Happy New Year,
Or, as I like to call it — the recalibration station. A moment to cleanse the system and reboot the soul for a fresh start after enjoying all that the holiday season has offered. This means more time with family, extra care in the kitchen, food that’s as healthy as it is delicious and recipes infused with love. And whenever I’m looking for a bit more intention, structure or routine when it comes to my diet, I look to nature.
In fact, I recently learned that the word “diet” is derived from the Greek word “diaita,” which translates to “way of life,” which has me considering how meaningful it can be to weave together our way of living with how we sustain ourselves through food.
So, this year, with the Greek origins of the word close to my heart, I’m approaching “my diet” as a way of life, informed and inspired by nature — one in which I aspire to foster deep, appreciative and practical connections with the bounty of the land and sea through what I feed myself and my family.
That all said, I also recognize that I have to balance this connection to nature with my modern-day cadence of work and family life, one that’s fast-paced and gratifying — but sometimes limits how much time I can actually spend in the kitchen. Without having to compromise on either health or convenience, I lean on fast, easy meals that feature wild-caught seafood and a variety of vegetables, meals that are a reflection of what nature has to offer.
We’ve gathered 5 of these recipes on our blog. All of them can be on the table in under half an hour, and you can adapt almost all of them throughout the year by changing up the produce. I hope a few of these recipes end up becoming regulars on your go-to list in 2022, as you look to weave the nourishment of nature into your own unique, system-cleansing and soul-rebooting way of life.
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured above: an easy sheet pan meal laden with wild-caught sockeye fillets and crisp snap peas, generously glazed with a honey-miso dressing and scattered with fresh mint & scallions.
