Excerpts

Introduction Laying out the life detox plan There's a two-thousand-year-old adage that says, "It's not what goes into a mouth that damages a person; it's what comes out of the mouth that damages a person." While I, and just about every scientist in the world, would disagree with this statement--there are plenty of carcinogens and terrible foods that do damage to our bodies--there is an element of truth to these words. No matter what we put into our bodies--organic vegetables, superfoods, the purest water--it's the thoughts we think, the words we use, and the actions we take that help define who we are and that ultimately shape our lives. Personally, I know a lot of people who eat the best foods and have what many would call a perfect body (especially in carefully posed Instagram photos), but they aren't the nicest people. They can often be petty, mean-spirited, and downright miserable. I've also met a lot of people over the years who basically live on processed food, use toxic products, and can barely move without getting out of breath, yet they are the sweetest people with the biggest hearts. As a nutritionist, I would never want anyone to sustain themselves on junk food, but whom would you want to hang out with? I think you know what my answer would be. I am not passing judgment, and, of course, most people aren't so polarizing. I just want to illustrate that we all have parts of us that need mending. None of us have it all. And if you pay attention to advertisement messages, clearly you'll see that marketing people know this as well. Ads may show someone who has a so-called ideal shape, a beautiful family, and flawless skin, but there is always an implied "you are missing (this one thing) . . . ," too, so companies can sell it to you and ultimately turn a profit. I'm here to tell you that you're not missing anything. You don't even need this book, but I hope you'll read on because what I have to say is important. Here in the West we are conditioned from an early age to think that we're imperfect on the deepest level. Sometimes that comes from advertisers, as mentioned above, sometimes from faith traditions, sometimes from the rules of society, sometimes from our own family and friends (who are also conditioned to believe they are incomplete and missing things). But, the truth is you are perfect regardless of all the imperfections you might have. Why? Because you are alive and you are here in this very moment. The fact that you have life means you have dignity and you are part of this community we call humanity. You have the capacity to give and receive love, which is the most powerful, limitless, perfect force. The love that is inherently within you is your perfection. It's not necessarily what we eat or how big or small our butts are, but what we think about ourselves and the world around us that often makes us feel connected, whole, validated, and strong. But these are just thoughts and perceptions. And guess what? Often thoughts and perceptions change in the blink of an eye. Have you ever been superhungry and moody and felt crappy about life, only to eat a fresh lunch and feel elated about something you were depressed about just an hour ago? Eating healthily and taking care of ourselves, like getting enough sleep, surely help to make us feel better in many ways. But that is not all there is to wellness. We've learned over the past one hundred years that how and what we think influences all parts of who we are. Not only that, but simply changing the way we look at ourselves and the world around us can lead to powerful emotional, physical, and psychological transformations. Hence, Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life is a guide to inner and outer transformation, which may not be instantaneous, yet it can happen relatively quickly, as we'll see in the pages ahead. This is a book that contains useful news on nutrition, life lessons, and recipes to help you embrace your perceived imperfections--whether they include being ten pounds over your desired weight, having a too-large nose or rough skin, being easily annoyed or not assertive enough, not being in the "right" place in your career or family life, or simply not feeling good enough. Ultimately, I want you to experience the perfection already present in you and in your life. This book will teach you how to stay anchored to a permanent inner source of power, allowing you to clear "life blocks" so you can experience your most beautiful life. Part I includes a number of Life Detox Recipes, which are practical tips about life and food drawn from my own personal stories and those of people I have worked with over the years (with names changed for privacy, of course). These are offered to detox your life on a deeper level, helping you break through emotional and mental blocks that have an effect not only on your physical health and beauty but also on your ability to be truly happy. I share some of my most vulnerable parts with you on my bumpy path to self-acceptance, including through the stories of my son's not-as-planned birth story, showing emotion in public, and rehabbing the perfectionist addict in me. This is all in an effort to show you that life can sometimes be a mess (that is, I can be a mess!). And that's okay, because it's in that mess that we discover who we are. Part II includes more than one hundred delicious recipes that are nutrient-dense, energizing, cleansing, and nourishing on many levels. All these recipes are plant-based, gluten-free, and properly food combined, a concept based in making digestion easier in order to free up more energy (see page 84 for more info). No matter your current diet, working these recipes into your life is an easy, surefire way to raise your vitality, health, and happiness. Last, if you want to learn more about the studies, articles, and books I mention in Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life , go to mysollunadotcom for details. I'm so excited to be on this journey with you. Detoxing self-doubt and confusion clears the way for you to enjoy your amazing, delicious, perfectly imperfect life more than you ever realized possible. Kimberly Excerpted from Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life: Everyday Ways to Live and Eat for Health, Healing, and Happiness by Kimberly Snyder All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.