MUSTAAAARRRDDDDD šŸŒ­

The Greatest Condiment Of All Time.

I. MUSTARRRDDD (The Greatest Condiment Of All Time) šŸŒ­

II. [PAID] Have You Laughed Lately? šŸ˜† 

Good morning! šŸŒ¤ļø

Todayā€™s first piece is about Mustard, the The Greatest Condiment Of All Time.

Excited to learn why? Hint: Itā€™s healthy.

The following piece is about how we can time perceptive mood swings to our benefit, inspired by James Baldwinā€™s The Fire Next Time.

That piece is for paid subscribers only:

For only $6 a month, you can support my hard work and receive life-changing health and happiness content in exchange.

Great deal, right?

Letā€™s go!

MUSTARRRRDDDDD šŸŒ­

I hosted a Super Bowl party a few weeks back. It was a packed house.

The game itself devolved into a chaotic mess. During commercial breaks, corporations and desperate celebrities failed to entertain for our dollar.

Dysfunction all about.

As the host, I felt the building pressure of snack provisions to stave off the grief.

Instead of the typical wings, finger foods and endless bowls of chips and dip, I opted to share healthy options with my patrons.

Yeah, Iā€™m that guy. The brand should be pretty obvious by now.

Anyway, the spread included fruits, nuts and zero-calorie seltzers among other refreshments. 

Something like this.

One of my friends decided to order food from a lunch/bowl spot (not to be named until I get a sponsor) in my neighborhood. 

Full of fresh veggies, grains, and chicken for protein, the bowl had everything ā€“ except sauce. There may be nothing worse than a plate without that punch a sauce can bring.

Thatā€™s when I brought out the mustard.

Thereā€™s a reason Kendrick screams about this stuff it in tv off.

Relishing in the opportunity, I eagerly shared something I learned about health and nutrition, seizing the stage from the fledgling Kansas City Chiefs to proclaim the wonders of mustard.

It was good timing, since the zero-calorie condiment has made its way into several dishes Iā€™ve prepared over the last few months.

Thatā€™s because it has a bold, unique flavor with versatility that powers up pretty much any dish. 

Whether itā€™s standard yellow or Dijon, mustard works well for those trying to lose weight or cut extra calories. NOT Honey Mustard ā€” that has added sugars and excess calories.

Most sauces and salad dressings will run you at least 100 calories, including unnecessary fat and dreaded added sugars. Other weird stuff too.

A salad transforms from boring to irresistible once mustard is added. Try it for yourself and see.

Olive oil and vinegar are limited in how much they can help a salad. There just isnā€™t that zest youā€™re looking for. 

My friend realized this once he doused his bowl in Dijon.

ā€œYo, send me the link to this sauce,ā€ he told me very seriously

ā€œItā€™s just Dijon mustard,ā€ I replied, unable to conceal my grin. 

ā€œJust send me the link,ā€ was his final decry.

And so I did. Now, Iā€™m sharing it with you. 

I realized later on that others could benefit from this sacred knowledge: sauce doesnā€™t need to be expensive!

Expensive in calories or in dollars ā€” sauce brands sell their stuff for around $10 a bottle if itā€™s good.

Dijon at Target is 2 bucks. SOME things have been unscathed by inflation.

This is a secret hidden in plain sight ā€” several lauded salad dressings and sauces use Dijon/yellow mustard as a base.

The trick here is to make your own, cutting costs and unnecessary fillers in the ingredients. You can also just use it alone.

My go-to salad dressing: Simple Dijon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

ā€¢ 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

ā€¢ 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar (ACV)

ā€¢ Ā¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

ā€¢ 1 tsp honey (optional for balance/sweetness)

ā€¢ 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)

ā€¢ Salt & pepper to taste

I use this on salads, cooked vegetables and any protein I eat. It dips well with chips or whatever else you eat, honestly.

It has helped me cut down on calories without sacrificing taste.

Once I found out about the benefits of mustard, (see below) I doubled down on my love for it.

Mustardā€™s Benefits šŸ“Š

šŸ« Rich in Antioxidants ā€“ Helps fight inflammation and may reduce disease risk.

šŸ”„ Boosts Metabolism ā€“ Spicy compounds support fat burning and digestion.

ā™„ļø Heart Health ā€“ May lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and improve circulation.

šŸŒ¬ļø Anti-Inflammatory ā€“ Helps with joint pain, muscle soreness, and congestion.

šŸ©ø Regulates Blood Sugar ā€“ May improve insulin sensitivity and energy levels.

šŸ‘©ā€šŸ¦° Good for Skin & Hair ā€“ Promotes scalp health, reduces dandruff, and supports wound healing.

šŸ¤§ Clears Congestion ā€“ Acts as a natural decongestant for colds and respiratory issues.

šŸ’ŖšŸ½ Supports Immunity ā€“ Contains selenium and zinc for immune defense.

Thereā€™s a few solid condiments left, but not enough.

Vitamins in Mustard ā›‘ļø

  • Selenium

  • Magnesium / Calcium

  • Manganese / Iron

  • Vitamins A, B6, C, Folate

  • Omega-3

Mustard isnā€™t the lesser-brother to ketchup. Itā€™s the quirky older cousin with a tangy side you never knew about. Now you understand the hype.

Laugh Liberally; It Ainā€™t Over Til Itā€™s Over ā›…ļø

I just realized that I havenā€™t laughed in over 24 hours.

Instead of finding humor, irony and narrative in the happenings of life, I chose to relish in the familiar feeling of dread, misery and self-pity.

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