Jolene denotes, an end-of-day treat is food-related. Whether it involves an indulgent meal, dessert, or a drink with friends, these treats more often than not contain ingredients that don't treat our skin well. While these treat always will have their appropriate time & place and healthy alternatives are certainly better, Jolene recommends a shift of perspective. Instead of pampering yourself with food, pick one or two treats that are unrelated to food to look forward to throughout your day. Make mealtime & self-care a point of self-love, in their own respective ways. 

If you found these tips helpful, hop on over to order Jolene's newest release of 365 daily inspirations for nourishing beauty, inside & out . . .