I always think the beginning of a new year is always exciting and fresh.
I tend to look at what the year has brought me; the gain and losses, the lessons learned, the growth that presented itself and then just be so grateful for it all. There comes a moment of self-realization and expansion and then there is this new chance to put all the new learning to work! Every year, I start to feel more and more myself with all of the ways I continue to sustainably transform with nature around me.
Now, in the past I have been a person to say my new year’s resolution is to lose a certain amount of weight or to change my eating routine, get successful in my business, etc. None of these things are bad things to want, if it is what will make anyone happy then I vote yes! For myself, I started to just see a pattern of a wanting and succeeding in a quick accomplishment but not really finding a lifestyle change. It would disconnect me from nature because it would cause me to be so physically focused. Throughout those years, I would somehow change my mind in my business, change my workouts because life happened, and would fall out of my eating routine. Then, there I would say either ill start it the next year or next week. See, patterns that literally would waste my energy throughout my days and leave me chasing my tail. This year I am committing to something new that will sustainably give me a deeper connection and a way to give back to what matters most to me.
My new year’s resolution this year is to give back to mother nature as best as I can and to live as sustainably and recycled as I can. There are many ways to do this and I have been doing my part the past few years but I know I can do better. One way, obviously has to do with food. Sustainably composting and limiting on buying process foods that come in “trash” items,” and saving my food scraps that I can use to make stocks!
Stocks, my new favorite thing since last year. The moment I started to make them more often and indulge, it dramatically helped my vitality and health. Did I mention its sustainable as well? Taking our scraps, saving them and not letting them go to waste, what is better than that? Now if you are vegan, that is awesome because I have an option for you too! Vegetable stock is just as nutritious and delicious, it just skips some of the nutrients that bones will give. Here are some benefits that stock brings into your life:
- helps alleviate joint pain- healthy lubricated bones and joints
- helps heal leaky gut
- boosts the immune system
- encourages healthy skin and hair (mostly the bone broth)
- fights inflammation
- helps fight common colds
- promotes weight lost
- improves hydration
- increased the mood
- cell-protecting
- helps regulate the menstrual cycle
Convinced yet? Improving our health, connecting more with our mother who lets us live and eat from her, and living in more vitality and connection. What could be better than this?
Now for this you will need either a very tall, large pot or my favorite way is a slow cooker. Happy new year all and enjoy getting brothy!
Bone Broth (Vegetable broth option)
1-1/2 pound frozen or fresh beef/chicken bones
3 stalks celery
1 onion
2 carrots
(whatever else you have left over in freezer)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
filtered water
(one stalk rosemary- optional)
First, start by baking the bones in the oven 415 degrees for 15 mins
Then add them into the crockpot
Add the remaining ingredients
Fill with water till the brim
Cover and let cook on low for 2-3 days
Add water daily as needed with 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
*If cooking in a pot. Same steps but keep the stove on low only while you are home
* Veggie stock only- Add herbs like rosemary or sage- double veggies and that is all! Only needs 1-2 days to cook
Strain and enjoy
Can eat the broth on its own or with noodles, veggies, rice, hard-boiled egg…. Endless possibilities!
About the Author
Chelsea Shapouri is a Lifestyle Consultant for women and an Elemental Yoga Instructor based in Santa Cruz, CA. In her work, she offers Ayurvedic lifestyle modalities, Yoga, Breath work, Meditations, and Ayurvedic Recipes. Every client and student is rare and special to her. Chelsea’s mission is to find their unique rhythm, their primal-natural state, and from there support them with techniques and recipes that are meant for their bio-individuality. Harmony for the emotional body, physical body, and mental state is the embodiment she lives by and wishes to offer. Bringing people back home to themselves with techniques they can simply do themselves is what she lives for. The art of service is the art of love and she shares what has helped her heal for the hope to help others heal. Stay connected to Chelsea and read her story through social media or her website: https://primal-harmony.com/
