Today, I’m sharing my superhero salad. I love this salad, it’s filled with protein, calcium, omega 3s, healthy fats and all around goodness. It makes you feel light, full and powerful, just like a superhero. It’s good for helping to reset after the holidays and for helping to nix some of the cravings that set in this time of year, when it’s colder outside; cravings like eating too much bread and dark chocolate…both of which I’ve been doing too much of lately.
For the past 6 months or so, every morning when I’m getting ready for work, I try and find ways to wear my yoga clothes under my business clothes. I started doing it because it’s how I relate to myself these days – much more of a yogi than a business professional. It represents an identity, my identity, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it, until one day, I smiled and said that I felt like a superhero – the real me is here under my business clothes. Just waiting to shine. Superhero.
It’s funny the identities we associate with in life. The successes, by many American standards. The egos. Boss. Wife. Homeowner. College grad. And the ones that can go unnoticed. Our archetypes. Earth Mother. Wise. Faithful Dog. Warrior. Carl Jung stated that our archetypes represent our unconscious, the real us. The parts of us that we need to work on, those in which we need to let shine. Transformation. Bring the unconscious to light. These parts appear all throughout our lives. We can’t help it. We can push them away, but they want to be in focus, up front and center. You can only hide your true self for so long.
Pema Chodron once said, “Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.” I wrote this on an index card over a year ago and I carry it with me everywhere I go. This is my mantra, one of them. Our archetypes keep appearing and reappearing until we start to listen. We hide them, going along our business, ignoring our true selves, but they want out. They need out. One day we become aware that we have less control than we thought, that we’ve been hiding behind these identities we’ve given ourselves. These words that we’ve associated with power and success. How we love to place value in words.
These words limit us. The identities we value often hold us back. Take note in the unconscious. Take note in the patterns in your life. Pay attention to your dreams. Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.
What’s your true character? What have you associated with throughout your life that you no longer identify with? What keeps appearing and reappearing in your life?
I know what does for me, and I’m listening. I’m taking notes. Hold on world, I’m paying attention. I promise.
Superhero Salad
Serves 4
Total time 45 minutes
For the salad:
4 c. kale
Pinch of salt
Juice from 1 lime
2 c. quinoa
2 sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. paprika
10 oz. bag frozen shelled edamame
1 c. blueberries
1 avocado, sliced
4 tbsp. hemp seeds
4 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
6 tbsp. walnuts
For the dressing:
2 garlic cloves, sliced and diced
1/2 c. olive oil
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. water
Salt and pepper, to taste
Prep for the salad:
Heat the oven to 425.
Chop the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch chunks, toss with olive oil, cumin and paprika, and roast for 25-30 minutes, turning once while cooking.
Cook the quinoa according to package directions (I add a little cumin to mine while its cooking).
Place the kale in a large bowl, rub with salt and lime juice, and set aside for about 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to mix and the kale to get a little less bitter.
Cook the edamame according to package directions.
Prep the dressing: bring all items into a jar and shake, set aside.
Serve the kale in large bowls; top with sweet potatoes, quinoa, edamame, blueberries, avocado, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and dressing. Mix well.
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