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Holiday Gift Guide for Self-Care

December 3, 2020 by Maria Adams Leave a Comment

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I’m excited to share my holiday gift guide for self-care. Now more than ever it’s time to slow down and take care of ourselves. Doing so will help cultivate inner joy and gratitude, making us better able to spread joy and compassion to the world around us.

Self-care for Inner Joy

Cultivating inner joy starts with making time for daily acts of self-compassion, kindness, and gratitude. Not only do these acts bring you joy, but they also help bring others joy. Because once you care for yourself with kindness you will be ready to care for and treat others with the same kindness.

Think of it this way: Self care promotes slowing down, which promotes more mindfulness, which promotes more gratitude, which promotes more joy.

Whether it’s heading outside for a walk in nature, writing in your journal, getting on your yoga mat, fixing up a nourishing breakfast, savoring a cup of coffee, or learning about how to let get of diet culture, these are all acts of self-care.

Disclosure: Some of the below links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share affiliate links for products I use and trust.

Holiday Gift Guide for Self-Care

So make self-care a priority for those you love and yourself. Here to inspire you are 20 of my favorite self-care treats–from my favorite skincare products to my daily meditation app. (Note that price ranges are estimates and the actual cost may vary depending on the specific product, taxes, and shipping rates).

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR SELF-CARE, 20 gift ideas to promote inner joy and gratitude, from halsanutritionPin

Less than $20

  1. Panda planner. This has been my go-to planner for a few years. Writing my daily plan is part of my morning routine. I love that it prompts you to write down 3 things you are grateful for and 3 things that you are excited about every day. While you are shopping for the planner, why not pick up some of my go-to colorful pens too!
  2. Dark chocolate. Pure bliss in your mouth and belly. Plus antioxidants. Now that’s self-kindness! Seek out fairly traded chocolate or buy from your favorite local supplier. (My friend Alan makes a delicious dark chocolate that is also extra high in flavonoids: Flavabars).
  3. Bath Salts. Treat your friends to a luxurious soak in fragrant bath salts. While you are at it, pick one up for yourself too. I love this sore muscle soak with eucalyptus, clove, and peppermint.
  4. My breakfast e-book: “20 Joyful Breakfast Recipes.” Sure to add joy to the mornings!
  5. Ant-diet books (Because one of the best ways to show yourself love is to give up the dieting cycle for good!) On my must-have list: The most recent edition of “Intuitive Eating” by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole and “Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating” by Christy Harrison.

$20-40

  1. Plants. I can’t even tell you how much joy filling my home with plants brings me. That said, I realize they are not for everyone. But if your main reason for holding back is that you are worried you won’t care for them properly, relax. In my opinion, you can learn to develop a green thumb, just practice a growth mindset, don’t overwater, and find that sunny side of your house! This time of year there is also nothing like giving or receiving an Amaryllis or Paperwhites.
  2. Embroidery kit. My sister gave me this adorable embroidery kit that she purchased at a super fun little store in Maine, Swallowfield. She pointed out that embroidery is a great way to keep your hands busy with something other than the screen! I love it.
  3. Beautycounter products. I have been a fan of Beautycounter for over 5 years now and became a consultant this past year. I love that their products are made from safer ingredients and actually work! A few of my top Beautycounter gift picks for under $40 include lip gloss, lip conditioner, and hydrating body lotion.
  4. Fika t-shirts and tanks. I created these designs to spark joy and help spread the love of this wonderful tradition! What’s more, 50% of profits go to No Kid Hungry.
  5. Reusable water bottle. Hydration and environmental responsibility in one. Bonus if you can buy it locally.

$41-$90

  1. Cozy hat and/or mittens. Get motivated to go outside but stay warm! Check out your local stores for what they have in stock. To avoid in-person shopping just give them a call or check out their website or Facebook page.
  2. Comfy lounge pants. These Vuori joggers are my favorite. (I got my husband a pair and he loves them too!)
  3. Headspace membership. I try to start my mornings with a meditation and headspace is my go-to guide. Headspace offers a large library of meditations to choose from, including courses on everything from better sleep to more mindful living. You can try this app for free for a week before you buy and they sometimes have discounts on yearly memberships.
  4. Yoga class pack or membership. I recommend supporting your local yoga studio whenever possible but I also love virtual Yoga with Adriene. Her videos are available for free on YouTube but I love her membership app Find What Feels Good (FWFG).
  5. Audible membership. I love to listen to podcasts, but sometimes there is nothing like escaping into a good book. I use audiobooks to motivate me to do chores that I don’t really want to do, like folding laundry or organizing the basement. Suddenly I’m looking for more laundry to fold!

More than $90

  1. New yoga mat. This eco-conscious one by Manduka is my favorite. Donate your old one to an animal shelter or save it as a back up for when the kids join in on your yoga session.
  2. Nespresso machine. My husband got me this a few years ago for our anniversary. It is the best. Great coffee guaranteed every time. Plus, the small, European-sized servings means you can enjoy more frequent cups of coffee and at the same time be less likely to drink too much at once.
  3. Milk frother. This makes turns your Nespresso into gourmet coffee shop drinks. It’s also great for chai tea and caffeine-free vanilla steamers (steamed milk + vanilla + honey). (Note the above-listed Nespresso machine comes with a frother!)
  4. Gift card to a local salon. Because there is nothing like a fresh haircut and/or color.
  5. Gift card to a local restaurant. Let’s support our local restaurants and our need for a break from the cooking and cleaning! But be safe and stick to take-out or outdoor dining! (Obviously, this would be great in any amount, I was just thinking if there was ever a year to maximize your gift card, this is it. #SupportLocal)

Happy shopping, giving, and self-caring! Wishing you and your family health, love, and joy this holiday season.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, gift guide, gift ideas, giving, gratitude, Hannukah, holiday, joy, self-care

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Hey there!

I'm Maria, a mom and Registered Dietitian with a love for good food. Let me help you navigate your way to happier, more confident eating and cooking. I take a non-diet, intuitive eating approach and truly believe that all foods can fit! Read More…

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Maria | Non-Diet Dietitian
Teens and tweens benefit from snacks to help bridg Teens and tweens benefit from snacks to help bridge the gap between meals. Add sports and the need for a snack becomes even more important. 🤸‍♀️🤾🏽‍♂️⛹🏿‍♂️🏄🏼‍♀️🏑

So what should your teen eat after a practice or event? 

Ideally, they should eat food that provides both carbohydrates and protein. Water is also important to help with rehydration.

Carbohydrates are our main source of fuel. We store carbohydrates in our muscles as glycogen. After exercise, it’s important to replenish the lost glycogen. Carbohydrate-rich foods include:

✔️grains such as cereal, bread, rice, crackers, granola, and oats
✔️dairy products such as milk and yogurt
✔️starchy veggies such as potatoes and corn
✔️fruit 

Protein helps us repair damaged muscles and teens need to have a ready supply of protein for growth too. But think beyond the protein bar, you can actually get ample protein from a variety of foods, including:

✔️Soy, dairy, or pea protein milk 
✔️Greek or Skyr yogurt
✔️Kefir
✔️Cheese
✔️Nuts and seeds
✔️Nut and seed butter
✔️Beans and legumes
✔️Eggs
✔️Seafood such as salmon and tuna
✔️Meat such as turkey, ham, chicken, and beef

I have put together some suggestions for snack ideas in these infographics. In general, it’s great to include a fruit or veggie as part of the snack when possible. 🍓🥝🍅🥑🥒🥕🫐🍎It can help to think of the post-workout snack as a “mini-meal” versus just a snack. 

Of course, it’s important to remember that the snacks don’t have to fit into these neat categories or include produce all the time. Eating should never have rules around it. Moreover, food choices are about more than nutrition. Other factors that come into play include what’s available, appealing, and convenient. 

Ultimately, what your adolescent decides to eat (or even whether they eat) is up to them. But you can help out by keeping a variety of options available at home. 

To learn more and get additional snack ideas, go to my latest blog post, link in profile. ⬆️Also, be sure to save this post for future reference (or perhaps share with your teen)!
Weekends call for pancakes! 🥞I have finally sta Weekends call for pancakes! 🥞I have finally started increasing the batter size so that it makes enough pancakes for my family of four. My teen boys can eat a lot and lately we had been running out before the pancake maker (that would be me!) got to eat (or at least eat enough). 

Here is my modified “Flying pancakes” recipe. You can find the original on my blog. 

1 cup spelt or white whole wheat flour
1 cup oat flour
1-2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1/2 heaping teaspoon baking soda
1/2 heaping teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups kefir or buttermilk
1/2 cup plain oat milk
2 tablespoons avocado or canola oil

butter for greasing pancake pan

toppings of choice 

1. In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
2. Add liquid ingredients and stir until just combined.
3. Heat pancake pan of griddle.
4. Grease pan with butter. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes and flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy with toppings of choice. No fresh berries? 🍓🫐No problem. Try frozen berries, applesauce, and bananas as pictured here! Or add chocolate chips to the batter, yum.
Happy first day of spring! 🌱The sun is bright ☀️ here and I am on my way out to do some yardwork. It just feels like a day to be outside and after a week of too much time on my computer 👩‍💻 I know that’s what I need! 

Speaking of bright, I made this pretty “Moroccan-spiced carrot salad with lentils” last weekend. It was so delicious and luckily there was enough to enjoy it for a few leftover lunches. Recipe from @loveandlemons cookbook. I highly recommend it. 

What’s on my cooking list today? Not sure. Sometimes you just need a little rest and regroup day if you know what I mean! I am hoping for some local takeout tonight. 

How are you spending your Saturday?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀Why not celebrate w Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀Why not celebrate with a minty green smoothie/ Shamrock Shake? 

Here is how I made this one:

Shamrock Shake

1 smoothie

1/2 cup @siggisdairy plain full fat yogurt
1/2 cup oat milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup baby spinach
7 mint leaves

whipped cream 
dark chocolate

Combine yogurt through mint leaves in a high-speed blender. Pour into a class. Top with whipped cream and then use a microplane to grate dark chocolate on top. Enjoy! 💚

PS - Don’t fear the full fat dairy! It tastes delicious and provides a mega dose of satisfaction. Also, often times when we go for the low-fat we end up adding more sugar to make it taste good. 

#shamrockshake #happystpatricksday #luckoftheirish #greensmoothiesrecipe #siggis #luckysmoothie #stpaddysday #snackideas #familysnacks #momsnack #chocolateplease #dailysiggis #siggisambassador #halsanutrition #foodtographyschool #foodtography @foodtographyschool #replicasurfaces
Friday night is pizza night at our house. 🍕Ofte Friday night is pizza night at our house. 🍕Often, we order takeout but sometimes we make it ourselves.👩‍🍳Pictured here is one of my favorite combo’s: 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕦𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒. 🌱Topped with mozzarella and perhaps a drizzle of balsamic glaze it’s 💯.

You can get the recipe for this classic on my blog, link in profile. Here I’ve made it on my homemade rye pizza dough (also on the blog). But you could also pick up some ready-made dough at the store.

One of the best parts of making your own pizza is that everyone in the family can add their own favorite toppings. 🥦🍅🍆🧅🧄My husband generally eats anything I make 🤣 but my kids are more selective. One loves onions but not mushrooms and one prefers just cheese (and red sauce).

Does your family have a pizza night? Do you sometimes make your own or stick to take out? 

#mushroompizza #onionpizza #arugula #flatbreadpizza #recipeontheblog #pizzanight #familypizza #makeyourownpizza  #halsanutrition
I love whipped cream. I'm talking homemade, no sug I love whipped cream. I'm talking homemade, no sugar added, plain whipped heavy cream. It's the way my mom made it growing up.⁠⁠
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It's not a food I eat very often, but that means that when I do have it I savor it even more. ⁠⁠
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For example, in these Swedish "semlor". These traditional lenten buns are eaten from January through Easter in Sweden. The sweet cardamom yeast dough is baked until golden and then filled with almond paste and whipped cream. ⁠⁠Dreamy. 😍
⁠⁠
I made a couple of batches last month. I ended up freezing several unmade buns to have on hand for future "fikas" (Swedish-stye coffee breaks). ⁠⁠
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I finally pulled out the last of them from the freezer today. It turns out my 12-year old really loves to eat these buns plain, he simply takes it out of the freezer and pops it in the microwave for a bit. 🙂 So alas, there are only 4 left, but they are now ready to go for our afternoon fika. ⁠⁠
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While I haven't written up the recipe for these (it takes time to translate my Swedish metric recipes into English!) you can do a search and find many good recipes online. 

Happy Thursday! 💗⁠⁠
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#semlor #semla #swedishlentenbun #swedishbaking #homemadesweets #nordicbaking #nordicinspired #homemadewhippedcream #whippedcream #almondpaste #cardamombun #fikatime #slowdown #savorfood #fikatime #fika #coffeebreak #enjoylife #bepresent #todayfood #intuitiveeating #allfoodsfit #foodisculture #foodistradition #foodtography @foodtographyschool #replicasurfaces @replicasurfaces #foodtographyschool #halsanutrition⁠⁠
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Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!💫 Happy Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!💫 

I’ve been a dietitian for 22 years now (but who’s counting!?) Over the years, I have learned that health is about more than nutrition and that nutrition is about more than the food that you eat. Yes, nutrition is important but so are the other reasons that we choose food, such as culture, family, celebration, preference, accessibility, and availability. 💫

These days I take a I take a non-diet, intuitive eating approach in my work. I help people let go of diet culture, improve their relationship with food, (re)discover the joy of eating, get inspired in the kitchen, and feel confident in the choices they make. 💗

Here’s to my fellow RD/RDN’s! I feel grateful to be part of this smart, supportive, and inspiring community. ✨

📷pic of me in my sun-filled ☀️office this afternoon, taken by my 12-year old before he borrowed my phone to film a science project! 😁

#RDNday #rdday #dietitiansofinstagram #nationalregistereddietitianday #intuitiveeating #intuitiveeatingRD #nondietdietitian #antidietculture #registereddietitiannutritionist #halsanutrition
Happy Tuesday my friends! Took a little two week h Happy Tuesday my friends! Took a little two week hiatus from IG to rest and refresh (and grade papers!), but I am back at it. ❤️Excited to bring you more nourishing family food recipes, non-diet tips, and positive inspiration. 

The weather here in New England is warming up ☀️but there is still a chill in the air. I have been making chili, soups, and stews to have on hand for quick and satisfying lunches. Pictured here is a turkey, kale, and  barley soup that is delicious and easy to vary based on the ingredients you have on hand. Recipe coming to the blog soon. 💫

#turkeysoup #kalesoup#barleysoup #halsanutrition #nondietapproach
So I tried to make an impromptu video on how to ma So I tried to make an impromptu video on how to make a chocolate banana smoothie. As you can see it did not go too well. 🤣Seriously, there are several takes like these. My 14-year old was manning the camera and couldn’t keep himself from laughing, which meant that I could not stay serious either. 😂(So then I tried filming myself, but holding your phone with one hand and trying to pour a smoothie into a glass with the other is not so easy.) It might be time to invest in a phone stand. (Or stick to photos!)

In case you are curious about how to make this smoothie, here is the recipe:

Chocolate Banana Smoothie 🍌🍫

1 cup milk
1 banana (frozen for a thicker and colder smoothie) 
1 tablespoon cocoa or cacao powder (we love @flavanaturals which is delicious and extra high in antioxidants )

(Optional add in: 1 tablespoon peanut butter)

Simply combine everything in a blender until smooth. Pour into a glass & enjoy! It’s perfect snack for hungry, growing tweens and teens....and hungry, busy mamas too! It’s especially great for refueling post-exercise. 

#videobloopers #chocolatebanana #chocolatebananasmoothie #snackideas #familynutrition #halsanutrition
Mix up your usual breakfast or snack by adding a v Mix up your usual breakfast or snack by adding a veggie or two. 🌱Sure, eggs on toast are delicious alone, but they really make you pause and slow down when they are presented in as colorful of a way as here.⁠⁠ 💛
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Veggies not only add beauty, but they also add flavor, texture, and, of course, nutrients. ⁠(Microgreens are one of my favorite additions. I also love radishes and need to remember to buy them more often!)⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It's easy to get in a rut with our meals. It's also easy to mindlessly eat while scrolling or typing away on our devices. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Put the screen away and carve out a little extra time to make your meal. Add a little extra color to your plate in the form of veggies or fruit and then give your food the full attention it deserves.⁠⁠ 🌈
⁠⁠
Sure, it takes a little more work to wash and slice up some produce, but the effort is well worth it. ⁠⁠💫
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#halfplateveggies #moreveggies #eggsontoast #satisfyingsnack #nourishingsnack #mindfuleating #mindfulsnacking #colorfulplate #halsanutrition #snacktime #familynutrition #momnutrition #spiceupyoursnack #mixupyoursnack #nourishingfood #nondietapproach #intuitiveeating #registereddietitian
Happy Weekend! 💫It’s snowing here again, but Happy Weekend! 💫It’s snowing here again, but it’s winter after all. ❄️ I find it absolutely beautiful but that said, I admit I am also looking forward to warmer days and being outside without my fingers & toes getting cold so easily! (hello #reynauds)

I did get my boys out for a dog walk in the snow this afternoon. Grateful for these moments. ❤️ Also grateful for our dog who gets us out of the house even when it’s cold out. 

Hoping we get enough fresh snow for cross-country skiing this weekend. And perhaps an outdoor fika. ☕️What are your weekend plans? 

#stillwinter #marblehead #weekendmood #getoutside #snowflakes #halsanutrition
More snow is coming ❄️❄️❄️here and to More snow is coming ❄️❄️❄️here and to say that temperatures have been cold throughout most of the US lately would be an understatement! 💨So why not warm up with a hot bowl of soup or stew. 🍲

My latest blog post features a round up of 11 delicious vegetarian soup and stew recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers. Best of all, they can all be made with the help of an instant pot or slow cooker.

Included in the round up is my slow cooker black bean, sweet potato, quinoa chili pictured here. 🌶 

Get the link in my profile. ⤴️ 

What’s your favorite soup or stew?

#slowcookerrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #plantforward #halsanutrition #familyfriendly #instantpotrecipes #familyfuel #souprecipes #stewrecipes #vegetarianchili #foodtographyschool #foodtography #meatlessmonday
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Meet Maria!

I'm a Swedish-born, New England-raised dietitian with a love for good food and baking. Follow my blog for nourishing recipes, non-diet nutrition advice, and a touch of Swedish inspiration. Read More…

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