Get a Fresh Start with New Year, Late Summer Style!

It’s hard not to experience September as New Year Redux. Sure, it may be missing the champagne, Auld Lang Syne and sparkly ball-dropping hoopla, but there’s all the sense of new beginnings as summer transitions into fall, we return recharged from our summer vacations, and students go back to school.

And who knows – with luck, you may even celebrate the turn of the season with fireworks from Labor Day celebrations!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the period between mid-August and Autumn Equinox is a time of transition…a time of harvesting what we’ve planted and planting afresh for a second harvest in the fall.

For me, as a Busy Professional, On The Go Woman, this is a time of year to step back and see where I am regarding my life and business plan. Right now I’m busy tweaking the intentions and milestones I set at the beginning of 2015, so that I can meet my goals at the end of the calendar year.

As you know, I find balance in my busy life by staying in tune with the rhythm of the seasons…and this time of year is associated with the grounding element of Earth.

Ellsara Kling gives some ways to experience that anchoring influence as your schedule ramps up at this time of year…

“During Late Summer, the Early Summer heat is beginning to cool and the earth energy is beginning to prepare for the Fall. Although fruits are prevalent in this season, excessive eating of fruit can lead to excessive dampness later on. Smaller meals are beneficial just now.  It is important to continue to resist the temptation of cold drinks and too much raw foods such as salads.  Remember, the stomach likes warm foods and this is Stomach Season!  Be especially good to your Stomach/Spleen energy now and reap the rewards later”

What are the best foods to eat during late summer? No surprise – the ones that are fresh and locally available at your local Farmer’s Market! These would include cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, okra, corn, eggplant, watermelon, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, grapes, blackberries, figs, lemons, limes, garlic, chives…and the list goes on…..

A particular favorite food of mine is eggplant, which is in abundance this time of year, and is so wonderfully versatile. You can grill, bake, roast, stew, or sauté it, and its rich flavor and substantial texture stand in nicely for meat, if you’re working on becoming vegetarian.

And the nutritional benefits of eggplant!!! Aside from being rich in fiber, copper, manganese, folate, and the B vitamins, it also contains important phytonutrients and antioxidants such as the potent free radical scavengers nasunin, which protects cell membranes from damage, and chlorogenic acid, which offers anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-LDL (bad cholesterol) properties.

I will also share my favorite eggplant recipe…

With the deep-summer heat wearing off and cool fall breezes beginning, this is a glorious time of year. Go out and enjoy it!