**Purple Probiotic Pleasure: a gut friendly breakfast - give it a try one morning**

I try to balance my evening margaritas and wine with gut healthy smoothies so I'm actively making choices to feel good. That was a mouthful for an opener, huh? And, I didn't even drink last night - so I'm writing this sans hangover.

I enjoy booze, occasionally, and it's something I don't plan on living without but something I also don't need frequently. Some champions of health believe in restriction, giving everything up and doing without - but I don't think that's a life or a lifestyle that can be maintained. Balance is individual and it's taken me many years to discover what makes me feel good. I'm still working on it and sometimes it's a real pain in the ass. But, what I try to focus on is the ever important question of "what makes me feel good?"

So, here are a few things.

Hugs
Spending time with people I love
Doing work that I enjoy
Freely giving my time to those who may need a hand
Long walks to nowhere
Writing
Learning something new
Binge watching - thanks, Apple TV
Produce shopping with no list
Waking up with energy
Sleeping well
Cooking for myself
Sharing meals with people I love
Not obsessing over food
Dancing in my kitchen

It seems the more I learn about myself and the more I discover ways to treat my mind and my body well, outside of food, the better I feel. There's a lotta good research in the world that supports the fact that our gut (what goes on inside our tummy/digestive system) is our 2nd brain and it's impacted by our lifestyle, stress and food. We do things everyday, whether we realize it or not, to maintain or disrupt this balance. For the most part, I try to support my brain/body by giving it ample doses of love, movement by way of walking and solo dance parties, positive reinforcement and real food - food that's alive - because all this stuff gives me energy that's kinda unparalleled to anything else. I try to think about a choice before I make it out of habit, which is hard because it takes time to build new habits to replace old ones. And what makes me feel good may not make you feel good. Like, Cardi B makes me feel good and so does making breakfast at home. Confused yet? We're a pretty complex machine, us humans.

This morning I'm saying yes to a smoothie. Yes to checking in with myself when it comes to a craving by asking if it's emotional or physical? Can I stop if I start? That's always been a big one for me - can I stop if I start. Beginning the day with something like a smoothie increases my chances of making more choices that make me feel good throughout the day. So does cooking, its helped me take responsibility for my time and find a new pleasure in food.

Green Valley Organics makes a lactose free kefir (you can read more about kefir here, I'm not scientific but will always send you to places where you can read great info from experts, cause I'm writing this from the food/emotion tip) that rocks my breakfast and snack world. It creams up a smoothie and makes it into a decadent delight. Paired with berries and bananas, it edges out the bitterness/sour taste of kefir. This portable meal is filled with fiber, belly boosting brain power and is easily digestible so you're body isn't using so much energy to break down food. That's the beauty of real food, it's easily digestible and our body uses this real energy to take us through the day as opposed to making us feel sluggish.

If you dare to get purple and make time for whizzing up a little breakfast at home, this is a solid place to start.

XO

1 c. Green Valley Organics Lactose Free Kefir *why do I go lactose free? after years of eating dairy, I have realized it makes my belly bulge and I'd prefer to reserve that for summer ice cream treats in South Carolina at my favorite shop
1 c. mixed frozen berries
1/2 of a frozen banana
Optional 1 T. flaxmeal for an Omega 3 boost or bee pollen for sweet energy
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy
Sprinkle with powdered coconut or enjoy as is

Balance, Choices, Cravings + Kefir For Breakfast