Most of us are busy … crazy busy. It’s not helped by the fact that “busy” isn’t cool any more. We’re realising that yes, busy often means successful, but it can also mean overstretched and less focused. If you, like me, sometimes feel like you’re standing in the middle of a swirling vortex with all the different components of “life” circling around you at high speed, then maybe it’s time to slow on down. The problem is finding the time to slow down. “I wish there was a pause button for life!” I said to Jill Bennett, health coach at Court House the other day. “There is,” she said. “It’s called meditation.” Hmmmm. So simple…..and so right.

Sometimes it takes lots and lots of signals to make you realise that you just need to step back and figure out a better strategy. I am busy with things that I love (good), but they often impact negatively on the people I love (bad). If I am always rushing my kids, snapping at my husband or forgetting my friends, something isn’t right. This week as I hurried the kids into the car and slammed the door (in haste), I trapped all Belle’s fingers on her left hand. Argh, the agonising moment when you realise you have hurt your own child. Parenting fail and I felt wretched all day. But it was enough to make me say, ENOUGH. Take a moment and breathe.

My favourite strategy for moments like these involves the four Ds: Download (everything you have to do) and then Ditch, Delegate and Deal. So you ditch the stuff that you really should have shaken off, delegate a few jobs for a little help and find a better way to deal with life’s essentials. It’s a simple trick but it’s amazing what putting it all on paper can do.

When I go through this with clients, a lot of people need help with the burden of cooking. For some people, meal prep is a joy and a chance to unwind, but it’s easy to lose the love if it comes at the end of a long day. One answer is to outsource and pick up healthy takeout options from Miles deli, Devil’s Isle café or Supermart. But another is to take the “cooking” out of cooking.

At our superfoods class this week, Sarah shared her fantastic Green Goddess Dressing recipe. She tossed it over raw broccoli florets, raisins, sunflower seeds and finely diced red onion. She also added toasted pine nuts or crispy (organic) bacon toppings (totally optional). All she needed was a blender. The rest was just taken straight from cupboards or the fridge. So sometimes we don’t really need to “cook” at all. This way, lunch or dinner can be whipped up in just a few minutes. The thing I love about this dressing is that Sarah uses avocado for the cream factor instead of mayonnaise.

I am not totally anti-mayo, but depending on the brand, it can be a stealthy hiding place for factory-farmed eggs and genetically modified oils.

If you do buy it, try the Waitrose organic mayo from Supermart. We always have that in the fridge and it’s really delicious!

However, using avocado instead helps to reduce your animal-based saturated fats and increases your intake of plant-based sources.

Let’s not be fat-phobic, because good fats are vital for hormone balance, skin health and support of your nervous system (among many other things).

Add in the antioxidants from the lemon and fresh herbs and this really packs a nutritional punch. It’s smooth, creamy, tangy and completely delicious so try it and see.

Toss it over raw veg or salads. Serve alongside grilled chicken, fish or good quality red meat for extra protein. Can be stored up to 24 hours in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy!

Green Goddess Dressing

1 ripe avocado

4 tbs water

2 tbs raw apple cider vinegar

Juice of 2 lemons

3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

¼ c packed fresh basil leaves, optional

¼ c packed fresh parsley, optional

1 pinch of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

1 tbs maple syrup

1. To a blender, add in the water, olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, avocado, maple syrup, sea salt and pepper. Process until smooth — like a mayonnaise consistency.

• The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnatural nutritionbermuda