As we navigate our 40s and beyond, the way we nourish our bodies starts to matter even more, especially when it comes to supporting our hormones, energy, and digestion.

This Glow Vegetable Ribbon Salad is one of those recipes that feels as good as it looks. It’s light, crunchy, colorful, and packed with hormone-friendly ingredients that help support your body during perimenopause, hormonal shifts, or just everyday bloating and fatigue.

Whether you’re looking for a fiber-rich lunch, a quick side dish, or a way to sneak in more raw veggies, this salad is a win.

Why This Salad Supports Hormone Balance:

• Carrots – rich in beta-carotene and fiber to help detox excess estrogen
• Cucumbers – cooling, hydrating, and full of minerals
• Radishes – part of the cruciferous family, support the liver and digestion
• Sesame seeds – a great source of lignans and healthy fats to balance estrogen and progesterone
• Apple cider vinegar + lemon juice – supports blood sugar balance and liver detoxification
• Olive oil – anti-inflammatory, healthy fat that supports hormone production

Have you tried using food to support your hormones lately?

I’ve been learning so much lately about how small, intentional changes—like adding more raw veggies, increasing fiber, or eating more protein (especially nutrient-dense foods like organ meats)—can make a real difference. I just want to feel good in my body. And I know I’m not alone in that.

Not every day is perfect. Not every day feels good. But when we keep showing up for ourselves, even in small ways, consistently—that’s when we start to see the shift. 💛

Glow Vegetable Ribbon Salad is one of my go-tos when I feel puffy, sluggish, or just want something light and nourishing.

👉 Save this recipe and tag me if you make it—I’d love to see your version

— Sanna 

You can follow me on Facebook: @MugOfReality, Instagram: @mugofreality Pinterest: @MugOfReality 

And tag me if you make any of my recipes, or if you read any books that I recommended. Or if I helped you in any way get through. I am always here to help!

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No Bake Energy Bites

These No-Bake Energy Bites are loaded with nutrients and made from real, whole foods that support energy, hormone balance, and overall wellness, especially for women over 40.

Grilled Naan With Smoked Salmon

Yield: 2 Servings

Glow Vegetable Ribbon Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

A crisp, gut-loving salad made with carrot and cucumber ribbons, radishes, and a zesty ACV-lemon dressing—perfect for hormone support and light nourishment.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 medium carrots, peeled into ribbons
• 1 small cucumber or zucchini, peeled into ribbons
• 4–5 radishes, thinly sliced
• 1–2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
• Pinch of sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• Sprinkle of paprika or chili powder (optional)
• Optional: sprinkle of dried mint or parsley

Dressing:

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Use a vegetable peeler to create long ribbons from the carrots and cucumber.
2. Thinly slice the radishes and combine all veggies in a large bowl.
3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently.
5. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, sea salt, pepper, and any extra herbs/spices you like.
6. Let it chill for 10 minutes to soften the veggies slightly and let flavors develop.
   
   

Notes

• Add avocado or toasted pumpkin seeds for healthy fats and more satisfaction.
• For a protein boost, top with grilled tofu, chickpeas, or shredded chicken (if not strictly plant-based).
• You can spiralize the veggies instead of peeling them for a different texture.
• Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours (best enjoyed fresh).

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 224Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 0mgSodium 283mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 8gSugar 7gProtein 6g

June always arrives with so much pressure to feel happy.
Like the sunshine alone should flip a switch and make everything lighter.
But the truth is—I’ve never really been a summer girl.

Give me shade, a cool breeze, snow, or fallen leaves over heat and humidity any day.
The only thing I like hot is my coffee and my husband.
Okay, he’ll probably laugh at that… but he doesn’t read my blogs, so it won’t go to his head. Ha!

Still, somehow… June was kind to me.
Not loud, not flashy. Just quietly kind.
Maybe that’s all I really want from a month—
especially after the manic, stressful storm that was April and May.

I kept going with my writing, even when I didn’t feel like it.
I posted. I worked out. I gardened. I moved my body and let my thoughts catch up.
I didn’t do it perfectly. But I showed up. And that counts.

Sometimes, that quiet kind of progress feels the most honest.

So here we are—almost at the end of the month.
But not quite.

There’s still nearly a week left in June.
Which means… if you haven’t done that thing yet—
the one you promised yourself back in January,
or even just last Monday—
there’s still time.

• Time to start it.
• Time to finish it.
• Time to just try—without needing to get it all right.

Bake something from scratch.
Clean out a drawer.
Write a few messy lines.
Take a nap on purpose.
Message the friend you’ve been meaning to check in on.
Pull a few weeds. Or make a little garden. Plant that seed.
Read—even if it’s just one chapter.

Start a workout challenge like I did—without pressure.
I move my body when I can, when it feels right. But I also gently push myself to show up daily, simply because I know I’m capable. I want to become the best version of me—not for anyone else, but for myself.

Do what brings you joy.
I like to mix it up—yoga, weights, dance, or whatever keeps things interesting. What matters most is that it’s something I do for me. Not to chase perfection. Just to honor the commitment to care for myself.

Sometimes, “something” is enough.

As we step into the last stretch of June, I’m giving myself permission to not rush.
Not chase the sunlight. Not fake the joy.
But just be, in this heat and stillness, in the quiet good moments of my ordinary life.

And if you’ve felt tired, unmotivated, or behind—same. But I’m not giving up. I still get up. I still show up—for myself. Oh, and you know what? You’re here. And that’s already something to be proud of.

P.S. If you’re still catching your breath from spring, I feel you. Let’s not race into July—we’ll get there when we get there.

With love,
Sanna

All my Journal ramblings are HERE.

You can follow me on

FaceBook: @MugOfReality

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If you try one of my recipes, pick up a book I recommended, or if something I wrote helped you feel seen—tag me. I love connecting with you. I’m always here to help.

Latest Posts you might like:

Soft Goodbye to May

Book Pub Day:  Feb. 28, 2024

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Dark Rom-Com

*It incorporates elements of mystery, thriller, and romance.

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Trying not to be on any blocked list, I am writing Theme & Tropes like that. I hope you don’t have an issue reading it.

Tropes & Themes: 

• Masked cinnamon roll stalk€r,
• k!nky overworked nurse
• ex-hookup’s roommate
• primal play
• consensual kn!fe play
• s€xy home invasion
• fear-meets-desire
• morally gray MMC

♥︎ CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS on the author’s website because there are A LOT of warnings!!!

***

My Thoughts

Was it entertaining? Absolutely.

Was it spicy? Oh, it burned.

Lights Out is a fast-paced dark romance with a morally gray male lead. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

The audiobook? Fantastic. The narration was spot-on, and the chemistry between the characters? Chef’s kiss. I especially loved how Josh just went ahead and claimed them as a family of three—no hesitation. And yes, I already said the audiobook was amazing, but it deserves a second shoutout. Flawless execution!🫶

Now, listen—I’m not shy about explicit content (obviously), but I do think this one occasionally crossed the line. Kitchen utensils? I appreciate a good twist, but that one pulled me out of the moment for a second.

This book has been compared to Hunting Adeline and Butcher and the Blackbird. I haven’t read either (yet), but apparently Lights Out is the mildest of the trio. Hunting Adeline wasn’t on my TBR, but Butcher and the Blackbird is—and now I’m tempted to read both for comparison. You know… research.😉😅

Surprisingly (or maybe not), I really enjoyed the mafia subplot. It added grit and momentum beyond all the spice.

Everything in the book is consensual, and both characters are fully into their games—so don’t let the summary scare you off. I actually smiled more than once, especially when Josh talked to her cat. Adorable!

***

Book Description

The viral TikTok stalker dark romance, burning with high heat, hilarious banter, and a love story like you’ve never seen before. Can you handle the ride?

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality. 

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer. 

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with. 

About the Author:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Navessa Allen lives in northern New England on a 200-year-old farm with her husband, their cats, and an assortment of farm animals.

Allen’s other books: The Kings of Kearny, Snowed In 

You can Follow this author on Instagram: @navessa.allen 

***

S A N N A

P.S.

I’ve taken individual images from Pinterest that were used to create a “poster” image in this post. If you’re the owner of any of the individual pics on the poster, please let me know so I can credit you. These were used solely for creative purposes and entertainment.