Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD: Nourishment On and Beyond The Plate

In today's episode I speak with cookbook author, recipe developer and content creator Zaynab Issa, all about the power of PURPOSE in the kitchen. Zaynab worked as a food editor at Bon Appétit magazine, is a current contributor to New York Times Cooking, and is the author of the new book, Third Culture Cooking: Classic Recipes for a New Generation.

We explore how cooking can become a powerful place to find ourselves and to discover our unique preferences and aesthetic. Zaynab also shares her philosophy around beauty in life and in the kitchen, and how it can enrich the experience of eating, even if (or maybe especially if) we’re just cooking for ourselves. She shares her tips for creating beauty on the plate, from food styling tips, to how she chooses vessels, to tips for arranging the table. Be sure to hop over to the newsletter to get Zaynab's recipe for Tandoori Tacos (link below)!

LINKS

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

*Get Zaynab's recipe for Tandoori Tacos: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/zaynab-issa

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* Zaynab’s website: https://www.zaynabissa.com/

* Find Zaynab on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaynab_issa/

* Zaynab’s book: https://amzn.to/43eeuTI

Hello my friends, and welcome back to the show! In today’s episode we’re diving into the microbiome with Taylor Soderborg, MD, PhD. She’s a licensed physician and has a PhD in Integrative Physiology, and she works as an independent microbiome specialist and consultant. I’ve been wanting to have someone on the show for quite some time to talk about the microbiome, and when I came across a note Taylor posted on Substack about perfectionism and health (which I talk about in the show), I knew I found my gal (plus, I love her tagline, “I take s**t seriously” 😂).

We dive into what the microbiome is and where the science is at (it’s a new field but it’s growing fast). Taylor describes the role of the microbiome in our health and immune functions, how the microbiome influences our longevity (or, as she says, our health span), as well as the link between the microbiome and food allergies.

It’s probably not a surprise to hear that food is the number one driver of microbiome health in adults, and Taylor offers simple ways we can support our microbiome through the foods we eat. We also get into supplements, probiotics and prebiotics.

Finally, we talk about the myth of perfectionism around health. Taylor offers a great tip for navigating our way through all of the information we’re bombarded with, focusing instead on just one thing that works for our unique lifestyles.

This is such a fun conversation (yes, gut bacteria can be fun!), with some great takeaways—I hope you love it.

Episode Links

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

Taylor’s Website: https://www.doctortay.com/

Book a discovery call with Taylor: https://www.doctortay.com/book-online

Taylor’s newsletter: https://doctortaymdphd.substack.com/

Find Taylor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctortaycomedy/

Today I have solo episode for you, answering your questions! I recorded this last-minute when a guest rescheduled, calling on you (at the very last minute) to send me your questions, and I have to say, it was so much fun. In the episode I explore the value of moving slowly in the kitchen and answer your questions about:

* bread baking and gluten intolerance

* strategies for getting dinners on the table with young kids

* the difference between cake flour and regular flour (and do you have to flour your pans?)

* the difference between baking powder and baking soda (and can you interchange them?)

* my favorite meals to cook for myself (and the joy in eating alone)

* the meals that I’m currently craving

* the dessert that I’ve been fantasizing about

LINKS & RECIPES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Build-a-Bowl book: https://amzn.to/3DT4PZa

* Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple, by Aran Goyoaga: https://amzn.to/3XHjfCf

* Intentional Eating podcast: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/intentional-eating

* Eating alone post: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/almond-and-cassava-waffles

* Podcast episode with Aran Goyoaga: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/aran-goyoaga

* Podcast episode with Ellie Krieger: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/easy-summer-recipe-ideas

* Pea Pesto: https://fromscratchfast.com/pea-pesto/

* Chipotle Chicken Tacos: https://fromscratchfast.com/chipotle-chicken-tacos/

* Falafel Bowls: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/clean-out-the-fridge-falafel-bowls

* Italian Grilled Skirt Steak with Salsa Verde: https://fromscratchfast.com/new-book-and-tuscan-grilled-skirt-steak-with-salsa-verde/

* Grilled Potatoes with Parmesan and Chives: https://fromscratchfast.com/bbq-grilled-potatoes-recipe/

* Rhubarb & Almond Galette: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/rhubarb-almond-galette-gluten-free

What does it mean to thrive and to feel deeply nourished by life? In today’s episode I speak with Renee Moorefield, PhD, CEO of Wisdom Works, a social enterprise that partners with global companies to integrate the science and practices of human thriving into their cultures, brands, and leadership. Renee shares what it means to thrive, how thriving impacts our physiology and psychology, and why it’s more important than ever, not just on a personal level, but on a societal level. 

Renee and I also talk about nourishment and cooking and how we can transform them (and all of our everyday activities) into conscious cultivations of thriving. She shares easy, practical tips for bringing more thriving into our lives in a way that’s personal and delightful to each of us. 

EPISODE LINKS

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Renee’s website: https://www.wisdom-works.com/

* Find Renee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomworksgroup and https://www.instagram.com/moorefieldrenee/

* Samantha Fulton episode (mentioned in the episode): https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/our-nervous-systems-and-food

I absolutely adored today’s conversation with New York Times bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen, all about building trust in ourselves and learning to become more intuitive cooks. Julia is the author of five books, including her latest, What Goes with What, which I’m giving away for free this month (check out the newsletter link below to enter to win!).

You’ll learn about Julia’s childhood growing up in New York City and her longtime passion for food. Like so many women in the food industry, Julia hasn’t always had an easy relationship with her body, and she opens up about her journey towards finding a happier and healthier relationship with food, and how intuitive eating helped. As we discuss, it’s less about having a goal of intuitive eating, but more about letting go of the ways in which we’re conditioned around food in order to find body autonomy and pleasure in eating.

Julia also offers tips for becoming a more intuitive cook, sharing the practices, rituals and even appliances that help her find more ease in the kitchen. This ease leads to a deeper sense of inner trust and comfort in the kitchen, helping us let go of perfectionism in order to enjoy the process of tasting, experimenting and playing. I think you’re going to be so inspired by this episode and will walk away with a whole new perspective on the power—and pleasure—of cooking.

EPISODE LINKS AND RESOURCES:

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/julia-turshen

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Julia’s website: https://www.juliaturshen.com/

* Julia’s newsletter: https://juliaturshen.substack.com/

* Find Julia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turshen/

* My podcast episode with Elise Loehnen: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/the-sin-of-gluttony-with-elise-loehnen

* My podcast episode about rituals with Dr. Michael Norton: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/michael-norton

I have a fascinating episode today for you diving into the world of fascia and how it’s linked to our health and digestion. I speak with Bonnie Crotzer, founder of The Floss, a program of classes and private sessions that has helped thousands of people transform their fascia, effectively reversing pain, sculpting tissues, stabilizing the nervous system, optimizing organ function, enhancing lymph flow, and resolving long-standing structural issues.

While fascia is currently becoming a hot topic, Bonnie has been obsessed with it for over fifteen years. In this episode she describes what fascia is, how it affects our physical form, and its link to our life force energy, called Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. As she explains, fascia is not only structural in our bodies, it’s also a communication network. We dive into how it influences digestion, how we can support and change our fascia to increase circulation and enhance organ health, and even the foods that support our fascia.

Episode Links & Resources

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Bonnie’s Website: https://thefloss.com/

* Follow Bonnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fasciadepartment/

* Find Bonnie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Fasciaflossing

* The Spark in the Machine, by Dr. Daniel Keown: https://amzn.to/41dMM8L

* Myofascial Magic in Action, by Joanne Alison: https://amzn.to/4hP6f58

We’re heading into the depths of winter, and I don’t know about you, but it can be a challenging time to find inspiration in the kitchen, especially when cooking with vegetables. If you’ve been in a cooking rut, today’s episode is going to help you get out of it. I’m speaking with acclaimed food writer Jenny Rosenstrach who is the bestselling author of six books including Dinner: A Love Story, The Weekday Vegetarians, and her newest book The Weekday Vegetarians: Get Simple. She also writes the newsletter Dinner: A Love Story.

Jenny is the queen of weeknight vegetarian cooking, and in this episode we share recipe tips, cooking ideas, and weeknight dinner strategies for making the best of winter produce. The episode is packed with recipe inspiration, and Jenny also offers advice for making vegetarian cooking appeal to all eaters (even the meat lovers).

Be sure to stick around until the end, as Jenny shares three incredibly simple but profoundly effective tips for transforming cooking from a chore into a source of pleasure and joy.

EPISODE LINKS

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Jenny’s newsletter: https://dinneralovestory.substack.com/

* Jenny’s website: https://www.dinneralovestory.com/

* Find Jenny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinneralovestory/

* Episode I mentioned about rituals with Michael Norton: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/michael-norton

RECIPES

* Jenny’s Cabbage & Onion Galette: https://dinneralovestory.substack.com/p/three-things-09d?utm_source=publication-search

* Creamy Tahini Sauce: https://fromscratchfast.com/easy-tahini-sauce-recipe/

* Brussels Sprouts Galette: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/brussels-sprouts-and-gruyere-galette

* Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Bacon Vinaigrette: https://fromscratchfast.com/roasted-cabbage-wedges/

* Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: https://fromscratchfast.com/slow-cooker-sweet-potatoes/

I have such an incredible episode for you today with psychologist Dr. Hillary McBride all about embodiment and the truth of our bodies (regardless of what culture or the media would have us think). Dr. McBride is the author of the bestselling book (and one of my favorites), The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding wholeness, healing and connection through embodied living, and more recently, Practices for Embodied Living. Her next book Holy Hurt: understanding and healing from spiritual trauma, comes out April 2025.

Through sharing her own personal story, Hillary describes how our bodies can support the expression of our identities and our sense of wholeness, they can help us turn towards what’s hard in our lives (and handle it), and they can remind us of our own inherent goodness. We talk about what it means to be embodied, how we become disembodied, the link between embodiment and empowerment (vs. power), what it means to have agency, the power of our wanting, and more. No matter what your relationship has been like to your body in the past, or how you feel about your body right now, you’re going to walk away from this episode with more compassion for yourself as well as a deeper sense of empowerment.

Be sure to stay tuned for the full episode because Hillary offers tools at the end for connecting to our bodies and tapping into our inner wisdom, helping us to regain our sovereignty, reclaim our pleasure, and celebrate our desires.

LINKS

* Hillary’s website: https://hillarylmcbride.com/

* Find Hillary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillaryliannamcbride/

* The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding wholeness, healing and connection through embodied living: https://amzn.to/4gRAzeW

* Practices for Embodied Living: https://amzn.to/3BU6n3U

Hello my friends, and welcome back to the podcast! Today is a very special day, as in lieu of a regular podcast episode, WE’RE HAVING A PARTY. I gathered together five of my very favorite past podcast guests, who are all acclaimed food writers, cookbook authors (and fellow Substack publishers), for a festive—and seriously fun—holiday special, featuring: Hetty Lui McKinnon, Ellie Krieger, Andrea Nguyen, Sarah Copeland, and Lukas Volger.

In the show, we dive into our favorite holiday traditions, what the holidays looked like for us growing up, the recipes we love to make, our favorite desserts (find out who makes all the cookies and who prefers just eating them instead), how we navigate the busy season, Chanukah, recipe failures, Lunar New Year, and more. The episode is also packed with recipe inspiration, from menu ideas, to serving suggestions, to desserts, and more. We have all shared one of our favorite holiday dishes, which I’ve featured in the newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/holiday-special-2024

LINKS

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Episode with Hetty: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/food-as-connection-cooking-winter

* Episode with Ellie: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/easy-summer-recipe-ideas

* Episode with Andrea: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/andrea-nguyen

* Episode with Lukas: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/lukas-volger

* Episode with Sarah: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/sarah-copeland

Today we're diving into holiday hosting, gluten-free baking, and healing around food with award winning cookbook author, photographer and professionally trained pastry chef Aran Goyoaga. Her latest two books include: Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple and Cannelle et Vanille: Nourishing, Gluten-Free Recipes for Every Meal and Mood.

Aran describes her childhood growing up in her grandparent’s pastry shop in the Basque region of Spain and explains how baking became her connection back to her family when she moved the United States in her early twenties (and how she eventually left the corporate world to become a pastry chef). Aran also shares her journey going gluten-free due to health issues after her kids were born, and we dive into Christmas, offering tips for stress-free hosting and gluten-free baking.

Aran also opens up early in the conversation (11:14) about how she found healing around food after experiencing an eating disorder in her early twenties. As we’ve explored here on this podcast, food can be so nuanced—it can be a driver for connection and love, and at the same it can be a source of deep stress, particularly for women. We share these stories here to let you know that you’re not alone if you’ve ever felt anything similar, and also that there’s healing to be found.

Aran has also shared her recipe for Sweet Potato & Chocolate Marble Gingerbread, which you can find in the newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/aran-goyoaga

Episode Links

* Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD Newsletter: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/

* Find Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickisizemore

* One-on-one sessions with Nicki: https://mindbodyspiritfood.substack.com/p/coaching-and-cooking-sessions

* Aran’s website: https://www.arangoyoaga.com/

* Find Aran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannellevanille/

* Aran’s latest book (one of my favorite cookbooks), Cannelle et Vanille Bake Simple: https://amzn.to/3ZqCujo