Back to Center

We all know stress is bad for us. We make Herculean efforts to control our little corners of the world in order to avoid stressful situations, but let’s face it, things rarely turn out the way we plan. So stress happens. What matters is what we do when we find ourselves in that place. The practitioners at AFM are doing remarkable work in the Mind-Body Group teaching practical, well-studied and proven techniques for coping with and managing stress. Stay tuned for updates about future groups.

Besides these Mind-Body techniques, we can use food to help ourselves regain equilibrium. Here’s a recipe for a “Buddha Bowl” which, in macrobiotic circles, is the name for a bowlful of shredded kale, accompanied by a protein, a grain and a sauce or other flavor enhancement.

Buddha Balance Bowl

• 1 small bunch of Kale, washed, de-stemmed and shredded

• 1 ripe Avocado, mashed

• 1 can Cannellini or Navy Beans, rinsed well

• 1 cup cooked Quinoa

• 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• juice of 1/4 fresh Lemon

• Salt and Pepper to taste

With CLEAN hands, massage the oil, the lemon juice and the avocado into the kale leaves (yes, with your bare hands– this is an excellent stress reliever in its own right, plus, it’s great for your cuticles!) This may take a couple of minutes — when the leaves no longer feel papery, incorporate the beans, quinoa, salt and pepper.

This healthy combination is filling, energizing and imparts a lovely calm to the system. As you add more vegetables and healthy whole grains into your diet, you’ll want to be mindful of protein. Quinoa is excellent since it is the only plant food with a complete protein — all plant protein types represented. I like this with a little more lemon, but my family likes it with only the juice of 1/4 lemon. Experiment and find out the way you like it best — make it yours!