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 FITNESS FITNESS 

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HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, August 9, 2025

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE


5 SUPERFOODS YOU'RE PROBABLY 
NOT EATING 

(But Should Be!)


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

FROM CANCELLED FLIGHTS TO 
NEW PERSPECTIVES: 

What a Travel Delay Taught Me 
About Possibility

When we think about healthy eating, we often picture big 
bowls of salad, bananas, or maybe a glass of green juice. 
But there are a few foods that are super healthy and don’t 
get the attention they deserve. Some of them are actually 
sitting quietly on grocery store shelves, just waiting to be 
discovered. See how many of these you eat.

1. Watercress: The Leafy Green That Wins Gold

Watercress is a small leafy green that you’ve probably 
walked right by in the store. It looks a bit like baby spinach, 
but with rounder leaves and a peppery bite. I have to say I 
haven’t added it to my routine yet, but this green is a nutritional 
superhero.

Scientists at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) actually 
ranked it #1 in a study of powerhouse fruits and veggies. 
It’s packed with vitamin K, vitamin C, and antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. 
Watercress may even help with brain health and bone strength. You can eat it raw in salads, 
throw it into smoothies, or stir it into soups right before serving. 

2. Lentils: Tiny But Mighty

Here’s one I eat all the time. Lentils are small, round legumes that come in different colors—
brown, green, red, and even black. They cook quickly, don’t cost much, and are super filling.

Lentils are full of protein, fiber, and iron. That makes them perfect for keeping your energy up, 
supporting your muscles, and helping your digestive system stay on track.

Use lentils in soups, stews, tacos, or mix them into rice. I even add them to pasta sauce for 
extra texture and protein. If you’re new to lentils, start with red ones—they cook fast and taste 
mild.

3. Nutritional Yeast: The Cheesy Secret

This one has a funny name: nutritional yeast (or “nooch” as some people call it). It’s not the 
kind of yeast that makes bread rise. This stuff is deactivated and comes in yellow flakes or 
powder. I use it often in breakfast stir-fries, soups, and even spinach spanakopita.

It has a cheesy, nutty flavor that works great in all kinds of dishes. Plus, it’s high in vitamin B12 
(important for energy and brain health), protein, and fiber. For anyone eating mostly plant 
foods, nutritional yeast is a must.

You can also sprinkle it on popcorn, stir it into mashed potatoes, and add it to salad dressings 
or pasta sauces. It gives everything a boost of flavor and nutrition.

4. Blackstrap Molasses: The Sweet Surprise

Molasses might sound like something from your grandma’s kitchen, but don’t count it out! 
Blackstrap molasses is the thick, dark syrup left over after making sugar. It’s not super sweet, 
but it is super good for you.

Just one tablespoon is loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. That means it 
can help with things like tiredness (if you're low in iron) or keeping your bones strong.

Add a spoonful to oatmeal or mix it into warm plant milk with cinnamon. You can also use it 
in baking or stir it into smoothies. It’s like a natural supplement that actually tastes good.

5. Seaweed: More Than Just Sushi

Most people think of seaweed as the green stuff wrapped around sushi, but there are many 
types: nori, dulse, wakame, and more.

Seaweed is rich in iodine, which your thyroid needs to keep your metabolism working. It also 
has omega-3s, antioxidants, and a bunch of other minerals from the ocean.

Keep roasted seaweed snacks in the cupboard for when you want something salty and crunchy. 
Or toss dried seaweed into soup or rice dishes. It’s tasty and feels like a little trip to the beach—
without leaving your kitchen.

Most people don’t eat these underrated foods because they’re either unfamiliar, sound strange, 
or just aren’t front and center at the grocery store. Watercress gets passed over for more popular 
greens like spinach. Lentils and seaweed can seem boring or “weird” if you didn’t grow 
up eating them. Nutritional yeast has a name that turns people off, and molasses? Most folks 
think it’s just for cookies. But once you try them, you’ll wonder why they weren’t part of your 
meals all along.

If you’re looking to boost your health, feel better, and try something new, these five vegan foods 
are a great place to start. Most are cheap, easy to find, and don’t take any fancy cooking skills. 
They fuel your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay strong and energized.

I left my hotel in the middle of the night, expecting to be home in 
a few hours. But life had other plans.

My flight from New York to Los Angeles was abruptly canceled. 
What followed was a multi-stop, cross-country journey involving 
several airports and more time than I’d hoped. At first, I was frus-trated. But then I remembered 
a story Dr. Wayne Dyer once shared, and it shifted everything.

Wayne had an important speaking engagement in Chicago. Thousands were waiting to 
hear him speak, and just like me, his flight was canceled. One agent after another told him 
it couldn’t be done, there were no flights to Chicago that day. Finally, he changed the question. 
He asked, “Can you connect me with someone who doesn’t believe it’s impossible to 
get to Chicago in time for my talk?”

That shift in mindset changed the outcome.

His story came flooding back to me as I zigzagged through airports. No, this delay wasn’t 
ideal, but it wasn’t the end of the world. And it certainly didn’t have to ruin my day. I decided 
to see the situation differently. I chose to generate gratitude for safe travel, for helpful 
people, and for the modern miracle of flight that would eventually get me home.

It reminded me of a truth I share often with my clients: Our lives don’t change by chance, 
they change by choice. Who we decide to be. How we decide to behave. We’re with ourselves 
all the time. We can choose to be good company.

When I find myself caught in a moment of frustration or overwhelm, I return to a powerful 
per-spective shift I discovered through memory. I think back to seventh grade, those 
years when everything felt enormous, urgent, and consuming. At the time, every social 
mishap or missed assignment seemed like the end of the world. And yet now? I can hardly 
recall a single specific incident that once sent me into a spiral. What I do remember is the 
feeling—the intensity, the drama, the self-imposed pressure. So when I feel that familiar 
swirl rising today, I pause and whisper to myself, “seventh grade.” It's a simple cue that 
helps me remember: this moment, no matter how loud it feels, will pass. Chances are, I 
won’t even remember it next week. This thought doesn't erase the emotion, but it creates 
space. It allows me to soften, to breathe, and to choose relief over rumination. I offer this 
as a gentle practice, not to minimize your experience, but to help you hold it with lighter 
hands. Try it. What’s your “seventh grade”?

The power of perspective, the decision to believe something better is possible, is the very 
thing we’ll explore at The Visionary Leaders Salon, my one-day, immersive workshop happening 
on August 9 in historic West Adams. It’s designed for high-achieving people who 
are ready to reimagine what’s possible in their lives and careers, without burnout, self-
doubt, or playing small.

We’ll engage in transformative teaching, soulful connection, and even mindful movement 
to awaken what I call the "four happy hormones." Think of it as an elevated conversation 
with folks who are tired of settling and ready to soar.

If you’ve ever wondered what might be possible with the right mindset, support, and tools, 
come join us.

After all, getting where you want to go may require a few unexpected stops. But when you 
believe it’s possible, you’ll get there.

Details and registration: loriaharris.com/workshop

 In historic West Adams at The Gathering Spot, 5211 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 
It's not too late, train yourself to try. What do you have to lose?

Lori is an award-winning transformation coach, speaker, and podcast host. Learn more about 
her at loriaharris.com

Lori A. Harris


WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN YOU 
TALK TO YOURSELF? By Bryan Golden

 

 You have just completed a major work project before the deadline. 
Having worked diligently and spending your own time, 
you’re proud of the results and can’t wait to impress your boss. 
You show him the project and he immediately begins to criticize it 
and you. The criticism is completely unwarranted. What do you 
say to yourself? "I've failed again" or "He must be having a bad 
day, I know I did an excellent job"?

 You’ve thought of an innovative idea for a business that you 
really believe in. Excitedly, you tell your spouse who finds only 
faults with your idea. He tells you it’ll never work. Seeking an-
other opinion, you confide in one of your closest friends. She has nothing positive to say 
ei-ther. What do you say to yourself? "Why can't I ever come up with good ideas" or "I 
know my concept is good, I'm going to go with it"?

 You’re a volunteer at a civic organization. You make a suggestion for a fundraiser and 
the president of the organization tells you it’s a bad idea that won’t work. What do you say 
to your-self? "It's no problem if they don't like my ideas, I'll still help anyway I can" or "If 
they don't like my suggestion, they can do it themselves"?

 You help your neighbor move some furniture. Several months later, you ask them for 
help carrying some heavy items to the dumpster. He tells you he’s too busy and doesn’t 
have time. What do you say to yourself? "Fine, last time I help him or anyone else" or "No 
big deal, I’ll ask one of my other friends to help"?

 There’s a job opening where you work. The position is something that you always 
wanted to do. It’s a great opportunity and would be a promotion. You’re not sure if you 
have enough ex-perience. What do you say to yourself? “I’ll apply, I’ve got nothing to 
lose” or “Why bother ap-plying, I’ve got no chance”?

 You can probably relate to one or more of these illustrations or have experiences that 
are simi-lar in nature. Comments of all sorts are volunteered by everyone; friends, family, 
coworkers, bosses, acquaintances, and even strangers.

 People are constantly giving you their unsolicited opinions. There's nothing you can 
do, it’s human nature. What’s important is what you say to yourself, not what others say 
to you.

 Without discrimination, your brain believes whatever you tell it and immediately goes 
to work figuring a way to make the statements happen. Your mind processes your self-
talk 24 hours a day. Don’t say to yourself phrases you don’t want to come true.

 Tell yourself things that help rather than hurt you. You want to be saying things such 
as I can do this, I am capable, I'm a good person, I can learn what I need to know, I can 
make it work, and good things will be happening.

 Whatever it is that you say to yourself, you are right. Occasionally, I have a student 
tell me that he or she can't do something. I tell them if that's the way they feel, they are 
right. But if someone says, “I can do it,” they are also right. Remarking "I can't do this" is 
different than say-ing "I need help" or "I don't understand." Asserting, "I can't" is a final 
conclusion rather than making an effort to seek a solution.

 Be aware of and monitor what you say to yourself. Don't tell yourself anything that’s 
not go-ing to help and assist you in achieving a positive outcome. Always engage in positive 
self-talk.

 Bryan is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits." Contact Bryan at Bryan@columnist.com or 
visit www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com Copyright 2025 Bryan Golden


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