Keep It Simple

I’ve had a summer of steady travels, and being single while on the road means my kitchen is often quite empty. Today, I treated myself to a date with the grocery store, and I stocked up on all my favorites. I made a delicious fruit smoothie, an omelet, and dinner will be chicken stir-fry with quinoa. When I go to sleep, I will rest well knowing I created everything that I ate. Cooking for myself makes me feel cared for and clean. With food — and in life, simple, fresh ingredients are key.

I’ve learned a lot about diet from my experiences living in different countries. At 16, I lived with a family in La Coruna, Spain. I can still see my Spanish mother, taking a fresh baguette from the oven, and her husband bringing home mussels from the sea. People were buying things for lunch from the marketplace and then going back in the afternoon to buy things for dinner. The freshness was so immediate, and all the meals were always enjoyed in good company. This kind of living and eating is my goal, even if I’m a little far from the mark.

As a 34 year-old woman running a business in NYC, it’s easy to eat three meals a day outside of the home, but I’ve learned that it’s not ideal for my spirit. I like to prepare food for myself that doesn’t require advance planning or more than 5–7 items. I aspire to minimize processed foods and to eat as much fresh, seasonal produce as possible. I then let my creative energies flow into my pots, pans and plates. It’s best when I can create meals with and for friends. Dinner parties are seriously underrated.

Fortunately, we can always reset, just like I did today. You can always take a positive step towards your health, and it’s usually a simple one, like drawing in a deep breath, getting a good night’s rest, taking a big stretch or having a tall glass of water. The ingredients to a good life are simple, and that’s a big part of my lessons as well as my teachings.

Learn more about Lauren Taus on her website www.laurentaus.com. Follow her on Instagram @lauren.taus, or better yet, join the next #TausTribe yoga retreat in Tulum, November 19–26.