Love Yourself From The Inside Out

At Cheekbone Beauty, we are always encouraging our audience to celebrate and practice self love. The best version of you is the one that you love unconditionally, radically, and whole-heartedly. For us, that comes with helping every Indigenous person see and feel their value in the world. 

Recently, we visited Six Nations of the Grand River in Ohsweken, ON, Canada. Six Nations is an Indigenous reserve located in Southern Ontario. We spent time doing outdoor activities at Chiefswood Park, touring the beautiful cabins and grounding ourselves in nature. While visiting Six Nations, we also spent time with Chef Aicha Smith-Belghaba of Esha’s Eats.

Aicha is an Indigenous and Algerian chef, who combines her two cultures into the dishes she creates. When talking to Aicha, you can feel the passion that she has for her work. One thing that is really evident with the recipes that she creates, is that her healthy recipes encourage you to love yourself from the inside out. With ingredients like lavender, ginger, and honey, Aicha is all about promoting wellness as a form of self-love. 

We spoke to Aicha, and she wanted us to share: "Food is medicine. It is key to try and take care of yourself from the inside out - mind, body, and spirit. No one is perfect, and if you get off track, find the space to forgive yourself, reset, and move forward."

Aicha treated us to some fresh juices and Sweetgrass sweet tea, keep reading to find the recipes! 

 

Recipe #1: In the Bush

Health Benefits: The fresh juice of pineapple, cucumber, ginger, and lemon contains antioxidants, which helps to improve our digestive systems' functionality while helping to dissolve fatty acids. Kale and spinach provide anti-inflammatory properties, and are great for your heart health and iron. Aicha says that this particular juice is also great for your gut and brain health. Sweetgrass is a traditional Indigenous medicine, and it aids in reducing tension and anxiety. Sweetgrass can also help with alleviating the symptoms of a common cold, as well as boosting mood and energy levels. 

 

Ingredients: Spinach, Kale, Cucumber, Peeled Pineapple, Ginger, Peeled Lemon, Sweetgrass Infused Water.

 Preparation: 

1. Wash the ingredients.
2. Rough chop all the ingredients. While you are chopping the ingredients, start to boil water with sweetgrass and chill before adding. 
3. Add all ingredients to a blender with some water to make blending easier, and blend until combined into a liquid. 
4. Use a sieve and a bowl/pitcher, and strain mixture to separate all fibers from the juice. 
5. Store in a glass mason jar - good for 7 days in the fridge, or 30 in the freezer. 

You can watch us try In the Bush here.

Recipe #2: Berry Picker

Health Benefits: Berries are full of antioxidants, nutrients, and anti-inflammatory properties which aid in fighting free radicals, skin damage, and inflammation. Elderberry is an immune booster that helps to prevent and fight the common cold. Cucumber promotes hydration in the body. 

Ingredients: Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Beets, Cucumber, and Elderberry Extract.

 Preparation: 

1. Wash the ingredients.
2. Cut beets into chunks, saving the beet tops for added nutrients.
3. Add all ingredients to a blender with some water to make blending easier, and blend until combined into a liquid. 
4. Use a sieve and a bowl/pitcher, and strain mixture to separate all fibers from the juice. 
5. Store in a glass mason jar - good for 7 days in the fridge, or 30 in the freezer. 

You can watch us try Berry Picker here.

Recipe #3: The Root of It

Health Benefits: This juice gets to the root of many health concerns. Apple is great for detoxing the body, while ginger soothes stomach irritation and counters acid reflux. Additionally, the honey in this juice works with the ginger and apple to boost energy, and soothe symptoms of the common cold such as coughing. Turmeric root is anti-inflammatory, and carrot is great for your skin. The lemon in this juice is a source of Vitamin C, and is great for your heart health. 

Ingredients: Apple, Ginger, Peeled Carrot, Turmeric Root, Peeled Lemon, Honey.

 Preparation: 

1. Wash the ingredients.
2. Rough chop all the ingredients. 
3. Add all ingredients to a blender with some water to make blending easier, and blend until combined into a liquid. 
4. Use a sieve and a bowl/pitcher, and strain mixture to separate all fibers from the juice. 
5. Store in a glass mason jar - good for 7 days in the fridge, or 30 in the freezer. 

Recipe #4: Sweetgrass Sweet Tea

Health Benefits: Sweetgrass is a traditional medicine in Indigenous communities, and it aids in reducing tension and anxiety. The Sweetgrass and dried lavender work together to bring calmness. Sweetgrass and honey, which is a natural sweetener, can also help with alleviating the symptoms of a common cold, as well as boosting mood and energy levels. The orange in this juice is a source of Vitamin C, and is great for your heart health. 

Ingredients: Water (2L), Braids of Sweetgrass (x2-3), Dried Lavender (x1 tablespoon), Honey (1 cup), Orange (x3-4 oranges). 

 Preparation: 

1. Put water in a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Once water has boiled, add Sweetgrass and let simmer for 15 minutes until water colour has changed and smells fragrant. Turn stove off at this point.
3. Cut your oranges in half, and squeeze the juice into the pot. Once you've squeezed all the oranges, put them into the pot as well. NOTE: reserve one-half to squeeze in fresh juice at the end.
4. Add lavender.
5. Let the tea steep for about 10-minutes, then strain the Sweetgrass, oranges, and lavender using a sieve and a bowl/pitcher.
6. Store in a glass mason jar - good for 4-5 days in the fridge, and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

 At Cheekbone Beauty, wholeheartedly believe in taking care of yourself from the inside and out. Founder and CEO, Jenn Harper, has always said that Cheekbone Beauty is more than just another lipstick brand. Cheekbone Beauty aspires to create beautiful, clean, and sustainable products that are good for both people and planet. We knew we had to work with Esha's Eats, who uses both traditional and fusion recipes to promote wellbeing in the different ways you can nurture your body. Whatever your preferred method of self-care is, we hope that you take the time to show yourself love whenever you have the time to do so.

Note: Sweetgrass is a traditional medicine to Indigenous communities, it is not thrown away once it is used. Aicha suggests putting your Sweetgrass back outside, returning it to the earth and the animals. 

You can find Chef Aicha at https://www.instagram.com/eshaseats/ and https://www.facebook.com/eshaseats/