Mindful Eating and Homemade Coffee Scrubs
I may be the odd one out, but I really don’t like showering. My husband LOVES showers and takes long, hot ones every morning. Me, I’m in, I wash, I’m out. That’s it. That being said, I was intrigued by the idea of a coffee body scrub in the at-home spa feature on Body and Soul. I’m always looking for things to make showering less of a chore, and who can resist the smell of coffee? Since my husband tends to brew a pot each morning, I had all I needed.
I have to say, it was actually kind of nice to scrub down, and it felt amazing, like a massage all over my body. It was a little messy, but the smell was amazing, especially since we brew our coffee with cinnamon around here – a wonderful sent to wake up with.
While I was in the bathroom, I dust moped the bathroom floor – BOY was it dusty behind the sink! Wow. Then I cleaned the sink and reorganized the medicine cabinet. I am ashamed to admit the bathroom really falls to the wayside in our house. The funny thing is, just a few hours later our landlord stopped by and while she was here she asked to use the bathroom! So glad I had cleaned it.
After showering and cleaning, I made myself some pumpkin oats for breakfast. One of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal is mixed with some canned pumpkin – roughly a 1/3 cup canned pumpkin to 1/3 cup oats cooked in 1 cup water, mixed with lots of cinnamon. This not only tastes amazing, but it makes the oats VERY filling and they hold great. (My other favorite way is to add an apple during cooking -- both add lots of fiber and volume, which I am guessing contribute to the fullness factor.) On top there is a spoonful of marmalade, my very favorite type of jam, and on the side a cup of PG Tips tea with a splash of soymilk.
I put aside my books and magazines this morning for an uninterrupted dining experience, and I must say… I’m not sure how I liked it. I did enjoy my breakfast, but I’m not sure I enjoyed it any more than normal. I also found that without anything to distract me, I had a hard time eating slowly. I think reading helps me to gauge my eating – I do try to savor my food, and sometimes when I notice I’m eating fast I’ll say to myself, “Ok, no more until I read two more pages” or something like that. It does help me slow down. But it WAS nice to set a place at the table and light a candle – I often eat breakfast on the couch and this did feel a bit luxurious to dine by candlelight. I think it’s something I’ll do from time to time, but I’ll keep my books as well.
I have to say, it was actually kind of nice to scrub down, and it felt amazing, like a massage all over my body. It was a little messy, but the smell was amazing, especially since we brew our coffee with cinnamon around here – a wonderful sent to wake up with.
While I was in the bathroom, I dust moped the bathroom floor – BOY was it dusty behind the sink! Wow. Then I cleaned the sink and reorganized the medicine cabinet. I am ashamed to admit the bathroom really falls to the wayside in our house. The funny thing is, just a few hours later our landlord stopped by and while she was here she asked to use the bathroom! So glad I had cleaned it.
After showering and cleaning, I made myself some pumpkin oats for breakfast. One of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal is mixed with some canned pumpkin – roughly a 1/3 cup canned pumpkin to 1/3 cup oats cooked in 1 cup water, mixed with lots of cinnamon. This not only tastes amazing, but it makes the oats VERY filling and they hold great. (My other favorite way is to add an apple during cooking -- both add lots of fiber and volume, which I am guessing contribute to the fullness factor.) On top there is a spoonful of marmalade, my very favorite type of jam, and on the side a cup of PG Tips tea with a splash of soymilk.
I put aside my books and magazines this morning for an uninterrupted dining experience, and I must say… I’m not sure how I liked it. I did enjoy my breakfast, but I’m not sure I enjoyed it any more than normal. I also found that without anything to distract me, I had a hard time eating slowly. I think reading helps me to gauge my eating – I do try to savor my food, and sometimes when I notice I’m eating fast I’ll say to myself, “Ok, no more until I read two more pages” or something like that. It does help me slow down. But it WAS nice to set a place at the table and light a candle – I often eat breakfast on the couch and this did feel a bit luxurious to dine by candlelight. I think it’s something I’ll do from time to time, but I’ll keep my books as well.
Comment
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Comment by Leah Gross on February 3, 2010 at 5:44pm -
Yum, Terri, that sounds amazing! I love toasted nuts. And I should try to eat more flaxseed.
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Comment by Terri Trespicio on February 1, 2010 at 10:33pm -
Oh--and a friend of mine turned me onto this. Add to your steel-cut oatmeal:
-dried currants, cranberries
-oven-roasted nuts (almond slivers, pecans, pumpkin seeds--just throw on a pan and roast for a few mins at 350
-cinnamon, a pinch of turbinado sugar, and a dash of salt (really draws out flavor)
-milled flaxseed (for fiber and a nutty taste)
-a splash of almond milk
So, so good. The toasted nuts really make it.
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Comment by Terri Trespicio on February 1, 2010 at 10:32pm
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Love the apple and pumpkin idea for oatmeal. I'm going to try that.
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Comment by Audris Wong on January 21, 2010 at 9:35pm -
Leah -- I'm totally inspired, and I'm going to slow-cook some oats tonight for tomorrow morning. (And I might just have to book a spa treatment too ...) Also, I really liked how you stood up for your reading at dinner time habit. It's tempting to think all our habits are bad, isn't? When really it's what works for you!
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Comment by Caroline Conway on January 20, 2010 at 9:59pm -
hahaha sorry to mention it then! :)
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Comment by Leah Gross on January 20, 2010 at 9:23pm
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Caroline -- I hate bananas!! One of the few foods I can't even stand the smell of. But I have heard many people say they are good in oats!
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Comment by Caroline Conway on January 20, 2010 at 7:59pm
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I love the idea of pumpkin with oatmeal (and of course cinnamon)... I usually just stick a banana in and use milk instead of water, but this sounds great, especially in winter! And you're not alone in feeling like showering can be a chore - sometimes I feel that way, and I know a few people who feel that way all the time. Not sure why, but it is what it is.
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