Podcast: Dr. Christy Gibson and the Joy of Wild Blueberries

Dr. Gibson in a wild blueberry field in Georgia

Introducing our next guest, author of the brand-new book The Modern Trauma Toolkit, Dr. Christy Gibson (she/her). Christy joins me at the kitchen table to discuss the gentle softness of her grandmother's cooking, the connection between food, trauma, flexibility, and its role in healing, and the joy of wild blueberries! 

Dr. Gibson is a family physician in Calgary, Canada with a background in justice work, medical education, and global health. A skilled facilitator and speaker, she is engaged in building individual and community resilience. Her writing creates the woven narrative between her interests – wellbeing, trauma recovery, and the power of story. She is a skilled trauma therapist who understands that stress lives in human and community bodies, and is the author of the book The Modern Trauma Toolkit . You can find out more about her on her super popular TikTok/IG channels @tiktoktraumadoc or her website https://www.christinegibson.net/

Christy's recipe:

West African Ground Nut Stew

Shared with love from Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant, Copyright © 1990 by Moosewood, Inc. Simon and Schuster, publisher

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped onions

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil or 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 teaspoon garlic, pressed

• 2 cups chopped cabbage

• 3 cups cubed sweet potatoes (1-inch cubes)

• 3 cups tomato juice

• 1 cup apple juice or 1 cup apricot juice

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon grated peeled ginger root, fresh

• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, fresh (optional)

• 2 chopped tomatoes

• 1 1⁄2 - 2cups chopped okra

• 1⁄2 cup natural-style peanut butter

Directions: Sauté the onions in the oil for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cayenne and garlic and sauté for a couple more minutes. Add the cabbage and sweet potatoes and sauté, covered for a few minutes. Mix in the juices, salt, ginger, cilantro, and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender. Add the okra and simmer for 5 minutes more. Stir in the peanut butter, place the pan on a heat diffuser, and simmer gently until ready to serve. Add more juice or water if the stew is too thick.

Get Christy's book here: The Modern Trauma Toolkit

The opinions of the Food Stories Podcast guests are theirs and theirs alone. The information on this podcast is NOT intended as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the care of a qualified healthcare professional. This content is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. Always consult with your primary care physician or licensed healthcare provider for all diagnoses and treatment of any diseases or conditions, for medications or medical advice as well as before changing your healthcare regimen.