One of my very favorite tools in my Wellness tool belt is essential oils. I think that in 2020 most of us are familiar with EO’s but just in case, they are highly concentrated liquid derived from plants. The benefits range from immune support, easing sore muscles, and calming and soothing the mind.

I personally only love to use oils topically or aromatically and prefer not to ingest - but some brands are safe for oral consumption- please just make sure that if you are ingesting oils that they are pure and safe!

Now onto my current favorite diffuser blend. As soon as the weather starts to change and we head into cold and flu season, I start diffusing Eucalyptus. A few weeks ago I was feeling a like I wanted a little variety and grabbed a few oils on my nightstand and mixed them all up. After a few minutes of diffusing my boyfriend looked at me and commented about how nice the smell was!

He usually doesn’t notice things like that, so I had a feeling it was a winner!

Here’s a little about the oils that go into this blend and why it is a great blend for 2020 and the current season we are in!

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is an antimicrobial oil that is used to help breathing, asthma, and fight off the common cold and respiratory ailments. It is also a great immune stimulator. I find that it helps me stay healthy BUT also avoids the dryness that comes with the use of heat in the house during the cold months.

Pink Pepper

Another favorite oil of mine is Pink Pepper. For the longest time it was my go to for dry brushing, if you are looking for a sweet scent that gives you all over body tingles this is the oil for you! Then I stumbled upon the amazing health benefits. Pink Pepper is an antiviral, and great for respiratory health as well. It is a very uplifting oil, so be mindful of how this effects you if you are diffusing at night!

Lavender

The last oil in this blend is lavender. Lavender is a great relaxing oil, and is used to treat anxiety, and promote sleep. Since I was diffusing this blend at night I thought it would be a great counterbalance to the stimulating Pink Pepper.

In my diffuser I blend 5 drops each of Eucalyptus and Pink Pepper + 3 drops of Lavender. Depending on the size of the room or diffuser you are using you may want to adjust.

The oils I use are by doTerra, but any 100% Essential Oil brand would work!

Every week the Hungry Hippie team works hard at curated special menus that will give you the most well rounded plant based diet possible. You get mains, sides, soups, and snacks to make sure that there is variety in both flavor and nutrient profiles. That being said there are things that could enhance your meal plan and help you to make the most out of it each week, and founder LisaMarie Falcone wants to share some tips with you!

Below is a list of ingredients i always keep on hand to personalize our Hungry Hippie Meals and to make sure we’re hitting all the cravings all week long!

1. Lettuce. Every few weeks you’ll find a delicious salad on your meal plan, and we often make side salads for a lot of the entrees. But we want to be bringing you exciting and new meals each week and giving you salads all the time just doesn’t seem like the best way to provide for you! We always keep a tub of greens on hand (if your in Central Jersey check out Beyond Organic growers!) to pair with a soup, our Chickpea “Tuna”, or on those days when we are never satisfied no matter how much food we are eating! My favorites are Arugula and Baby Kale.

2. Siete Wraps. Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, and freezer friendly you cannot go wrong with Siete. I love all of their products but the thing you’ll never see my freezer without are the wraps. On days when I’m feeling extra hungry or hit the gym a little harder than normal I gravitate towards an almond flour wrap and my cauli-eggz. I also use them to dip into my soup in place of bread or croutons, and smash an avocado on one for a quick snack in between meals.

3. Avocado. Speaking of avocados, I always keep a few on hand to add a dose of healthy fats to my meals. I’ve used them to top off chili, chickpea “Tuna”, onto Hungry Hippie salads and so much more.

4. Eggs. Not all of the Hungry Hippie meal prep clients are vegan, so if you’re okay with eating eggs this is a great way to get in extra protein. Add this to one of our rice or grain bowls, scramble one into your cauli-eggz, or on top of our lentil ball subs.

5. Sir Kensington Ketchup. We try to supply you with all the condiments you need, but sometimes you just need ketchup. Whether for a veggie burger or the cauli-eggz (can you tell I have some favorites!) a little ketchup on hand can help round out the meal.

6. Yogurt. I love Cocoyo from GTS but any non dairy yogurt would do. It’s great to have a jar on hand especially when granola is on the menu! I also like to break up some of the Hungry Hippie muffins and use them as yogurt toppers.

7. Fruit. This is another staple I use to round out the Hungry Hippie breakfasts. We often use fruit in meals (bananas, apples, and pears have been recent favorites) but it’s nice to have on hand to add to granola, muffins, and more!

8. Ezekiel Bread. Sometimes the carbo-holic in me starts rearing its head and that’s when I reach for some Ezekiel Bread. I find that I love my Chickpea “Tuna” and Greek Chickpeas with a slice of toast especially on those days I’m feeling extra hungry.

9. Tempeh. We are a no soy delivery service, but sometimes I really want a piece of tempeh. Fermented soy is a great way to occasionally add in protein as long as it comes from an organic source. I make mine tex mex style and add to our loaded sweet potatoes, or do dijon style cubes and throw them into a salad.

In addition to hitting up the grocery store make sure you are utilizing your freezer. All of the Hungry Hippie soups, and most of the meals can be easily and safely frozen. If you’re unsure of what can and cannot be stored in the freezer reach out!