Category: Featured

When less is more

If you’ve started getting the hang of the 3 basic tips to reducing your waste, you’ll probably be longing for more new projects to implement given the benefits you’ll experience from having less plastic bags and plastic bottles cluttering the house.

 

Here are 4 more advanced tips:

 

  • Be mindful of food waste:

Here’s a heartbreaking fact: globally, 1/3 of all food produced is never consumed. To avoid food waste, plan trips to the grocery store carefully. Build on what is available in your fridge to plan meals for the week. When you go to the restaurant, bring containers with you to put the leftovers in. If all else fails, use the organic bin from your municipality. At OUNI, Luxembourg’s first bulk shop, you can also buy only the amount you need.

Bonus benefit: If you are using organic veggies, create delicious dishes with your radish leaves, make an extra green soup with carrot tops and use kohlrabi leaves for a stir-fry.

  • Make your own cosmetics and cleaning products (DIY):

It took me a while to jump onto the DIY bandwagon for as it seemed rather intimidating. But it’s not that hard. And remember that many non-organic cosmetics and cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals like ammonia and petrochemical perfumes.

Bonus benefit: You feel empowered as you master new skills.

  • Buy second hand & give or sell items that you no longer use or need:

There are a number of second hand websites and stores, “Free your Stuff Luxembourg”, “Donnons.org”, “Yourshop.lu”, ‘KidsMarket.lu”– by putting things back into the economy we are preserving resources.

Bonus benefit: You can simplify your life: less visual clutter will lead to less stress and a peaceful atmosphere.

  • Repair:

Lengthen the lifetime of your things by repairing them. The longer the lifetime of an object, the better it is for the environment. Sew back a button or repair your shoes.

Bonus benefit: You save money.

Vanessa Paul – OUNI

HealthyLux June theme – Enjoy Nature

Feeling Stressed and Overwhelmed – Tap it Away!

Friday, June 16 – 1:30 pm – 3 pm
AWCL Clubhouse

 

Being overwhelmed and stressed out are some of the biggest challenges we face today. Using the simple technique of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or tapping, you can transform your life and create a more calm environment for yourself and your family.

 

 

We all have these feelings:
I’m too exhausted
I have too many things to do
There is not enough time in the day
I don’t know where to start
I am being pulled in too many directions

 
This free EFT workshop Feeling Stressed and Overwhelmed – Tap it Away on Friday, June 16th at 1:30 pm, will address the daily stresses in your life and give you the tools to become a calmer better version of yourself. AWCL member Natalie Bachiri is an EFT Therapist who will share her simple tapping techniques to give you the tools to address these challenges and create more calm in your life.

EFT is a practical body/mind self-help method – a process of mindful and intentional tapping (gently, with fingertips) on several acupuncture meridian end-points on the face and upper body. EFT is a universal healing tool that can provide impressive results for physical, emotional and performance issues.

 

Come see how a few minutes using EFT can make a world of difference.

 

Space is limited so please send an e-mail to confirm your registration for this workshop to natalie@tapintoyourhappiness.com. As we have limited space please attend the workshop. If you cannot attend please send an e-mail of your cancellation.

 

Natalie, owner at Tap into your Happiness and HealthyLux passionate contributor

  

 

Day “Fest vun der Natur”

Due to its huge success in 2016 with over 4.500 visitors, the Nature Festival will take place on 2 days again this year. On Saturday 17 June and Sunday 18 June, the area around the House of Nature will be transformed once again into a big family festival with over 60 stands and activities related to the theme of sustainability.

 

On Saturday, visitors are welcome from 2pm to 6pm whereas on Sunday, the Festival takes places from 10am to 6pm. Over 60 information points and sales stalls will provide  you with a wide range of organic, local and natural products and handicrafts.

 

Children and adults can play different games or visit our farm animals. Guides will take you on a tour to our beehives and the blacksmiths are happy to show you their skills and introduce you to the art of forging.

 

As no festival is complete without food, we will offer you all kinds of delicacies from the barbecue as well as a variety of vegetarian and vegan meals from the food truck. On Sunday, or volunteers will prepare an organic lunch and in addition we will propose a suckling pig (on a spit). Throughout the weekend, drinks, ice cream, coffee and cakes are served.

 

The entry fee is 2€ (free for children up to the age of 16). You can easily reach the location by Luxembourg City’s bus line 18, which circulates every 30 minutes both on Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise you can come by bike on the PC1 (Piste cyclable du centre Hesperange-Leudelange). The P&R Kockelscheuer-Patinoire is available for those who take their cars. From there, it is only a short walk to the House of Nature.

 

For more information, please contact:

Tel.: 29 04 04-1, secretariat@naturemwelt.lu, www.naturemwelt.lu

 

Also The Nappilla team – HealthyLux partner – will be there!

 

Enjoy Nature

‘And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul’

At long last, it’s time to say good-bye to those long, cold days of winter and embrace the long, hot days of summer. And what better way than in the great outdoors!

Interesting article published recently in the http://uk.businessinsider.com which lists 11 scientific reasons you should spend more time outside. Of course, we’ve all read and heard about it before, but have you actually tried it for yourself and noticed the energy levels increase, the smile stretch across your face and the brain fog… simply disappear? Crazy stuff – it actually works!

I’m fortunate enough to have two adorable fur-kids who live every waking hour of the day not only for food and cuddles, but extended walks in the woods. Even more fortunate, is the vast array of walking, hiking & cycling trails that the Grand Duchy has to offer – no matter where you live!

Funny thing though, I so often hear people remark on how small Luxembourg is and I suppose they’re right (to an extent!) as it is only 2,586 square kilometers (sounds massive to me!) and my response remains the same – ‘have you tried either walking or cycling it’? Behind every corner turned and hill climbed there’s a beautiful new canvas of rock, vineyard or hillside that awaits you. Trust me, if you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to start exploring and become witness to all the hidden treasures still yet to be discovered. And while you’re exploring, really capture the moment and reflect on how you’re feeling. Did all your worries fade away and make room for happier more pleasant thoughts to flood their way in?

My two personal favorites at the moment are lunchtime strolls through the park and scanning the cow pastures in the evenings for newborn calves. Each one offering me an opportunity to restore my mental energy and reduce any unwanted stress.

But if simply lacing up your shoes and heading outdoors doesn’t work for you; here are my two top picks to help you get started;

  • Rambling-in-Luxembourg – well done to the mastermind behind this FB page as it really does take all the hard work out of finding a place to visit and gives you just enough information to peak the curiosity needed to get you out there
  • Federation Luxembourgeoise de Marche Populaire – this is more structured as it’s organized by a walking club and has markers laid out along the way to keep you on track. For the family conscious out there, there are shorter & longer distances available to choose from and for 2EUR (last time I went) you get refreshments along the way! Win Win 🙂

The great outdoors awaits you – what are you going to do today to stimulate the senses and take charge of your well-being? Share your thoughts & comments below and let us know of your favorite ways to enjoy nature.

Sabrina – HealthyLux Passionate Contributor

HealthyLux June theme – Enjoy Nature

Healthy Recipes – What should I cook today? – Succulent Tortilla with colorful vegetables

I am totally out of ideas – I can’t stand cooking the same things again and again and again!
Who of us doesn’t know this type of thinking? In our daily schedule, cooking becomes a routine and, after some time, repetitive.
It is often not due to lack of time but due to a lack of inspiration that we don’t know what to cook for us or our family and friends.
We rarely take the time to sit down and research new recipes.
A good way of bringing variety into your cooking routine is to buy a new fruit/vegetable or any other type of food during your weekly shopping. You have never tried the strange looking pumpkin or you never dared to buy the sweet potatoes because you don’t know what to do with them – why not go ahead and try?
Once you are at home you will have no choice but to be creative or to research new recipes. You will be surprised how easy it is to add variety to your cuisine.
It doesn’t always have to be a main meal. It may be better to start with small things – even if it is only a snack you adapt, or maybe try a new breakfast on Sunday morning? It is easier to be creative and to enjoy preparing new things when you have time and don’t have to rush to work or anywhere else.
For example, here is an idea for some quick and very tasty foods.
Enjoy!

 

Succulent Tortilla with colorful vegetables

Serves 4 people

Ingredients:

1 green bell pepper
1 onion ({red, better for you than white!)
300g tomatoes
2 small potatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
1 bunch of parsley
8 eggs
100ml vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Wash, dry and clean the green pepper and cut it into thin slices; peel the onion and cut it into small rings. Wash, dry and cut the tomatoes into eights. Peel the potatoes and finely grate them.
Heat the olive oil and saute the onions and pepper. Add the potatoes and leave for 3 more minutes then add the tomatoes. Wash and dry the parsley and finely chop. Scramble the eggs in a separate
pan and add the vegetable stock and parsley. Add salt and pepper then pour on top of the vegetables. Cover the pan and leave for 8 minutes. Cut into 4 pieces and serve hot. Enjoy!

 

Sharing is caring, so if you like cooking or if you have discovered a healthy recipe that you love, get in touch so we can share it with the HealthyLux community and improve each other’s life!

 

Martina – Volunteering for HealthyLux

 

Five actions to avoid drowsiness after lunch!

Do you know the feeling, when you get really tired after lunch? You’ve just had a big lunch, feeling really good about yourself and you are ready to face an afternoon full of delicious work challenges.

And then it hits you! You get tired, your eyes start closing and you may even be a little grumpy.

Do you know that feeling?

Why does this happen? Well, the short story is that you body is digesting the food you ate and most likely you are experiencing a sugar crash. There can be other causes, such as just plain tired if you haven’t slept well in a while or something else that is nagging at your life.

But no matter the cause, what do you do in these situations?

I used to (I still sometimes) grab the first sugary treat I could find and down it with some coffee! I am sure some of you do or have done that too!

Unfortunately this is the worst thing you can do! If you are experiencing a sugar crash, then adding more sugar is like adding insult to injury.

But what can you do instead? Here are 5 suggestions.

1 – Avoid refined sugar. If you are experiencing a sugar crash, then avoiding sugar for lunch, will avoid the crash! Easy, no? 😉

2 – If you are still experiencing this classic fatigue, even without sugar, then maybe it is a different kind of sugar. CARBS! Carbohydrates are also a type of sugar and will also lead to sugar crashes! This one is hard to avoid, since the most common quick lunch is a sandwich! Try to avoid eating bread and have a salad instead!

3 – If you are already avoiding these two foods but you are still getting tired after lunch, then try to have a nap! Sometimes we are just tired and a 20 min nap can work wonders. So if you are in a position to take a nap, then do it! Even nodding off in a conference room at the office can work. A trick to avoid falling deeply asleep is to hold your keys in your hand. When your body is falling a sleep you will drop the keys and hopefully the noise will wake you up. At this point you should get up and feel more energized. Do a few stretches and you are good to go!

4 – Talking about stretches: a good way to get over the nagging sleepiness in the afternoon is to move! Do some stretches, go for a walk or take a fitness class! Your body will feel more energized afterwards! I promise you. So even if this is the last thing you want to do, give yourself a kick in the butt and off you go!

5 – If none of these things work, then try talking to someone. Maybe you just need a different perspective and change of pace or a friendly conversation with someone. People can give you so much energy, it is amazing. Try it!

So, what do you think? Can you try some of these? Do you have other ideas?

 

Anne Louise Littlejohn, passionate contributor to HealthyLux

Owner at GetReal.lu

MintMouse.lu goes offline & opens up a showroom at Unicorner Concept Store

It is now possible for our customers to enjoy in full experience of finding the right healthy shoes for children in Luxembourg.

Get your child’s feet measured properly and find the perfect fit among our wide range of Emel shoes. We specialize in healthy first shoes from size 18 up to 31 for every type of feet in a relaxed atmosphere while your child can play in our play corner.

 

Meanwhile we are happy to share tips on what to take into account when buying first shoes for your little ones and what makes the Emel difference.

 

Join us on Saturday May 13th for the Grand Opening of Unicorner, a new concept store in Luxembourg combining 3 shops in 1 where MintMouse has teamed up with The Party Ville and Cinnamon Home.

The Unicorner Team has prepared a whole programme throughout the day from 10am to 10pm. Join us via our Facebook Event Page to stay updated about developments of the grand opening party.
Meet the creator of the brand Emel and discover how our Emel Shoes are made. We will have a live demonstration by one of Emels shoemakers throughout the day. Don’t miss it!
Sneak peek video

 

 

Healthy first shoes & baby accessories

Angelique Supka – Mintmouse.lu and Unicorner Concept Store

 

Happy healthy Birthday!

In my training and working with expecting & new families as Holistic Maternity & Sleep Coach/Educator, I have quickly learned the impact nutrition can have on moods, behavior and sleep. Our society however is still pretty much in denial about this tiny detail.

So what gets me excited is healthier versions of celebration cakes, easier on tiny bodies, yet still delicious. Once you start experimenting with healthier options, the world is your oyster!
 
When I learned about gluten’s impact on the human body, it was a no-brainer several years ago to test it ourselves. As a family, we decided together to eliminate it for 8 weeks and then add it back in, to evaluate the effect in our bodies. After the period of elimination, to my surprise, my husband concluded that maybe our family should consider ditching gluten. I agreed without hesitation. We are not fanatic about it, but we stopped buying gluten containing products, flours, bread, etc. Yes bread too! That took a while for us to get used to and over weekends, gluten still crosses our paths when out and about but we’ve managed to decrease our consumption by over 97%, which just feels great. Don’t fall in the trap though, to stock up on processed products & baked goods just because they’re gluten-free…

 

So when any baking is needed, we experiment gladly with gluten-free flours, there are so many now. Usually we just mix a few we have in stock to get a nice texture. Suffice to say, we also opt for natural sweetening alternatives and use fresh, whole, organic ingredients where possible.

For a recent birthday, my youngest wanted to have a Catterpillar cake. We adapted a recipe from The Urban Poser into cupcakes and whipped up our own ganache mixture to decorate.

Et voila! Très facile!
 

 

INGREDIENTS

For the Cupcakes:

1 cup ghee

2 cups mix of coconut flour

1 cup cocoa powder

4 tablespoons arrowroot flour (or any other gluten-free flour)

3 Pinches of salt

12 large organic free range eggs from happy hens, room temperature

2 cups full-fat coconut milk

300 ml maple syrup (a natural sweetener)

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

3 teaspoons baking soda

24 cupcake paper shapes

1 bag of mixed color Bellpeppers (for the catterpillar)

Buttons or anything round for the catterpillar’s eyes.

Toothpics

For the Whipped Ganache

2 cups heavy cream

1,5 cup extra creamy coconut cream

450 g good quality, organic, fair trade, dark chocolate

Pinch of salt

Piping bag

 

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 163°C .

In a small saucepan, melt the ghee over gentle heat, and then set aside to cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa and salt till blended.

Separate the eggs, placing the whites in a medium-sized bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the yolks in another bowl along with the milk, maple syrup, vanilla, vinegar, and melted ghee. Whisk to combine. Add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture and whisk till the batter is smooth and no lumps remain.

Using a hand mixer or the whisk attachment for your stand mixer, beat the egg whites till they look like softly whipped cream (soft peaks). Stir the baking soda into the batter and then, using a rubber spatula, immediately beat in one-third of the whipped egg whites to lighten the batter. Gently fold in the rest of the egg whites till only a few streaks of egg white are left.

Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake paper molds, which are placed in ovenproof cupcake tins. Bake for about 30 minutes till the tops are golden and spring back when gently pressed. Check the cupcakes in the last 10 minutes of baking to see how it has progressed. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Flip cupcakes onto a wire rack and let cool completely.

In the meantime, prepare the whipped ganache: Put the chocolate in a large, heatproof bowl. Heat the creams to boiling and pour over the chocolate. Let it sit for about ten minutes, then add the salt and blend.

Refrigerate for about two hours, or until firm all the way through. Whip with a stand mixer or beaters until soft, whipped, and slightly lightened in color.

Decorate the cupcakes with the ganache by using a piping bag.

On a tray, lay out the decorated cupcakes in a caterpillar formation and add legs, mouth and feelers with bell pepper strips using the toothpicks to attach securely.

For safety, remember to remove the toothpicks and buttons when serving.

Other party snacks included kiwi slices, mini caterpillars made from grapes, cherry tomatoes, celery and organic 100% peanut butter (Rapunzel). We used dried berries for the eyes.

 

 

Each little guest also received a snack bag filled with a babybell, rice cakes, raisins, a clementine and a mini Cote d’Or dark chocolate plus a box of homemade popcorn made with coconut oil and a sprinkle of Himalayan salt.

 

And our little one was all smiles!

 

More about the author:

Mother of two darling babies and Holistic Maternity & Sleep Coach/Educator, Marise Hyman works with expecting and new families on Holistic Sleep and Preparing for the Life Change a Baby brings, through Marise Hyman Maternity Coaching – setting them up for success, so they can sail into their new lives with confidence!

She is also the founder of the NGO, Luxmama Club & ParentPrep asbl offering a variety of social and educational events in Luxembourg designed so parents can make the most of becoming and being a new parent in the modern world today.

 

 

 

What is Vedic Maths?

Vedic Mathematics is a method of speed mental calculation developed in the early 20th Century. The method is short and simple, which makes maths fun for children. Using the system, complex multiplications (from the perspective of a 3rd Grader) such as 98×97 can be solved in less than five seconds flat!

And it doesn’t finish there! Vedic Mathematics can be used to solve both simple equations and more difficult problems, including fractions, squares, algebra and even some Calculus. The system works using 16 word formulas known as “Sutras”: short sayings that have various meanings and applications.

The practicality of a speed mathematics system such as Vedic Mathematics in the age of calculators and technology could be debated. However, as part of a Government drive to boost math standards, calculators have recently been banned in the UK English primary school maths exams; this demonstrates that there is still a place for mental arithmetic within the school system.

In today’s world there is a drastic need for Vedic Math methods in primary level in almost all parts of the globe including India. Vedic Maths is such a beautiful system to engage children with maths and hence improve numeracy levels, globally.

Vedic Maths is beneficial for primary and middle school students, students of competitive examinations, and also students and scholars doing research in the field of Information Technology.

 

Benefits & Advantages of Vedic Maths

 

  • 10 -15 times faster than conventional Maths.
  • A complete system comprising all the benefits of Mental Maths.
  • Develops Left & Right Sides of the brain.
  • Cultivates an interest for number and eliminates the fear of it.
  • Complements the school Curriculum.
  • Sharpens the mind, increases mental agility and intelligence.
  • Improves the memory and boosts self-confidence.
  • Helps in maintaining speed and accuracy
  • Mental Maths leads to Innovation and develops creativity

 

What Vedic Maths can do for you?

 

Learning High Speed Vedic Mathematics will enable you to calculate much faster compared to the conventional system.

You will be able to do seemingly difficult calculations like 998 x 997 in split seconds which will make a remarkable difference to your confidence and self-esteem.

Your calculation skills will improve, you will be able to perform better and you will exuberate confidence which will blow people away!

 

Check our next workshop about Vedic Maths to enhance your maths skills and exercise your brain muscles!

Shruti Tulsian owner at Vedic Maths Luxembourg

 

Anne Louise’s approach to a healthy lifestyle

Give a short description of what you do

I am a Holistic Health Coach and owner of Get Real with Anne Louise. I am the creator of the Ideal Weight Management Program. I help women, specifically mothers, find their new true identity. Tony Robbins says, if we don’t grow, we die. And I truly believe this. I believe we are here to live our best life! Through small changes in diet and lifestyle EVERYONE can achieve maximum level of health and happiness!
I work in a holistic manner meaning that I look at all aspects of life. Everything in our life that is not food, feeds us in a different way but all affects our health and wellbeing. Everything from relationships, career to how you get up in the morning feeds your life and affects how you feel and ultimately your health and wellbeing. Healthy living is about so much more than nutrition and exercise!

Why, in your opinion, should people give up the food and activities they like to live healthier?

I don’t think that people should give up anything they love. I think it is all about adding in. Add in more vegetables or healthy habits and the unhealthy habits will slowly leave your life. I think it is about tweaking all your favourite foods and activities and turning them into healthy and fun activities or foods.
If you love watching TV in the evenings instead of taking that exercise class, why not bring in a treadmill and walk or run while you watch TV? It is much harder to snack while you walk or run 😉 Or if burgers are your favourite foods, there are millions of recipes out there to make the greasy unhealthy burger into a healthy yummy burger with lots of greens.
Everything can be tweaked. Never restrict yourself!

Why and how did you accept to live healthy?

I used to be really unhealthy. I used to party a lot and drink a lot of alcohol. The next day I would self medicate with greasy burgers and fries and finish off with crisps in front of TV. I would definitely not like getting much physical activity. Needless to say I was not very happy.
My life changed completely when I became pregnant. Suddenly I couldn’t hide behind alcohol or cigarettes and I had to find out who I was without it. It was a scary process but I went through it and it has been so worth it! I no longer smoke or drink (that much), I am eating and living healthily and feeling amazing! During this process I found the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, IIN. The courses, new friends and new things I learnt really helped me get through this process. It taught me how important it is to have support from someone who is knowledgeable and can hold your hand through it all. They have helped me find my new true identity as a parent and to finally live a healthy and REAL life!

Is it challenging, expensive and time-consuming?

I don’t think so, on the contrary. Living healthy and vibrant brings so many great experiences. I don’t get sick, as often as before, so that’s fewer trips to the doctor and less medicine. I don’t party as much as before which is great for my wallet and for my liver 😉
The biggest challenge is really to be true to yourself and to find the REAL cause behind the unhealthy habits. This requires some deep digging, which can feel scary. But boy is it worth it! And having someone to hold your hand throughout the journey can really help a lot!

Does it really work?

Of course it works, but you need to think of all factors. Healthy living is not just about nutrition and exercise, there is so much more to it. Your relationships, your career and everything else that feeds your mind and soul are contributing to your health and wellbeing. Make sure you take good care of it all!

What were the key factors that lead you to start a new healthier life?

My children! It was easy to be accountable to them, much easier than to myself. But, today I understand why in an emergency situation in a plane you have to put your own oxygen mask on before you help a child. You need to take care of yourself BEFORE you can take care of others!

 

Anne Louise Littlejohn, HealthyLux Passionate Contributor

Owner at GetReal.lu