Here are the five ideas that have stayed with me the most.

1. One size does not fit all

Modern nutrition loves a universal prescription. 30 grams of protein per meal. 25–30g of fiber per day. An apple cider vinegar shot in the morning. These guidelines are well-intentioned — they’re designed to serve the largest number of people. But Ayurveda starts from a completely different premise: each person has a unique mind-body constitution, called a dosha, and what nourishes one person can genuinely harm another.

Take the famous ACV shot. For someone who is already runs hot and dry inside — stressed out, acidic, inflamed - that shot is like pouring fuel on a fire. Meanwhile, someone with sluggish digestion and a cold, heavy constitution might thrive on exactly that warming, stimulating start to the day.

Or consider the 30g protein recommendation. If someone is struggling with bloating, gas, and digestive difficulty - a classic sign of Vata imbalance; loading them up with dense protein they can’t break down isn’t helpful. It becomes burden, not nourishment.

The question Ayurveda asks isn’t “what is healthy?” It’s “what is healthy for this person, right now?”

2. The six tastes — and why a complete meal matters

Ayurveda identifies six tastes in food (Shad Rasa): sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. And here’s the beautiful part - a meal is considered complete only when all six are represented. Each taste plays a role in digestion, satisfaction, and balance. When we eat meals dominated by just one or two tastes, we leave the body searching for what it didn’t get. For example, you eat a starch-heavy meal, and you crash soon after because you didn’t get enough of the astringent (most plant-based proteins and cruciferous) taste. Conversely, you eat extremely low carb while also reducing fat, and your body starts to crave the sweet taste (starchy foods, oils, avocado).

There’s also a principle called Samanya Vishesha Siddhanta - like increases like. So when someone is already cold and dry inside, feeding them a raw salad doesn’t help. It amplifies the imbalance. Instead, you emphasize the opposite: warm, grounding, slightly oily foods that add moisture and heat.

3. Rethinking protein

Ayurveda doesn’t talk about protein as a macronutrient the way modern nutrition does — but it has a rich framework for strength-building foods. These tend to be astringent, dense, and heavy: lentils, beans, tofu, certain grains. Animal proteins like Greek yogurt are not astringent, but they’re still heavy. High protein foods are usually harder to digest, which is why how you eat them matters enormously.

The Ayurvedic guidance: eat these foods at lunch (when your digestion is strongest), warm them, spice them well, and pair them with good fat. Fermented versions — like tempeh or sourdough— are easier on the system because they’ve essentially been “pre-cooked” by the fermentation process.

4. Foods have properties — and those properties interact

This one has genuinely changed how I cook. In Ayurveda, every food has a quality (often more than one) and a post-digestive effect — meaning what it does to your system after it’s been processed.

Some examples:

• Rice — cooling, moisture-rich

• Lentils — cooling and drying

• Yogurt — surprisingly heating

• Spices — warming and digestive

• Bitter greens — cooling and lightening

• Chickpeas — dry, astringent, cooling

Now here’s where it gets fascinating. Take that humble chickpea. On its own, it’s hard to digest, which is why so many people have difficulty. But when you make hummus — puréeing it with olive oil (adding sweetness, bitterness, and pungency), tahini (sesame seeds are warming and oily), cumin and lemon (warming, digestive) — the properties shift. The chickpea becomes far more digestible. Someone figured this out thousands of years before we had nutritional science to explain why.

This is actually the focus of my thesis, and I can’t wait to share more about it: how so many ancient food traditions - combinations, preparations, fermentation, spicing, were quietly optimizing for digestibility all along.

5. Digestive strength is everything

If there’s one concept Ayurveda is built around, it’s agni - your metabolic fire, your digestive strength. Almost everything else flows from this.

The basic idea: your agni follows a natural rhythm throughout the day. It’s strongest at midday, which is why lunch should be your heaviest, most nourishing meal. It’s gentler in the morning and evening, so breakfast and dinner should be lighter and easier to digest.

When food goes in and agni isn’t strong enough to process it fully, the result is ama - undigested metabolic waste. Over time, ama accumulates, clogs the body’s channels, and creates the conditions for imbalance and, eventually, illness. Most modern chronic conditions, from an Ayurvedic perspective, have roots in long-term ama buildup.

The good news: agni can be rebuilt. Most Ayurvedic nutrition protocols are fundamentally about gently stoking that fire back to health — through meal timing, food combinations, warming spices, rest, and a rhythm that works with the body’s natural cycles rather than against them.

Six months in, I’m still learning. But these ideas have made me a more thoughtful, more curious, and honestly more intuitive eater. I hope they open something up for you too.

Got a favorite brand or flavor I missed? Drop it in the comments—I’m always testing.

We’ve hit peak summer mugginess in NYC a few times already. This is the kind of weather that will get me to jump into a non-heated pool and eat ice cream within the same hour. Which makes it perfect timing for this post. As always, I turn to ice cream brands with clean ingredients and few or no additives. None of these are paid promotions or even affiliate links, just brands that I enjoy.

In no particular order (all images are screenshots from the brand website)

1. Van Leeuwen - Look at the ingredients on Van Leeuwen’s vanilla, (also objectively the best vanilla I’ve had). We go through a pint/week and I’m ok with it. I also love their Sicilian Pistachio, similar ingredient profile but takes me back to Italy.

2. Cosmic Bliss - I found out about this brand through a marketeer who reached out to me for promotions. Given I don’t do paid promotions at this time, I ended up just ordering it myself on Instacart. It’s the same umbrella brand as Hu chocolate, which also I love. Their dairy ice-cream is made of grass-fed milk, which automatically scores them brownie points in my book.

3. Haagen Dazs - the OG. And the winner for the best strawberry ever. Clean ingredients, easy to find in most stores and so good! They also have these tiny cups that are great for single-serve or a kid’s party.

4. Jeni’s - If you’re a fan of cool flavors like Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks, you have to check out Jeni’s . You can order from delivery from their website as well as from online grocers like FreshDirect.

5. Vegan/dairy-free ice cream - I’m not a huge fan of sorbet. So I tend to look for regular ice cream lookalikes. I’ve tried Van Leeuwen, which tastes very similar to the original but is made with oat-milk and cashew milk. Depending on the blend, oat milk is probably going to give you a bigger blood sugar spike than regular ice cream, if that’s important for you to know. Cosmic Bliss uses coconut milk, which may be a metabolically healthier alternative. We tried the vanilla and I thought it was very good. But my toddler being the vanilla connoisseur could straightaway spot the difference in taste :)

Special mentions

• Healthier versions - Have you tried cottage cheese ice cream or this one-ingredient ice cream? For even more protein, add your vanilla protein powder to sweeten it, instead of maple syrup or honey.

• Annie Fenn, MD

  ‘s Almond Butter Gelato with 3 swirl-in variations. On my list for this summer. I also need to get myself an ice-cream maker. Any recommendations for one that wont take up too much space?

  UPDATE: There is a Cuisinart ice cream maker in my cart right now! I’ll report back.

• Flavor bomb enhancers - Try drizzling good olive oil on vanilla ice cream and topping it with flaky salt like Maldon. Next level! I also love an affogato, which is an espresso shot over vanilla.

But this year feels different. This is the year I turn 40. And while part of me still walks around like a 25-year-old seeking gold stars, another part is quietly reckoning with the math: I might be halfway through my most productive adult years. That realization isn’t morbid—it’s clarifying. Because when I look back at the past five years, I see more growth, joy, and living than the three decades before. Becoming a mother. Writing a cookbook. Building a business from scratch. Putting myself out there and being vulnerable in ways I never imagined. Waking up with a sense of purpose that makes me grateful to start each day.

And yet—true to form—I’m still chasing moving targets. Still telling myself I’ll slow down, rest, connect more... just as soon as I “catch up.” The finish line, of course, never arrives.

Lately, this pattern has caught up with me—mostly in the form of sh**tty sleep (did I mention I’m turning 40?). So I’ve been taking long, grounding walks through Central Park with Audible in my ears and a mission to recalibrate. These five books, each in their own way, have helped me shift perspective. They’ve nudged me to soften the hustle, question the scripts, and hold space for new definitions of success.

Here’s what I’m reading (or listening to)—and what’s staying with me. In no particular order -

(pictures are snapshots of the respective websites and link to them directly)

• The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

  

  I first heard about this book from Amy Porterfield, and it landed in my life at just the right moment. If you’ve ever launched something ambitious—be it a product, a career pivot, or even your weight loss goal —you’ve probably felt it too: that gnawing sense that no matter how far you’ve come, it’s not enough. You’re still not there.

  This book offers a striking reframe. It asks: Are you measuring yourself against the gap between where you are and where you want to be—or the gain you’ve already made from where you started?

  I realized I’d been living in the gap without even knowing it. Canceling plans, or worse, not making them at all, because I hadn’t “earned” the celebration yet. Delaying joy until some elusive milestone was hit. And here’s what the book makes brilliantly clear: if happiness is always on the other side of achievement, you’ll never arrive. Happiness cannot be the goal. It has to be the way.

  That simple shift cracked something open for me. I started paying attention to the quiet wins—launching something imperfect but done, showing up even when it felt vulnerable, doing it right when no one was watching. I even adopted the book’s journaling practice: every day, I note three wins from today and three I’d like to create tomorrow. It’s a small ritual, but it’s rewiring my brain to see progress, not just potential.

  And when you’re building a life around passion, as I am, the last thing you want is to let that joy get buried under the pressure to “succeed.”

• You Only Die Once: How to Make it to the End With No Regrets by Jodi Wellman

  

  I met Jodi—author, speaker, and darkly delightful death enthusiast—at my cooking class in Rancho La Puerta last year. With some confusion at the beginning of the class, I was low-key stressed out while trying to pretend that I had it all under control. Jodi sidled up to me, glanced around, and said with mock-seriousness, “Now, if I were the bowl of a small blender, where would I be?” I burst out laughing, because that was the beginning of my recipe. And just like that, I could breathe again.

  That’s the essence of Jodi’s work: piercing truths delivered with wit and lightness. Through her beautifully illustrated book, and cleverly named Instagram account, she brings the concept of memento mori—remember, you must die—into everyday life, not as a morbid mantra but as a call to clarity. We don’t have forever. In fact, we have far fewer Mondays than we’d like to believe. (For me? Around two thousand, if that. Did I mention I’m turning 40?)

  Jodi’s writing is hilarious, unpretentious, and sharp as a chef’s knife. She reminds us that we are, in her words, “basically walking corpses”—so the faster we stop deferring our dreams, the better. Whether it’s finally booking that trip, launching the project, or simply telling the truth about what we want—this book doesn’t just ask if you’re living fully. It asks when you’ll start.

  And for me, that urgency is starting to feel a lot more real.

• Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam

  

  An executive coach recommended this book to me during a leadership training in my hedge fund days—and in an poetic twist of time management irony, I only got around to reading it five years later. But oh, was it worth the wait.

  In Off the Clock, Laura Vanderkam doesn’t just talk about how we spend our hours—she explores how we experience them. Why is it that some of the busiest people seem to have time for everything that matters? The board seats, the hobbies, the long dinners, the moments with their kids—not to mention the rare and wonderful ability to linger. How do they pull that off?

  The answer lies in how we perceive time, not just how we manage it. Laura makes the case that people who plan intentionally and make room for memorable moments actually feel like they have more time. Not because they’ve hacked the calendar, but because they’ve paid attention. They've designed lives where time expands around meaning.

  One line that stayed with me: People are always worth the time. And when you act like you have time to connect, to meander, to talk to the barista or linger on a bench, the world responds differently. You become someone who looks approachable, open, available—for opportunities, for joy, for life itself.

  This book is full of gems, and I already know I’ll be reading it again. Probably more than once. Because the goal isn’t just to get more done. It’s to feel the fullness of the life we’re already living.

• Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

  

  Anne-Laure Le Cunff—founder of Ness Labs and a trained neuroscientist—invites us to reimagine personal growth not as a project to perfect, but as a playground to explore. In Tiny Experiments, she offers a refreshingly different approach: instead of chasing big goals with rigid timelines, what if we made small contracts with ourselves? Little experiments, driven by curiosity rather than achievement?

  This book was a gentle unraveling of the perfectionist wiring I’ve carried for years. The kind that says: “Set a goal. Build the plan. Stick to it. Then celebrate—maybe.” Anne-Laure suggests something radically softer. What if the goal isn’t the point? What if the process—the act of experimenting, noticing, and adjusting—is the path?

  Look back to childhood, when we all do things just to see what happens. No pressure, no outcome required. Just play. That’s the spirit she encourages us to reclaim.

  She also makes a compelling point: goals, as noble as they may be, can weigh us down. They plant us in a future that hasn’t happened yet—and keep us from fully inhabiting the present. Tiny experiments, on the other hand, open space. They give us permission to meander, to evolve, to let one curiosity lead to the next.

  And in a season of life where I’m rethinking not just how I spend my time, but how I define success, this feels like a quiet revolution.

• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

  

  I haven’t finished this one yet, but even in the early chapters, The Let Them Theory has begun to unspool some behaviors: the need to fix, smooth over, or subtly steer other people’s behavior—especially when it doesn’t align with my plan or values (for example, my zeal for eating healthy).

  Mel Robbins offers a strikingly liberating idea: if someone wants to do something you disagree with, let them. Let the friend cancel. Let the colleague overstep. Let the family member make the choice you wouldn’t. Not with apathy, but with intentional release—because trying to control others, or basing your peace on their response to you, is quietly exhausting.

  But Robbins doesn’t just stop at letting them. She turns the mirror back and says: Let me.. control what’s in my power. Let me honor my own energy without absorbing everyone else’s. Let me communicate with openness instead of reactivity. Let me practice self-regulation so I’m no longer a thermostat for someone else’s emotions.

  This book is about more than boundaries— it’s about learning that loving yourself sometimes means stepping back without shutting down. And when you do, more often than not, you’ll find that they come to you.

I’m always amazed by how the right book finds you at just the right time. Each of these has nudged me—gently or not-so-gently—toward a fuller, more grounded way of being. But of course, the search never ends.

So tell me:
What’s the one book that’s shifted something in you lately?
The kind you finish and immediately want to press into a friend’s hands. I’d love to know—I'm always on the lookout for my next read.

Just hit reply or drop a comment if you're reading this on Substack. I'm listening.

Now, I must start with the caveat that I believe that good skincare starts on the inside, i.e., what you eat. Skin inflammation of any kind is usually a sign that your body is crying out for help, and external products are just treating symptoms and often not more than a band-aid; although the beauty industry would have you believing otherwise. For me, glowing, dewy skin usually makes an appearance when I do one of my no-sugar, no-grains and very-little-dairy detoxes.

That being said, there certainly are products that can be extremely effective. These are the ones that are working for me right now (obviously, they may or may not work the same way for you, depending on your skin type etc.). So here goes:

1. Pratima Skincare - I discovered this Ayurvedic brand last year when I had a sudden breakout on creatine, and I am obsessed. Ingredients so clean that you can eat them! I use their Botanical Moisture Cream as a daily moisturizer, and their Neem face mask works wonders on blemishes, especially when combined with their Sandalwood lotion. I also use some of their essential oils combined with the liposomal Vitamin C serum.

2. Purpose Face Wash - This looks like a basic drugstore-style face wash but I find that it cleans gently without stripping my skin of moisture. I use it twice a day and make sure to work up a lather.

3. Supergoop! sunscreen - I absolutely hate the feel of sunscreen on my skin and this brand is one of the few that I can stand - it’s light, non-greasy and doesn’t leave a second layer. Remember to get some sun everyday without sunscreen though, y’all, for that Vitamin D.

4. Paula’s Choice - I love their 10% AHA smoothing treatment that makes my skin looks like I got a facial (and I don’t do facials, somehow never have due to sensitive skin in the past). I also use their 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide when I occasionally get the stubborn hormonal zits (seriously, when do they stop?) and follow it up with the Replenishing Moisturizer combined with Jojoba oil.

5. DIY yogurt and honey face mask - In about a 3:1 ratio - the yogurt has to be full-fat dairy yogurt. Whip them together and use as a face mask for 10-15 minutes - it works wonders exfoliating and moisturizing and leaves my skin so soft!

I can’t believe it’s almost spring.🌸🌸 See you next week with a round-up of what to eat in March! xoxo

And since Thanksgiving is later than usual this year, I realized I had time to sneak in one last ‘Good Things’ post for the year - the caffeine edition.

So here are my favorite coffees and teas, sorted in what I believe is the decreasing amount of caffeine (and no affiliate links).

• Counter Culture Coffee - My morning cuppa of sustainable black coffee. I buy the ‘Big Trouble’ beans on subscription and grind them myself with this grinder. Remember, the larger the grind size, less bitter is the coffee. I also use the Mocca Master brewer.

• Pique Sun Goddess Matcha - my new obsession, after falling prey to Instagram advertising. I’ve replaced my second mid-morning coffee with matcha - it’s somehow gentler and carries me beautifully into the afternoon. I have always disliked the taste of green tea so I was surprised by how much I love this matcha. The brand also has some excellent caffeine-free teas and a coffee alternative.

• Vahdam Chai - Post lunch, I migrate to black tea and love this vanilla chai, especially in the winter. I enjoy it black, occasionally with this Einkorn-almond cookie. The brand has a host of other flavors and is one of the leading sustainable tea packagers from India.

• Anjali’s Cup chai masala (caffeine free) - If you brew your own loose leaf tea and enjoy chai, Anjali’s chai masala is the easy way to infuse an authentic chai experience. I love this little tin and have made it part of my morning ritual to hydrate with lemon water and spices.

• Other caffeine-free options - I love Rishi Tea’s Lavender Mint and Turmeric Ginger. Also the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra Tea is my secret wind-down weapon.

See you next week with some notes for Thanksgiving! xoxo

• Harissa - My current favorite brand is Zwita Tunisian Foods - it’s so hard to find harissa made with extra-virgin olive oil. Most grocery store brands are not. Get all 3 variations, they’re that good! Also on Amazon.

• Pesto - Again, store-bought pesto without seed oils is hard to find. DeLallo is a good brand that I buy online and rivals homemade pesto, Mezzetta is another one that you can find in some grocery stores. Also on Amazon.

• Chili Crisp - I was so excited to find Redbloom chile crisp that’s made with avocado oil (PS I’m very susceptible to Instagram advertising). It’s also low FODMAP for those who need it. Also on Amazon.

• Pasta Sauce - Carbone! Named after and by the people behind the legendary Italian-American restaurant in NYC, this pasta sauce is absolutely inhale-able (get the spicy vodka sauce) and made with olive oil.

• Yondu - A must-have condiment to marinate your tofu. It’s like tamari and lemon juice combined, but better. See how I use it in my Air-fried and Baked Tofu.

PS: My friend Aditi Guha, who is a PCOS focused nutritionist, is hosting a free masterclass on November 4th: Lose the Belly Fat and Bloat with PCOS. Sign up here if you’re interested.

sign up

You can also take her quiz, Why aren’t you losing your PCOS weight to see if this might be a fit for you.

(photos are screenshots from respective websites and link to them)

• Palmini (hearts of palm, gluten-free, as seen on Shark Tank) - This variety of pasta is basically a vegetable, made from hearts of palm and requires just a little heating in the pan to be ready. Trader Joe’s also makes a version. The taste is fairly innocuous. I like to use the Palmini lasagna noodles as the taste just gets dominated by the rich sauce in the dish. Try it with the Saag Lasagna in my cookbook in place of zucchini!

  

• Kaizen (lupini bean, gluten-free) - An excellent low-carb, HIGH-protein pasta at 20g protein per 56g serving from the creator of shredhappens on Instagram. It works very well as a sub in just about any dish. Try also the Kaizen ‘rice’.

  

• Zenb (yellow pea, gluten-free) - my vote for a moderately low carb legume-based pasta. Made with a single ingredient, yellow peas, the taste is mellow and I truly enjoy this a couple of times a week. They also have some ready-to-eat bowls and recently introduced lasagna.

  

  Side note - Chickpea pasta is not my favorite because of it’s strong flavor, but there have also been recent revelations regarding the glyphosate content in chickpea-products. If that matters to you, try to purchase organic if buying chickpea pasta.

• Brami (wheat + lupini bean) - I tried Brami last week and thought it was really good. It has a moderately low carb count and protein count similar to legume-based pasta and tastes more like ‘regular’ pasta as it still has wheat.

  

• Jovial (Einkorn wheat - may work for gluten-sensitive) - My vote hands down in the regular and whole wheat pasta line-up. This (as the company says) is ancient “wheat as nature intended” and has never been genetically modified. While it tastes just the same, I feel nice and light after a pasta meal when I use Jovial, and I’ve switched over my pantry staples to this brand.

Did you like this list? You get a detailed shopping list with all my brand recommendations for breads, grains, pastas, protein powders, condiments and more in The Vegetarian Reset Lab, which is coming back better than ever in January 2025. Plus, I get into how I navigate the grocery aisle and read nutritional labels.

• ShowerSpa Mist Spray

  I came across this product at a Four Seasons hotel and had to get it! Spritz a little bit during your shower (not above your head, it burns your eyes and I learned this the hard way) and breathe deeply. I love the Lavender+Eucalytpus version but they have others too.

• Heatsistence Luxury Rainfall Showerhead - This cheap showerhead was an emergency buy when we found that our $600 fancy showerhead system wasn’t all that great. Needless to say, the fancy showerhead now rests in a box while we enjoy our newfound water pressure. (PS - at the time of writing this post, this specific item unfortunately is only available in a used version. But click on the company’s page on Amazon and you’ll find other models which hopefully are just as good).

• Seaweed Bath Co. Body Scrub - I love this scrub which feels just right - not too coarse, not too fine, and does not leave an oily residue for you to slip and fall in the shower cubicle. Sustainably harvested seaweed and glycolic acid work their exfoliation magic!

• Sorbus Floating Shelves - A last minute buy, these shelves (what you see behind me in the picture) really transformed the look and feel of the room and even won my Virgo sister’s approval (a high bar). They’re easy to install and seem pretty sturdy.

• ElizabethW Vetiver Reed Diffuser - I love the Vetiver scent - although it may not be for everyone. This one is a bit pricey but the reviews say it is long lasting and I live in hope.

In no particular order (all images are screenshots from the brand website)

1. Van Leeuwen - Look at the ingredients on Van Leeuwen’s vanilla, (also objectively the best vanilla I’ve had). We go through a pint/week and I’m ok with it. I also love their Sicilian Pistachio, similar ingredient profile but takes me back to Italy.

   

   

2. Cosmic Bliss - I found out about this brand through a marketeer who reached out to me for promotions. Given I don’t do paid promotions at this time, I ended up just ordering it myself on Instacart. It’s the same umbrella brand as Hu chocolate, which also I love. Their dairy ice-cream is made of grass-fed milk, which automatically scores them brownie points in my book. I tried the vanilla and it’s fantastic. Trying to get my hands on this Hailey Bieber strawberry flavor but it seems hard to source.

   

3. Haagen Dazs - the OG. And the winner for the best strawberry ever. Clean ingredients, easy to find in most stores and so good! They also have these tiny cups that are great for single-serve or a kid’s party.

   

4. Jeni’s - If you’re a fan of cool flavors like Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks, you have to check out Jeni’s . You can order from delivery from their website as well as from online grocers like FreshDirect.

   

5. Vegan ice cream - I’m not a huge fan of sorbet. So I tend to look for regular ice cream lookalikes. I’ve tried Van Leeuwen, which tastes very similar to the original but is made with oat-milk and cashew milk. Depending on the blend, oat milk is probably going to give you a bigger blood sugar spike than regular ice cream, if that’s important for you to know. Cosmic Bliss uses coconut milk, which may be a metabolically healthier alternative. We tried the vanilla and I thought it was very good. But my toddler being the vanilla connoisseur could straightaway spot the difference in taste :)

Special mentions

• Healthier version - Have you tried cottage cheese ice cream? For even more protein, add your vanilla protein powder to sweeten it, instead of maple syrup or honey.

• ‘s Almond Butter Gelato with 3 swirl-in variations. On my list for this summer. I also need to get myself an ice-cream maker. Any recommendations for one that wont take up too much space?

• Flavor bomb enhancers - Try drizzling good olive oil on vanilla ice cream and topping it with flaky salt like Maldon. Next level! I also love an affogato, which is an espresso shot over vanilla.

I owe a HUGE thank you to Fran Hauser who got me back on my reading game through her fantastic Instagram account Fran’s bookshelf, from whom I originally got many of these recommendations and then ended up just following the author. PS - if you are in the corporate world you must read her bestselling books The Myth of The Nice Girl and Embrace Your Work - Love Your Career. And if you’re an aspiring author, make sure you sign up for her Bookbound Accelerator!

Photo credit for all the covers - they are just screenshots from the Kindle Store and hence I have linked back to them (copyright belongs to the authors). Note that many of these e-books are free if you have Kindle Unlimited - I ended up signing up for it after the $12.99 charges started to pile up and think it’s totally worth it.

In no particular order

1. Romance

   

   1. Annabel Monaghan - Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, Summer Romance (pre-order) - Extreme feel-good category, I absolutely love her writing.

   2. Emily Henry - Happy Place, People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers, Funny Story, Beach Read - Even just the titles take me to my happy place. Reading these books is like taking a joy multi-vitamin (that works).

   3. Abby Jimenez - Just for the Summer, Part of your World, Yours Truly - Multi-layered delightful romances, with several characters continued across books. The author is also a Food Network winner and owns Nadia Cakes in Minnesota!

2. Whimsical Fiction - I'm not sure if this is a real category, but hey, this is my list.

   

   1. Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand - A summer at a newly-renovated Nantucket hotel complete with lots of rose, a friendly ghost and an Instagram influencer. Unique and compelling.

   2. The Matchmaker’s Gift by Linda Cohen Luigman - A divorce lawyer realizes she has inherited her entrepreneurial grandmother’s gift for matching soulmates. Yeah!

3. Fiction

   

   1. Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen - A fast-paced read about a pair of Asian American women that operate a luxury handbag scam - complex friendships, cat and mouse switches - this one keeps you guessing and was the first book recommended by Fran that got me back on my reading horse!

   2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - Yes, this one spun off a TV series but the book is irresistible. Elizabeth Zott is a talented chemist in the 1960s that faces stubborn chauvinism in her workplace and then turns into the star of a cooking show. A teaspoon of sodium chloride, anyone?

   3. Blank by Zibby Owens - Facing writer’s block after a best-seller, a desperate writer takes a huge risk. Can she pull it off? A protagonist you’ll fall in love with and some fabulous plot twists!

4. Memoir

   

   1. Blissful Thinking - A Memoir of Overcoming the Wellness Revolution by my friend - A vivid, sharply humorous and insightful account of the pursuit of wellness - Lisa Kirchner takes you on a trip you'll remember (includes yoga in India, as it must). Also run to pre-order her debut novel, Florida Girls!

   2. Bookends by Zibby Owens - Zibby is a dynamo who does the work of 5 people and I am beyond inspired by her gripping memoir. Also don’t miss her award-winning podcast Mom’s Don’t Have Time To Read Books.

   3. Private Equity by Carrie Sun - An analyst who drops her immigrant-parent-approved finance job to become an assistant to the founder of a top hedge fund, and her struggle to regain her identity when it gets consumed by work. Tough one to put down and lots that I could relate to from my old life- recommendation from my husband!

5. Indian-American authors - I’m delighted to highlight this category (being AAPI month and all! Also there are a couple of others in other categories in this list, obv). I would love to hear if you have any recommendations.

   

   1. Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar - When six frenemies from college descend on Napa valley, old conflicts return while wine flows - what could go wrong? Superbly etched out characters, lots of suspense and an action-packed ending. Read also The Goddess Effect for a similar vibe.

   2. In a Not so Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander- A video game developer is about to get her dream job offer but there’s a catch - no love life allowed. So wait, what is she doing in Turks and Caicos with her hot neighbor? Easy and fun read! See also Love Buzz by the same author.

What are your favorite books in the feel-good category? Put them in the comments for me to pick from this summer!

First of all, I was surprised by how spotless Rome was. I was there last in July 2015 and have fuzzy memories of too many selfie sticks in my face and a terrible migraine (from all that house wine and not enough water in 100-degree weather). This time was very different, I think mainly because it was April. The weather was absolutely perfect - a few random showers but mostly a very pleasant 65-75F and the city was a lot less crowded.

I’m still dreaming about all the in-season produce we had - artichokes (steamed and fried), fava beans, peas, asparagus, tomatoes.😍

But first - sign up for The Vegetarian Reset Challenge!

It’s back! All you need is a copy of my cookbook. When you sign up, you get a 4-day meal plan and shopping list using recipes from the book that are perfect for meal prep and reinvention.

Take the plunge - 4 days without refined grains and added sugar will leave you feeling energetic, inspired and #readyforsummer.

Back to regular programming. Here is my highlight reel with assorted recommendations.

1. Rome

   

   1. This is a really great car+guide service. Ask for Massimo!

   2. Trastevere - Gorgeous neighborhood, great nightlife. Wanted to go to Taverna Trilussa, Dar Poeta, or Tonarello but ended up at the restaurant around the corner from Tonarello which was also lovely. Food just tastes better with that outdoor ambience.

   3. Retrobottega - a modern wine bar with communal seating, offers a vegetarian tasting menu which was very v8well-friendly.

   4. Pinsitaly Trevi- a hidden gem near the Trevi fountain - the best pizza we had in Rome?

   5. Vini e Buffet - a cute spot near the Pantheon that serves large salads and interesting crepes - a nice little change from all that pasta and pizza. Thanks to for the recommendation!

   6. More great recommendations from Annie that we couldn’t get to - Salumeria Roscioli, Rimessa Roscioli, Rinascente rooftop, Ciampino, Cul de Sac, Da Enzo (I have so much FOMO and need to plan another trip asap)

   7. Rome by night - you HAVE to do this! The Vatican, Colosseum and Roman ruins are just spectacular at night.

2. Santa Benedetta Winery

   

   One of the oldest wineries in Rome, in the Frascati region (hills south of Rome). This was a last minute plan for a quick tasting on our last day but turned into a half-day with a 4-course vegetarian meal - probably the best we had in Rome. The winery and tasting room are absolutely gorgeous, but more so the charming family that runs it - everyone from the grandparents, to the son who’s to their 3 month old cherub. Small batch, organic wine and olive oil. <must do>.

3. Chef Flaminia

   

   We hired a personal chef recommended by our Airbnb for one evening. Chef Flaminia created a full vegetarian menu for us - complete with 2 appetizers - ratatouille puffs and bruschetta, 2 entrees - asparagus pasta (a version coming in Weeknight Simple), pesto with green beans and potatoes, and a dessert that was essentially a vanilla cloud served with strawberries that I inhaled. It is her grandmother’s recipe and she is kind enough to share it with us today!

4. Venice

   

   1. Definitely book a private water taxi from the train station to your hotel or Airbnb - it absolutely upgrades your experience! But be sure to pre-book, as it’s very hard to hail one off the canals (we tried, believe me). The gondolas are great obviously, but somehow I loved this water taxi more.

   2. Cichetti tour - <must do> Cichetti is a happy hour tradition in Venice, essentially hopping wine bars/restaurants with a glass of wine and a small appetizer. The last time I went, we did the Rick Steves version with my husband navigating on his Blackberry (you try using Maps on Blackberry if you still have one, it takes talent). But this time, we booked a tour from Viator which was wonderful and did a great job of curating sumptuous vegetarian food at each restaurant (remember to ask for vegetarian when you book). We also met some lovely people from all over the world in our group and continued to bump into them the rest of our time in Venice. We also separately went for cichetti at Sepa - which was excellent also with a large vegetarian selection.

   3. Suso - for gelato - they have some interesting flavor combinations. Fun fact I learnt on this trip - in gelaterias, all the fruity flavors (strawberry, mango, etc.) tend to be sorbets (no cream). If you want dairy-based ice cream, go for nutty or chocolate flavors - pistachio, hazelnut, gianduja, Stracciatella, etc.

   4. Farini - for pizza. Grab some slices to go for your train ride!

   5. Cafe Florian - for some pricey coffee and pastry with music.

   6. The Duck Store on the Rialto Bridge - if you have a duck obsessed toddler :)

5. Touristy shopping

   

   Get your fill of leather bags, pasta seasoning packs (I may have bought too much) and everything that’s made out of pistachio.

PS: Definitely not Italian, but a big shout out to Saravana Bhavan in Rome, which served up some delicious food to spice-starved Indian travelers - if you know, you know.

Vanilla Cream Semifreddo with Fresh Strawberries

Recipe courtesy Chef Flaminia

Serves 6

Ingredients: 

• 5 whole eggs 

• 5 tablespoons of sugar 

• 500ml whipping cream

Directions:

• Separate the yolks from the whites, and whip with an electric whisk or stand mixer, the yolks with the 5 tablespoons of sugar for at least 5 to 7 minutes. 

• In another bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff. And in the third bowl, whip the liquid cream. 

• In the bowl with the whipped yolks with the sugar, add the whipped cream and the stiffly whipped egg whites. 

• Place the mixture inside a plum-cake mold, with baking paper, or in single-serving cups, and chill in the freezer. 

• Serve with fresh strawberries, chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, berry sauce. 

First things first, here’s your shopping list.

Be sure to add some oranges and lemons to your cart to bring some sunshine to your life this gray January.

General recipe and link round up

• Google’s most searched recipe of 2023, according to Simply Recipes. Spoiler alert, Lasagna Soup!

• ‘s Root Veggie Waffles

• The Modern Nonna’s Whole Orange Blender Cake

• Why We Eat Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens on New Year’s Day, on Food Network

• ‘s Brothy Beans

• Sign up for The Veggie on NYT - Tanya Sichynsky’s weekly recommendations of vegetarian recipes

• My Citrus-Fruit Olive Oil Cake Bars with Goat Cheese Frosting

• Ottolenghi’s spotlight on winter vegetable recipes in The Guardian - Roast cabbage with chana dal and sauerkraut is on my list!!

• Everything in my first month of Weeknight Simple, but especially the Cauliflower Samosa Chaat Bowl (PS: there’s a 90-day free trial if you sign up in January)

That’s all for now! This is meant to be an easy breezy newsletter with some solid recommendations. See you next week.

Another PS: If you haven’t signed up for The Vegetarian Reset Challenge, today is your last chance to do so! Also, the electronic copy of my cookbook is a steal at $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more.

I’ll be signing copies of my cookbook at Barnes and Noble on the Upper East Side (NYC) today. Stop by if you’re around. XOXO💚🌿

While I’ve gone all out with from-scratch sides in the past, now, with a toddler around, I don’t say no to a little help from Trader Joes. In fact, I insist that Trader Joes help me out. I took a trip to the one near me on Friday for some inspiration and here’s where I’ve landed. I hope this gives you some last minute, low-effort ideas for your table too. And if you live in a Trader Joes desert, my sympathies - but I think many of these packaged options will have similar offerings in your neighborhood stores.

But before we begin, a quick update on Black Friday deals.

• My FIRST online cooking course, The Vegetarian Reset Lab is on a 50% off presale! This is a VIP offer for my newsletter family. I’m offering you half-off in exchange for feedback into the course materials (less than 5 minutes of your time every week over the next 3 months). That’s right - you get to tell me what to include in the course AND have lifetime access to the course materials. Which means if I ever update the core program and add more tutorials, videos and recipes (and you bet I will!), you’ll get them without paying a penny more! The offer is open until Nov 30.

  • For those of you that already bought the course (woohoo!) - please keep an eye out for an email from ‘hello@v8well.com’ in your inbox and let me know if you didn’t receive it by replying to this email.

  This is genuinely a good deal, you guys. If you’ve been subscribed to me for a while, I really don’t want you to feel like you missed out when I raise the price on Dec 1. As a bonus, you get a whole YEAR of Weeknight Simple thrown in. That’s an additional 52 weeknight-friendly recipes with 20-30g protein. (Oh and fellow TJ fans - I went to TJ to also scout for a special January edition of Weeknight Simple)

  If you’re ready to invest in a life skill, purchase the course at the special presale price using the link below. The course goes live in Feb 2024 which is when you will get access to the materials.

  I'm Ready

• The Instant Pot and it’s Vortex Air-fryer are on sale!

• The Vitamix is on sale!

• I realized I forgot to include the link to the Ninja system that includes food processor and blender cups in my last newsletter so here it is..and yes it’s on sale!

If you haven’t already, please see my Favorite Things newsletter for more of my kitchen and pantry go-to’s, that will hopefully be on sale this week.

Okay, back to Trader Joes. Here’s everything I got and what I plan to do with it:

• Cruciferous salad with baby corn and pomegranate

  

  A nice combo of in season veggies, along with baby corn (forgot to take a picture) because they are irresistible, and a dash of color with pomegranate. A quick sauté with olive oil, and salt and pepper should do the trick here - keep the veggies still crunchy. Or sauté just the corn, keep the veggies raw and use a simple vinaigrette.

• Holiday Vegetable Hash with shredded Kale and Chile and Garlic Cashews

  

  Again, a quick sauté - the package already has herbs so maybe just add salt. Don’t let the root veggies cook too much. Add the cashews for a little crunch and heat.

• Carrot coins with pesto and pine nuts, served over whipped lemony Greek yogurt (use zest) and garnished with spicy Italian Bomba sauce (thank me later).

  

• Make this Ottolenghi-inspired side, with these sweet potatoes (also pine nuts, Greek yogurt and feta)

  

• Or this other Ottolenghi-inspired side, Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas - with rainbow cauliflower and chickpeas. Also get parmesan and pecorino, or cheddar.

  

• I hate to brag, but my Brussels Sprouts Chaat is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit. Use the spicy cashews instead of the masala nuts to speed up prep.

  

• I’m thinking about making these into fries, but need to toy with air-fryer settings. Maybe 400F for 15 minutes.

  

• For dessert, I like to offer a cheese plate as one of the options - as it still hits that spot of luxury and is just lightly sweet. Here’s what’s on mine.

  

What am I making for the main? I’m not sure, actually. Maybe a seasonal variation of my Saag Lasagna from The Vegetarian Reset using collard greens. And the Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie. Or perhaps I should try something different - NYT Cooking has some excellent options. In the past, I’ve also made the Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower from Ministry of Curry.

Wishing you good times, good eats and good deals! XOXO

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These are high-quality foods that I am passionate about from wonderful artisan brands and small businesses and I truly hope you find something in here that you love. Don’t forget to gift yourself, too!

Single-Origin Spices

The traditional spice industry tends to aggregate spices in bulk via ‘middle-men’ and then repackage them for big companies to sell to consumers, usually diluting the quality and freshness of these products along the way. Any lover of spices should know that the word ‘single-origin’ indicates that this product is purchased directly from the farmer so they make a fair wage, and come to you far earlier than they would, traditionally, preserving their freshness and making your dishes more delicious. My favorite single origin spice companies are Burlap and Barrel and Diaspora Co. I highly recommend the Floyd Cardoz collection from Burlap and Barrel and the Turmeric and Tadka Spoon from Diaspora Co.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

If you’ve read my article on olive oil, you know the secrets to choosing a high-quality EVOO at the supermarket and why you should drizzle generously and often! My favorite highly covetable and giftable brands are Brightland and Enzo‘s Table. Brightland has the most stunning packaging and also makes fabulous vinegars and honey. I love the flavored oils from Enzo, particularly the Clementine Crush that features in my newest recipe.

Artisan Cheese

The Cheese Guy truly knows his cheese and is my single pick in this category! The cheeses are kosher, vegetarian and grass-fed from small family farms, and can absolutely hold their own against French and Italian brands. The Honey Goat Cheese, Parmesan and Pecorino are mainstays in my fridge and feature in several recipes in my cookbook. They also make a wonderful fig preserve, and their latest product is a balsamic vinegar that is on my list to try!

All Things Pasta

While pasta is conventionally made from all-purpose flour that is highly refined, today there are several brands that offer lower-glycemic versions made from legumes or actual ‘whole-wheat’. Zenb is one of my favorite brands of fiber-rich pasta - it’s made from yellow peas and retains the fiber too - while tasting pretty close to the real thing - even my toddler loves the spaghetti! They also make delicious sauces, again from whole vegetables (including the stems and skin). Community Grains is my newest find thanks to . They make true whole wheat products that are milled while preserving the whole grain, as opposed to most conventional whole wheat products today that refine the grain entirely and then add back some fiber. My package of pasta just landed and I have yet to try it but I have high hopes!

‘Flavor-Bomb’ Condiments

Brooklyn Delhi’s tomato and garlic achaars are so versatile. Throw them on anything - eggs, dosa, sandwiches or wraps, salads, even pasta and they make it all better! PODI Life is another fabulous brand that takes authentic South Indian pantry staples (podis) and reimagines their use - sprinkling them on everything from salads to avocado toast to grains. Every podi comes with an adorable postcard that explains how to use it!

Just Desserts

Now, now, did you just scroll down to this and ignore everything else? :) Hu Chocolate and Laumiere Gourmet are my picks in this section. Hu Chocolate makes paleo-friendly fine chocolate with no weird ingredients. I have tried so many of their dark chocolate bars and they are all brilliant. They now have a grass-fed milk chocolate that’s so good. Laumiere Gourmet was my Diwali find this year - they make stunning giftable treats that are naturally sweetened with dried fruit - check out their holiday collection.

If you haven’t already, pre-order my cookbook here and get 15 bonus recipes NOW by submitting the form on the site!

Salads and produce-forward things

• Cucumber salad two ways - an Indian and Asian-inspired version

• Watermelon and Feta salad - watermelons are super-sweet right now and will go perfectly with tangy feta

• Greek Salad - a classic ( I have a seasonal variation coming up in the fall)

• Greek Yogurt Raita - a simple swap gets you twice the protein

• Chili Cheese Okra Poppers - jalapenos are forever ruined for me

• Tomato Confit - hurry up and make this before local tomatoes disappear

The Zucchini Bread Series

• Vegan Zucchini Bread - a favorite from my cookbook

• Chili Cheese Toast - using the zucchini bread

• Panzanella - a rustic Tuscan salad using the zucchini bread

Dessert: for that freak 80 degree day in October

• Rainbow popsicles - a protein shake in disguise

• Watermelon ice pops - approved by my daughter!

• Strawberry (high-protein) ice cream - one that I’ll be making year round

Brunch:

• Protein Pancakes - a healthy version of an all-American classic

Features

• Q&A with a low-carb nutritionist - got a lot of great feedback about this one

• Intermittent Fasting - benefits and my experience practicing it in a sustainable way

• The v8well Macronutrient Guide - print and stick on your fridge!

• In Olive Oil We Trust - everything you ever wanted to know about olive oil, how to choose one and the origin story of Brightland

• Book Club: This Is Your Mind On Plants - A journey into plant ‘drugs’

What to stay tuned for this fall:

• My pre-order announcement for the cookbook - don’t miss next week’s newsletter! Also, here is my first interview for the book, from back in June, just ICYMI!

• Fall produce - here’s everything we are excited for at We Ate Well!

If you’re not following me on Instagram, do so now and get exclusive video content! And please share this newsletter with a friend (or two) using the button below!

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As always, nutritional information is provided on a best efforts basis and intended to be a rough guide only. See our full disclaimer here.

Some notes:

• Many foods occurring in nature are a combination of carbs and protein or protein and fat in varying proportions. For example, legumes are primarily a carb source, but also carry a significant protein boost which is great to be aware of while including in your meals. Full-fat Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are fabulous sources of protein, while also containing some fat. Similarly, nuts, cheese and eggs tend to be primarily sources of fat, but also provide non-trivial amounts of protein.

• Primary sources of plant protein tend to be soy-based - such as tofu and edamame. It is often suggested that plant proteins are not as biologically available as animal proteins - i.e., only about 60-70% of the protein is absorbed - which is good to keep in mind if you are monitoring your protein intake.

• I tend to prefer (grass-fed) full-fat dairy as it occurs in nature. However, if you wanted to isolate the protein, you could also use non-fat Greek yogurt (or egg whites, for instance). But be aware that many non-fat food products usually have additives and sweeteners added in to mask the loss of taste and texture that occurs with the removal of fat - always scan ingredient labels first. Also, recent research reveals weaker links between dairy fat and heart disease than previously thought, and in fact often to the contrary, they may actually be protective against heart disease and strokes.

• Non-starchy vegetables like leafy greens, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers and brussels sprouts are considered superfoods - they are technically carbs but have large amounts of fiber (and also some protein) that slows down absorption. They are rich sources of polyphenols which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and experts recommend filling at least half your plate at every meal with these vibrant veggies in every color of the rainbow.

• Avocados, olives, avocado oil and olive oil are wonderful plant-based sources of monounsaturated fat, which has been found to have many beneficial properties and is almost universally considered heart-healthy. Butter and ghee (always try to use grass-fed) are saturated animal fats and are also good for cooking at high-temperatures. I forgot to add coconut oil in this graphic - it is also a saturated fat that’s good for high-heat cooking, but with a different composition than animal fats. Avoid highly processed industrial seed oils like soybean, corn and canola that have been found highly inflammatory and linked to chronic disease.

What did I miss? :) Comment below and let me know, and also what else you would like to see.

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Eleven Madison Park review - Summer Menu

Wednesday night was rather special. I was blown away by the boldness of Chef Daniel Humm's menu at Eleven Madison Park. It's rare to see vegetables taking center stage so unabashedly at fancy restaurants, even on vegetable-forward menus. Every dish was multi-layered and had a whole lot of soul. Thank you, Eleven Madison team for going there and showing us what's possible.

Q: What are macros?

A: Macronutrients. These are what “calories” are made of - protein, carbs and fat.

I’ve simplified this information for ingredients I frequently use in my recipes. Now you have a rule of thumb for a family of nutrients! It’s a great toolkit to create your own recipes.

I’ve sorted this by protein content as that’s the most common question.

But now you know which foods to target if you want more or less protein, fat or carbs! I’ll keep refining this cheatsheet as I continue to collect data.

Stay tuned for fun and delicious recipes that I’ll post later this week!

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is provided on a best efforts basis. This dataset is in dire need of scrubbing!

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