I keep seeing this question being discussed on Instagram. 

And I actually think we are asking the wrong question.

The question is not "is it wrong or shameful to want to lose weight, get plastic surgery, or do something else to change the way we look?" 

The question is "am I going to have to abandon myself in the process of pursing weight loss, getting the plastic surgery or whatever else to change how I look?" 

The desire to want to change what we look like is not wrong, nor something to feel shame about. In fact, I'd argue it's completely understandable given the thin, youth, and appearance-obsessed culture we live in.

This desire is *often* about wanting to avoid judgment, oppression, and discrimination...it's about wanting to fit in and feel good enough. Those are pretty normal human desires. 

Since we know it's *likely* that people will judge us based on our size, how clear our skin is, and how closely we adh...

(Sponsored by California Avocado Commission. All thoughts and opinions my own)

When I'm looking for a filling, delicious, and easy weeknight dinner I am often looking for a grilled cheese sandwich. 

But since I am into what I call "lazy fancy" vibes, there is almost always a little more going on than just bread and cheese. 

And this California Avocado, Fennel and Sugar Snap Pea Grilled Cheese is no exception.  

It's fancy for sure, but easy to make and oh so freakin good. 

Think creamy California Avocado, sweet caramelized fennel (my latest obsession), crunchy sugar snap peas, herbaceous basil, and plant-based provolone & ricotta cheese.

Truly it is a weeknight delight. 

While you’re at the store, don’t forget to look for California on the label of your California Avocados!

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

1/2 fennel bulb, core removed then thinly sliced on a mandolin, preferred, or with a knife

1 tbsp coconut oil

salt

10-14 sugar snap peas, ends trimmed *see n...

Let's start out with a little history! (Trust me 🙋‍♀️ I have a point)

Back in 279 BC, Pyrrhus of Epirus won a most triumphant victory over the Romans in the Battle of Asculum. BUT the battle ended up destroying much of his forces, he lost his best soldiers, many of which were his family and dear friends.

While a tactical victory, he had to end his campaign...the casualties were so great, the cost so high, that it outweighed the win itself.

Although he was praised for winning the battle, he said that he never wanted to win again, he would preferred to have his family and friends.

Today this is known as a 'Pyrrhic Victory' - "a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat" (Wikipedia)

A false win because the costs are too high.

The shrinking of your body size through an eating disorder is much the same.

You might lose weight, you might get thin,
and when all the compliments and praise start...

Omg. These are so  flipping  good. ‘Meaty’ marinated mushroom, creamy herby cheese, sweet yet savory Romesco, peppery arugula...it’s a mouth-party you don’t want to miss!!

They’re super easy & only take about 40-ish minutes to make.

Store the leftover Romesco in the fridge and enjoy it on literally everything.

Serves two:
ROMESCO (makes 2 cups)
3 medium-sized bell peppers (red/yellow/orange), de-seeded & quartered
1-2 tbsp melted coconut oil
Salt
1 cup dry roasted almonds
3 garlic cloves
2-3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cayenne
1/2 cup olive oil
Black pepper

MUSHROOMS
2 portobello mushrooms, skins peeled off & stems removed
1 minced clove garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup coconut aminos
2 tbsp tamari
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp chili power
Black pepper

FETA
1/4 cup vegan feta, I used Violife
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp fresh chopped dill

TO FINISH
2 toasted b...

When we’re working towards healing our relationship with food, meaning we’re letting go of dieting and restriction, our body might change. And all the painful thoughts and feelings we tried to avoid through food & weight control are going to surface. 

The fear monkeys, the shame monsters, the “not-good-enough” ghouls. 

The limiting beliefs, uncomfortable feelings, and trauma we’ve tried to “diet away” will come up when we’re no longer using food and weight as a coping mechanism, an avoidance strategy.

It’s common to think that all these thoughts and feelings mean we’re not doing well in recovery, that we’re faltering or failing, which is not the case. 

Recovery does not mean the absence of negative thoughts or difficult feelings, rather having them through the process is normal, understandable, to be expected, when you’ve grown up in Diet Culture and a fatphobic environment. 

The marker of growth, what influences your well-being in the long-run, i...

Take it from a girl who has experienced her fair share of burnout and has absolutely been influenced by #hustle culture. 

We glamorize the "workaholic", pulling all-nighters, grinding our face-off as if that's what's required to get ahead, to be worthy, to be good enough. 

You know, that whole "attaching your worth to your productivity" thing. Been there.

But pushing through until you can not push any more doesn't always mean you will get there faster, or with better results. It just means you push until you can't push anymore.

Imagine you're taking a long road trip and your car is almost out of gas. Instead of pulling over to refuel, you go until your tank is empty. What could have been a short break before being on your way again, turned into a much longer wait for someone to pull over to help or for AAA to arrive. This delay was unnecessary and completely avoidable. 

Running until you're on empty is not worth it. In your car or in your lif...

*Sponsored by California Avocado Commission -- All opinions are my own

Have you ever just known you were meant to be somewhere...that you would somehow find a way to get there? 

This is how I have felt about California for as long as I can remember. While I was born in Chicago and raised in Phoenix, my soul had always been pulling me towards the west coast. 

Even now, when I leave and come back to Los Angeles, where I live, I feel my nervous system comes back online -- a jolt of energy that not only makes me feel at home but also more alive. 

From the abundant farmer's markets, varied ethnic cuisines, to the fun food fairs, the foodie in me is endlessly nourished. 

And, it wasn't until I moved to California and tasted California Avocados, that I became hooked on this delicious fruit. A full-blown love-affair (albeit worthy of an eye-roll as my basic millennial self shines through) began. Who knew I would become such an Avocado obsessed person...

Holy shit my friends this is freaking spectacular.

And if you’re bored of pasta with a jar of sauce, but not bored of how easy it is, then this is for you.

Literally took 15 minutes from start to finish and it was time well spent 🤤 so good.
 

THINGS:
1 lbs Tagliatelle pasta
BEETROOT SAUCE
12-14oz pre-cooked beets (store bought)
3-4 cloves garlic
1 Fresno red chili -de-seeded for milder spice
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Maple syrup -optional
FETA TOPPING
8 oz vegan feta cheeze
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

WHAT TO DO WITH THINGS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook pasta according to package instructions.

For the sauce, in a blender combine the beets, garlic, red Fresno chili, olive and salt. Blend until smooth and adjust seasoning to taste. If too spicy, add maple syrup or honey.

In a small bowl, mash up the feta and stir in the dill and lemon juice. Set aside.
Drain the pasta and in a large bowl comb...

If you have been around here a while or following along on my Instagram than you should not be surprised by my obsession with fries.

All things fries. I am here for it. 

So the other day when I, for some unknown reason, started thinking back to some loaded sweet potato skins I had made with a peanut sauce many eons ago, I got the desire to remake them but with an upgrade. 

This time I wanted to add some kind of like crunchy delicious salad on top or ingredients that you might find in a cold noodle salad.

But with fries on the bottom, of course!

Needless to say, they came out awesome. The flavor is zingy, zippy, tangy, popping. Texture on point.

All the things. 

I am sure you will love 'em.

And don't let the amount of ingredients scare you off, this comes together very quickly and easily. While the potatoes cook, you can whip up the sauce and mango salad. 

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Sweet Potatoes

4 large or 10 small sweet potatoes, scrubbe...

Something that I routinely hear from my clients is how they "know their thoughts and beliefs about food and their weight are irrational".

Their fear of weight gain is irrational.
Their fear of carbs is irrational.
Their hatred of their body is irrational.

And that's the problem with leaving out education on the oppressive nature of Diet Culture, and dominant narratives like Fatphobia.

When the focus is on you, your behaviors, and your beliefs without understanding the larger cultural subtext in which they arise and form, you are left thinking you are the problem to be fixed. You are the irrational one worrying about weight gain.

The truth is there is nothing inherently irrational about any of our thoughts and beliefs around food & weight when you consider the culture we grew up in.

A culture that trains women to believe their weight dictates their worth, social life, career...where fatphobia is so real that parents willingly put their kids on diet...