Foodie Friend: Kat Gál

Today on the blog I have the lovely Kat Gál, who is a holistic health and happiness coach who is empowering others to dare to live a happy and healthy life inside and out. Kat’s mission is to teach her clients how to feed their body and soul in order to heal ailments, chronic pain, emotional issues and to live the life of their dreams in health, happiness and love.

Today Kat will also be sharing one of her favourite dishes – a Broccoli and olive salad.

Why did you decide to study at IIN?

I used to struggle with non-stop chronic headaches. In search for an answer, relief and healing I got into alternative healing methods, holistic health, and nutritional medicine. During my healing journey I found out about IIN – It all clicked. I knew it was right. I knew it was my calling. It was a perfect way to combine my previous educational and professional experience in psychology, social research and education, my passion for helping others and my passion for holistic health. I am a great listener with a wonderful ability to give others’ space to speak their heart and to express themselves. I used this skill as a social researcher in violence against children issues. But I wanted to do more than to just be a researcher. I craved to empower others to find their own answers, to help them create their dream lives, to guide them to be happy and healthy in their skin, and to create a better world one happy life at a time. As a health coach I can do that. Every day I am grateful to be able to be there for my clients, to listen to their stories, to allow them to find their own answers, to support their journey and to see them come out happier and healthier following their journey and finding their dreams. It is beautiful.

What is your goal once you complete your studies with IIN and how do you plan to help people?

My goal is not defined by completing my studies at IIN. It is more like a true calling, passion and life-long journey that is not defined by graduation. I am already seeing clients and welcoming new ones, which I am qualified to do so as we have received our first certificate from IIN that allows us to see clients and I also hold a certificate in life coaching and have prior experience in peer counseling, psychology and education, not to mention my personal life experiences. Women that generally reach out of me simply feel stuck in their lives, they feel like they live in a blah existence and just can’t step out, yet they crave to live from passion instead. Many experience chronic physical pain (headaches, muscle and joint pains etc) and even more of them have chronic emotional symptoms (depression, emotional eating, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-hate etc). They all know that there is more to life and deeply want to live happy, healthy and free, but their chronic pain is holding them down. By giving them to space to explore their emotions, guiding them with questions, giving them small tips, loving them without judgment and supporting them along their journey, step-by-step, I guide them to a happier and healthier life, where they are not held down with pain and ‘blah’ anymore but live out of their heart, out of passion in happiness, health, and freedom. I welcome clients who are ready to look beyond the surface, beyond food and beyond generics, really dig deep in their hearts to find the way to live their truth. I welcome clients who seek true happiness and health in a (w)holistic way. My goal is to move the world out of a state of chronic emotional and physical pain into a chronic state of health and happiness. To help you get started I also created some worksheets and ebooks that are available for free on my website: http://www.happyhealthy365.com/#!ebooks/cg5r and just released my first ebook “365 Days of Journaling” http://www.happyhealthy365.com/#!ebooks/cnhp.

What do you eat on a typical day?

I eat a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits every single day. Mainly raw, but sometimes I steam veggies, occasionally bake them. I eat seeds and nuts as well, for example, I eat hemp seeds pretty much daily. Quinoa, lentil hummus and chickpeas appear on my menu often as well. I love my green juice as well as my morning lemon water. I drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Could you please share your favourite go-to snack on a busy day?

My favorite go-to snack on a busy day is any fruit in season. I also love dates, figs, carrot sticks and broccoli with hummus and sometimes a bag of trail mix can be handy.

What is your number 1 tip for living a healthy lifestyle?

Listen to your body, trust your intuition, and trust yourself. You know yourself the best, if you listen in deep – to your body, mind and soul – you will know what is right for you. But in generally it is simple: breathe fresh air, eat organic whole plant-based foods, drink plenty of water, move your body, be kind, cultivate meaningful relationships and love yourself. Always, always come from the perspective of love.

Broccoli And Olive Salad

3-4 stalks of broccoli
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and ground pepper
1 tbsp of capers
½ cup of pitted black olives
Crumbled tofu or vegan parmesan (optional) (or feta or parmesan for non-vegans)
Shredded carrots and sliced pepper (optional)

Cut broccoli lengthwise and steam. Mix olive oil, lemon, vinegar, salt and pepper. Top the broccoli with the vinegar dressing, olives and capers. You can also top with crumbled tofu or vegan parmesan, shredded carrots, sliced peppers.