December Balanced Habits Newsletter
Dec 1, 2020
by Kiersten Mueller
The month of December 2020 is here! This is a big month for holidays & specially recognized days. December is the first month of winter and the last month of the year. December 4th is National Cookie Day. The US recognizes December’s Pearl Harbor Day on the 7th. Hanukkah starts on the same day as Christmas Day this year, on December 25th. In Canada they celebrate Boxing Day December 26th where they celebrate their cherished service workers. Kwanzaa begins December 26th for 7 days. December is also the month we celebrate reading with Read a Book Month. And finally, we have two other awareness to note: Human Rights Month and National Handwashing Awareness Month. Lots going on in December!
As the end of 2020 nears, we have much to look forward to for the new year ahead. Worldwide, we have all endured an extremely difficult year and collectively are ready to put it behind us. For many, health became a priority, perhaps for the first time, which was an interesting and wonderful silver-lining. We were all forced to slow down, be more self-reliant, and find new ways to live our lives in somewhat uncharted territory. In the past, many people didn’t notice their good health until it wasn’t good. In the past 9 months, people worked very hard to maintain their good health and in many cases, focused on improving areas of their lives that were once difficult to prioritize. Out of necessity people got back into their own kitchen and began making their meals and taking ownership of what they nourished their body with, which was indeed a positive outcome sprung from a requirement (if we wanted to eat at all)! ha ha
It is our sincerest hope that some of these changes stick and become the new normal with which people go forward into 2021. Your health should forever be your number one priority and putting in the work to make that happen is worth any effort it takes.
Go into 2021 stronger!
To commemorate National Cookie Day, here’s a great bonus recipe for December!
Puffy Chocolate
Chip Cookies
Yields: 45 cookies
Ingredients:
3/4 cup(1 1/2 cubes) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
4 oz. container Baby Food Prunes
1 1/4 cup packed Coconut Palm Sugar
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. Clover Honey
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/8 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Kosher Salt
2 Large Eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups Whole Wheat White Flour
12 oz. Dark Chocolate Chips (70% Cacao)
2 cups Puffed Brown Rice Cereal - Arrowhead Mills is a common brand (Don’t use Rice Krispies)
Directions: Pre heat oven to 350˚ F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 1: Combine butter, pureed prunes, both sugars, extract, soda, and salt in a large bowl. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well between each addition. Add flour and beat on low until almost combined. Add chocolate chips and puffed rice. Continue mixing on low until totally combined.
Step 2: Use a small ice cream scooper and drop mounds onto prepared baking sheets about
2” apart. Gently press a bit with your damp palm, not too flat. Place trays into oven and bake for 10 – 12 minutes, rotating trays midway to evenly bake. Cookies should be set at the edges. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 min., then remove to a wire rack to completely cool before storing.
Pick 1 Balanced Habit to work on in the 12th month of 2020
1. Anchor a desired new habit to an existing habit for best results.
2. Focus on balancing one unbalanced habit this month until its set.
3. Mentally walk through your day before getting out of bed in the morning.
4. Start and End each day by silently listing 4 positive adjectives that describe you.
5. Identify 5 areas of your life you wish to improve and create your action plan.
6. Incorporate TWO meatless meals per week that still provide adequate protein.
7. Fill your plate with colorful, not beige foods.
8. Consume so much water your urine is light yellow.
9. Try a new vegetable each week.
10. Each day, identify 1 positive word to describes you
11. Set a new goal to accomplish by 12/31/20
12. Give a compliment to one person each day for the entire month of December.
