A Zero Calorie Method To Soothe Yourself

September 4, 2014 12 Comments

Looking for a way to calm down after a long day? Have I got the recipe for you!

Usually I write recipes for healthy food that will satisfy your taste buds. Today, I branch out into a new world.

That world is bath salts.

I know you are thinking, “Hey, that’s not food!” but I think that we reach for food for many emotional reasons. I talk about this in my terrific book in a chapter called “Emotional Eating” (if you haven’t bought a copy yet – see below).

There is another great book below called “50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food” which is a great resource if this is your particular stumbling block.

My recipe today has zero calories, is inexpensive, and super easy to make. In fact, compared to commercial bath salts you are saving a ton of money AND you get to customize your product.

I used vanilla for this recipe because I have it in my kitchen. You can buy essential oils in a number of scents such as lavender and rosemary. This is a good article about essential oils – 21 Things You Should Know About Essential Oils.

You can find essential oils in health food stores, including Whole Foods, and other hippy joints that are into aromatherapy.

Soothing your senses with a lovely smell (vanilla!) and soft water (bath salts) will allow you to move through the frustration of your day and into a more positive frame of mind without inhaling a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Give it a try!

How do you soothe yourself without food?

Vanilla Bath Salts Recipe

1.7 from 25 reviews

Makes 1½ cups

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Ingredients

1 cup Epsom salts (found at supermarket in healthy and beauty aisle)
½ cup kosher salt (baking aisle)
1 freezer bag, quart sized
¼ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Place both salts into freezer bag and mix. Add vanilla and toss until salts are coated and aroma is to your satisfaction. If using essential oils, add 5 drops and smell to see if you like it.

Spread salts on waxed paper on a rimmed baking sheet and dry for 1 hour. Place in air-tight jar.

To Use: Start a nice hot bath and add ½ cup – 1 cup to the water as it fills the tub. Light some candles (and if you have kids – lock the door). Turn off the phone and announce that you are going to a happy place.

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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12 Comments:

The best bath salts would be Epsom salts. This is a great way to get additional, much needed magnesium in one's system. Many people choose this form of supplementation instead of ingesting pills or taking liquid magnesium.
It is great to add a little food color and natural aromatherapy oils to the salts for a really comforting or invigorating bath.
Lavender scent is especially relaxing and citrus, pine or spruce are very invigorating.

I_Fortuna

You forgot to mention one of the most important benefits of epsom salts . . . magnesium!! Very important for heart health. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin and is an easy way to get this into the body.

anne broderick

Sounds wonderful! I'm going to put my cell phone on airplane mode too. :-)

Pat

To soothe myself, I workout, or take a bath or shower, or play with my son, or go outside and take a walk. There are plenty of alternatives to food when having a hard day.
If I absolutely have to have that oral fixation, I chew gum or on a toothpick.
I always keep a pack of gum on me and when something irritates me, I plop it into my mouth. It also helps me keep my mouth shut when I'm upset lol. :)

Christina

Love it! I give myself facials a few times a week- an inexpensive mask from Freeman or Alba (that one is organic) and good old fashioned honey is great for the skin too. Along with a bath, it's a fab way to soothe and relax without packing on pounds.

jillmarie

Is there any way to make a solution that would work well in a shower. I hate to admit this...but when a person gets to a certain age, it's very hard to get out of a bathtub.

pat

Pat, you can use the bath salts on a wash mitt or wash cloth as an exfoliant scrub in the shower. You might want to use a little shampoo or body wash on the washcloth to start it off.

Diana

I have struggled with "bumpy skin" in the backs of my arms for years but have found that taking an epsom salts bath or wrapping my arms with empsom soaked cloths for a brief time each day, keeps them smooth, Gaye. So I am happy to see this recipe that adds a little "spice" to my routine. Thanks for always providing practical and helpful posts, my friend! I'll be pinning this!

Beth

I'm just curious. What does the kosher salt do? I've just used Epsom salts with vanilla fragrance oil. Is there an added benefit or is it just a varied texture thing?

Stephanie

I've seen lavender scented epsom salt in the stores as well. Love lavender for its soothing scent!

Katherine

If you don't have time to pre-mix the salts and let them dry out, you can always pour everything directly into the tub and mix it up before you get it. I tend to run a little bit of the hottest water possible first and then add everything as the hot water dissolves the salts quickly.

Jes

Thank you for the recipe - do you dry the salts in an oven or how should it be done? Sorry if it's a simple question

Hendriehetta ★★★★