Lunch Treats and Early Dinner = Happy Ladies

As August draws to a close this Labor Day weekend, the shift into Autumn season beckons, and it's a great time to reset supportive habits. I am excited to share a bit about the first habit in the Vitality Circle: Earlier, Lighter Dinner.

We often think that feeling energized for the day ahead is all about what we do in the morning; the right breakfast, exercise, or meditation. But one of the most overlooked keys to better sleep and steady energy actually happens the night before… at dinner time.

In the Heartfelt Wellbeing community, we follow the wisdom of your body’s natural rhythms (Ayurveda). Your digestive fire (or Agni) is strongest in the middle of the day, when the sun is high. As the evening comes, that fire naturally cools down. Eating a heavy meal late at night forces your body to keep working when it should be resting, which can lead to:

•  Restless or broken sleep
•  Compromised digestion and elimination
•  Feeling sluggish or foggy in the morning
•  Less energy throughout the day
•  Excess weight gain
•  Eventual diagnoses like Type 2 Diabetes or an Autoimmune Disease

By shifting to a larger lunch and an earlier, lighter dinner, you give your body the chance to fully digest your last meal of the day before bedtime. This simple shift allows your system to focus on deep repair and rejuvenation overnight, leaving you lighter, clearer, and more energized when you wake up.

This isn’t about restriction. It’s about supporting your body so it can support you, in your sleep, in your energy, and in every part of your daily life.

If you’ve been struggling with low energy or poor sleep, try this for even a couple days a week and see how much better you feel: Eat your last meal by 6pm and close your kitchen for the day = no more food. Go to sleep before 10pm when you will get a second wind and probably feel hungry again.

(Hint: if making your last meal of the day earlier and lighter feels like too big of a hurdle, try making the last meal of the day either earlier or lighter to start, then gradually do both)

This shift will impact your life in amazing ways without needing to take any drugs. You will feel more energized, have better sleep and even naturally lose weight. Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Here is a recipe for a hearty, nourishing late summer treat. These taste so good no one will ever guess what is in them.

Packed with protein and sweetened with maple syrup, they won’t leave you with a sugar crash or guilty conscience. These blondies make a great addition to lunch (as long as you don't also eat fruit or meat with your meal as beans and meat/fruit don't digest well together.)

Try this recipe out and let me know what you think!

Chickpea blondies 

2 cups cooked, or 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup all natural almond butter or tahini

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 egg

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup chocolate chips plus 2 tablespoons

sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In a food processor, add all ingredients except chocolate chips and process until batter is smooth. Fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, I like to use dark chocolate because it has less sugar, or Lilly’s chocolate chips, but it’s up to you. Note: The batter will be thick and super delicious, so you could actually just eat it on its own!

Spread batter evenly in a greased pan, or portion into muffin tins, then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean and the edges are a tiny bit brown. The batter may look underdone, but you don’t want them to dry out!

Cool pan for 20 minutes on a wire rack. Sprinkle with sea salt then cut into squares. Makes 12 blondies/cupcakes.