GlamourByLBD Note: Meet my wonderful new friend, Julie Broczkowski and learn more about the Magic Fridge at www.themagicfridge.com Julie is very positive, stylish, creative and just a joy to be around! And we both believe that food should taste great and make you well, not sick!
Out of thousands of women at the eWomen Network conference in Dallas in August, it is truly a miracle that I connected with Laura Beth. On Wednesday night, we were two of only three (out of 3000+) women who were relaxing in the hotel’s hot tub. Of course, none of us had our business cards in the back pocket of our swimsuits, so what were the odds we’d stay in touch?
But we met again on Thursday morning, and Laura Beth mentioned that she was admiring some sculptures on the hotel grounds. I decided that was a sign, and asked her to join me that morning on my trip to the Nasher Sculpture Center, my only planned sightseeing in Dallas. We headed out a few hours later, and in the three hours we spent at the museum and lunch, the commonalities surfaced. Her sons live with the same medical condition as my husband, and she and I also have a lot of medical history in common. We hold like-minded views on health, nutrition, life-work balance, business and fashion….
We saw each other numerous times during the conference, and sat together during the moving final speaker, Lisa Nichols. Laura Beth patted my back as tears streamed down my face when Lisa’s words hit very close to my emotional bone a few times - I knew we were parting as friends that day, and that we would keep in touch. Out of all those thousands of women, we found each other.
One of the things we agreed most vehemently about was wellness. As LBD says, “Wellness is my signature style!” Good health radiates beyond clothes and accessories, and gives you a glow that no makeup can match. I am hurtling towards 40, but am often mistaken for someone who is years younger, and I chalk it up to three things: daily sunscreen, getting enough sleep and eating essential fatty acids (also known as EFAs).
EFAs are the healthy fats found in oily fish, flax seeds, nuts and avocados. They are called “essential” because our bodies can’t make them; we have to get them from foods. They calm inflammation in the body, which can show up as arthritis, colitis, skin conditions or heart disease. They support our immune systems and keep our brain function sharp. I use flax seed oil in my daily morning fruit-and-yogurt smoothie and eat at least two avocados a week. I snack on almonds and eat salmon whenever I cook my husband a burger or a chop (I don’t eat beef or pork anymore due to food allergies).
Here’s an EFA-packed recipe I invented recently. I poached the salmon in some chicken broth flavoured with Thai seasonings, then put it in the fridge overnight. This recipe would work well with any fish or seafood in place of the salmon.
Thai Avocado Salmon Salad
6-8 oz. poached salmon (2 medium fillets)
1 avocado, sliced
Chopped cilantro
2 tbsp. olive oil mayo
1 tbsp. sweet and spicy sauce of your choice (I used So!Go’s Tomato Lemongrass Jam)
Stir together the mayo and jam in bowl large enough to hold the whole salad, then drain the salmon and cut up the avocado and cilantro. Stir together and serve on a bed of lettuce or with grilled asparagus.
