Food Freedom with Deena Barselah

19/03/2024

Oh hi! I'm sloooowly emerging from my Wintering as we welcome Spring. 🌱

I took a sabbatical beginning on October 3rd. Scroll back just a few posts for a video why I made this decision.

That pause quickly became more needed than I ever could have imagined.

I had to learn what deep rest really is. Psst- it's not reading a personal development book or listening to a podcast with to do's for improving my life. It's definitely not scrolling social.

It looks a lot like laying on the grass in the sun, walking barefoot, tending to my new vegetable garden, time in nature, and taking baths.

I became ruthless with my decision making on what was worth my energy. I barely did anything social for 2 months.

My discernment of who or what energy I would allow in became razor sharp.

I lost my voice. Twice. (message: Deena, shhh. Rest). I got a double ear infection. (message: Deena, stop listening to so many people. Rest). I got the flu. (message: Deena, take an epsom salts bath and get back in bed. Rest). Every time I started coming out of sabbatical mode, my body yelled at me.

I went on a lot (I mean A LOT) of walks. That bilateral movement was everything for my body and nervous system as I started to gain some energy.

I pulled back from this space for over 2 months and still have not put social apps back on my phone. Not sure I will.

✨And then the magic of the quiet: I started to open up again.

You can't have Spring without Winter.

I got clear. I had more energy.

👏A new business idea came to me that I'm certain only came forth because I embraced the wintering. It's free and it's almost ready for you!! Any guesses?!?

So, I'm back. I'm working with clients again and it feels SO good! I've missed you. ❤

Check out my latest blog post for My Top 5 Messages from Sabbatical.

08/03/2022

For all the boy moms out there on International Women's Day, it's no accident you're mothering in this era. You are here to mother yourself and give your son/s the gift of being raised by a woman who celebrates her womanhood every day.

They receive this gift...

When we are more deeply connected with women.
When we have consistent practices for nurturing our divine feminine.
When we model authentically and fully receiving love and care.
When we find ourselves in Mother Earth's embrace.
When we know no limits to pleasure.
When we listen to our desires.
When we redefine motherhood in a way that honors our unique gifts.
When we cultivate true joy and pleasure in our daily life experiences.
When we create sacred space.
When we dance.
When we sing.
When we dream.

Yes, our daughters need this, but let's not forget about the magic for our sons. They need this. Men need a mother who knows, deep in her bones, how to nourish herself on all levels. Keep going. Keep leaning in. Just when you think you shouldn't go more, go for it.

30/01/2022

I’m pretty sure I picked this card for all of us in this morning’s Sacred Start (inspired by the work of )

First, tune into what your body communicates to you with this image.

Second, swipe for description and affirmations.

In my coaching calls and conversations with friends lately, so many are saying that they used to dance but they don’t dance anymore. Is it time for you to start dancing again?

What comes up for you here?

28/01/2022

Can you take in the beauty of food the way you stop to look at flowers?

Zoom in on each of these. What do you notice? What do you find beautiful?

Where can you notice and add beauty to your food the same way you would a flower arrangement?

How can you play with color? Texture? Balance?

We are wired to notice beauty and want more of it in our lives. How can you adorn your food?

Try it this weekend and see how it feels in your body. Notice how your family reacts.

💕

20/01/2022

Current books in rotation.

Leaning heavily into the feminine with this stack right now and loving it.

I’m all about learning about the body from multiple perspectives these days. When we get stuck in one model of health and body care, our options are narrow. The same goes for diet and a relationship with food.

Expanding our awareness of possibilities for how we can love, care for, and feed our bodies tends to relax the system, lower fear, and gain confidence in new understanding.

That’s the conversation I’m here for!!

Any of these in your rotation now or favorites of yours?

13/01/2022

Well, apparently I'm off coffee.🤷🏻‍♀️☕️

The last time I enjoyed a cup of coffee was 2 weeks ago, about 7 hours before my covid symptoms started.

That was a good cup.

The first few days I was sick, I didn't have a desire for anything really. A few days later I took a sip and it tasted awful. A week in, I tried again. Still terrible.

I felt so connected to having my cup of coffee and being "someone who loves coffee" that I noticed how much I wanted to like it! This was really throwing me off.

I tried again today and got a cup from one of the best coffee shops around. One sip and no thank you. I wanted nothing to do with it.

One of the things we talk about when it comes to Family Food is PREFERENCES.

Preferences change. I don't prefer coffee right now. Maybe I will when I'm fully recovered. Maybe not. Maybe my relationship with coffee is changing? Maybe it's just connected to my funky taste/smell (which is improving as I'm supplementing better with zinc). Who knows?

Preferences change and it's really cool to see it play out. Nothing with food is set in stone.

But it sure is interesting to observe how emotionally connected I am to food my body just doesn't want.

Thanks, body, for giving me all the information I need.

Has something like this ever happened to you?

10/01/2022

Back in the kitchen after 8 days and it feels good.

My appetite isn’t back to normal and that’s been a really interesting and emotional experience on its own. I’m listening to my body in new ways and she’s so clear on what feels good and what doesn’t.

But I’m loving leaning into Food as Medicine and taking such exquisite care for myself in the simple ways I can.

Congee is a traditional rice soup/porridge that has as many variations as their are families. It’s hydrating, yin-building, simple, and such a comfort food. I’ve had it 3 meals per day and making another batch this afternoon.

Anything goes, but I cooked mine with lots of chicken broth, added zucchini, tamari, ginger, and gamasio (sesame seeds with seaweed). This morning I had it with slow cooked chicken and avocado. All about the toppings and making my food beautiful to awaken the senses.

Getting sick is a call for connection on many levels— connecting to your feminine and receiving support from your village, connecting with your family for the little uplifting and sweet moments, connecting to what’s really important to you, connecting to your healthcare team for check-ins and guidance, connecting to the deep messages that come when you’re in this weakened state, connecting with snd trusting your body, and, for most of us, a way to tune in to the next version of ourselves with upgraded care.

11/12/2021

Growing up we went to my grandparent’s house every Friday evening for Shabbat Dinner. I went early (I can’t quite remember how I got there 🤷🏻‍♀️) and I helped Bubby cook, set the table, and light candles with her.

Zeke doesn’t have grandparents around and I have been telling myself a story that with just our small family of 3, it doesn’t make sense to do a whole Shabbat dinner. But yet the connection to that tradition feels so important.

We have these food stories that are so worth asking “is that true?”

Creating a meal that is both simple (roasted chicken, pesto, challah, roasted garlic, and a bowl of greens) and special (flowers, candles, seasonal items, and special glasses) is what joy snd love with food looked like last night.

Gideon and Zeke found it to be so special!!

What food stories are holding you back? What are you telling yourself you need BEFORE you can experience love or joy in food?

We are diving into all of this during our next Coffee & Coaching. Click and register for free. I can’t wait to support you.

We let too many rules, shoulds, and stories get in the way of experiencing pleasure with food. The time is now.

10/12/2021

01/12/2021

I’m so earning my Pinterest Mom badge this week! 😜

For realz, though, I was so into this project. I got an idea from a friends post and then we made it our own. That’s usually how I do things- inspiration comes from somewhere and then I customize.

I do the same with food. And work. And home design projects.

How you do one thing is how you do everything, right?

I know this, so I’ve learned that I need to be an open vessel for the ideas to come in and have the tools, ingredients, and resources to act on them or a place to file them away.

What I know to be true: you gotta let yourself be inspired. For most of us, the same old every day gets really boring. When it comes to food for families, it will always feel like a chore if you don’t have ways to 1) get inspired and 2) act on the inspiration in a way that honors who you are. Same goes for your kids!! That’s where the strong relationship with food comes in.

Oh, and let your kids see the process! Let them see you have fun. What a gift it is to have parents who genuinely show passion and excitement in the day-to-day.

If this feels impossible when it comes to food, reach out. It’s not impossible, I promise. It’s in there and you need some support accessing it. 💕