I stroll into a Colorado toy store just to touch everything. To experience the pure, nonsensical joy of play. Run my hands over the trough of plastic wind-up figurines that hop and back flip and do the splits. Graze my fingers across the display of agate keychains. They tink together, motioning in wild arcs like pendulums. I play shark, and frog, and beaver in the puppet section, each with different voices, Logan watching and laughing along with me.

We stumble across the section with Hacky Sacks and those woven frisbees my hippie friends played with in college on the lawn. Logan thoughtfully chooses some juggling balls before catching sight of the yoyo section (protected in a glass case). I wander around, fingering the dirty magnetic poetry set, picking up a wooden egg shaker. And Logan is still pouring over that yoyo case, transfixed.

"Something familiar?" I ask. "It brings back memories, is all." He says, shaking his head and breaking his stare. He ambles to the disc golf section to find a putter while I delightedly play with a set of holographic bookmarks and nail stickers illustrated with butterflies and flowers and faeries with disproportionately big eyes.

It's good to let your inner kid out for a whirl every once in a while. We get so caught up in being adult/ambitious/responsible. You have to give yourself some time for discovery. For diving into the wondrous and strange and beautiful. It gives the heart and mind space to breathe, in a way. Space to draw on new sparkling thoughts. It's like filling up the pool of your inner visions. There's more to draw from once you've traversed those wandering, new, odd spots.

You can treat any mundane activity in life as if it's a toy store. You redirect your mind to find newness, to sense discovery, to rejoice in the tactile, the sounds, the sights. Giving yourself the room to make your life a universe of play. Feel the slick, bumpy skin of the avocado. Touch a pinch of each spice to your tongue. Fall in love with vibrant colors, easy combinations. Roll almond butter and coconut flakes together between the palms of your hands.

This is a common meal for me. Simple, green, with a balance of proteins and carbohydrates and fats. Every day I challenge myself to eat something green in every meal. And most days I hit the mark. It's been many years in the works, getting to this point. But I can honestly say I feel best when my meals are full of gloriously green things. Whether that's my favorite (ultra-simple) avocado toast topped with an egg, polenta topped with green beans and tempeh, or a wicked easy power greens tortilla. Greens are my jam. And oh how I love fats. They make me feel nourished and vibrant. Specifically, anything with almonds is a go-to. I keep almond butter around the house at all times. It's versatile, delicious, and easy.

Power Greens Tortilla (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Recipe Type

:

dinner

Author:

Renee Shuman (Will Frolic for Food)

Prep time:

5 mins

Total time:

5 mins

Serves:

1 serving

Simple, green, and protein-rich. This is a go-to meal for any time of day. I would even eat it for breakfast!

Ingredients

• 1 brown rice tortilla 
• 3-4 tbsp hummus 
• handful arugula or baby spinach
• 1/2 avocado, sliced lengthwise and scooped out of the skin
• 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
• olive oil
• sea salt
• sriracha

Instructions

1. Warm your tortilla on a skillet (optional).
2. Spread a generous dollop of hummus onto your tortilla (I use 3 tbsp to 1/4 cup)
3. Top with a handful of arugula or spinach, your avocado slices, and hemp hearts.
4. Drizzle your tortilla with olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt (to taste), and squeeze your desired amount of sriracha on top.
5. Enjoy!

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Almond Butter Coconut Energy Bites (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Recipe Type

:

snack

Author:

Renee Shuman (Will Frolic for Food)

Prep time:

5 mins

Total time:

5 mins

Serves:

1-2 servings

These almond butter bites come together in 5 minutes and are child friendly i.e. if you have kids they'll have a great time making these with you!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup OR 1 packet monkfruit powder (for sugar free)
• 1 teaspoon maca powder
• pinch sea salt
• *optional: more coconut flakes, as garnish

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Combine with a wooden spoon or your hands, kneading the "dough" as you go.
2. Halve, then halve again until you have 4 even, golf-ball sized amounts of "dough." Roll into balls.
3. Optional: roll in more coconut flakes (because it's pretty!).

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