This blog is dedicated to serving our community by infusing joy & inspiration into healthy recipes, self-care practices, global human inclusivity, and spiritual curiosity.
Accoutrements for the name, Fun Tasty Wellness:
- For the Win!
- Foundation of True Wealth
- Fountain of Truth and Wisdom
- (All are true, and taste excellent together)
Why this blog:
Let’s be real… Human life evolves around food; does it not?
Mine certainly does. Yours might too, gauging by your interest in this topic.
Thank goodness for modern inventions that let us focus on other things besides sustenance… so that today, food gets to be a passion, if we so choose.
It can also get away from us though, or feel confusing; so we at WReN are here to illuminate yummy paths toward wellness you can consider walking.
Nourishing menu — different flavored intentions:
- Maybe you feel at home in kitchens. Maybe you avoid them.
- Maybe you have fond food memories from childhood. Maybe hard ones.
- Maybe food is a joyful companion, powerful assistant, creative medium. Maybe it is an annoying confusion, dependence object, coping mechanism.
- Maybe physical, mental, spiritual health is richly within your reach. Maybe some aspect is dodging your grasp.
- Maybe emotions enhance your experience of eating, which in turns feels even better internally. Maybe eating and emotions get in the way of each other.
- Maybe you rock a meal and wellness routine, and enjoy new tips. Maybe you’re gleaning for clues of inspiration to even get started.
Wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here!
However you practice being healthy — including eating well, aligning with your values, and tending to your mental/emotional/spiritual/physical health — I offer a warm spot at this table of WReN Health’s official Fun Tasty Wellness blog. Thank you for joining!
The cream-filled heart of the matter:
I’d like everyone to have a healthier RELATIONSHIP with our food, ourselves, and each other.
Sound appealing?
After all, interacting with food is complex and beautiful.
- It gives us energy to do activities, and depletes us at other times.
- It nourishes us. It damages us.
- It excites us. It distracts us.
- It comforts us, at least briefly.
Food meets more of our needs than simply hunger.
- Culinary curiosity feeds our creativity cravings.
- Work and leisure movements require us to fuel-up first, then re-fuel to recover.
- Practicing kitchen skills can build self-confidence, so we feel competent.
- Cooking for someone can be a precious gift, sharing generosity —whether the occasion is for joy or hardship.
Here at this table, we serve up FUN
Forget the old rules. I wholeheartedly believe in playing with food!
Joy is an ingredient that often gets overlooked. When we get creative in the kitchen, we connect with our inner child. When we feel (even a bit) happier and calmer while cooking and/or eating, things taste yummier, our bodies absorb nutrients better, we even feel more satisfied — and thus gladly avoid overeating.
Universally, eating together gives us a sense of belonging and connection; something sorely missing for many of us today. Therefore, a goal here is to offer content that draws us closer together in this glorious & bizarre, delectable & delicate, rewarding & challenging, impactful yet ephemeral experience of being human.
Not only do we humans eat to survive, we also make a big deal of it.
Whether it be a rustic kitchen, a festival food truck, a campfire cookout, a fine dining establishment, a friendly drive-through, or a party potluck, I bet you have countless awesome memories of how food brings folks together.
- It forms scenarios for connection.
- Highlights people’s talents.
- Motivates us to travel certain places, to seek special taste-based experiences.
- Counts as a love language.
Finally, parties aren’t the only places we should get to have finger foods.
Handheld snacks or tapas are great to make for yourself, with a partner, friend, or family member. I love sharing recipe ideas for smaller portions of healthy, fresh joy!
We center what’s truly TASTY
A lot of food out there just doesn’t feel good.
- Advertisements are aimed at our taste buds, and actually prey on our feelings of emotional lack, discontent, and loneliness.
- Packaged products often contain a host of addicting ingredients.
- Health icons present wild diet fads that can lead folks to feel guilt.
- Traditional dishes may be nostalgic but not healthy, and need upgrades.
Simple truth is, simpler nosh is better tasting and better for you.
Plus, eating according to your intuition is best. Sometimes that’s really tricky though, so you’re wise to seek guidance. I wasn’t always good at this either; I had to practice.
How about throwing out moldy habits and expectations, and stocking up on simple methods for enjoyable, life-enhancing nourishment — spanning from stomach to spirit?
I intend to share that kind of inspiration. Informed by science and experience.
So that you step in as the creative cook in the kitchen of your own life 🙂
We deliver holistic WELLNESS
Internally, both what and how we eat affect our vitality — including our bodies, brains, and souls.
Emotionally toxic eating, consuming on autopilot, seasoning with shame and other unsavory feels… these really can drag down a meal. Making ourselves suffer from “shoulds” and “should nots”, or someone else’s idea of those rules… can get us into a pickle.
I invite us to be mindful during our mealtimes, such as blessing or singing to the food, breathing deeply, and eating more quietly and calmly — for the thriving of our full selves.
Globally, food systems can be quite unethical.
Many of our relatives across nations don’t have access to share the same abundance of nourishment as in developed countries. Many popular ingredients we purchase have negative impacts on the planet and on communities.
I invite us to be mindful with our choices, such as buying organic (in the PNW, Natural Grocers is a leader), locally grown, and eating more compassionately — for the thriving of all life.
Hey, why all this bitterness? Where are the sprinkles?
Life is a full spectrum meal 🙂 and wouldn’t be complete without a bit of tough and a bit of tender, a bit of crunch and a bit of creamy, and the full spread of flavors: bitter, sour, salty, umami, spicy, AND sweet.
Perspectives in this blog will blend my passions including holistic self healing, social justice, permaculture, empowered relationships, creative living, local farming/gardening, mindfulness and spirituality, and will feature specials of songs, science, and silliness!
In case you are wondering what kind of recipes you will find here, the answer is I will both center plants, and involve animal foods, so will include omnivore and vegan versions whenever applicable. I do believe in balancing our nutritional inputs.
Hope you enjoyed the appetizers 🙂
What delectable topics are you curious about? Leave a comment to request specific ideas.
