Closed Loop Cooking Weekly Newsletter 3.27.20

March 27th, 2020

Hi fam,

A new not-so-normal. I miss y’all and I hope you’re staying well. In the meantime let’s keep up our sanity by sharing recipes, hosting virtual happy hours, and staying home. I’m grateful for this community and my ability to stay connected throughout all of this. 

Having routine to fall back on as the world remains uncertain offers a measure of stability, especially first thing in the AM. I want to encourage y’all to keep the stress levels down by sticking to that morning ritual or creating a new one. Habituated acts ground us. Try adding a small but meaningful practice to your morning to prepare you for the day and keep you going through this unknown length of time. It makes all the difference. 

Some ideas to keep you level:

• Drink warm water with a splash of apple cider vinegar first thing.

• Make tea or coffee and sit with your current book of choice.

• Avoid the news for the first hour or two.

• Practice gentle yoga or stretching, warm up your limbs. (Join in Maia’s class here starting 3/30.)

• Free write a few pages, stream of consciousness.

• Meditate or take slow, deep breaths for 5 minutes, seated.

• Take your pup or just yourself out for a 15 minutes walk.

• Water your plants.

• Open the curtains, bring light into your space.

• Make your bed. Fold clothes and put them away.

• List 3 things, no matter how small, you’d like to do for the day.

• Doodle, color, make marks.

• Make breakfast, sit down and enjoy slowly.

These small acts of mindfulness root us. Take pleasure in these simple moments, practice them with care. Create habits that make this time manageable and cultivate appreciation. We can find solace in a bit of ritual. Pass this along to a friend and help spread some sanity.

Care to share your morning routine? #closedloopcooking

Stay hungry,

Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

S U P P O R T

Plant MatterOur own OG contributor and in-house dessert expert, Maia Welbel, has just launched, Plant Matter, delicious, vegan baked goods out of Chicago, Il. She’s offering pay-what-you-can plant-based sweets for Chi-town locals. Baking and delivering to anyone who needs a bit of comfort. Don’t we all? Sign up for her newsletter and check her latest offerings.

R E S O U R C E S

Milk RunPortland local grocery delivery direct from farmers and supplies. Their stay-at-home produce bag is well worth the $30 to get much needed vegetables back into our diets. Not to mention 10% off your first order.

R E C I P E S

Red lentil soup with parsnip + sweet potatoA pantry friendly, plant-based recipe you can customize with whatever you have on hand. Make the most of your ingredients with a few red lentils and get cozy. This one’s in our weekly rotation.

R E S O U R C E S

Invisible HandsAmazing volunteer work out of NYC to provide free, low contact grocery delivery to at-risk individuals and communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. Spread the word.

Have an idea we should feature in the newsletter? Want to support us? Drop us a line at [email protected] and tell your pals to sign up. We can’t wait to see what y’all cook up next! #closedloopcooking