The year of the Fire Horse

To pretend I knew a lot about the Chinese/Lunar horoscope would be a massive lie. I know very little, but I do love to celebrate the Lunar New Year. I find it loud, fun and the food is incredible.

Last year I started celebrating Lunar New Year with Yee Sang, which is the most remarkably delicious salad, and the tradition that goes along with it is a hoot. The one time in the year I don’t mind getting the tablecloth dirty.

The salad recipe I will share at the end, and the tradition I’ll share with you too. It’s fun. 

There is so much speculation around this particular New Year, as it is the year of the 

Fire Horse. It’s a racy, fiery time.

Many are saying the horse has already bolted and we are in for a wild ride, but the literature I am reading says we are in for a fast and furiously fun year, and with a regulated nervous system, we can run with what feels fabulous and ditch the rest.

We can choose to get knocked over by the horse or ride the waves.

And what does all this have to do with nutrition, you may ask.

Well, everything is to do with nutrition, because without good nutrition we can’t function, can we?

Without good nutrition, we can’t work, we can’t sleep, we can't poo properly, we can’t walk, we can't regenerate, we can’t think straight.

And without good nutrition, we certainly can’t have a regulated nervous system.

In this podcast, I am going to take some of my fave predictions and advice for the year  that I have seen online and  line it up with what I think this means nutritionally.

Nutrition in the year of the Fire Horse

Ok here it goes 

1. The fire horse is not a quiet energy, it needs courage, truth and movement

If you are wanting to cook more for yourself, but you don’t find the time to do it, or it causes you more anxiety, and then you eat crap food, and then your anxiety levels go up further,

this is the time to get courageous.

If you have already started adding healthier food into your diet, and even started eating more plant-based meals, and you love them, but you stop making them because you are not sure they are fully nourishing, then get courageous. 

Ask questions. 

Ask me if the meal you are making has enough protein – listen to the protein podcast - podcast 2, 3 and 4  and see if you can work it out. 

If you want to learn how to do this super effectively, then,

Find the time in your calendar where you can do some cooking, even if this means being truthful, something like saying: 

“Sorry son, we are going to have to find another way to get you to your friend's this Saturday, as I am cooking for the rest of the week.”

Or call a friend and say, "hey, you know how you think it's hard for me being a single mum, well could you come over and help me meal prep, so I can spend some time on nurturing myself, without neglecting my children too much."

Be courageous and ask for what you need, and take the time to move forward, rather than being stuck in wanting a better outcome for cooking your own meals, without neglecting your other responsibilities.

2. Stop waiting for permission 

Do things without asking permission. 

A good example is; many people tell me they would add more plant-based food into their diet and eat healthier, but their husbands, wives or children don’t want to eat like that.

So many are waiting for permission from their families to eat the way they want.

Guess what. You don’t need to wait for their permission – they can eat exactly how they want, as can you. The salad bar challenge was proof of that.

Everyone made the salads and put them out for the family to eat, and they chose what they wanted to eat with that. If they wanted to eat meat with that, they could cook it themselves, or if that will cause too much anxiety in the house, you could cook it for them, but you don’t have to eat it, as you have all the protein you need in the food you made.

It is time to ride your unique path

If you feel different to your family and friends for your food choices, this is your unique path and a time to fit into that and embrace it.

Is it a struggle when you get invited to places, and they find it hard to cook for you?

Don’t worry about that. Tell your host, you are happy to bring your own food, and make extra, so you can share it with others.

If there is nothing to eat out at restaurants and cafes near you, ask your friends if they want to do something different instead of eating out. Going for a walk.

If you get laughed at at work for eating differently to them, 

there is a choice of 3 things you can do.

- Go somewhere else to eat your lunch, your own company is way better than sitting with people who want to ridicule you.

- Tell them you don’t like being laughed at it, hurts your feelings.

- Ask them if they would like to try your lunch, as it is nothing to be laughed at, it tastes absolutely fabulous. 

Let go of the need for perfection 

Eat the way you want to for a healthy you, eating wholefoods, plant-based food, as much as you want, and feel how incredible your body feels. But if you slip up then so be it. That is perfect. Move on and start again.

There is absolutely no need for perfection.

Do the things you have always wanted to do

Don’t ride past yourself. Make sure you find time to cook the food that you know will make you healthy. If you are wanting support with this, you know where I am. Book into the vegan foundation cooking course or see what else I have to offer, which could be a better fit. Learning how to cook epic vegan food can be life changing, and set you up for a lifetime of incredibly good health, and enjoyment of fabulous food.

Recipe 

For the recipe head on over to the Yee Sang salad, and enjoy the fun of celebrating Chinese/Lunar New Year. Make the salad and toss it with chopsticks with your loved ones. Toss it as high as you can and shout out all your wishes for good fortune and luck for the year of the Fire Horse. 

Please send me a photo of your salads. I love to see them, and share them on socials.

Wishing you well this year, and please like, subscribe to my podcast and share with anyone you think may be interested.

Have a fabulous week

Love Veet