Ignite Wellness

October invites us to slow down 🍂

Savor the crisp air, warm spices, and golden light.
Notice the beauty in the simple things: a walk through changing leaves, a simmering pot, a cozy cup of tea.

This is the season of letting go and turning inward. ✨

Food is a drug when we seek escape. Food is medicine when we seek healing.

My relationship with food has been anything but simple. As a child, I refused to eat. As an adult, I ate everything—even when it hurt. My stomach protested often, but the joy of taste outweighed the pain. Despite specialists urging me to avoid dairy, gluten, sugar, alcohol… I didn’t always listen.

During cancer treatment, food lost its taste. I was nauseous, not hungry, but I forced myself to eat to avoid further weight loss. After treatment, my appetite remained suppressed, my love for food had faded. My diet was limited for so long and I found myself craving "junk food"-processed and sugary. My stomach was already hurting, so I thought—what difference does it make? Well… it still hurts. I have digestive pain and the guilt of eating what doesn’t support my body. So I return—again—to the boring diet. It’s not boring, just not flashy or fast.

Whole food takes time. But it’s worth it. For our bodies. For our health. Healing takes time—and I’m choosing to spend mine wisely.

Food becomes medicine when prepared with care, eaten with presence, and chosen with love. I notice this especially when it comes from my garden or is harvested by my own hands. Like these apples I gathered from my neighborhood. I chopped small with peels on, a splash of apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, vanilla and clove and slow cooked for 10 hours to make apple butter. I spread on gluten-free toast with manchego cheese. 😋

I hope you treat yourself to food that loves you back. Wholesome. Healing. Joyful. May your body feel nourished and may you enjoy a long and vibrant life!