Arming yourself with nutrient dense whole food-centric snacks made with simple, real ingredients is the best way to nourish your body in a pinch without having to overthink it. Check out my favorite store-bought, on-the-go, travel and work snacks in this post!
Read MoreWhen I started eating more whole, real food at the ripe age of 23 (I was a processed food junkie before that), I was sure it was going to be torture. After all, I did hide my broccoli under my napkin until I moved out of my house for college and then ate mostly heaping bowls of cereal washed down with orange soda and beer for 4 years straight. My palate wasn't exactly primed for Brussels sprouts and dry roasted nuts.
Read MoreThe average American is eating 22 TEASPOONS of added sugar a day. And before you say "not me! I drink my coffee black and choose diet soda!"consider this: most people are completely unaware of how much added sugar they're eating until they start reading labels. On your next trip to the grocery store, examine the labels on the yummies you're throwing in that cart and you'll likely be surprised to see how much sugar is added to everything from seemingly "healthy" bread to savory crackers to vegan dips and paleo protein bars. But why should you care?
Read MoreSo! You're ready to dig that fork of yours into a big pile of health and wellness and wake up a changed woman, eh? But what the heck actually goes on that fork?
The conversation around nutrition in this country has grown maddeningly confusing. It can seem impossible to get straight answers to questions around whether or not things like red meat, gluten, saturated fats, or even little ol' brown rice are harmful or perfectly healthy. Add increasingly high rates of food allergies, hormonal imbalances, gut issues, and autoimmune diseases and no wonder many of us feel beyond overwhelmed.
Read MoreA combination of personal experience, extensive research and observation over the past 2 decades has made me a firm believer in slow, incremental change and bio-individuality. Because change can be daunting, and figuring out what works best for your biologically unique body can be even more daunting, we're going to start with simple, foundational changes that are low maintenance and high impact for anyone and everyone - regardless of your physical condition, health goals and available resources.
Up first is mindful eating, a skill you can use it at every stage in your healthy eating evolution. The best part? You can get rolling while still clutching a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos if you want - although I can promise you won't feel the same about them when we're through.
Read MoreAs someone that started her health journey as a broke 23-year-old who thought Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches and vodka sodas were healthy, I remember too well what it's like to stare down the path to healthy eating feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't matter if you start neck deep in cupcakes or encounter all sorts of tricky hurdles along the way. It IS possible to get to a place where you're harnessing all the nourishing, healing, anti-aging, disease-fighting benefits of a healthy diet every day. And it does NOT have to be overwhelming, confusing or inaccessible.
The goal of this MFW Fundamentals series is to provide the support you need to make healthy eating feel possible, in the form of a step-by-step guide. We'll start at the beginning, keep things simple and have some fun along the way. So my only question is this: are you ready to see where a healthier diet will take you?
Read MoreSmoothies, smoothie bowls, acai bowls and ALL the blended things continue to be popular staples on the health food scene. Why is everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Katie Couric to little ol' me such a big fan?
Read MoreMy meal prep routine is a little different each week, depending on what's on the calendar for the week ahead, if we're traveling, how much time I have to dedicate to cooking on the weekend and of course what kind of mood I'm in (cause human). Regardless of these constantly changing factors, preparing at least a little food at home is an integral part of any healthy diet and relationship with food, so I try to make it happen to some extent (even if that's just steaming some greens)! Whether you have a little time or plenty, or can cook like a pro or don't know how to boil water, below are some fool proof steps, tips and things to consider when setting yourself up for a week of healthier eating fueled by meal prep.
Read MoreWho would have thought that the simple act of sitting down to check in with yourself for a moment could be such an eye-opening experience? So many of us are so disconnected from what we're feeling in our bodies and what's going on in the back of our minds, often because we think it's the only way to survive the crazy pace of life these days. I was a big fan of "self unawareness" for a long time, until I realized that actually paying attention to my brain, body and emotions is a valuable exercise in self exploration; one that has led to a lot of personal growth AND has allowed me to more compassionately address my needs and the needs of those around me.
Read MoreI remember the first time my therapist suggested I start practicing mindfulness with little counting exercises and/or daily meditation. Poor sweet Dr. F was on the receiving end of an imperceptive eye roll, insincere smile and dismissive nod. In my defense, I was in my mid-twenties and barely 5 years off the plane from Boston where "that hippie shit" just didn't fly. Raised in an Irish Catholic household in a conservative Republican town in Connecticut, I wasn’t exactly primed to receive alternative approaches to stress management or behavioral change very well. As is the tradition in such circles, emotions are not to be indulged, feelings are not to be had, therapy is not to be invested in, meditation is for the birds.
Read MoreAs I learn more and more about what it takes to keep my female body and mind well, I’m finding that it doesn’t always have to be as complicated and confusing as it often seems. My personal health journey has taught me that when empowered with sufficient information, informed about all the options and supported by the right caregivers, our health and wellbeing can actually feel attainable and sustainable. But without these things, we are simply are not well equipped enough to navigate the inevitable challenges that come with puberty, menstrual cycles, childbirth, menopause, aging, or mental and physical illnesses unique to our female bodies.
Read MoreI'm a realist first and a dreamer second; always pragmatic and only (very) occasionally wistful. So you're not going to find me frolicking around chanting affirmations in the moonlight or tattooing an image of my naked body across my back. Yet. Honestly, I hope I dig myself enough to do those things someday with unbridled enthusiasm, but for now the below are quick, easy self love baby steps that even the most practiced in self-criticism can bear.
Read MoreA superfood is any food that is particularly nutrient dense and is more beneficial for your brain and bod than the average chicken nugget. Common superfoods include blueberries, kale and even dark chocolate. Below are some less common superfoods that you might see in Misfit Wellness recipes...
Read MoreEveryone's talking gut health these days. Microbiome this, probiotic that, ferment your dairy, pickle your veggies, drink your booch, eat your kraut. But why should you listen?
Read MoreThis is a fast, easy crowd pleaser that takes advantage of the bursting flavors found in fresh, local, seasonal produce. We're lucky enough to have a nice long stone-fruit season in California, but if you're no longer seeing peaches at your farmers market or grocery store, you can sub any tender-flesh fruit. Enjoy this delightful salad and don't forget to read on to the benefits of eating local and in-season below the recipe!
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