Dear Reader, “I am so busy.” I am not exactly sure when I found myself in a position where this statement felt like a 2-in-1 boast and complaint. Perhaps I first started feeling this in high school, when having a social life, good grades, and sleep all seemed to be working in a trade-off system, and choosing to forgo sleep was equated with a certain superiority. Or maybe it was even before then, watching movies and television shows as a child, and seeing scenes of the hardworking, tired...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, It was late at night and I had stopped by the supermarket to buy some salmon filets but hadn’t really thought about how to cook them. When I got home, I looked in the kitchen to see what I could use for seasoning and found the cabinets sparse. Another night of salmon seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil, I groaned to myself for not buying more spices while I was at the store. But as I double-checked my fridge for ingredients, I found a small bag of leftover miso that my...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, Mindful eating, like all kinds of meditation, can actually be quite tricky when you’re first starting out. The mind is geared to wander and often likes to gravitate toward thinking about anything but the current moment: Did I get feedback on my assignment yet? Should I renew my insurance for the car soon? I’ll need to book tickets for that trip soon… In most cases our mind wandering is harmless, and it's a very natural thing to do. But when we're eating, being too lost in our...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Dear Reader, What does healthy eating look like? Oftentimes, we imagine something like a green salad, lean protein, (maybe) some carbs, water, and not a dessert in sight. But this illustration of the healthy lifestyle is not just wrong, but its skewed version of reality can set us up for resignation. Any moment we’re not exemplifying perfection, it can feel like failure. The reality is, no healthy person actually lives like this all the time. In reality it looks… kind of unhealthy? Here are...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, It's Olympics season! It's already been full of so many iconic moments, such as the selfie between Chinese, North Korean, and South Korean podium athletes, watching a 5'6" Japanese basketball player compete next to a 7'4" French player, and I'll be looking forward to watching today's match between the oldest man to reach an Olympic tennis singles final, vs the youngest man to achieve the feat. If you’ve been watching as I have, you’ve probably thought to yourself at least once...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, There are a lot of opinions on snacking, and I’ve heard many opinions throughout the years ranging from “It’s terrible for your metabolism and health” to “The best way to eat is many small snacks throughout the day”. The way people see them ranges from evil, to the solution of our health woes. But like most things, I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. Snacking is not inherently bad for you Meals were established to accommodate the modern lifestyle, rather than the...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, Last week I challenged myself to something new, and well, it did not go as planned. In fact, it was maybe my 3rd or 4th time trying, and it did not go as planned. I felt pretty bummed, and down about myself. We know that life is full of imperfect moments, but it still doesn’t feel great. But as I was feeling down I came across a quote by Dr. Ruth, that helped shed some perspective on my feelings. “In order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, It’s travel season, and so I’m doing whatever I can to not get sick before my much-anticipated plans. While I’m always mindful to get plenty of rest and have a large variety of whole foods, about 2-3 weeks before any big plans (where getting sick wouldn't be ideal), I become more attentive to getting two key vitamins in particular: Vitamins D and C. Why I pay attention to vitamin D and C Vitamin D and vitamin C play a key role in our immune system function, as they help increase...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, I don’t know where you are in the world right now, but where I am right now it’s really hot. Days are often over 30°C (86°F) and rarely do I ever feel like stranding over the stovetop to cook something over heat. I’m sweaty enough as it is! In fact, I have many days where I don’t want to cook. There are many reasons why I don’t want to– it can be stress, lack of time, and sometimes it’s just the weather. Admitting that has been freeing for me. What Japanese summers taught me...
3 months ago • 3 min read