One Less Decision

This time of year, really any time of year, we make SO MANY DECISIONS. From the moment we open our eyes until we close them at night, we are choosing choices.

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Some choices are of the yes/no variety and most of them are the infinite option kind. Finding ways to reduce the number of choices we make daily will reduce stress, create time and calm nerves.

Decision fatigue is real. It’s the overwhelming feeling you get when you cannot possibly make another choice. One of the reasons we love that friend or partner who decides what is for dinner and another reason we love that app who tells us the best route to our destinations.

I have one small solution: SOUP

Cooking a large batch of soup on Day 1 will last as healthy meals and snacks on Days 2,3,4 and 5. Therefore, avoiding the nagging question of WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

If you want to talk about other concepts on how to reduce stress and anxiety from having to make too many decisions, EDIT is here to help. As I discuss whole-person health, we will tap into a variety of topics, including decision fatigue.

Here is a mellow down to earth soup recipe that will lessen the load:  CREAMY WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP.

 INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 diced onion

1 diced carrot

1 diced celery stick

2 pressed garlic cloves

Chili flakes to taste or not at all if spicy isn’t for you

1 minced sprig of fresh rosemary

4 cups of canned navy beans, drained and rinsed

4 cups vegetable stock

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

1 bunch chopped lacinato kale (approx. 3 cups)

 INSTRUCTIONS

 Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and celery to the pot and stir.  Sauté the vegetables until lightly softened, about 5 min.

 Add garlic, chili, and rosemary. Stir about 30 seconds or so until the garlic is fragrant. Add the beans and stock to the pot and bring to a boil.

 Once the soup is boiling reduce the head and ladle half of the soup into the blender. Add the lemon juice to the blender too. Carefully speed up the blender to high and blend until it is totally liquified. Pour this mixture back into the pot and season with salt and pepper.

Add the kale to the pot and bring again to a boil. Reduce heat when the kale is slightly wilted.

SOUPS ON!