Re-Post: Run, Run, Run…and Refuel!

Think about the brief interactions you have with people on a daily basis. Passing someone on your way into work. Looking up from your desk as a colleague walks by. Greeting a customer. “Hi, how are you?” almost rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? As an undergraduate student in the final stretch of my university career, one of my most common responses to this question lately has been, “Busy.” I know that this is just a season of life, and that things will calm down eventually, all of the to-do’s and running around can be overwhelming! But, I don’t want to kid myself–busyness isn’t something that only exists in the life of interns and student-athletes. Adulthood is full of things that pull us in a million directions; sometimes they’re obligations, but a lot of it is stuff we really love and don’t want to give up. So, we need to ensure that the good things we’ve packed into our lives don’t end up costing us our mental health. The key is finding a balance.

When your default mode is go-go-go, it can be challenging and uncomfortable to simply stop and let yourself feel. That’s when all the stress hits me, you might think. It’s so much easier to just keep moving and not think about it. And yes, it might feel as though pausing will slow your momentum and ruin the routine. However, setting aside a moment for yourself, just to take a breath and re-charge, may be exactly what you need to keep going strong–maybe even stronger–for the rest of your day.

Today, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you all a recipe that could accompany this mid-day pause. Something to fuel the body at the same time that you’re refueling your spirit. Just like last week, this recipe features ingredients from a certified Fair Trade business, One Degree Organics. They’re family-owned, devoted to transparency, and literally have the faces of their supplying farmers on their website, just in case you’re curious about whose hard work has gone into the production of each ingredient. Savor that, while you savor these.

Sprouted Brown Rice Crisp Energy Balls

Ingredients

• 2/3 c pecans
• 5 large Medjool dates
• 1 Tb chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 2/3 c One Degree Organics sprouted brown rice crisps

Method

1. Add the pecans to a food processor and pulse until they reach a fine crumble consistency.
2. Add the dates, chia seeds, vanilla, salt, and Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps and pulse again until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
3. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and roll into balls, or press mixture into a small baking pan and cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.
4. Take with you wherever you’re going, and don’t forget to re-charge!

P.S. this recipe was adapted from Sondra at One Degree Organics. The original post can be found here.

P.P.S Neither Olive Branch Counseling nor this post is sponsored by One Degree Organics–we just really love what they stand for, and we hope you do too.