Beauty, Featured, Living Well

Transitional Tips For A Healthy, Beautiful Fall

September 2, 2016
Transitional Tips For A Healthy, Beautiful Fall

An early autumn crisp was undoubtedly in the air this morning as I weaved my way through the University of Washington campus. Although fall equinox doesn’t officially begin until September 22nd, a sense of seasonal transition has assuredly crept in. Already, I notice multicolored leaves shedding themselves from the trees, twirling organically into piles below. As I write, I observe locals who’ve gathered at my neighborhood coffee shop; each cupping a warm beverage and wrapped in a jacket to fend off the morning chill.

As the lull of summer lifts and the excitement of fall enters, I want to share some practical tips for looking and feeling your best.

Don’t skimp on sunscreen.

Sunscreen is a skincare staple, not a summertime supplement. As the temperatures drop, it’s important to continue using a broad-spectrum SPF every day.

While UVB rays (responsible for sunburn and skin cancer) are less dominant in the colder months, UVA rays (responsible for aging, fine lines and wrinkles) are just as strong. Consult your dermatologist or primary healthcare provider if you’re unsure what products are best for you.

Schedule a flu shot.

Preventative care is the best care, especially when it comes to fighting influenza. Getting a flu shot is the first and most effective way to protect yourself from the flu.

For more information on the upcoming 2019-2020 flu season, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and speak to your primary care physician about when you should receive your vaccination.

Incorporate seasonal vegetables into your diet.

Eating seasonally has benefits for both your wallet and the environment, but it also means enjoying foods at their peak of freshness.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, I’ll be enjoying:

  • Apples
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Celery Root
  • Cabbage
  • Figs
  • Garlic
  • Leeks
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Winter Squash

Prioritize skin health.

If you live in a region where temperatures drop in the autumn and winter months, your skincare routine might require a few tweaks to prevent winter skin woes.

Brush up on your skincare knowledge with these resources:

Sleep.

Fall entails lustrous leaves and pumpkin flavored concoctions but it also means cold and flu season is on the rise. One of the simplest ways you can decrease your chances of getting sick, is to ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Adults ages 18-64 need anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Sleep deprivation is linked to decreased immune function which increases your susceptibility of catching a cold or bacterial infection.

Creating a bedtime routine is a surefire way to prepare your mind and body for a restful nights sleep. Try:

  • Switching off all technology at least 1 hour before my intended bedtime.
  • Enjoying a warm shower or relaxing bath.
  • Sipping some caffeine free tea.
  • Light stretching or yoga.
  • Reading.

Break a sweat.

As flu and cold seasons approaches, be sure to implement moderate amounts of aerobic exercise as it can boost the body’s defenses against bacteria and viruses. The Center for Disease Control suggests 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (ex: walking, pilates) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (ex: running, spin class) every week. In addition, they also suggest 2 or more days of total body muscle strengthening activities each week.

Commit to less stress.

With days filled with texts, emails, tasks and to-dos, it’s no secret that we live in a chaotic and busy world. It’s important to disconnect from the demands of our hectic lifestyle and implement daily stress reduction practices. Whether it’s meditation or taking your dog for a walk after work, find something that works for you and stick with it.

…and lastly, don’t forget the basics.

  • Wash your hands regularly and keep them away from your mouth and nose.
  • If you do get sick, visit your primary care doctor at your earliest convenience and stay home to prevent spreading any illness amongst coworkers or classmates.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Prioritize sleep and those few minutes of rest – they can make a big impact on your over all health and wellbeing.

Wishing all of you a healthy, happy fall!

Dessert, Food

Rich and Creamy Chocolate Avocado Mousse

July 29, 2016

As a model, one of the first things people ask me is, “What do you eat?” When I respond, I often see disappointment rush across people’s faces. I don’t have any magic diet tips nor do I promote anything extreme or unhealthy.

In fact, my dietary philosophy is quite simple:

  • I eat regularly and often – usually 3 meals per day and 2 snacks in between.
  • I drink 2-3 liters of water every day.
  • I focus on eating whole foods like vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans and gluten free grains.
  • I only consume 1 small caffeinated beverage in the morning – often an unsweetened latte made with almond milk.
  • I commit to eating green, leafy vegetables, plant based protein and healthy fats with every meal.
  • I abstain from consuming processed sugar and refined carbohydrates.
  • Lastly, I believe in indulgence. I think this aspect is just as important as all the others listed above. You can absolutely indulge in a healthful manner. If you want a glass of wine with dinner once in a while or crave dark chocolate in the afternoon, by all means, enjoy it. Moderation is the key.

Today I wanted to share a recipe for chocolate mousse that fits equally in the indulgent and healthy aspects of my diet. While traditional mousse recipes call for heavy whipping cream and egg whites, for this particular recipe I used avocado and coconut cream to achieve that mousse-like texture. I’ve also swapped out the processed sugar and replaced it with maple syrup and medjool dates.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup coconut creme
  • 1 medjool date, pitted
  • 2-4 tablespoons raw maple syrup (depending on desired sweetness).
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Chill in for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Note: I used a pastry bag with a star tip to achieve the texture of the mousse pictured above.

 

 

Food, Sides

Crispy Roasted Vegetables in a Tahini Lemon Sauce

July 26, 2016
CRISPY ROASTED VEGETABLES IN A TAHINI LEMON SAUCE

I’ve always been inspired by Middle-Eastern cuisine. Perhaps it’s their method of preparing food that entices me the most: vibrant ingredients that are fresh from the market, prepared simply, spiced beautifully and served with love.

This dish exquisitely blends the earthy flavor of cumin and the smooth, nutty texture of Tahini with vibrant hints of garlic, lemon and fresh parsley. It’s also rich in Vitamin C, Calcium and fiber.

Ingredients:

  • 20 Brussels sprouts
  • 1 small head of cauliflower
  • Sea salt, pepper, chili flakes and cumin to taste
  • Olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Tahini sauce
  • Juice of 1 small lemon
  • 3 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 clove of garlic minced

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Thoroughly wash and chop 1 medium head of cauliflower and about 20 Brussels sprouts in to bite size pieces.
  • Place chopped vegetables on a baking sheet and coat them generously with olive oil, sea salt, chili flakes, cumin and fresh ground pepper.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on desired texture.
  • While the veggies are cooking, combine Tahini, garlic, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil and water in a food processor or high speed blender (I use a Blendtec) and blend until smooth.
  • Once the vegetables are finished, plate them immediately and drizzle with Tahini sauce and garnish with fresh parsley and additional fresh ground pepper.

Enjoy! 

Lifestyle

#RunwayInjustice My Story

May 17, 2016
Hannah Larson

CNNMoney recently released a five-part series titled “Runway Injustice” that delves into the transgressions of the modeling industry. As I read through each of the articles, I was overwhelmed by a sense of connection while reading and listening to the interviewees sharing their experience in an open and honest dialogue. It’s a rarity to see industry people step forward and speak up about the maltreatment and infringement that takes place in fashion. Though my story is one in thousands, I feel a sense of obligation to you, to write about my life and the situations I’ve been through with vulnerability and honesty.

I first entered the fashion industry at fifteen. I was enthralled by the supposed glamour and fast-paced lifestyle that is portrayed in the media. When I walked into my first agency, they were warm and friendly. They promised me a future filled with success. It was towards the end of that initial meeting that they asked me to lose weight. Suddenly, the mood had shifted from amicable to demanding. My former booker, with no medical training or science background, advised me to consume no more than 1,100 calories a day. On top of the calorie deficit, I was encouraged to do an hour of intense cardio 7 days a week. Mind you, I was 6-foot tall, and weighed 110-pound going in.

The business was supposedly cutthroat and I went in knowing that full well. So, on that same day, I signed my first contract and entrusted my career to these strangers, naive to think that they had any regard for my personal well-being.

They didn’t.

A few days later, the agency scheduled my first test shoot with a photographer flying in from New York. With my mom and $700 dollars cash in tow, I made my way up the stairs of a small, boutique hotel to meet him. As he greeted us in the lobby, I was informed that my mom wasn’t welcome to accompany me while I was shooting. I found myself alone in a hotel room, with a middle-aged man, wearing nothing but a tight skirt and a bra. I was uncomfortable and scared, but I felt like I had to do it. This was part of my job, right? I couldn’t let my agency down and if I spoke up for myself, I might lose the opportunity.

I quickly became desensitized to the situation. The photographer asked me to pose suggestively. He wanted me to look “sexy” and “drugged.” I complied as best as I could, twisting and maneuvering myself into the poses I’d seen in magazines and on social media.

I had no concept of what sexy really was. I had just turned fifteen; I had never kissed a boy and certainly was not having sex. I was a child. Just a few weeks prior, I was at summer camp playing Capture the Flag and making s’mores with my friends. A few weeks later, I found myself in this very adult situation having to embody a strong, seductive female; something that I wasn’t and something I shouldn’t have had to portray at fifteen years old.

CNN Money Runway Injustice

Read the full CNN Money Investigative report on their special portal

I was determined to get my agency’s attention. They sounded like they held the connections and the resources I needed to achieve my dreams. I did anything they asked me to do. It was a constant battle of “if you do this, we’ll do that,” but they never held up their end of the deal. And as they failed to deliver through inaction and incompetence, they blamed it on me; either about some randomly selected measurements or about weight, effectively body-shaming me into a clone, shaped and manufactured by the rigid and exclusive beauty standards of today. At the very least, I needed to be sexy, thin and blonde. As long as I kept my mouth shut and embodied those three qualities, there seemed to be always the chance that I could make it to the top. Over three years, they booked me exactly zero jobs.

Looking back, it was clearly a case of misappropriation of irresponsible blame, of a meaningless power game between grown adults and a child. As it happened, the moment I switched agency, jobs started coming in.

There I was, this fifteen-year-old girl, navigating high school, still having sleepovers with my girlfriends and going to ballet class after school, but also working in this highly sexualized environment, completely consumed by calories, inches, weight and exercise. It was a difficult time in my life and it left me feeling isolated and helpless.

I muddled up the motivation to fulfill the unattainable expectations the agency had laid out for me. I thought that I was being strong and disciplined by going to the gym two hours everyday. I felt obligated in my profession to subside on protein shakes, raw vegetables and brown rice. As the pounds flew off my already thin frame, my life started to crumble. I’m certain that the unspoken power dynamic my agency had over me contributed to my downward spiral. I can also attribute it to the unhealthy relationship that I had created with my body and my self.

I have yet to capture what I was experiencing in my own words better than what former model, Meredith Hattam, said in the first article of this CNN series. She says, “There is this culture that comes from the agency that you are disposable and you are so lucky to be here,” she reflects further by saying, “It’s a toxic power dynamic and it starts from the top.”

Certainly, I look back and wonder what would have happened if depression hadn’t taken two years of my life. I wonder what I would be doing if I hadn’t dropped out of college after the first quarter of my freshman year because of mental and physical illness. The disparity I felt during that time took me to the darkest, most crippling place in my life. A place where living seemed impossible and my self-worth was destroyed. I waited around, desperately hoping to be acknowledged by my agents. I worked day in and day out, fulfilling their every request, but knowing I would see nothing in return.

I’m always hesitant to share my story as a model, especially because I voluntarily chose to take the position. Genetically, I fit the absurd, circumscribed requirements that are today’s fashion industry standards. That doesn’t make me more beautiful or powerful than any other woman; it just places me in box, a box that society labels as ideal and aspirational, when really it’s not.

A lot of the healing I’ve had from the situation is due to the changes I’ve made in my life over the past two years. I feel incredibly fortunate today to be represented by my current agency that supports me in a healthy, positive manner. I work with extraordinarily talented people whom I adore and respect both personally and professionally. Yet the thing that has helped me the most, is taking care of my health on a physical and mental level and working to improve the relationship I have with myself every day.

Ultimately, this blog is a space where I write openly and honestly about my experience with the hope that I will be able to connect with and help others. In writing this, I seek neither sympathy nor understanding, but at the very least, I hope it creates a space where talking about personal experience, mental health and overall well-being are welcome and encouraged.