I am IN LOVE with the idea of using food as medicine. I have so many books that talk about foods and they're healing properties. I love when a recipe is so much more than JUST a recipe. To really take your health into your own hands is just SO empowering. I am slowly learning about herbs as well and I have made some really great connections with other herbal mommas who really inspire me.

I have been feeling pretty heavy in mind, body and heart lately. Too much meat and dairy, too much food in general has left me with no energy. No energy to keep up with the kids, no energy for self care and not a whole lot of mental space to deal with a sad loss in our family. I was overwhelmed. Not surprising that I am now dealing with a dry and scratchy throat. Yup, even health coaches have trouble taking their own advice.

So I went to the grocery store and picked up the ingredients for something my body has been craving for a while. A healing and deeply nourishing soup, full of some of my favorite magic foods and flavors. It's warming without leaving you with that heavy feeling. 

I had two bowls last night for dinner and one for lunch today. I already feel stronger and I have a feeling this cold won't be hanging around for that long. Today is all about moving a bit more slowly and taking one task at a time. 

Along with the soup I am drinking freshly made green juice, lots of water, and making sure I go to bed a bit earlier too. Here is a little run down about the ingredients you'll find in the soup and why I chose them.

Shiitake Mushrooms: Enhance immune system, anti-viral

Baby Bok Choy: High Fiber and nutrient dense and helpful for the respiratory system

Arame seaweed: Immune booster super food, good for your hair and skin too

Brown rice Miso (aged 2 yrs.): Very alkalizing effect on the body and strengthens the immune system to combat infection, excellent for your digestion

STEPHANIE'S MAGICAL HEALING SOUP

5 cups of water

2 bags of Jasmine tea

```````````

1 head baby bok choy, rough chopped

2 cups purple toped turnips, cubed

2 cups chopped fresh shiitake mushrooms

1 lg clove garlic, minced

2 big pinches of Arame

4 1/2 TB Tamari or Shoyu

3 1/2 Tsp Mirin

1 Tsp Brown rice vinegar or Umiboshi plum vinegar

```````````

5 Tsp Miso paste

Bring your water to a boil in a stock pot. Throw your 2 tea bags in and let steep for 5 minutes.

Remove bags and add all vegetables, garlic, ginger, seaweed, tamari, mirin and vinegar. Simmer until vegetables are just tender. 30 minutes or so.

Take pot off heat and stir miso paste in. It is important to never boil miso as it's a live food and extreme heat will kill all the beneficial properties.

Enjoy plain or you can top with fresh cilantro or stir in a bit of siracha for some heat.

**P.S. Comments are down on my blog for now. It you want to reach me just shoot me an e-mail at Wellnessbydesignsp@gmail.com **