So what does back to school mean? Routine.... I personally love September after all of summer's fun and social times. But I also love the food! Our bodies begin to crave warm and cooked foods again. Eating seasonally and listening to your body is so so important. So ditch the veggies and dip for stewed, sautéed and cooked veggies.
Why is it important to change what we eat according to what season it is?
If you think way way back too many years ago, we did not have access to strawberries and raspberries year round like we are accustomed to now. Our bodies held nutrients from the seasonal foods we ate all year long. When the season's change, so does our body. Innately we crave different foods. It is important to change your diet seasonally because your body has different needs season to season. During the height of summer eat watermelon, celery and cucumber till the cows come home, your body can handle it (unless you are suffering from digestive weakness already). If you are noticing no change in your appetite this is a sign that your digestive system is weak and doesn't have the energy to signal your brain what it wants/needs.
Listening to your body is so important when creating a meal plan. Chinese Medicine takes your body constitution into consideration and what foods you should or shouldn't be eating. Come see us in the clinic for more information on diet therapy!
20 Min Medicinal Rice Bowl for the Strengthening the Digestive System this Fall:
This one pot medicinal rice dish screams fall but the best part is how soothing it is on the stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, chestnuts are crucial for nourishing the spleen and stomach, tonifying the kidney, strengthening the brain and tendons, circulation, and resolving Inflammation. The science behind chestnuts also point to how helpful it is in these areas, as chestnuts are high in fiber, manganese, vitamin C and B6, and copper.
Kabocha squash is the pumpkin I’m using here, which has tons of benefits as well. In Chinese medicine this pumpkin helps to circulate blood, disperse cold, clear out dampness and phlegm, making it ideal for your body as we’re transitioning into colder temperatures.
Here’s how to make it…
Serves 2
Cooking time: 20 mins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup jasmine rice
3 dried shiitake mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped kabocha squash
2 links of Chinese sausage or 1/2 block of dried tofu
5-6 chestnuts / I used a can of water chestnuts instead because I love them.....
1 tsp of sesame oil
Pinch of salt
Garnish with radish for crunch
Instructions:
Wash the rice until water runs clear and leave it soaking in water while you prep the rest of the ingredients
Soak the mushrooms in boiling water for at least 10 mins
Cut the sausage into thin rounds, the squash into small chunks, and you’re ready to assemble
Pour out the water the rice was soaking in and mix in the mushrooms, sausage, squash and chestnuts into the rice
Add 1/4 cup of the mushroom soaking liquid and add enough water to cover everything
Finish off with a drizzle of sesame oil and bring to a boil on the stove
Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat down to medium and cook for 10 min
After 10 mins, reduce the heat to low to let everything steam
Turn the heat off and give the rice a toss with a rice paddle
Serve and enjoy with kimchi!
Kelsey Bru is a licensed acupuncturist and TCM Herbalist in the Comox Valley, British Columbia. She loves sharing her passion for healthy recipes through her online articles and at her clinic, The Remedy Room, on Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay. Call for an appointment at 250-800-7738.
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