Nurture via nature with Day 6

Something to ground you…

Unplugged walk

Taking a walk in nature without your phone is almost so simple that it seems silly, yet you’ll be amazed at how good it feels to disconnect from your device and reconnect to yourself and life around you. Below are a few simple steps to make the most out of your wander:

– Leave your phone at home or in the car.

– Choose your favourite route, or explore a new location to awaken your senses.

– Try to stay out of your own thoughts, if you find your mind wandering try to bring it back to the present moment, focus in on the sounds of the birds, the breeze on your skin or the scent of a nearby plant.

– Take as long or as little as you need to ground yourself in nature and take a well-deserved technology-free break.

Something to nourish your gut…

Cleansing Prebiotic Green Soup with Crispy Chickpeas. 

Created by Emily Rees

One of the best ways to support your agni is with cleansing recipes like this nourishing green soup with crispy chickpeas.

Ayurveda places great emphasis on our body’s ability to digest food. Emily Rees, Vedic meditation teacher and Ayurvedic recipe developer Emily Rees explains:

“Ayurveda flips the common phrase ‘you are what you eat’ on its head and states ‘you are what you digest’. It’s all well and good to smash a big kale salad, but if your agni is weak and unable to digest it, it ends up causing more harm than good. Instead of loading up on ‘healthy’ but hard-to-digest foods, we nourish and stoke the fire of our digestion with fresh, cooked and warm foods.”

One of the most nurturing ways to do this in winter is with warming soups. Who doesn’t want to come home after a long to to a warming bowl of goodness? This cleansing green soup is a blend of potatoes, spinach, chickpeas, coconut yoghurt and a handful of spices and herbs, making it a protein-rich and balanced meal.

Adding Wanderlust Prebiotic Gut Goodness makes this soup even more nutritiously dense, as it is a plant powered powder prebiotic rich blend containing an organic blend of prebiotic Green Banana & Jerusalem Artichoke.

Makes: 4

Ingredients:

Crispy chickpeas

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp zatar
• 1 tsp smokey paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Soup

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 leeks, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2.5 cm piece of fresh ginger, minced
• 600 g dutch cream potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 1 large bunch spinach, washed well and roughly chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh mint, roughly chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

To serve

• Wanderlust Prebiotic Gut Goodness
• 4 tbsp coconut yogurt
• Handful of coriander leaves
• 4 lemon wedges
• Good quality olive oil

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (375°F). Line a tray with baking paper. Place the chickpeas between two sheets of paper towel and rub gently to remove excess moisture.
2. Put the chickpeas, zatar, paprika, salt and pepper and olive oil in a small bowl and toss to combine. Spread the chickpeas onto the baking tray and bake for 20 minutes or until golden and crispy. Set aside.
3. In a large pot, heat the coconut oil then add the leek, garlic and ginger and saute until softened.
4. Add the potatoes and stock and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Turn off the heat.
5. Add the spinach, coriander and mint and stir through. Cover with a lid and stand for a few minutes to allow the greens to soften. You may need to add in stages to allow spinach to wilt.
6. Using a stick blender or regular blender, blitz the soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
7. To serve, divide the soup between 4 large bowls. Stir 1.5 teaspoons of Wanderlust Prebiotic Gut Goodness into each bowl, ensuring the correct dosage per bowl to avoid overconsumption. Top each with some of the crispy chickpeas, a tablespoon of coconut yogurt, a scattering of coriander leaves, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Serve immediately.

Well done – Day 6 is complete.

How were you left feeling after your unplugged walk?

Did it evoke a sense of calm or were you left feeling slightly agitated or anxious?

Sometimes disconnecting from the world by going technology free can be daunting. It takes practice to be comfortable without your device always by your side. But your commitment to the cause will help you feel “un-bound” over time. This will allow you to be more present in the moment not only whilst out exploring, but also when connecting with family and friends.