16 December – Mindful Calendar Activity

Today’s mindful invitation was to pause with a warm, comforting drink — something we often do automatically rather than mindfully. This afternoon, that pause came in the form of a properly made hot chocolate. Using cacao powder, whole milk, and just 9 g of sugar per 200 ml, I mixed a tablespoon of cacao with a little milk to form a smooth paste. I watched the milk gently come to the boil, then slowly added it to the paste until it became glossy and liquid, before returning it to the saucepan for a final boil and pouring it into a tall glass — simple, grounding, and deeply comforting.

Warm drinks support daily hydration, and cacao contains naturally occurring polyphenols that may support mood and heart health. Taking time to watch, stir, and smell as a drink is made helps calm the nervous system and gently support digestion — even before the first sip.

The day itself was full but steady. Much of lunch was prepared ahead: quinoa and lentils cooked the day before, sweet potatoes roasted in advance, carrot and beetroot slow-made after breakfast, and kale marinated and finished with pomegranate just before serving. This made lunchtime calm and nourishing rather than rushed. The kids were buzzing with excitement, counting down to their last school day and Christmas. I fitted in a Joe Wicks strength workout, dog walks, errands, and shopping, with over 10 km walked across the day.

At 16:20, the house emptied quickly in different directions. Black Bean and Peanut headed to the medical centre after Peanut was hit full-on with a football at school. There was no major concern — just sensible caution advised for the next few days — but the sudden rush explained the earlier tension. The mindful pause shortened, yet it still held. Black Bean served me a slice of pear and chocolate panettone alongside my hot chocolate — a small kindness that grounded the moment. I was glad I wasn’t on my own.

Dinner came together with shared effort. Lentil boiled pasta and peas in the same pan, adding the peas later, while I fried sausage meat with garlic and leek, turning it into a simple sauce with a little cream cheese and water. It wasn’t a meal I would have chosen myself, but sometimes mindfulness means allowing children to lead — choosing, cooking, and feeling involved.

This is where balance lives. Not in one perfect meal, but across the day and the week. A fibre-rich, colourful lunch creates space for a simpler, comfort-focused dinner. Letting children take ownership of food builds confidence and trust, even when the meal isn’t nutritionally ideal on paper.

Mindful parenting around food isn’t about control or perfection. Perfection is hardly ever achievable — but we can aim towards it, gently and without pressure, every day anew. Nourishment includes food, support, flexibility, and connection.