And okay let’s be real – the memes have been great these past few weeks and honestly just one of the things that have kept my mental space afloat during this year and election season, but I didn’t feel like sharing one just to share one and to hope that it gets my point across. I also don’t feel the pressure to do something on social media just because everyone else is doing it – just not my style. However, I know that with any kind of platform on social media comes with its territory and responsibility, especially as someone who is considered a minority in the field with some power to influence. So, I fall back to my trusted way of having an outlet to express – writing. Real words and not just a thread on carbs or cauliflower rice. While that’s also super fun for me, it has its time and place. I thought I originally wanted to be a journalist when I was younger (though I’m not a perfect writer) before I thought I wanted to a dentist before I finally thought that nutrition was my thing – change is constant so who knows what’s even next? 🤪

 

I don’t think I can move forward talking only about nutrition or recipes (a privilege I acknowledge in itself) without talking about how + why, especially now more than ever, representation matters – in my world of health + wellness, my own experiences as an Asian-American woman in nutrition, and everything I do in my career to advocate for health. The wellness industry we’ve built here – while with some good intentions, is an industry that works to often make things feel exclusive instead of inclusive. One rotation in a food desert as a dietetic intern (ask any dietitian) will start as a catalyst to open a pair of eyes to experiences that might have looked very different from their own. Accessibility to healthier food options is a true barrier to health among many other factors and I never want to make anyone feel like just because they don’t have the latest (insert new product here!), they are unable to attain personal health.