Minimal Wellness is six months old! Over the past half-year I’ve published 34 original recipes and 27 blog posts, provided nutrition coaching to some awesome folks, and the site has been visited nearly 200,000 times. Thank you for being part of Minimal Wellness, I appreciate each and every person who comes to the site, makes the recipes, connects with the words, and utilizes the services — my gratitude for being able to cultivate and share my passion with all of you cannot be measured or adequately expressed.
This effort has been both the most rewarding and terrifying professional experience of my life and I’m only six months in. It feels a little like having a second child — I never feel completely prepared and I continually second guess myself, yet I feel like I’m putting my best work forward. This site (and my life) will always be a work in progress and it’s still in its infancy, but I’m proud of Minimal Wellness’s development to date and am giddy for future plans. There’s much more to come, my friends. This is just the beginning.
To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite blog posts and recipes.
- Sugar — “The average American takes in 23 teaspoons (which is 92 grams or 368 calories) of added sugar every day… the American Heart Association recommends that the daily added sugar limit should be no more than half a person’s discretionary calorie intake, which means about 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men, or 25g and 40g respectively.”
- The Gray — “The health and fitness industry is permeated by black and white, good or bad thinking, but I believe it’s in The Gray that most people find true wellness. The ability to not obsess over diet, exercise, weight, or appearance — but to still have those things matter and have importance — is essential to optimal health.”
- Looking Good — “What makes someone beautiful, handsome, or attractive is, in large part, being comfortable in their own skin. Confidence. Happiness. Joy. These qualities make our eyes sparkle and smiles shine far brighter than any arsenal of products. Pursuing a life of meaning and purpose ignites our internal fire and makes us the most attractive version of ourselves. “
- Meal Timing — “I’ve adopted a 10-12 on, 14-12 off eating pattern which promotes a healthy circadian rhythm and allows for daily metabolic rest, repair, and rejuvenation.”
- Black Coffee — “Nothing’s inherently wrong with drinking milky coffee, I just found that I enjoy it far more with the excess removed. This is a metaphor about life — removing the superfluous enhances our ability to taste and to live.”
- Ethiopian Peanut Stew — This stew is deeply nourishing with a sensual, warm, and deeply-spiced flavor profile. When served with injera, it’s perfect for a winter dinner.
- Protein Pancakes — A stack of these hot fluffy pancakes are a delicious weekend brunch treat. My version of this breakfast staple is gluten-free, high-protein, and added-sugar-free.
- Winter Salad — This salad will bring a flavorful kaleidoscope of colors to the table with kale, delicata squash, apple, beet, and a pomegranate vinaigrette.
- Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Rustic Dukkah — This recipe was inspired by a dish my partner and I enjoyed at a restaurant that paired a dukkah spice blend with butternut squash. I used red kuri squash in this recipe for its rich, nutty flavor and because the skin gets soft enough during roasting to be eaten along with the flesh.
- Grape Gazpacho — This soup is my new hot summer night go-to. It works well because the grape isn’t overpowering and is balanced by the nuts and cucumber. But the preserved lemon is my favorite ingredient — it’s unusual and bright.