Today's guest is my friend Maya Feller, a Brooklyn-based RD who graduated from New York University. Maya's always been absolutely approachable and real food-based. You can find her on TV shows like Good Morning America as her private practice provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for the management of, and the risk reduction of, non-communicable diseases.She's also the author of a fantastic new book called Eating From Our Roots, which is where we spend most of our time today. It was released on January 24th of this year and features over eighty global recipes to take you through the heritage of cooking and how healthy food can look (and taste) wildly different for different people in different places.Backed by Goop Press, Maya’s powerful message of accessibility and education sets her apart in a general health-food conversation that gets noisier every day.Her commitment to meeting people where they are promises a seat at the table for so many who’ve gone without one – I so respect and revere her work and community impact. It's a joy to welcome Maya to the Be Well By Kelly podcast today.We also cover…00:04:52 — Maya’s Path to Community Nutrition Bonding over a shared mission to make healthy food relevant and accessible Dabbling in theater and philosophy on her way to study nutrition at NYUInspired to study the science of hydration while training for the Boston MarathonWorking with a marginalized and disenfranchised populationServing for access vs. privilege Maya’s powerful lessons from working in the community Learning by listening to her patients’ needs 00:19:34 — Eating From Our RootsEating from Our Roots (Goop Press)Early inspirations and ideas for the bookCulture, history, race, and ethnicity through the lens of foodExpanding your family’s palette with worldly foods and flavorsWorking with Chef Silvia BarbanRoadblocks of recipe testing during the pandemicIntentional use of additives and natural sweeteners00:32:52 — Recipe Modifications for Health Conditions & AccessibilityLevels CGMMoving away from an all-or-nothing approachCreating sustainable shifts to fit individual needsHaving the ability to personalize Eating From our Roots recipesAt-home tips for elevating limited-access eatingRemoving shame from the conversation00:41:05 —Healthy Eating At Home with MayaBe sure to check out the seafood in Eating From Our RootsBreakfast yogurt hacks Prioritizing family & home cooked mealsEating the (seasonal) rainbowOne golden rule at Maya’s house – season everything!00:54:36 — Simplifying Health with The Daily 5 Daily 5: water, fruit, veg, protein, and sleepRestoring the mind in nature Kelly shares her sleep-deprived journey to 6-phase meditationMaya’s moving meditation + love for the outdoorsRunning the parks of NYCResources:Read: Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World: A Cookbook (Goop Press)Website:

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