{HMW} The Observation Period January Actually Needs
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Dear Reader, It's early January and you might be feeling physically uncomfortable, out of sync with your usual eating rhythm, or just... off. The instinct is to swing hard in the opposite direction—restrict everything, punish yourself for December, start some intense plan to "undo the damage." But your body doesn't need punishment. It needs reconnection. After weeks of different eating patterns, your body is probably craving something lighter—not because salads are morally superior, but because your system is seeking balance. If you're drawn to simpler meals or more vegetables right now, that's your body's natural wisdom, not diet culture talking. Before you change anything, spend three days just noticing. When does hunger actually show up? What foods leave you feeling good versus uncomfortable? This observation gives you real information about what your body needs, not what January marketing says you should want. Your body hasn't betrayed you. It responded to the environment you were in. Now it's ready to recalibrate when you give it supportive conditions and actually listen. How are you feeling entering this first week of 2026? Have it: Interesting article alert: Why you should be taking daily "toot" walks. We just got back from Greece and as part of the trip we got to visit the beautiful island of Aegina, known for its pistachio trade. We sampled so many amazing pistachio products including pistachio liqueur, pistachio brittle and this delicious unsweetened pistachio butter. Highly recommended! Made it: I'm that person who actually enjoyed studying for the verbal SATs. Who plays Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections every morning. Who keeps a running list on my phone of words I'm waiting to use in a sentence.So of course I'm devoting this week's 5-Senses Sunday to words. Not my usual sensory exploration (I'm nursing a post-Greece cold and honestly was too wiped to write a full edition), but something special: beautiful, evocative vocabulary that describes each of the five senses. If you've ever saved a word just because it felt good in your mouth, this one's for you. Want it: I think I've waited my whole life for something like this. I'm not happy with my current coffee-making tools Ingredient Spotlight: Nutritional Yeast If you've been curious about those yellow flakes that show up in vegan recipes, this is your intro. Nutritional yeast has a savory, almost cheese-like flavor that's somewhere between nutty and umami. It's deactivated yeast (so it won't make anything rise), and it dissolves easily into sauces or works as a topping. The easiest way to start: sprinkle it on popcorn, pasta, or roasted vegetables. You can also blend it into salad dressings or stir it into mashed potatoes for extra depth. A tablespoon or two is usually enough to notice the flavor without overwhelming a dish. It happens to be a source of B vitamins, and many brands are fortified with B12, which is helpful if you eat less meat. But mostly, it's just a simple way to add a savory element to meals when you want something more interesting than salt. Store it in a cool, dry place, and it'll last for months. Try these 23 recipe ideas using nutritional yeast Announcements & Upcoming Do you have big personal goals for 2026? Maybe these involve ✨ Building stronger, more meaningful relationships No matter what your goals are, I’ve got something that can help you achieve them. Introducing the Kick Off 2026 bundle - a one-of-a-kind collection of digital products to help you crush your personal and business goals in 2026. Here’s what’s inside: Journals and daily planners to help you stay on track Goal-setting guides and habit trackers to keep you focused Self-care toolkits and wellness workshops for a more balanced life Creative pursuits and hobbies Whether you’re looking to master your morning routine, become more intentional with your time, or finally find space for self-care you’ll find the exact tools you need inside this bundle. And the best part? It’s 100% FREE from January 3 to January 13! Yep, you read that right - FREE. So if you’ve got big goals for 2026, why not give yourself every possible advantage? (There’s also a premium upgrade that at just $77 is a great deal and well worth checking out, all the products are valued at $97 plus so even if there’s just two or three things in there that you need you will be making a saving). Click here to be first in line to access the bundle The Whole Body Health Summit is live today! Sometimes eating isn’t about hunger. When stress is high, awareness gets narrow. I’m speaking at the Whole Body Health Summit, where we explore eating, stress, and exhaustion through a whole-body lens. 🎧 Free audio summit
Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai What I'm Watching: Apples Never Fall What I'm Listening to: Big Desk Energy on Spotify What I'm Eating: Sesame-Broccoli Okonomiyaki savory pancake, BBQ Sauce That's it for me this week. I hope you're all having a wonderful start to 2026 and as always have a happy and healthy hump day. Warmly, Jenny
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