Cozy Nights + An Ice Cream Sundae

This post was sponsored by Häagen-Dazs. Thanks for supporting the brands I love that make this blog possible!

Lately I’ve been trying to be more intentional about spending time decompressing before bed with a nighttime routine.

One activity I do with my clients and for myself is to create a self-care toolbox for different emotions or situations. Here’s a post I wrote about how to create a self care toolbox, but essentially it’s a list of different self-care activities or tools you can use in various situations. For example, when I’m feeling anxious, some things I have in my toolbox are doing a 5 minute meditation, taking a nap, and walking the dogs around the block. Recently I created a toolbox for decompressing at night. Some of the tools I put in it are diffusing lavender essential oil, reading a book in bed, taking a shower, and cozying up on the couch with a warm blanket, funny TV show and ice cream.

Yup, that’s right – food can be a totally appropriate way to relax! Why does emotional eating have to be a “bad” thing? Humans are emotional creatures by nature, so it’s impossible to separate eating from emotion. When it’s a conscious decision, rather than mindlessly (and guilt-fully) eating, ice cream can be relaxing and comforting – which makes it a totally healthy, and appropriate choice.

My current favorite? Häagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Collection. Growing up, I was a HUGE ice cream snob and Häagen-Dazs was pretty much the only brand I liked. What I love about their new non-dairy line is that Häagen-Dazs keeps the quality of their traditional ice cream by using ingredients like coconut cream, cocoa butter, and peanut butter for a creamier texture, instead of just substituting soy, almond or coconut milk, which makes it icy, rather than creamy and delicious.

Even though I do eat dairy, I do choose plant-based options when I find a product that’s just as tasty as the regular version, like Häagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Collection. For me, it’s not about going vegetarian or vegan and forcing my diet to fit into a box, but having options that are more environmentally sustainable, while not sacrificing favorite foods or taste. When you look at trends of what consumers are looking for in plant-based products, I think there’s a lot of people in the same boat – interested in eating less animal foods for sustainability or animal welfare, but making those choices in a positive way by focusing on adding in vs. subtracting. I love that Häagen-Dazs is helping people find more ways to love plant-based eating by offering convenient and tasty plant-based foods! Which is awesome, because they feed millions of people, so offering plant-based options really makes a big impact.

Currently, when I have cozy time on the couch with ice cream, I love to have a scoop of 2-3 flavors, because I’m totally indecisive. Pictured here are three of my favorite Häagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Collection flavors – TRIO CRISPY LAYERS Coconut Cookies and Crème, which has layers of creamy coconut with dark chocolate cookie pieces layered in velvety chocolate; Mocha Chocolate Cookie, which has the chocolaty-ist cookie crumbles; and Coconut Caramel, which pro tip, is really tasty sprinkled with a bit of sea salt. I served it in my favorite ice cream bowl, which I swear makes ice cream taste better, along with berries and an easy chocolate fudge sauce I made by melting dark chocolate chips with a bit of COFFEE-MATE natural bliss Vanilla Almond Milk Coffee Creamer. Then for the ultimate veg out and relax experience, turn on your favorite TV episodes! How can you not have a restful night of sleep after that?

This post was sponsored by Häagen-Dazs.