Self-Care, A Three-Second Solution & Tahini & Date Bliss Balls with Remi Haik

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with nutrition coach and naturopath Remi Haik.    Haik grew up in Israel, where the kitchen was the most loving room in the house.    “It's a sort of love language to feed our loved ones,” she says. “We share this experience, [and] we also are giving and receiving [food].”   One of her favorite recipes is energy tahini and dates balls. They're simple to make, give you a burst of energy when you need it, and most importantly remind her of home.    “Dates, for example, are a very well known food in the Middle East,” she says. “Whenever I eat dates [and also hummus] … I feel connected to that identity.”   Haik believes that how food makes you feel is as important as the act of eating.   “There’s this idea of if I do not eat healthy 100% of the time, I am not healthy; it’s very much an all-or-nothing mentality,” Haik explains. That’s not the case. If you focus on how you are feeling as you eat one meal a week, you can let your healthy eating habits grow from there.    Since self-care is another key to a healthy life, Haik also suggests finding one or two things to do each day that make you feel rejuvenated. And, if you feel stressed during the day, the easiest way to do a quick reset is to breathe.    “Literally stop for three seconds,” she says. “If you want, you can put one hand on your chest - on your heart - [and] one hand on your stomach [then] inhale, exhale.”   Doing this, even for a few seconds, reduces your stress hormones. You will immediately start feeling calmer.    Remi Haik shares her personal healthy eating journey and tips for self care, along with the recipe for her energy tahini and dates balls, which you can get at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.   Learn more at RemiHaik.com and follow @remihaik on Instagram. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.