It all began one morning at Organic Energy in Solon, Ohio—an establishment I affectionately call the best thing to happen to this town—where I sat with my dad, whom I teasingly call Faj (imagine pasta fajioli). I ordered three things that changed my day and, in a small but sincere way, my outlook on food:
- Swamp Monster Juice: pear, carrot, beet, apple, kale. In short, green goodness.
- Protein Salad: chickpeas, grape tomatoes, cucumber, sunflower seeds, currants, alfalfa sprouts, and grilled tempeh on baby spinach, finished with a creamy cilantro-lime dressing. Simply outstanding.
- Vegan Coconut Cream Pie. Sold out, of course.
Faj ordered bean and cabbage soup. It sounds simple, but it tasted surprisingly soulful and satisfying.
When I love something, I usually blurt out, “Oh my god; this is divine.” But that salad and the fresh juice deserved more than a single word. The blend of organic vegetables and their indulgently creamy companion felt like the definition of delicious. I may have exclaimed, “Oh my god; I’m dying,” in the sort of dramatic way that food lovers do—and no, I survived to tell the tale.
There’s a small, giddy part of me that brightens with every truly excellent bite. If a cat has nine lives, then my food-loving alter ego—let’s call it a hummusapien—seems to gain an endless supply of joy from exceptional flavors. For example, I recently discovered a quartet of hummus flavors in a friend’s fridge and nearly swooned: black bean, roasted red pepper, original, and garlic. Simple pleasures like that can feel almost miraculous.
Nutrition, whole foods, and vibrant eating are my passions. I love food as much as I value health, and when those two worlds collide I’m especially happy. I don’t just eat to live; I celebrate food that nourishes the body and the spirit—often more than once a day.
This particular morning was memorable for another reason: it was the day I finally launched the blog I had been dreaming about, and it coincided with the release of a cookbook I’ve been eager to read. I arrived at the bookstore with a tall iced coffee—light ice, no sweetener, extra soy—and the impatient enthusiasm of someone who had pre-ordered but could not wait a single day to hold the new book.
The author, Mama Pea, is a long-time inspiration: a mother, cook, and advocate for delicious, affordable plant-based meals. Her recipes encouraged me to start sharing my own kitchen experiments and to show friends and family how approachable vegetables can be. I also draw motivation from other food bloggers and home cooks who create imaginative, health-focused recipes that are fun to make and even better to eat.
That day I nearly forgot my overnight toasted oat bran oats—my reliable, nutty babysitting breakfast—because I was so excited about the book and the blog. The oats waited patiently while I skimmed pages, dreaming up future recipes and posts.
After a long morning of reading, tasting, and planning, I felt energized and even a little indulgently content. I started this blog to celebrate whole foods, to share recipes and discoveries, and to encourage others to experiment with vibrant, nourishing ingredients. If you love hummus, leafy greens, inventive juices, or simply want to enjoy healthier, tastier meals, I hope this space will inspire you.
Embrace your inner hummusapien, avocado-sapien, or chocolate-sapien—whatever food identity brings you joy. You might feel dramatic delight with every perfect bite, but that’s part of what makes eating worth celebrating. After all, good food feeds more than the body; it feeds curiosity, creativity, and community.