Happy Monday! I really love my community on social media and 99% of the time, my interactions with people are positive. I’m not going to belabor discussing the negative comments on a recent Instagram reel of mine (the 1-ingredient tangerine sorbet) because I don’t want to give anyone the impression that I can’t handle the trolls or negative feedback. It comes with the territory and I truly do not take it personally. What I DO want to discuss is how I have seen misinformation, especially about health and nutrition, spiral out of control on social media. Friends, don’t believe everything you read or hear on social media.
I am sent more videos and posts every week than I have time to analyze or respond to. Usually it is in the vein of “is this true” or “have you seen this?” We can discuss the pros and cons of individual foods, macronutrients, micronutrients, diets, and more until we are stressed out and overwhelmed and still without definitive answers. Let’s not. Here’s what I do advise:
Use common sense. You know enough.
Take responsibility for yourself and don’t rely on someone else to tell you how to be “healthy.”
Make connections between what you eat and how you feel.
Skinny does not = healthy
Eat a wide variety of foods
Don’t major in the minors (i.e., focus on what will make the biggest impact on your health)
Cook more at home
I personally try to eliminate chemicals and toxins from my home, kitchen, and bathroom. That’s what I consider “low-hanging fruit.” I have a SHOP page on my website with most of the products I use in my home. I don’t actually sell these products but I need a place for these links to live.
I pretty much never drink tap water or from plastic water bottles. I have a filtration system at home and I use glass water bottles. A friend of mine shared this water bottle which has a built-in filter. Clearly Filtered water bottle. This glass one by Epic is also good.
Shifting gears, two new cookbooks on my radar (written by two friends) are Italian Snacking by Anna Gass - she will be joining me for a joint IG live tonight at 5:00 pm! Anna’s recipes are like a taste of home and my heritage. I can’t wait to dig in.
And Carbivore by Phoebe Lapine. Phoebe is incredibly educated about gut health and her recipes never fail me. I am not afraid of carbs, so I am excited for this one.
I like this quote by Arthur Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School:
I saw this book and it piqued my interest since I am very concerned about the mental health of our youth. It explores the rising politicization and changing culture on college campuses.
My obsession with ceramics is alive and well. The new seasonal colors (Lambs Ear and Daylily) by East Fork Pottery are swoon-worthy. And I discovered a lovely Japanese line by Kinto at WabiSabi in Palm Springs.
Consider being a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Today I am sharing a salad that I can’t stop eating. I named it a Cal-Italian Chopped Salad because it incorporates a few California ingredients and a few that feel Italian. All I know is that I crave it on the regular. Plus, yes, I have heard about lead in cinnamon. I’ll share my go-to brand, as well as the best spring foods to support the body’s natural detox pathways.
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