Category: Faith

70 Reasons How “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” Can Transform your Life

What is Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals?

Mindfulnes in Faith and Freezer Meals is a faith-based mindful living and nutriion ebook written by a registered dietitian. This book is so packed full of invaluable information that it is hard to describe it in one sentence (hence the need for this “70 reasons” post). So keep reading the list to truly understand what is in this book. But if I had to describe it in one (or three sentences) I would say this:

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals is designed to help you live YOUR healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindfulness and nutrition. This book is perfect for busy families who want to eat healthy and organize their lives in order to follow God and server others more fully. Timesaving, make-ahead healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes, as well as mindful living and mindful eating techniques are included.  

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Find out all the reasons you will want Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals below:

70 ways that the faith-based mindful living and mindful eating practices explored in "Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals" transformed my life.
70 ways that the faith-based mindful living and mindful eating practices explored in “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” transformed my life.

70 Reasons you NEED Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals

The Perks to Learning to Live a Faith-Based Mindful Life

1. You want less stress in your life.

Mindfulness techniques have been shown to have a huge impact on stress. Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals provides detailed stress-relieving mindful living and mindful eating techniques. For me, the faith-based mindfulness techniques included in this book provide the greatest impact when it comes to stress relief.

2. You want to improve your mood through mindfulness.

Did you know preliminary observations show that Mindfulness programs in schools may improve social behaviors, mood, stress levels, and even academic performance and test score? Schools are even reporting less suspensions, detentions, violent incidents, principal visits, bullying, and classroom disruptions since incorporating mindfulness programs! If these mindfulness techniques can improve the moods of children in schools, perhaps they can help you too! 

3. You want to improve your brain function and focus through faith-based mindfulness.

Notice these school mindfulness programs seem to help with academic performance and test scores as well. Mindfulness techniques help clear our minds of all the other thousands of thoughts preventing us from focusing, and we know that stress can hinder our ability to focus and pay attention. This is where those stress relieving mindfulness techniques can be helpful. Plus, when we practice faith-based mindfulness, we learn to notice God in the present moment. Feeling God’s presence and knowing God is with us, provides peace and comfort like nothing else. Talk about a stress reliever.

4. You want more control over your emotions and actions.

When I practice faith-based mindfulness, I listen to God more. Listening to God helps me make better choices because I’m not letting negative emotions take control of my actions. (At least not as often, anyway)

5. You want to enjoy the present…

 6. And have a more positive outlook on life. 

One aspect of mindfulness is focusing on being present in the moment. Another aspect of mindfulness is focusing on the positive in your life in that moment. With faith-based mindfulness, you are focusing on how God is present with you in that very moment. While focusing on God’s presence you get to notice all the gifts from God and the beautiful little things in God’s world. Soon after incorporating some of these mindfulness practices, you may begin to notice that you have a much more grateful attitude. (This helps with everyday life situations and annoyances. Sometimes bad things happen and you will, of course, feel sad and upset. Those feeling are completely okay. You should let yourself feel them.)

7. You want to experience those goose-bump, “God is here,” moments a little more often. 

When I intentionally focus on God in the present moment, I actually SEE what God is doing in my life and the lives of others around me. By focusing on God in the present moment, I get to experience the feeling of amazement more often, and I WANT TO BE AMAZED!!! (Don’t we all want to be beautifully amazed?)

8. So the strategies in Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals are designed to help you feel closer to God…

9. And notice God as God guides you through your day.

10. You want to strengthen your walk with God.

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals explores not only mindfully pausing and praying before eating, but also discusses mindfully pausing before doing anything! Pausing before eating was crucial for my nutritional health, but I began to notice how crucial the pause was in every aspect of my life. I began to notice the impact of pausing and praying before entering any new environment whether the new environment was a park, a friend’s home, or the grocery store.

Pausing and praying, was life changing. I began to notice the importance of pausing and praying when I felt angry, or before saying something difficult, or before even talking with my children. When I forget to pause, I noticed the difference in MY actions and my strength to endure life. On the days that I do a better job of pausing, I notice God’s presence and God’s guidance more.

The Perks to Cooking A Month of Meals in One Day

11. We have established that life is stressful, but meal planning and cooking shouldn’t have to be. 

I love to cook, but I found that I didn’t have the time to cook everyday. Trying to juggle cooking, soccer practice, dance class, volunteer meetings, work, cleaning the house, and all the other “mom duties” was just causing too much stress. Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals shows you how to cook a month of healthy freezer meals in one day. Talk about taking the stress out of cooking! I cook once, and I am done for the whole month. 

12. Your life is too busy!

To piggyback on #11, sometimes we just can’t find the time to cook healthy meals. When you prep and freeze them all at once, you have time for the other things you want to do.

13. You want to save money.

This book helps you save money in multiple ways. Because you have food on hand, you eat out less. We all know that eating out is expensive. Since you are cooking everything at once, you can bulk shop and thus get bulk prices. This book also provides money saving tips and tricks that I use while grocery shopping. My grocery bill has substantially gone down since I started freezer meal cooking. 

 14. I can serve others through food. 

Food nourishes, comforts, provides energy, and sustains us. After a long day, sitting down to eat gives us needed rest. Food is a gift from God, and when we eat, we are about as close to God’s creation as we can get. In fact, if you think about it, we are actually taking God’s creation into our bodies. So, I think, when we give someone food, it is the ultimate sign of our love for them. 

A benefit to having all of these freezer meals on hand is that we have food ready ASAP when our friends or family could use it. Whether a friend just had a baby or just got home from surgery, you have a freezer meal ready to give. 

15. You want more time to serve God and others.

Cooking, grocery shopping, and meal planning can be extremely time consuming. One of my priorities in life is to serve God and others.  With all my meals done, I have time to spend quiet time with God, and I have more time to love on and serving others in our community.  

16. You don’t have to make all your recipes at once, but if you do want to make them all at once, this book shows you how to do it quickly and Efficiently.

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals provides steps and pro tips on how to make all the recipes in one day. These “Efficiency Pro-tips” are strategically placed where you would actually need the tip if you were making all the recipes at once. 

17. No need to make a grocery list.

Along with the recipes and “Efficiently Pro Tips,” a complete grocery list is included as well! Blank spots are even included in case you want to add snacks, paper products, or other misc. items to your grocery list. 

18. You want your kids to eat healthier, and these are kid-friendly make-ahead meal. 

19. You want more energy.

Healthy foods and less stress equal more energy. Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals provides both.

 20.You like good tasting real food.

Sometimes convenient food is not as tasty as the good ole’ home cooked stuff. Well, this is real home cooked food! But it is still convenient because you fixed it all in one day!

21. You want to eat at home more.

Before I started this freezer meal routine in my home, there just wasn’t enough time in the day to do it all AND cook. We would often find ourselves grabbing take-out, going to a restaurant, going through a drive through, or eating random less healthy stuff for dinner, and yet as a dietitian, I knew needed to figure something out. This make-ahead freezer meal routine was the solution I needed. 

 22. Meal planning is not only time consuming, it is mentally draining.

We often have such a huge mental load along with our physical load. Our brains have to organize and remember soo much information. After a long day, opening up that fridge, and trying to make yet another decision, is just too much. The meal planning is done when you do it all in one day! Seriously, many times I just grab the first freezer meal I see. They are all yummy so I know dinner is going to be good regardless of what I grab.  

23. You get to have one mindful day to yourself every month.

Mindfulness gives your brain a chance to rest. You rest your brain by centering or focusing your thoughts on one thing. Often times that one thing is breathing. Another component to mindfulness is focusing on the present moment. I use my cooking day as a chance to center my brain on one thing- cooking the food from God’s earth.

When I cook, it is just me and God in the kitchen. I say a prayer and thank God for this food, and for all the people who will be nourished by the food.

When I am stirring, I focus on stirring. I notice how the spoon feels in my hand, and how the food moves in the bowl.

You can also practice a little self-care during your cooking day. Turn on the music, or drink a glass of wine. The point is to slow down and be in the moment. Don’t focus on finishing fast. Remember, I provide efficiency tips so you don’t have to worry about that. In fact, frantically rushing often actually slows us down because we make mistakes.

24. You don’t want to keep buying healthy stuff, only for it to spoil before you get to eat it.

This was a huge problem for me before Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals. I would buy, say, healthy fruits and vegetables to make a salad, and I would really enjoy that salad. And I would even eat the salad again for lunch the next day, but then I didn’t want to eat the same vegetables for a third day. I wanted variety, but if I ate variety, my food would spoil. Now I have all these amazing vegetables and whole grains safely frozen so that I can change up what I eat. Now my food doesn’t spoil and…

25. I get to eat a variety of foods. With freezer meals, I can mix-and-match and change up what I am eating everyday.

26. You want to lose weight. 

I don’t want to focus too much on this because all sizes can be healthy. Some people are naturally smaller and some naturally weigh more. We have different builds and genetics. Plus, other things like medications, medical conditions, and even uncontrollable seasons in life can affect weight. 

But I also don’t want you to feel that wanting to lose weight is somehow wrong. You may want to see if weight loss will help you have more energy or help with a medical condition. Maybe you feel like you could keep up with your children more if you carried less weight, or maybe you want to see if weight loss can help with joint pain.

There are reasons you may desire weight loss, and fortunately mindful eating can help with weight loss while also helping you stop that food obsessing often associated with dieting.   The Mindful eating techniques, recipes, and nutrition tips provided in this book will help you feel full and notice your hunger/satiety cues. Moreover, the desire to binge decreases because you are actually enjoying your food ALL THE TIME.

In a nutshell, with Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals, you don’t need to focus on weight; you can just know that you are eating well by developing a routine using recipes and tips in the book. 

27. You want to maintain your weight.

Maybe you don’t want to lose weight, but you do want to maintain a healthy weight. The techniques, tips, and recipes in this book can help you maintain your weight as well. 

28. So we have established that this book shows you how to efficiently make all your breakfast, lunches, and dinners in one day, but what of you just want to make a month of dinners?

You can! The recipes and a complete grocery list for just dinners are also included.

29. And guess what. A complete grocery list for just the breakfast recipes is included too.

So if you have your dinners covered but want more breakfast meals ready to go, your can just make a month of breakfast meals if you prefer.

30. A complete grocery list for just the lunch recipes is included as well so you can also just make the lunches. 

31. You are about to have a baby, and you know you are going to be sleep-deprived and time-crunched soon.

I have had so many people report that these meals have been lifesavers when they were in the newborn phase of parenting. I even had a couple of moms tell me that they ended up having to be on bed restat the end of their pregnancy, and these meals were everything! 

32. When you are ready to eat breakfast or lunch (or even dinner if you want), all your need to do is microwave.

The breakfast and lunch recipes are pre-portioned because many of us eat our breakfast or lunches on our own. When it is time to eat, you can just put one of your meals in the microwave for 2 minutes, and it is ready!!!

33. Dinners are perfect of family meals.

In the ebook, I recommend packaging your dinners family style. That way you just simply throw your meal in the crockpot or oven, and your meal for the whole family is done!

34. You have healthy food ready to take to work.

These pre-packaged home-cooked microwavable lunches are PERFECT for work!

35. Meal prepping is one of the keys to weight loss.

Most of us need to get a little organized and form some sort of easy to follow routine in order to make real lasting changes. Well, Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals IS the ultimate meal prep book because the ebook shows you how to prep ALL your meals for a month at once!!! 

36. Another cool thing about having these freezer meals on hand is that you can host guests anytime.

Lots of these recipes work great for parties and socials! Having the girls over for a brunch? Just heat up some crustless quiches. Did you decide last minute to have people over to watch a football game? Throw the burrito dip into the crockpot, and you are ready to host! 

37. Enjoy more family time.

I am free to play with my children or help them with homework in the afternoons because I’m not cooking!

We are now consistently having family dinnertime together!  I get to have even more quality family time while sitting at the dinner table. 

The Perks to Mindful Nutrition and Mindful Eating

70 ways Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals Transformed my Life through Faith-based mindfulness and nutrition: mindful eating techniques and healthy make-ahead recipes included.
70 ways Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals Transformed my Life through Faith-based mindfulness and nutrition: mindful eating techniques and healthy make-ahead recipes included.

38. Learn mindful eating techniques as well as… 

39. Learn about the one prayer before a meal that stopped me (a dietitian) from overeating.

40. The Meals are family-friendly.

So for the recipes in Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals, I picked ingredients that are family-friendly, but still nourishing to the body.

41. It’s fun!

There is something about turning on the music and just spending some uninterrupted time in the kitchen one day each month (My meals last 3 months for my family, so I only cook these freezer meals once every three months!)

42. Sneak in more vegetables.

Having vegetables mixed in as part of your main meal, definitely can up your vegetable intake for the day!

43. You want to enjoy your food.

Many times, dieting and food rules, take the joy out of eating. Mindful eating brings the joy back tenfold.

44. You want to stop binge eating.

With mindful eating, you are always mindfully enjoying your food; thus, you never feel deprived. Therefore, your desires to binge eat decreases. 

45. You are tired of mustering up enough willpower to diet.

Remember if you are always enjoying your food, then you don’t need willpower.

46. You just want healthy, delicious recipes, but you don’t want to cook all your foods in one day.

You can still make these recipes one at a time whenever you want. There is no rule that says you have to cook them all at once if you don’t want to.

47. Healthy Snack Ideas are included.

Chapter 22 provides a list of healthy and EASY snacks!

48. A registered dietitian wrote the eBook. 

A registered dietitian, by definition, is considered the expert in the field of nutrition science. The term Registered Dietitian is actually different than a nutritionist. In fact, the term nutritionist is not a regulated term and has a more general meaning. The term, registered dietitian, however, is regulated much like the terms doctor or lawyer. In other words, you are not allowed to call yourself a doctor unless you are a doctor, and you cannot call yourself a registered dietitian unless you have completed all the academic and professional requirements.

To become an RD you must complete a bachelors degree at a college accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Dietetic Education; complete 1200 hours of a competitive internship; pass the CDR Exam; and by 2024, all register dietitian will be required to have a master’s degree as well. Many RD’s already do. Registered dietitians are required to complete Continuing Education Units throughout their career to keep their registered dietitian credentials.

You can find amazing nutrition books by non-dietitians, but you can see why seeing that RD or RDN beside an author’s name in a nutrition book is a plus.

49. Mindful eating demo video is provided.

You don’t have to just read about mindful eating. The ebook also provides a link to an actual mindful eating demo video so you can actually SEE what mindful eating looks like. 

50. Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals not only discusses mindful eating, but also discussed how to mindfully plate your foods to prevent over-filling your plate.

51. A collection of over 300 dietitian-approved healthy eating and fitness tips and tricks are included like…

52. Snacking Tips (Chapter 6)

53. Dining Out Tips (Chapter 7)

54. Portion Control Tips (Chapter 8)

55. “How to Make Your Own Recipes Healthier” (Chapter 9)

56. “Health and Fitness Tips for Vacationers and Frequent Travelers” (Chapter 10)

57. “When my Work Environment Causes Weight Gain” (Chapter 12)

58. “Eating Healthy at Social Gatherings” (Chapter 12)

59. “Developing an Exercise Routine” (Part 1, Chapter 13)

60. “How to Exercise when Your Kids Are Always Around” (Part 3, Chapter 13)

61. “But What if I am Too Busy to Exercise” (Part 4, Chapter 13)

62. “Ways to Sneak Exercise into your Day” (Part 5, Chapter 13)

63. You can use your results from the included interactive quiz, to determine which tips and tricks you think would make the biggest impact in your life.

64. A “Putting it All Together: Routine Planning Worksheet,” is also included in the book.

You can use this worksheet to figure the habits you would like to implement into your routine. 

65. Learn how to organize your kitchen to promote lasting changes  

66. Feel satisfied and full after eating these freezer meals.

These meals are hearty, delicious, comfort classics done in a healthier way. They are also abundant in fiber, which helps you feel full. 

67. Along with fiber, these meals are full of essential vitamins and minerals. 

68. Mindful eating can aid in digestion.

How? Although most digestive enzymes are released in the stomach. Digestion actually starts in the mouth. In fact, one enzyme, called Salivary Amylase, is released in the mouth. This enzyme starts breaking down carbohydrates. Cool fact, if you let a piece of bread sit in your mouth for a moment, you may notice a sweeter taste. That taste occurs because the more complex carbohydrate breaks down into a simpler sugar. Also chewing thoroughly gives those other enzymes in your stomach more surface area to do their work, which again promotes healthy digestion and absorption. 

69. Mindful eating can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

We established in #68 that Mindful eating aids in digestion. Healthy digestion promotes gut health. Poor gut health is related to inflammation and reduced immune function. Gut health, inflammation and immunity are all linked to many condition including IBS, Crohn’s, Autoimmune Disease, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, brain function and focus, mood and even depression and anxiety, to name a few. So anything that promotes a healthy gut is something worth looking into in my book. (Fortunately, a mindful eating guide IS included in my book!)

70. What does Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals do as a whole?

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals is designed to help you live YOUR healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindfulness and nutrition. 

What Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals is NOT

This Freezer meal plan is NOT a rigid “you must eat these freezer meals” plan. This isn’t about strict rules or dieting. Not eating these meals is NOT wrong. In other words, you have not messed up if you go out to eat one night or if you decide to fix something other than your freezer meals one night. If your routine changes sometimes, you have NOT broken a rule or failed. In fact, I provide eating out tips as well as other helpful tips about portion control, snacking, and more.

You can use these provided tips along with your freezer meals to customize a routine that works for your family. I have also provided a chapter on mindful eating. You can incorporate mindful eating everywhere and anytime. You will see how mindfully eating, in my opinion, is one of the number one ways to maintain and lose weight if this is one of your desires.

So read the step-by-step mindful eating guide and incorporate it even when your routine is out of whack. You can mindfully eat at home, at work, at restaurants, and on vacation. Mindful eating techniques travel well, so to speak. This meal plan is meant to make life and eating healthier and easier for you and your family. This plan just makes it easy to eat healthy meals when you are too busy and overwhelmed. This is for families who just want a simple routine to relieve the stress of meal planning and cooking.

How has Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals Helped You?

Has the Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals ebook changed your life in some way? Email me your transformation story by using the Contact Me form on mindfulnessinfaithandfood.com. Maybe you have even experienced another benefit from Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals that I haven’t even thought of. Please email me any of your stories and experiences. I would be so thankful that you took the time to tell me. 🙂

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Live Your Healthiest, Happiest, Most Purposeful Life with Faith-based Mindful Living

This blog on faith-based mindful living has been updated and is adapted from my book, 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, Most Purposeful Life

What do you want your life to look like? What about your children’s life? Are there things you would change? What does YOUR healthiest, happiest, and most meaningful life look like? 

I am a list person, so when I am asked this question, my immediate impulse is to make a list.

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

My Mindful Living Checklist (Does your list look similar to mine?):

1.My greatest desire is to glorify God in all that I do. I want to show God’s love through kindness and giving. My prayer is that I listen for God’s guidance in every situation because when I listen to God, amazing things happen, and I WANT TO BE AMAZED!!!

2. I wish to have a peaceful and positive life and a grateful attitude. I want to enjoy the little moments by taking the time to notice God’s world and soak it up!

3. We humans seem to have a natural desire to work and create. We want to have meaning and purpose in our lives. This is true for me too. In my ideal life, I want to learn, grow, and work. I want to create something new, and in some small way make the world better. I want to challenge my mind through reading and learning from God and others, and I want to challenge my body through physical activity. 

4. Just as I desire to work, grow, and be challenged, I equally want to have time to rest, relax, and play. Sometimes finding the time to relax is the most difficult challenge in life, and yet so important for our health and our ability to serve God and others. 

What Do We Want for Our Children?

Of course, I want these things, even more for my children. One of my greatest joys is watching my children as they feel God’s presence. They look so peaceful and content. My 2ndgreatest joy is seeing my children show kindness to others, and my third greatest joy is witnessing my children living in the moment and appreciating the little things. 

We may all have different wishes and desires, but when we break them down, I’m guessing that this list is at the heart of most of our desires…

Live YOUR healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindfulness and nutrition. For busy families who want to eat healthy and organize their lives in order to better follow God & serve others. Time-saving make-ahead meals, mindful living, mindful eating techniques included
Live YOUR healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindfulness and nutrition. For busy families who want to eat healthy and organize their lives in order to better follow God & serve others. Time-saving make-ahead meals, mindful living, mindful eating techniques included

But How Does Mindful Living Help Us Become This Person and Live this Healthy, Happy, Purposeful Life?

Well, I don’t fully know all the answers, but I do know a few things that help, and those are:

  • Spending time with God
  • Practicing faith-based mindful living techniques including Mindful eating
  • Mindfully eating foods from God’s earth that nourish our mind, body, and soul
  • Getting adequate rest, sleep, and physical activity

So that is where my book, 18 weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life comes in.  This book is designed to help you live YOUR healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindful living and nutrition. 

The Life Changing Benefits of Mindful Living

There are many benefits to incorporating the mindfulness techniques discussed in 18 weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life. In fact, mindfulness techniques are so beneficial that schools have even started implementing mindfulness programs.

Although more research is needed, current research indicates that implementing Mindfulness programs in schools may improve social behaviors, mood, stress levels, and even academic performance and test scores. Schools are even reporting fewer suspensions, detentions, violent incidents, principal visits, bullying, and classroom disruptions since incorporating mindfulness programs! 

The Benefits of Faith-Based Mindful Living are Overwhelming

If you think about it, these results make since, don’t they? Practicing mindfulness techniques can relieve stress and help us have better self-control. When we have less stress and learn to have more self-control, we tend to make better choices. Less ideal choices can sometimes cause even more stress, which brings us full circle. Furthermore, aren’t we better able to focus and learn when our brains are calm verses stressed?

So you can see how mindfulness activities can be so impactful, but for me, the most profound impact happens when I combine faith and mindfulness.

In 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life, We Talk About: 

1. Mindfully focusing on God’s presence in every moment. One aspect of mindfulness is about focusing on being present. But with faith-based mindfulness, you are focusing on how God is present with you in that very moment….

2. …And while focusing on God’s presence you get to notice all the gifts from God and the beautiful little things in God’s world.

 Let’s go back to that “Healthy, Happy, Meaningful Life list” because Faith-based mindfulness helps me fulfill that list like nothing else.

Here is How My Life Has Been Transformed Through Faith-based Mindful Living:

  • I listen to God more: Listening to God helps me make better choices. I’m not letting negative emotions take control of my actions. (At least not as often, anyway)
  • Now I am more at peace and filled with comfort because I am noticing God is with me everywhere.
  • I get to have more goose-bump-“I’m awe-struck” moments because when I intentionally focus on God in the present moment, I actually see what God is doing in my life and the lives of others around me. By focusing on God in the present moment, I get to experience the feeling of amazement more often, and I WANT TO BE AMAZED!!! (Don’t we all want to be beautifully amazed?)

Mindful Living Translates to Mindful Eating: The Prayer Before a Meal That Stops Me from Over Eating and Other Mindful Eating Techniques

Did you know learning to pause and pray is what finally helped me (a dietitian) stop overeating?

When you mindfully eat, you get to experience ALL these faith-based mindfulness benefits and more. Mindful eating gives us the opportunity to focus on God’s presence, feel gratitude for God’s gift of food, and rest our brain! We get to have mini mindfulness moments with God EVERY. TIME. WE. EAT!

With mindful breathing, we are pausing and centering out minds on one thing-breathing. When we are mindfully eating, we are still pausing and centering our brain on one thing, but this time that one thing is eating. With faith-based mindful eating, we are resting our brain by focusing on God and the food God provided. 

Some of the Other Benefits to Mindful Eating Are:

Weight Loss

I don’t want to focus too much on this because all sizes can be healthy. Some people are naturally smaller and some naturally weigh more. We have different builds and genetics. Plus, other things like medications, medical conditions, and even uncontrollable seasons in life can affect weight.

But I also don’t what you to feel that wanting to lose weight is somehow wrong. You may want to see if weight loss will help you have more energy or help with a medical condition. Maybe you feel like you could keep up with your children more if you carried less weight or maybe you want to see if weight loss can help with joint pain. There are reasons you may desire weight loss, and fortunately mindful eating can help with weight loss while also helping you stop that food obsessing often associated with dieting.   Mindful eating helps you feel full and notice your hunger/satiety cues. Moreover, the desire to binge decreases because you are actually enjoying your food ALL THE TIME.

Relieves Stress

Like the mindfulness practices above, Mindful eating is a stress reliever. Stress can cause weight gain so this is yet another way mindful eating helps with weight loss.

May Reduce the Risk of Many Chronic Conditions

Mindful eating can aid in digestion. How? When you mindfully eat, you take your time chewing your food. Chewing thoroughly gives your stomach enzymes more surface area to do their work, which again promotes healthy digestion and absorption.

Mindful Eating and Gut Health

These reasons, along with the ability to relieve stress, are how mindful eating can aid in digestion. Healthy digestion and stress relief promotes a healthy gut. Poor gut health is related to inflammation and reduced immune function. Gut health, inflammation and immunity are all linked to many condition including IBS, Crohn’s, Autoimmune Disease, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, brain function and focus, mood and even depression and anxiety, to name a few. So anything that promotes a healthy gut is something worth looking into in my book. (Fortunately, a mindful eating guide IS included in my books!)

How Can Nutrition Help You Live a Healthier, Happier, and More Meaningful Life?

Okay, this feels like a good place to talk a little about nutrition, and how in the world nutrition helps my family and me become those people and live that life listed in the opening paragraph. Healthy foods can help us focus, improve our moods, and give us the energy we need to serve God and others; learn and grow, and live a more positive life. 

In 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier More Purposeful Life you are provided with a list of nutrients and foods that promote cognitive function, boost mood, support the immune system, and reduce the risk of chronic disease and some autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. I know our children’s learning, behavior, and mood are important to us, so I picked ingredients that can help with focus, attention, behavior, and immunity. These amazingly beneficial foods are included in the Meal Builder Table in this book. With this table, you will be able to build a healthy meal on the spot. The possibilities are endless! You will be amazed at how easy it is to throw together a nutrient-packed meal!

Be Inspired to Take that Mindful Living Step

18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Live takes you on an inspiring and uplifting journey with me, a dietitian who has lost 50 pounds through faith-based mindful nutrition. Thanks to faith-based mindfulness and nutrition, I went from being weight obsessed to feeling healthy and happy in my own body. Ironically, during the process, I ended up, not only losing weight but also strengthening my walk with God. Now she feels healthier than ever, AND she truly enjoys eating! I am able to feed my mind, body, and soul nourishing foods and feel good in my own body without weight obsessing.

Related Posts

Cook Once a Month, Eat Healthy Everyday

My Prayer Before a Meal that Stopped Me from Overeating

The One Thing I Did to Lose Weight and Strengthen My Walk with God

Resources

  1. Aucoin M, Lalonde-Parsi M-J, Cooley K. Mindfulness-Based Therapies in the Treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal : A Meta-Analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2014;2014:140724. doi:10.1155/2014/140724.Bakosh LS.  Doctoral dissertation. 2013. Investigating the effects of a daily audio-guided mindfulness intervention for elementary school students and teachers. Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database. (UMI No. 3618722)
  2. Bakosh LS, Snow RM, Tobias JM, Houlihan JL, Barbosa-Leiker C. Maximizing mindful learning: An innovative mindful awareness intervention improves elementary school students’ quarterly grades. Mindfulness. 2015 Advance online publication.
  3. Diamond A, Barnett WS, Thomas J, Munro S. Preschool program improves cognitive control. Science. 2007;318:1387–1388. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  4. Parker AE, Kupersmidt JB, Mathis ET, Scull TM, Sims C. The impact of mindfulness education on elementary school students: evaluation of the Master Mind program. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion. 2014;7:184–204. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  5. Parker AE, Kupersmidt JB, Willoughby MT.  An investigation of mindfulness education and self-regulation in middle school classrooms. 2014. Manuscript in preparation.
  6. Black DS, Fernando R. Mindfulness training and classroom behavior among lower-income and ethnic minority elementary school children. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2014;23:1242–1246. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  7. Britton WB, Lepp NE, Niles HF, Rocha T, Fisher NE, Gold JS. A randomized controlled pilot trial of classroom-based mindfulness meditation compared to an active control condition in sixth-grade children. Journal of School Psychology. 2014;52:263–278.  http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2014.03.002. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  8. Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D. The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2010;78:169–183. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  9. Semple R, Droutman V, Reid BA. Mindfulness Goes to School: Things Learned (So Far) from Research and Real World Experiences. Psychol. Sch. 2017 Jan 54 (1): 29-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5405439/
  10. Liu, R. T. (2017). The microbiome as a novel paradigm in studying stress and mental health. American Psychologist, 72(7), 655-667.http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/amp0000058
  11. Mayer E, Knight R, Mazmanian S, Cryan J, Tillisch K. Gut Microbes and the Brain:Paradigm Shift in Neuroscience. Journal of Neuroscience. 2014;34(46):15490-15496. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3299-14.2014.
  12. Rogers G, Keating D, Young R, Wong M, Licinio J, Wesselingh S. From gut dysbiosis to altered brain function and mental illness: mechanisms and pathways. Molecular Psychiatry. 2016;21(6):738-748. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.50.
Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

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Simple Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

RAK is a spontaneous or planned kind act performed for no other reason except to simply make someone’s day or life a little better, brighter, and happier.

We are happiest when we feel like we are making a difference in the world. Random Acts of Kindness gives you the opportuntiy to make a little difference in the world for somebody. RAK is a gift for both the giver and receiver.  In fact, after experiencing the ethereal feeling of giving a few times, I think we begin to realize that giving makes us happier than any material possession can. We only truly learn this by experiencing it, and I want my children to feel that feeling and learn this truth too. When we do RAK as a family, we are giving a gift better than gold to our children.

Starting RAK

Starting RAK can feel overwhelming (I talk about this here), so below are 64 of my absolute favorite ideas to get you started. Have fun! Spread joy and get double the joy in return.

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60+ Random Acts of Kindness Ideas, A List of Random Acts of Kindness Ideas or RAK List of Ideas
60+ Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

Everyday

  • Before entering any new environment (ex: work, the grocery store, church, a party, or a park; or even before you get on the internet or social media), pray to God, “God, please help me be loving and kind while I am at (Insert where you are going here), please guide me and help me notice when someone needs help or extra kindness. I know that you are here with me right now. Thank you for being with me here in this place.”

Giving Ideas

  • Leave one of your favorite uplifing books at a doctor’s office waiting room or donate a book to the “Little Free Library.”
  • Put $1 in a tip jar for no reason.
  • Leave a small gift surprise on a neighbors front door.
  • Make a Random Acts of Kindness planner and include local nonprofit agencies and their contacts in your list. Now you have a list on hand whenever you want to help! Call and email your local agenices and ask them what kinds of donations do they need. Examples of local agencies include soup kitchens, nursing homes, hospice, food pantries, homeless shelters, foster care, chidlren’s homes, adult day cares, etc. Find a free printable Random Acts of Kindness Planner

    here.

  • Leave some change at a laundry mat. 
  • Leave a little bag containing money on the Redbox so that a family to buy snacks to go along with their movie. Add a little note to the bag explaining this Random Act of Kindness.

Printable “Movie snacks” Random Acts of Kindness Notes are included in the free downloadable RAK planner here.

  •  Leave $2 in a bag  on one of the aisle of the Dollor store. Add a little note to the bag explaining this Random Act of Kindness.

Printable “Dollar Store/Dollar Tree” Random Acts of Kindness Notes are included in the free downladable RAK planner here.

  • Add a lunchbox note to your kids or your husbands lunchbox.

For free printable lunchbox notes for your kids, click here!

  • Whenever your school, church, cub scouts, or team holds a service project or donation collection, participate!
  • Purchase a gift card at a store; then give the gift card to someone as they walk into the store. We did this for Christmas once. We bought a $50 Walmart gift card and then handed it to a mom as she was walking inside the door.
  • Have a lemonade stand, cookie stand, slushy stand (be creative), and give the money earned to a local charity.
  • Call your local school or your child’s teacher and ask if they need any school supplies or snacks.
  • Say thank you to the people who have helped you through life by leaving a gift and a thank you note on their front door.
  • Leave a quarter on the parking meter. Add a little note to the bag explaining this Random Act of Kindness.

Printable Random Acts of Kindness Notes are included in the free downloadable RAK planner here.

  • Leave an extra big tip at a restaurant.
  • Donate some of your clothes and toys.
  • Give water to people on a hot day.
  • Fill a book bag with school supplies and donate it to “Back the Pack.”
  • Give away your umbrella to a stranger on a rainy day.
  • Leave a little money and a note in random places. Trust God will help the right person find it.

Printable Random Acts of Kindness Notes are included in the free downloadable RAK planner here.

  • Donate to a cause online.
  • Donate to a hospital: Give toys and craft supplies that kids can play with while sitting in bed.

“Giving your Time” Ideas

  • Make a Random Acts of Kindness planner and include local nonprofit agencies and their contacts in your list. Call and email your local agenices and ask if they need volunteers. Examples of local agencies include soup kitchens, nursing homes, hospice, food pantries, homeless shelters, foster care, children’s homes, adult day cares, etc

Printable Random Acts of Kindness Agency Contacts Organization form is included in the free downloadable RAK planner here.

  • Make Valentine’s, Christmas, Easter, or Spring Cards and hand deliver then to residence in nursing homes or adult day cares.

(We did this with Valentine’s Cards and the residence loved getting notes handmade and hand delivered from my children.)

  • Pick up litter in a park (I recommend using gloves and/or a trash grabber.)

  • Buy flowers and hand them out on the street.
  • Visit your older or sick family members. They have so much to share!
  • Using chalk, write encouraging words on the sidewalk.
  • Do your siblings chores without them asking.
  • Send care packages to soldiers.
  • Give blood.
  • Color a picture for a friend of family member.
  • Read books about social skills and kindness to your children.
  • Help someone who is carrying lots of stuff.
  • Stop at a child’s lemonade stand.
  • Stop at a car wash fundraiser.
  • Participate in a charity walk/run.

Random Acts of Kindness or RAK Planner: free printable download; includes a Random Acts of Kindness Ideas List and RAK notes

Random Acts of Kindness or RAK Planner: free printable download; includes a Random Acts of Kindness Ideas List and RAK notes

“Giving Your Time” Ideas Continued

  • Make a meal for someone who has just had a baby, recently had surgery, or is recovering from an illness. Food is a gift from God. Food gives us energy, food comforts, food sustains us, and food nourishes our bodies. That is why I think giving someone food is the ultimate sign of our love for them.
  • Pay for the person behind you in a fast food drive-through.
  • Participate in a local angel tree.
  • Participate in your churches donation collection drives. For example, our church has the “Helping Hands” box located in the lobby. This makes donating super simple. We just look in the announcement to see what agency we are helping and what items are being requested, then we add the requested donations to the box! One month, we may be collecting cans, the next month the church might be asking for winter coats.
  • Start your own neighborhood or friends “Helping Hands” box! Leave your box on the porch and get the word out that you are collecting donations. My neighbor’s child did this once, and I was amazed by her and the amount  of donations she collected. People simply dropped of kids toys at her house, and they took the toys to a children’s hospital.
  • Babysit for free.
  • After eating at a restaurant, stack your plates and wipe the tables. Now the waiter has less to do. This could be super helpful on a busy night!
  • If you notice someone with less groceries that you, let them go first.
  • Give someone you love an unexpected hug.
  • Call family members and loved ones just to say hi.
  • Invite friends over for dinner and games.
  • Take a trash pick-up walk in your neighborhood.
  • Ride a bike or walk whenever possible.

Volunteering Ideas

  • Volunteer at an animal shelter.
  • Tutor or read to kids at a local school.
  • Volunteer at church.
  • Help out in your child’s school. Email their teacher and ask if they need any help.
  • Volunteer with Family Promise. Not all towns have this program, but it is an amazing program! For this program, homeless families stay in local churches while they are working on finding a place to stay. Local churches take turns hosting these families. The host church provides dinner for the families and volunteers spend the night at the church while the families are staying there. Each family has their own room in the church. My family tries to spend the night whenever our church is a host. After we share a meal with these amazing families, my kids love to play with the children in the gym. We usually bring board game and a movie to watch right before bed.

 Just a Kind Word or Gesture Ideas

  • Have  a Compliments Day: make this a game to see how many compliments you can give out during a day.
  • Fill out comment cards or do a quick survey for a restaurant, hotel, or other businesses. Find out the name of the person who helped you and mention them in your comments. I just recently learned what a big deal this is. Not only does doing this brighten the day of the employee who receives the praise, but also could potentially help someone get a raise or promotion. Management often looks at these comment cards/surveys when making decisions about an employee.
  • Send a card to a loved one or friend to say why you love them.
  • Have an “Ask and Listen” day: Most of us need to listen better and sometimes all someone wants is to be heard. Make an effort to focus on the other person in conversation. Instead of trying to figure out your response to their comment, try to truly listen to what they are saying. Ask questions about them instead of bringing the conversation back to you. Make an effort to talk about the other person’s interest.

Social Media RAK Ideas (You don’t even have to leave your house!)

These are so easy and yet so impactful. You don’t even have to leave your house to spread love and kindness!

  • If a positive thought pops in your head about a post or picture you see as you scroll through your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram feeds, share it with the person!

    If we keep the compliment to ourselves, we will miss a chance to lift someone’s spirits. Take it a step further and spend some time giving multiple compliments to friends, acquaintances, and strangers.

  • Leave a positive and encouraging comment on a blogger’s blog post, Facebook page, or instagram.

    Even just hitting the like button can help a blogger’s business. I had no idea how much this meant to bloggers until I became a blogger. Bloggers often spend hours perfecting a post. I never realized how much heart, sweat, and soul a blogger puts into a post. Postively engaging in a bloggers post does so much more than lift up their spirits. Every like, pin, share, comment, or interaction improves that blog’s rankings on google search, Pinterest, and Social media. So when you engage with someone’s post, you are having a huge impact on someone’s business without having to purchase a thing!

  • Leave a fantastic review! If you love a store, restaurant, business, handmade product, or book, go to one of their social media pages or review page and leave a nice review or comment.

    Positive reviews can not only lift someone’s spirits, but also impact     someone financially. Think about it… When we buy a product or book, we love to read the reviews first. The more positive reviews we read, the more likely we will buy that product! If you are reviewing a business, make sure to mention by name any employees who were particularly helpful. This will not only put a smile on the employees face, but could also potentially improve their chances of getting a raise or promotion.

Just Plain Fun

  • Leave a bag of quarters on a kid’s riding machine, an arcade game, a vending machine, or a wishing fountain. Add a little note to the bag explaining this Random Act of Kindness.

Printable Random Acts of Kindness Notes are included in the free downloadable RAK planner here.

  • Keep stickers in your pocket or purse. When a child (or mom) looks like they need a little fun distraction, offer a sticker. (I always ask the parent for permission before offering the sticker to the child.)
  • Smile at strangers.

And there you have it! 64 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas. I hope you have a blast spreadniing kindness! Let me know which Random Acts of Kindness yuo have done! I would love to hear from you!

Related Posts

How to Make Random Acts of Kindess a Priority in Your Family’s Life

Why You Should Start a Random Acts of Kindness Project

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How to Make Random Acts of Kindness (or RAK) a Priority in Your Family’s Life

After thinking about the benefits of making RAK a priorty in part one of the Random Acts of Kindness series, I am super pumped to jump in and start performing Random Acts of Kindness today, but that wasn’t always the case. 

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Making Random Acts of Kindness or RAK a priority in your life plus a free downloadable Random Acts of Kindness planner and RAK cards

How Our Family Started Our RAK Project After Getting a Little Nudge

A few years ago, I felt this urge to do one Random Act of Kindness a week for one year. I wanted my son to experience the joy of helping others. Really, I felt more than just an urge. I felt lead! In fact, after praying for guidance, signs kept pushing me towards this RAK idea, and yet, I kept hesitating. I was just so busy. I had a newborn and a toddler, and the thought of doing this RAK thing was a little overwhelming. Not knowing how to begin, I just kept putting it off until this happened…

Others Were Kind to Us

It was my three year old son’s very first day of preschool ever. The day had gone so smoothly until I had to pick him up from school. I picked him up, put him in the car, and buckled him in; then, I buckled my two- month-old in the car seat next to him. I put my purse in the passenger seat, closed the doors, walked to the driver side and pulled on the door handle… The driver door would not open! I had one of those new keyless entry cars. With those keyless entry cars, you never have to take your keys out of your purse to unlock the door. The car unlocks all by itself when it senses the keys are near. In addition, the car is not suppose to lock all by itself, and you are not suppose to be able to lock your keys in your car. Well, my car had a fluke malfunction. I could not get any of the doors opened!!!

My 3-year-old and newborn were locked in the car and it was NOON on a hot day in AUGUST!!!! So on my son’s first day of school, I dialed 911. The firemen pulled up with lights flashing. I was shocked when they began pumping oxygen into the car. When I saw them do this, I exclaimed, “How long is it going to take to get the doors opened?!?! Just break a window if it is going to take so long that we need to pump oxygen!!!” Fortunately, the firemen got them out in a couple of minutes.

I Had to Pay It Forward

During the whole ordeal, many church members, staff, and preschool staff stayed to comfort me. They flagged down the fire truck, and afterwards, they stayed longer to offer emotional support, water, wet rags to cool off the children, and even called my family for me to explain why I was late. My church and preschool family, and the firemen were my heroes that day. But they did more for me than they know.  Because of the kindness shown to me, suddenly I didn’t want to put off RAK any longer.  Their kindness meant so much to me that I wanted to show kindness to others right away.

Our RAK Journey Began

The next week, I started by giving all my heroes sweet treats and cards expressing my deepest gratitude. What once felt overwhelming became much easier after that day.  Once I started looking for ways to show kindness, I found multiple acts of kindness to do every week.

The impact on my 3-year-old was huge. Not only did he experience acts of kindness from his church family, but he got to experience the joy of showing kindness to others. He is 9 now and often asks about the needy and makes suggestions on what we can do for others.

The lessons I learned from that experience are that

  1. Just doing nice things for others IS a witness of God’s love, and
  2. Showing kindness CAN really influence others more than I had ever realized. When I think of witnessing, I think of telling others about God, but people showed me God’s love without saying anything. They showed me God’s love by simply showing me unbelievable kindness.

Random Acts of Kindness Ideas List

You can start this amazing RAK journey with your family or your groups and clubs too, and I want to make it easier for you so…

Below is a free downloadable RAK planner which includes 64 Random Act of Kindness Ideas to help you and your family, group, church, or club get started:

The Free Downloadable Random Acts of Kindness Planner

Over the years, we have continued to do Random Acts of Kindness as a family. In fact, to make it a little easier to regularly do Random Acts of Kindness, I have organized a planner and made RAK cards. These cute little RAK cards say things like “You have Been RAK’ed (Random Acts of Kindness). Use this gift to get a snack for your movie.” This particular card can be taped onto a Redbox along with a little bag of snack money. The planner includes several other cute RAK cards as well.  I give this downloadable RAK planner to all Mindfulness in Faith and Food subscribers along with several other free printable downloads. To get this Random Acts of Kindness Planner click here. 

With Love,

Lacy

P.S. You can find more RAK posts below!

Related Posts

Why You Should Start a Random Acts of Kindness Project

Random Acts of Kindness: The Ulitmate Ideas List

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Why You Should Start a Random Acts of Kindness Project

I love doing series posts. With a series, like this Random Acts of Kindness Series, you get to delve into a topic, contemplate it, and discover the details. By the end of a series, I usually feel like I really learned something and have even grown just a little. I hope and pray you feel the same way.

For this series, we are going to dive in and soak up the topic of Random Acts of Kindness or RAK for short. We are going to cover it all! What is RAK? What is the point of RAK? Who benefits? And how does one incorporate RAK into her own family’s lives?

Serving God through Random Acts of Kindness, how doing Random Acts of Kindness as a family benefits other's and our own families.
Serving God through Random Acts of Kindness, how doing Random Acts of Kindness as a family benefits other’s and our own families.

What is Random Acts of Kindness?

By definition, RAK is a kind act performed for no other reason except to simply make someone’s day or life a little better, brighter, and happier. At first, RAK was thought of as a spontaneous act, but now people have started planning RAK activities. With planned RAK activities, the act is random and unexpected for the recipient, but planned by the giver.

I try to incorporate both spontaneous and planned RAK moments in my life. I plan because I want showing kindness to be a priority in life. When something is a priorty, it is important enough to include it in our calendars. As a priority, I want to make sure I make time for RAK, but I also like to perform spontaneous RAK moments as well. Once you have a few RAK ideas in your head and have a little practice from planned RAK activities, you can be on the lookout for those chances to spontaneously show kindness.

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

What is the Point of Random Acts of Kindness?

Reason 1

God created us all. We are all one family; everyone I meet is my brother or sister. I want my family to be happy. RAK is a great way to spread a little happiness to my brothers and sisters.

Reason 2

When we spread joy and lift someone’s spirits; then, that person is more likely to spread kindness as well. I think we all tend to be kinder when we are in a good mood. Once someone spread kindness; then, the next person might spread a little more kindness and so on and so on. Doesn’t that, little by little, make the world a better place?

By the way, one of my favorite children’s books beautifully illistrates how one small act of kindness could change the world. You can find the book in the link below:

Reason 3

We have no idea what trials and troubles a stranger is going through. Sometimes one kind word or unexpected gift could be the answer to someone’s prayer.

Reason 4

Many times the giver benefits more than the reciever. Funny how much our spirits are lifted when we lift someone else’s spirit. Sure, we all feel love for someone when THEY show us kindness, but did you know that we actually feel MORE love for someone when WE show kindness to THEM, regardless of whether they did something for us? Doesn’t love feel good? Think about the opposite. When we are negative, hurtful, and cranky, does that make us feel good? No, it hurts!!! So when we are positive, loving and kind, our hearts become even more full of love and happiness.

Okay I have another chidlren’s book recommendation that illustrates reason number 4 perfectly (I love children’s books!). The book is in the link below.

Reason 5

We are happiest when we feel like we are making a difference in the world. Toys and materials can’t come close to making us feel the way giving does. After experiencing the ethereal feeling of giving a few times, I think we begin to realize that giving makes us the most happy. We only truly learn this by experiencing it, and I want my children to feel that feeling and learn this truth too. When we do RAK as a family, we are giving a gift better than gold to our children.

Yep, I have another children’s book recommendation that brings this point right on home. Check it out below:

Reason 6

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25: 35-40

What a great reason to make RAK a priority. When we show kindness to our brothers and sisters, we are showing kindness to Jesus! Showing kindness and taking care of the poor, sick, less fortunate, widows, and orphans was a top priority in Jesus’ eyes. May we strive to make it a top priority for us too.

Coming Soon: PART 2 in the series…

How to Incorporate Random Acts of Kindness into your Life

The Free Downloadable Random Acts of Kindness Planner

Over the years, we have continued to do Random Acts of Kindness as a family. In fact, to make it a little easier to regularly do Random Acts of Kindness, I have organized a planner and made RAK cards. These cute little RAK cards say things like “You have Been RAK’ed (Random Acts fo Kindness). Use this gift to get a snack for your movie.” This particular card can be taped onto a Redbox along with a little bag of snack money. This planner includes several other cute RAK cards as well as a detailed Random Acts of Kindess Ideas list.  I give this downloadable RAK planner to all Mindfulness in Faith and Food subscribers along with several other free printable downloads. To get this Random Acts of Kindness Planner click here. 

Related Posts

How to Make RAK a Priority in Your Family’s Life

What happens When You Ask God to Help you Help Others?

Random Acts of Kindness: The Ultimate Ideas List

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God’s Perfect Timing Brings Comfort to a Child

This is a story about when a child sees God’s perfect timing in action. May this little story bring you hope that God is here with us.

This article has been updated and is an adaptation from a chapter in 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life. This unique book was written by Lacy Ngo, a dietitian nationally recognized as a top expert in faith-based mindfulness and evidence-based nutrition. She shares the exact steps that, based on science, produce the most dramatic health and weight loss success in her book, 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life. This book is like nothing you have ever seen before. It combines faith and science. Both are crucial when it comes to producing real change because real change involves the mind, body, and spirit. 

18 weeks to a healthier, happier, more purposeful life cover

Have you ever noticed that God seems to find ways to speak to us about the very issue we are having at that particular time? This is one of those moments.

A God moment story about God's perfcet timing: a time when a happy coincidence brings joy to a child
A God moment story about God’s perfcet timing: a time when a happy coincidence brings joy to a child

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

A Little Nervous

It was the night before my son, who had a condition called Bronchiectasis, would be put to sleep for his first lung procedure at the Children’s hospital.

“Can we read some stories before I go to sleep?” my 6-year-old asked me.

“Of course, let’s read the ‘God and Me’ book first,” I replied as I snuggled my little boy.

I could tell my son was a little nervous as we opened the ‘God and Me’ children’s daily devotional to the page where we had left off. ”

God’s Perfect Timing

We began to read the devotional where we left off, and we could not believe what we read! The devotional for THAT night was amazingly about GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!

The actual prayer from ‘God and Me:’

Here is what the devotional said:

“Dear God, I’m thankful that You are always with me, even at the doctor or the hospital. Amen”

My son couldn’t believe that out of all the devotionals, the one for that night talked about the hospital. In amazement my son exclaimed, “How does God do that!?!?.”

Smiling through tears, I replied, “I don’t know how God does things like this, but I am sure glad God does!”

God’s perfect timing, indeed!

Thank you, God, for comforting us when we are a “little scared.”

God and Me

A God moment story about God's perfcet timing: a time when a happy coincidence brings joy to a child
A God moment story about God’s perfcet timing: a time when a happy coincidence brings joy to a child

Related Posts

The Desperate Prayer: What if I Didn’t Praise God in the Storm?

God Moments: Did That Just Happen!

God Moment: We Prayed and Then This Happened!

Is God Real?

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The Ultimate Gift List for the Christian Soul

Christmas! What a beautiful time to celebrate the birth of Jesus! Christmas is a time of giving and remembering why we give. Check out the list of Christian-inspired Christmas gifts that remind us of what we are celebrating!

Updated on September 30, 2020

Lacy Ngo, MS, RDN is the author of several books including The Nourishing Meal Builder,  The Nourishing Meal Builder: the Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Edition, Faith, Mindfulness, & Nutrition, and Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals.

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure).  I also have included my favorite FREE money saving apps at the bottom of the post, and I receive incentives when you sign up for the free savings apps through my referral links. I love these products and apps and my opinions are my own.

Christmas Gift Wish List for the Christian Soul

The Gifts That Keep on Giving

I love Chistian inspired gifts that focus on showing kindness and love. These gifts do just that!

  1. I cried when I first read the The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas book. No really! I cried right in the middle of the store. My husband just looked at me like, “There she goes again,” and “well, I guess we will be buying that!” This is the sweetest book about giving to others. The book includes a sparkle box (which is meant to be a gift we give to Jesus on Christmas day.) Throughout the Christmas season, your family is suppose to show kindness to others and then write down the kind act on a piece of paper. You put the paper into the sparkle box. On Christmas day, you open up the box and read the pieces of paper. The pictures are beatiful and the story is so sweet!

2. These Kindness Matters Cards – Box of 100 – Kindness Is Contagious Challenge Card are so sweet and full of great random acts of kindness ideas. My children and I love doing these random acts of kindness together throughout the year!

3. I don’t think children know how much the gift of their art means to others. When I get a colored picture from a child, my heart melts. One of the most meaningful acts of kindness a child or even an adult can give is a colored encouragement card. This is why I love the Color and Create Your Own Card Box Kit. I would love to get a gift like this because I could use this gift to spread more love. Your family could color cards to give to family members and friends who are going through a tough time or to a friend who just had a new baby. We could color these cards and give them to nursing home residents or widows who are alone for the holidays. The opportunities to spread love are endless.

Family Time Gifts

4. I love spending quality time with my family. So I enjoy any gift that brings my family together. This is why I love The Art Of Christian Conversation cards. My children received similar conversation starter cards during Vacation Bible School this year. I must confess that I looked at the cards and thought, “those are cute,” and then sat them aside for a while. One night we picked them up and randomly decided to read a few before bed. I was hooked!!!! The great conversations my 7 year old son and I were having were unbelievable. I have come to cherish these conversations. When we finished the cards, even my son was disappointed. The cards not only got us talking about random everyday things, but also found a way to teach us too!

4. Did I mention I really love doing these Conversation cards with my family. So I am going to recommend a few more.  The Art of Children’s Conversation cards are geared more towards children.

Although these cards are not geared towards Christian conversation like the above cards, You may find Christian topics come up when you get your children talking.

5. Okay last conversation start cards. These family-focused faith cards are called The Meal Box: Fun Questions and Family Tips to Get Mealtime Conversations Cookin’. Love it!

christmas gifts photo

“Quiet Time with God” Basket

One of my favorite things to do is have some alone quiet time with God. I love to use this time to pray, read scripture, write in my journal, and just be comforted by the presence of God. So I would be so delighted if I received a quiet time with God basket as a gift. The basket could include little gems like a prayer journal, relaxing tea and a inspirational mug. The basket could even include a calming scented candle and a scripture coloring book. Below I have listed some of my favorite quiet time basket gift ideas.

6. If you have read some of my other posts, you know that I love journaling. See post here. The My Prayer Journal: A 3 Month Guide To Prayer, Praise and Thanks: Modern Calligraphy and Lettering and the The Weekly Prayer Project: A Challenge to Journal, Pray, Reflect, and Connect with God are beautiful journals.

7. This God Is Love Coffee Mug With Scripture – Psalm 143:8 – Graduation, Birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Anniversary, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day Gift – Black Ceramic 11 oz Custom Printed in USA or this MerchGeek The Struggle Is Real But So Is God Coffee Mug (11 oz, White) would look great in the “Quiet Time with God” gift basket.


8. Add some calming tea like Traditional Medicinals Organic Cup of Calm Relaxation Tea, 16 Tea Bags (Pack of 6)to the “Quiet Time with God” basket. This tea would go great with the mug!

9. This uplifting scripture scented Candle – Rose Of Sharon Scripture Tin – 8oz fits in perfectly in the “Quiet Time with God” Basket or is a nice gift to give all on its own. Various scriptures and scents are available.

10. My final recommendation for the “Quiet Time with God” gift basket is the &34;The Word in Color": Hardcover Biblical Inspiration Adult Coloring Book. Coloring WHILE praying is a great way to quiet the mind and focus on the presence of God.

Scripture Jewelry and Décor

11. Jewelry engraved with scripture are beautiful and uplifting. Your Christian loved one may also love a prayer box necklace like the Silver Plated I Said a Prayer for You Today Prayer Box 18 inch Chain. I have a prayer box necklace, and I enjoy writing prayer request and prayers for loved ones in the box. I can remember who and what I would like to pray for where ever I go. What a great Christian inspired gift to give this year.

12. Finally, I love inspiring scripture home decor. I want people to feel uplifted and encouraged when they enter my home. What a great way to spread joy by having beautiful scripture decor throughout your home!

13. I love adding  Decorative Scripture pillows like This Faith, Hope, Love pillow throughout my home.

Christian-inspired gift ideas; Christian Christmas gift ideas
Christian-inspired gift ideas; Christian Christmas gift ideas

How to Get Coupons and Discounts When You Shop For Gifts

Lastly, I don’t want to write a shopping post without mentioning how to save money on many Amazon products plus products from a huge list of other stores. I always check three free apps before I buy anything.

These apps are Ibotta, Coupons.com, Ebates, and Swagbucks

Ibotta and Coupons.com

Ibotta and Coupons.com are very similar. I simply go to the app,  select the coupons I want to use before I shop, and then I shop. I can either shop through the app if I am shopping online, or I can shop in a store and scan my receipt after I shop to get the rebates I selected. You can also add rewards cards to your app and the rebates are used automatically when you scan your store rewards card. For example, my Food Lion Card is on the app. I pick out the coupons I want to use on the app before I shop; then when the cashier scans my card at checkout, the discounts are included.

These apps are totally free. To sign up for Ibotta, click on the link below:

Ibotta.com

Sign up from coupons.com below:

Coupons.com 

Swagbucks

I also like to use Swagbucks. For this app you get points for shopping at certain stores. These store selection is huge. I can buy items on amazon or a birthday present for my daughter at The American Girl store and earn points. You can also earn points by answering daily questions and taking surveys through the swagbucks app. You can use the points to get gift cards!!! And these are legit great gift cards. You can get $25 gift cards to Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Walmart and so much more! It is pretty amazing. Start getting swagbucks as my referral by clicking on the link below:

Swagbucks.com.

Ebates

The final app I use is ebates. You can buy all kinds of products and save. Again, this app gives you discounts to a huge number of popular stores like Kohl’s, “Bed, Bath, and Beyond”, and of course, Amazon. The list goes on and on. Whenever I am about to buy somehting online, I check this app along with the other three apps to see if a coupon or rebate is available. You can download this app as my referral by clicking on the Ebates button below.

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

If you would like more gift ideas, check out “The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Health and Fitness Fanatic.”

Copyright © 2017 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Best Faith-Based Weight Loss Books and Courses

God is in everything so although there are excellent non-faith weight loss books out there, I love it when I find high quality faith-based weight loss books and courses.

Best Chirstian Weight Loss book and courses; Faith-based weight loss
Best Chirstian Weight Loss book and courses; Faith-based weight loss

Disclosure: This site may provide affiliate links (See full disclosure)

Here is a list of my top favorite faith-based weight loss books and courses:

Faithful Finish Lines Courses

Christian Weight Loss Courses
Christian Weight Loss Courses

Faithful Finish Lines is run by Sara Borstede and Becky Lehman. They have both lost over 100 pounds and started Faithful Finish Lines because they wanted to share their personal weight loss success in order to help others. I love how real and authenic these ladies are. They are totally relatable and down to earth, and their courses have helped many succeed.  Faithful Finish Lines has a rather large selection of faith-based courses.

These courses include:

Instant Pot for Weight Loss

Victory Over Emotional Eating

The 5-Day Mindful Eating Challenge (woohoo! I love that they have a program that teaches mindful eating)

7 Weeks to Christian Weight Loss, Healthy Eating, and Fitness

Grace Filled Plate Bible Study Courses

These courses are developed by Brandice Lardner. I love her outlook on life and food. Her blog at gracefilledplate.com is an excellent source of information! You can also find information about her faith-based weight loss courses here. Below are a list of her weight loss courses and Bible Studies!

Did I mention, I love these Weight Loss Bible Studies!

Chew the Word: A 30-Day Scripture Study for Food Freedom

Courses: A 7-Course Feast for the Soul.

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals

Meal planning, weight loss, freezer meals ebook
Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals eBook

Written by a registered dietitian, this ebook is overflowing with professional weight loss knowledge.  She also includes the strategies she used in her own personal weight loss journey. This ebook combines mindfulness, faith, and effective weight loss techniques to help busy families through their healthy living journey.

Okay, I am kind of partial to this book because it’s actually my book. You see I am a dietitian who also lost substantial weight so I understand what works both professionally and personally.

Below is a little more about the “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” ebook and how this ebook was born:

Although I love to cook, trying to juggle cooking, soccer practice, dance class, volunteer meetings, work, cleaning the house, and all the other “mom duties” was just causing too much stress. We would often find ourselves grabbing take-out, going to a restaurant, going through a drive through, or eating random less healthy stuff for dinner, and yet as a dietitian, I knew needed to figure something out.

So I decided to cook it ALL AT ONCE. Let me tell you, THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING!

My family now has more energy, more family time, less stress, and we have lost weight. My family is eating dinners together, and we now have so much more free time in the afternoon. I am no longer spending my afternoons in the kitchen; instead I am now present with my children. So I do not exaggerate when I say these meals have been LIFE CHANGING.

What is included:
-14 breakfast, 14 lunch, and 16 dinner healthy freezer meal recipes (most recipes last my family 2 meals so, for us, that means these meals last a whole month!)
-The “What is Preventing you from Living Your Healthiest Life” interactive quiz
-The Mindful Eating and Faith Guide
-A Mindful Eating Demo video

If you are interested in purchasing the “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” ebook, you can use the coupon code SAVE8 to get $8 off!

“Simply Fresh: Healthy Made Simple” by Kylee Melo, RD

Although this book is not exactly a faith-based weight loss book, the beginning of this book talks about the importance of faith and even mentions what research says about the correlation of faith and health. This is a great book for vegetarians or anyone looking for more delicious healthy plant-based meals.

Simply Fresh

Made to Crave

This is one of the first faith-based weight loss books I ever read. We actually used this book in a weekly book series at my church. This book is definitely worth the read, and a great companion for any health and fitness journey

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food


The Nourishing Meal Builder

*Here is another one written by yours truly : ) This one is not focuses on mindful eating and eating nourishing foods, more than on weight; however, several have found weight loss success after reading this book.

Written by a registered dietitian with a masters in human nutrition, The Nourishing Meal Builder helps you create nourishing meals on the spot. With the included meal builder cards, you will be able to easily combine cards to create anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, mood boosting, immune supporting meals that reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote cognitive function, focus, attention, and memory. As a faith-based dietitian, Lacy weaves the importance of faith in health throughout her book.

Faith, Mindfulness, & Nutrition

This is not a weight loss book per say, but does talk about the journey a dietitian (aka me), goes through to go from weight obsessed to feeling healthy and happy in her own body. You can read the description below:

Learn how to live your healthiest, happiest, most meaningful life through faith-based mindfulness and evidence-based nutrition. Faith, Mindfulness, and Nutrition takes you on an inspiring and uplifting journey with dietitian, Lacy Ngo. Thanks to faith-based mindfulness and nutrition, Ngo went from being weight obsessed to feeling healthy and happy in her own body. Ironically, during the process, Ngo ended up, not only losing weight, but also strengthening her walk with God. Now she feels healthier than ever AND she truly enjoys eating! She is able to feed her mind, body, and soul nourishing foods and feel good in her own body without weight obsessing. Get ready to get goose-bumps as you read this amazing true story.

*A Bonus Mindful Planner is Included!!!

Copyright © 2018 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Is God Real?

This article has been updated and was adapted from 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life. This unique book was written by Lacy Ngo, a dietitian nationally recognized as a top expert in faith-based mindfulness and evidence-based nutrition. She shares the exact steps that, based on science, produce the most dramatic health and weight loss success in her book, 18 Weeks to a Healthier, Happier, More Purposeful Life. This book is like nothing you have ever seen before. It combines faith and science. Both are crucial when it comes to producing real change because real change involves the mind, body, and spirit. 

18 weeks to a healthier, happier, more purposeful life cover
a story about a sixth grade girl pondering the question, "is God real?"
A sixth grade girl ponders the question, “is God real?”

Sigh, Sixth Grade

(A sixth grade girl ponders, “Is God real?”)

It was the first day of middle school. I felt all grown up and ready to meet new people. I had carefully decided on a pink v-neck shirt and a pair of jean shorts that had a pink ruffle on the bottom.

The first few weeks of sixth grade went okay. I was making many new friends, but I became particularly close with two girls. We started going over to each other’s houses and talking on the phone every night. Sixth grade was going fine until something happened…

Beautiful… Amazing… Wonderful Girls Can Still be Cruel

This was probably the first huge lesson of my young life. I learned that people can be cruel, especially sixth grade girls. These beautiful girls weren’t cruel people; they were being cruel. There is a big difference. I am sure they were feeling all these complicated emotions just like I was. After all, being in sixth grade is tough.

Sixth Graders seem to feel like they need to put others down to make themselves look better. If you can put down someone else, then people will pay attention to you, or that’s what you think when you are in sixth grade. If you want to be cool, you must show how utterly uncool someone else is. Someone has to be the loser or outcast or no one can be the winner. .

The Outcast

A few months into sixth grade, I was picked to be the outcast. One day, the two girls I had befriended started doing things to deliberately hurt me. Later I learned that one told another friend, “it was funny to see Lacy mad, and this was why we liked picking on her.”

First, they began by ignoring me. I particularly remember one incidence that occurred in gym class. While we were practicing lay-ups, one of the girls had just made a shot, so I held out my hand for her to give me a high five. My friend wouldn’t even look at me. She just walked right past me. She ran straight to the other girl and started giggling.

The ignoring was just the beginning. They then began spreading silly rumors about me. Shortly after the rumors spread, I saw a group of girls talking before class. As I approached, one girl whispered, “ Here comes Lacy, everyone turn your back.” They actually huddled together in a circle with their backs to me when I greeted them.

The Worst Day

On the worst day, another girl and I walked up to the lunch table where we usually sat, but no one was there. Then, I notice a few of the girls I usually sat with standing near a table on the other side of the lunchroom. I walked over to them and asked “oh, are we were sitting over here today?” They replied nonchalantly, “oh no, we are sitting over there; go save us a seat.” I sat at the the other table saving their seats, but the other girls never came to the table. The two of us were sitting at a huge table all by ourselves.

You can imagine what that does to an eleven-year-old girl’s reputation. When I realized what was happening, I moved to another table with a different set of girls. Then, the girls at this table thought it would be funny to throw my lunch on the ground. I couldn’t eat my lunch because it was ruined.

Alone

These kinds of incidences went on throughout sixth grade. I felt so alone, like I didn’t have a friend in the world. I hated going to school. In fact, I dreaded it!

And although my parent’s were amazing (something I am so greatful for) I didn’t feel happy at home either.  I didn’t like going home because I knew that meant night was coming, and I would have to try to sleep. Every single night I couldn’t sleep. I was so lonely and the dark made me feel even more alone. I would lie there absolutely terrified. My heart felt like it was in my throat. I would be in a panic because I was all by myself in my room, and I felt sad almost all of the time. I tried to hide it from my parents because I didn’t want to make them sad, and I didn’t want them to feel like their daughter was a loser.

Then the questions in my head started. My young 11-year-old mind thought, ‘I didn’t do bad things; I didn’t smoke, or talk back to my parents like other kids did. I made good grades and went to church, so why was this happening to me?’

Wait a Minute, “Is God Real?”

The questioning got me thinking. I began thinking about things that I had never thought about before. I started wondering if God really existed, and if so, why was God letting the other kids be so mean to me? “Why should I even believe in God, just because my parents said so?” I thought. The big question was, “Is God real?” If God was there, I had never really given God much thought before. Sure, I went to church, knew the story, and even accepted it as true, but I never truly understood.

I Decided to Pray…

The night that I began pondering, I decided to pray and ask God, point blank, Is God real? So I prayed “God, if you are real, show me a sign.” Within the same week, while walking home on the same road I took every single day, I saw a tree distinctly shaped as a cross. I had never seen it before, yet I had taken that path every day that year.

And This Happened!!!

On another day, something very strange and even more wonderful happened. I was lying on the couch one night watching T.V. with my parents. As usual, I was feeling terribly sad and alone, dreading the inevitable bedtime, when out of the blue, I suddenly felt strange. God spoke to me! I felt God tell me, “I love you.” I wasn’t watching anything spiritual or hadn’t been thinking about God. The words just came.out.of.nowhere. I didn’t hear a voice; I just felt the words being said to me, and a weird warmth came over me. God was telling me He loved me, and that I was never alone.

I know the words came from God because it changed my life. At that moment, I felt an indescribable joy, greater than I had ever felt before. I knew that even though I did not feel loved at school, I was not alone. Someone who loved me was with me all the time even at school. I realized I wasn’t alone at night while I slept in my room either.

A New Understanding

In a moment, all of these realizations came rushing over me…all at once. Suddenly, I didn’t dread going to school or to my room at night. I knew I wasn’t ever going to be alone again, and I knew I had NEVER really been alone. I didn’t care what people said because the most important being in the world loved me. Everything else seemed trivial. It was amazing to me that all of this knowledge came to me at once. God had spoken to me. That night was the beginning of a new life for me.

I truly didn’t care what people thought of me anymore, but consequently; I almost instantly found new friends. The ignoring, teasing, and rumors stopped or at least I didn’t hear them. I loved going to church. I started having fun at youth group. Oh, and at night, I slept. Beautiful wonderful sleep! I loved going to my room because it was a chance for me to be alone with God. I would often pray myself to sleep. This was the beginning of my NEW life with God.

Today

Today, I still go through times of sadness. I still care what people think. I think we all do, but I know that I have God’s comfort and support. Now I know that I am not alone.

Now, I realize that the year of being teased and bullied was a miracle. Although I was not and am not even close to perfect, after that experience, I was more aware of my actions towards others all throughout middle school and high school. I was careful about making fun and being cruel to others.  I know I did not succeed all the time because well let’s be honest, I was a middle school girl. Still, I am thankful that God showed me how much it hurt to be picked on or bullied so that I was more careful of my actions in school and now.

God Loves You that Much Too

I couldn’t believe the love God felt for me. I could feel how strong it was. And do you know what? God feels that way about you too! Yes you, reading this right now. God LOVES you soooo unbelievably much. YOU are not alone.

Do you have a story?

We all have different experiences and different ways God shows His presence. Not one story is the same. I think God gives us what we need to be able to know God is there. If you are wondering if God is real, I ask you to pray and hang in there. Sometimes it just takes time, and we all go through seasons of doubt.

Have you ever felt God speak to you?

Just like our own children, we all have different personalities so God, I think, speaks to each of us in different ways. What about you? How has God gotten your attention? Have you ever felt God speak to you?

Related Posts

God Knocks, God Whispers

The Desperate Prayer: What if I Didn’t Praise God in the Storm?

We Ran out of Gas

We Prayed and Then This Happened!

Did That Just Happen!

God Follows Through

Choosing the Same Picture!

Why Are You So Afraid?

A God moment story about a 6th grade girl who questions, "Is God real?" after being bullied, and how to find comfort and strength through faith.
A God moment story about a 6th grade girl who questions, “Is God real?” after being bullied, and how to find comfort and strength through faith.

Copyright © 2018 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

This site is hosted by Bluehost.

How Does the “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” Plan Work?

Healthy Freezer Meals, Healthy cooking, bulk cooking, meal planning
A Freezer Meal Healthy Eating Plan

Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals: How it All Started

I love to cook, but I found that I didn’t have the time to cook everyday. Trying to juggle cooking, soccer practice, dance class, volunteer meetings, work, cleaning the house, and all the other “mom duties” was just causing too much stress. There just wasn’t enough time in the day to do it all AND cook. We would often find ourselves grabbing take-out, going to a restaurant, going through a drive through, or eating random less healthy stuff for dinner, and yet as a dietitian, I knew needed to figure something out.

Why This Is Life Changing

Eating healthy family meals together was important to me, and the chaotic meals were stressing me out. So I decided to cook it ALL AT ONCE. More specifically, I decided to cook enough breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to last my family a whole month, and I decided to cook it ALL in ONE DAY! Let me tell you, THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING!

My family now has more energy, more family time, less stress, and our bodies have even started changing. My family is eating dinners together, and we now have so much more free time in the afternoon. I am no longer spending my afternoons in the kitchen; instead I am now present with my children. And because I am less stressed, I am a happier, more relaxed, and more patient mom. In other words, I am now mindfully living in the moment during the afternoons instead of running around trying to frantically figure out what to feed my family for dinner. So I do not exaggerate when I say these meals have been LIFE CHANGING.

Because I have been making them for my family and friends for so long, I have learned the tricks and tips on how to efficiently and quickly make all my meals at once. Making freezer meals has become one of my passions and joys in my life. I wanted to share that passion with others, which is why I decided to write the “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals “eBook.

Mindfulness…

In this ebook, I not only show you how to cook your freezer meals, but I also discuss how to plate and eat your food using mindfulness techniques.

In Faith…

Health is not just about our body; it is about the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. In “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals,” I talk about how my faith journey has helped me live a healthier life.

And Freezer Meals…

For this plan, you spend one day out of the whole month cooking all your freezer meal… then your are DONE COOKING FOR THE WHOLE MONTH! So you cook 14 breakfast, 14 lunch, and 16 dinner freezer meals. Most of the breakfast and lunch meals are divided into serving sizes so all you have to do is grab one and pop it in the microwave! Yep! Homemade…easy…microwavable freezer meals! The dinner freezer meals are packaged family style. Meaning you make all of it at once so that your whole family can enjoy the meal together. Of course, you can always cook it and then eat the leftovers for lunches too. Each meal lasts my family for 2 meals or more, so these meals EASILY lasts us 30 days (a whole month)!

The goals of cooking all of your meals in ONE Day are:

  • More daily free time,
  • A decreased grocery bill,
  • Healthier meals for the whole family,
  • Less daily stress, and
  • Weight Loss/Weight Maintenance

No more worrying about what to cook or when am I going to cook each night. Since doing these freezer meals, our family is eating at home more because we are less likely to say, “There’s nothing to eat so lets just go out.”

As you can imagine, planning and prepping a months worth of freezer meals in one day is also a fantastic weight loss technique for ALL of the above reasons! Plus enjoying your food is probably one of the most important tips for lasting weight loss. These freezer meals are delicious, nutritious, easy, home-cooked meals that you can mindfully enjoy.

Meal planning, weight loss, freezer meals ebook
Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals eBook

More Perks

Bonus 1: Many of these meals make fantastic appetizers or party foods so if you suddenly realize you are suppose to bring something to a Super Bowl Party (think Protein Blends Burrito Dip) or a ladies luncheon (think Crustless Omelet Muffins), you can grab one of your already done meals!

Bonus 2: You have food ready to go when a friend is in need. In my town, giving food is one way we show our love to one another. So whether your friend just had a baby or your aunt just had surgery, you can provide some food for them ASAP. These meals are perfect! Just grab one of your comfort food freezer meals and add a gallon of love and a pound of prayers, and go!

One more thing…

Because I am a registered dietitian, I wanted to include more to help you organize your kitchen and your life to promote a healthy lifestyle for the whole family. So along with the Freezer Meals I have included the “What is Preventing You From Living Your Healthiest Life?” interactive quiz as well as results and solutions based on your results.

Learn how to efficiently cook healthy make ahead freezer meals once a month; the ultimate bulk cooking and meal prep guide for families; developed by a registered dietitian
Learn how to efficiently cook healthy make ahead freezer meals once a month; the ultimate bulk cooking and meal prep guide for families; developed by a registered dietitian

What Others are Saying about the “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meal” ebook

“I have lost 17 pounds since I started eating these freezer meals. They are healthy AND taste great!!! We are now eating at home more, which has made a huge difference!” Chad

“As I read this book, I kept thinking, ‘this is so much more than a freezer meal cookbook! Lacy needs to be a life coach! She has such a positive outlook on life!’ “The Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” ebook is so uplifting and encouraging!” Wendy

“I can actually see a decrease in my grocery bill since I started eating these freezer meals, and my kids love them! We are eating healthier now. Plus, we are eating more meals together as a family!” Nicole

The Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals ebook becomes available a few times a year. If you want to recieve an email when Mindfulness in Faith and Feezer Meals is open for sales again click here.

Cook all of your healthy meals in one day, learn mindfulness and mindful eating techniques, and learn how faith and nutrition are important for healthy and wellness
Cook all of your healthy freezer meals in one day, learn mindfulness and mindful eating techniques, and learn how faith and nutrition are important for healthy and wellness;

Copyright © 2018 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

This site is hosted by Bluehost.

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