3-2-1…. it’s February! In this post, Coach Kenzie Osborne and I will share 3 of our favorite tips for practicing self-love and care through the chilly months; 2 recipes that we LOVE to serve around Valentines day; and 1 event you won’t want to miss out on…
Incorporating delicious, nourishing foods into your day is a fantastic way to celebrate and honour your body. When we consume foods that allow us to feel energized, satiated, and craving-free, our quality of life improves throughout the day, and we have the physical and mental capacity to be our most joyful, authentic self.
Meals that support us in this way tend to consist of: healthy fats; protein; high fiber carbohydrates; and vegetables. From there - it’s YOUR choice! Choose the foods within these categories that make your taste buds do a little dance. Here are our favourite sources of each to provide some inspiration…
—> Kenzie’s favourite: Peanut butter!!! With Greek yogurt & berries or in savoury peanut butter dressings like the Thai Peanut Sauce on page 262 of Always Hungry?
—> Dawn’s favourite: Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing on page 271 of Always Hungry? This dressing packs in a lovely punch of brightness (from the lime) and fresh flavours from the cilantro. It’s perfect on buddha bowls, salads, and chicken!
—> Reader favourite: Coconut Curry Sauce on page 266 of Always Hungry?
—> Kenzie’s favourite: Salmon! Roasted for dinner, or prepared in a Simple Salmon Salad for lunch (like the one from the Always Nourished community here)
—> Dawn’s favourite: Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs on page 241 of Always Hungry? These chicken thighs are incredibly easy to prepare and are a great batch-cook option to easily bring protein to lunches and dinners.
—> Reader favourite: Shredded Chicken from Always Delicious page 110
—> Kenzie’s favourite: White beans & lima beans - like in this White Bean Tomato Skillet from the Always Nourished Community
—> Dawn’s favourite: Garlicky White Beans with Broccoli Rabe on page 221 of Always Delicious
—> Reader favourite: Mashed Fauxtatoes! (cauliflower and white bean mash)
—> Kenzie’s favourite: Roasted brussels (like in this Roasted Brussels & Pear Salad from the Always Nourished Community)
—> Dawn’s favourite: Fennel Salad - when fennel is in season, this is one of my favourite fresh side dishes. The slaw presentation feels elegant - but it only take a couple of minutes to prepare! You can also add shredded carrots or shredded beets for a pop of colour and variety of flavor.
—> Reader favourite: Zucchini with Garlic and Greens on page 212 of Always Delicious
Bottom line: Choose YOUR favourite fats, proteins, higher fiber carbs and vegetables to welcome flavour into your meal & bring energy and satiety into your day!
Kenzie wrote a wonderful post the other day about her healing journey through movement (if you missed it, you can read it here). She shared how important it was for her to embrace movement that felt good in her body - and that felt exciting, energizing, and empowering.
Joyful movement has been tied to numerous benefits - beyond just “physical”. Joyful movement can be a powerful tool to support: stress management, energy levels, sleep quality, confidence, and more! Read more about the purpose of exercise here.
We invite you to explore various forms of movement that sound interesting or excite you. Perhaps in the winter, going outside isn’t appealing (and that’s OK!). Maybe, instead of a post-meal passeggiata, you would prefer to…
Dance with your partner in the living room
Do a gentle yoga (online)
Practice your favourite stretches
Go for a swim at your local recreation center/gym
….or maybe it’s something else
Whatever it is, practice movement that feels good in your body and that BRINGS you energy (and, let us know what that looks like for you in the comments - we’d love to hear!).
P.S. If you’re not sure where to get started with movement, Coach Kenzie & AH Success Story/Coach Jami Fassett are hosting a FREE online summit from Feb 10-14 2025 that includes 4 different movement classes to experiment with! Sign up, for free, right here »
My number 1 rule is: Be gentle with yourself and others. Kindness is key in a long-term journey to health and wellness. If you find yourself “veering off track” or engaging in activities that you know are not supportive for your health & goals - that is OK. Take a minute to pause, reflect, and “get curious” as to why that may be happening.
No judgement, just learning. (that’s Rule #2)
Ask yourself questions like…
What led me to make that choice? (Was I feeling stressed? Was I tight on time? Was I experiencing a challenging emotion?)
How can I best support myself the next time that challenge comes up?
How can I support myself best in this moment, given the resources (ie: food, time, environment) I have?
These questions can go a long way in finding a solution to support yourself - from a place of kindness and curiosity rather than shame, blame or guilt.
My Favorite: Our simple Lamb Shanks! This recipe only uses 5 ingredients – yet it brings a surprising depth of flavor. It is a perfect main course dish for a valentines celebration, or for a weekend evening when you’re feeling like something a little more “extravagant” (without the kitchen hassle). I love pairing this with our Mashed Fauxtatoes or Parsnip Rice and a side in-season roasted vegetable.
Oh, and of course some fruit with Chocolate Sauce (page 289 of Always Hungry?) for dessert or Chocolate- dipped fruit on our main website here
Coach Kenzie’s Favorite: There is nothing that makes me happier than a delicious, juicy piece of roasted salmon! So, for my Valentines meal, I’ll choose my Miso Glazed Salmon with Cauliflower Rice, Quinoa and Asparagus (from my Always Nourished Valentines collection). For dessert, it’s gotta be chocolate! My go-to is chocolate dipped pears with pistachios crumbled on top - but strawberries with Chocolate Sauce (as Dawn wrote above) is another popular choice.
Lead Always Hungry? Coach, Kenzie Osborne, and AH Success Story (and Mindset Coach) Jami Fassett, are hosting a Free Online “Reset From Within” Summit from Feb 10-14
They are teaming up with 6 other health experts to help you design a health and wellness journey that works for YOU.
🎟️ Grab your free ticket here »
This free virtual event will give you access to 9 expert sessions that will help you make 2025 the year you…
✨ Embrace a supportive mindset for your health and/or weight loss journey
✨ Shift from feeling overwhelmed to empowered with food
✨ Connect with the wisdom of your unique body
✨ Reduce hunger and cravings, plus boost energy levels
✨ Quiet your inner critic, reduce stress, and cultivate self-kindness
✨ Discover sleep strategies that work
✨ Build strength to thrive in everyday life
✨ Create a healthy lifestyle that has lasting results (and feels GOOD)
Registration is free and you will have access to all of the session recordings for 7 days, so no matter what your schedule or your time zone you can enjoy these valuable sessions.
Okay - that’s what we’ve got for February! We are looking forward to a month of self-care, self-love, and JOY. Use the comment section below to share one thing that resonated with you in this post - we’d love to hear which “tid-bits” are feeling inspiring.
In health & happiness,
Dawn & Kenzie
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