1. Clean Naturally
Planning to have a big Turkey Day dinner in your home? The first thing most hosts do before the big day is give the house a thorough cleaning. But before you run to the store and buy an economy size bottle of your favorite brand-named cleaner, remember that you can use herbs, essential oils, and everyday cooking ingredients (like vinegar and baking soda) to make safe and natural cleaning products! This will help keep your home fresh and clean naturally without the harsh effects of chemical cleaners. Bergamot Citrus aurantium var.bergamia essential oil is wonderful to use in homemade cleaners. Try these suggestions for a citrusy bathroom cleaner, room spray, or surface cleaner:
- Use 2-3 drops bergamot essential oil undiluted on a damp cleaning cloth to wipe surfaces
- Add 5 drops of bergamot essential oil to 2 cups of white vinegar to make a surface cleaner
- Make a paste with ½ cup of baking soda; add enough water to form a paste then add 8 drops of bergamot and use to clean bathroom surfaces
Bergamot is an antibacterial (also called a bactericide), so it is also quite useful in the dishwasher after your big turkey dinner! Add 8 drops to a bottle of natural dishwashing liquid and shake before use.
2. Decorate and Set the Ambiance
Every holistic holiday host needs to set a little ambiance. Instead of buying expensive and fake decorations, try foraging some of your local flora to make homemade adornments. Gather some fall leaves, press the individual leaves in a book or between two pieces of cardboard, and let sit for a few days. After they’ve dried, take a piece of string and thread the leaves to create a harvest-themed garland to drape along a doorframe or your china cabinet. You can also use any extra dried herbs you’ve saved from your harvest! And if red berries like viburnum grow in your area, you can add them to your garland, holiday centerpiece, or table display as well!
You can also make your home smell glorious by preparing a natural aromatic room spray. The first step is to prepare an aroma concentrate (essential oil blend). Try this one for your holistic Thanksgiving holiday:
Festive Spice Concentrate:
- Vodka: 2 teaspoons
- Essential oil of orange Citrus sinensis: 6 drops
- Essential oil of cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum: 1 drop
- Essential oil of ylang ylang Cananga odorata var. genuine: 2 drops
- Essential oil of lemon Citrus limonum: 1 drop
To make the aromatic spray, mix 60 drops of your aroma concentrate with 2 ounces of distilled water or witch hazel hydrosol. Shake well. Spray upward into the air and walk underneath. Keep testing the aroma (adding more concentrate in 5-drop increments) until it has reached the desired strength. Use to enhance any room with the perfect blend of sweet and spice!
3. Keep Your Energy Up!
With all the preparations, the days leading up to Thanksgiving can be a bit draining. The most important thing to do is make sure you are maintaining good holistic nutrition. If you start to feel a little run down, you might want to increase your vitamin B intake. Make sure you’re focusing on eating lots of whole grains and nuts. Try making a yummy holiday trail mix of pecans, almonds, dried cranberries, cinnamon, and rosemary to nibble on while you’re running errands and preparing for Thursday.
Also, don’t forget to eat breakfast! You should always make sure you’re eating a morning meal every day, especially during a hectic time of year. If you find yourself dragging in the a.m., you might consider trying this high protein drink for breakfast, and it can help support your energy levels throughout your morning.
- Organic hemp protein powder : 1 teaspoon
- Kelp : 1 teaspoon
- Organic whey powder : 1 teaspoon
- Organic and unsweetened pineapple juice: 1 cup
Put the mixture in the blender, whip, and drink.
4. Keep Your Stress Down!
While you’re trying to keep your energy up and complete all your holiday errands, don’t forget to take a time-out for some “you” time! Slow down and pause. Try meditating, exercising, journaling…anything that will allow you to recharge and reset your batteries. You can also try taking a relaxing bath with this luxurious basic bath salts blend:
- Mix 1 cup of Epsom salts, 1 cup of mineral salts, and the “Calm Down” blend in a bowl and sift. Add 4 tablespoons of the mix to one full bath (add after the tub is full).
- “Calm Down” blend (oils can be added as either single oils or as blends):
- Essential oil of geranium Pelargonium graveolens: 3 drops
- Essential oil of lavender Lavandula angustifolia: 2 drops
- Essential oil of lemon Citrus limonum: 2 drops
- Essential oil of sandalwood Santalum album: 2 drops
5. Get Cookin’ Naturally
Lastly, if you’re one of the family members preparing the Thanksgiving meal (or at least a side), don’t forget to make sure you are using whole and nutritious foods. Holistic nutrition is one of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle. And also remember that cooking can be a relaxing family bonding activity! So if you are struggling to think of a healthy Thanksgiving side dish to prepare this year, try this scrumptious stuffed potatoes recipe (loaded with vitamin B6)!
B6 Stuffed Potatoes
- 1 clove garlic
- 1⁄2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin
- 1⁄4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1⁄2 cup salsa
- 2 medium to large potatoes, baked
- 4 tablespoons low-fat cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
In a medium saucepan, sauté the garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the beans, cumin, and chili powder, and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat, mashing the beans with the back of a fork until fairly smooth. Stir in the salsa. Open each potato by slicing it lengthwise and top each with half of the bean mixture and half the cheese. Place under broiler for a few minutes until cheese melts. Sprinkle with cilantro to serve.
