The Loving Belly is where I create food art inspired by music, share recipes for the digestively challenged, and dispense nourishing food rituals to soothe the overworked soul.
This project was born from trauma: the fruit of repeated mental, physical, and digestive breakdowns that peppered my 20s and 30s – a time in which I was overworked, overwhelmed, under-medicated, and falling apart. I dreamed of having a food blog for many years, but had no energy left to produce one. It wasn’t until a repetitive strain injury forced me to stop, taking me out of work for 8 months, that I truly began to heal. And the kitchen was where I came back to life.
I turned the stereo all the way up and spent hours in the kitchen each day, far away from the computer, the screen, and the office chair. I was on my feet, working with my hands, shaking stress and stagnation from my body, as I thrashed cutting boards and countertops like they were my drums and synths. It was a time to surrender to the senses, heal from the pressures of modern life, and dance while I cooked.
Because I have a lot of food intolerances, preparing my own food is a necessity, which means lots of time spent in the kitchen. Before my final breakdown, that time used to feel like a slog. But now, I try to make it feel like a party. The kitchen discotheque is always open. And I hope I inspire you to shelter there.
Eventually I returned to work, but with new boundaries. And I restructured my life to create space to produce this blog and Instagram account. And I have never been happier.
I share my personal stories of trauma on this blog in the hope that they will bring comfort and validation to people who are undergoing similar challenges. And I share my recipes in the hope they will bring joy to people who have dietary restrictions similar to mine. I’m an omnivore who is intolerant of gluten, eggs, corn, nuts, sugar, and most legumes, and my recipes reflect that. I favor healthy, warming food designed to stimulate sluggish digestion and support stable blood sugar levels. This is the kind of food you will generally find here.
The way I eat is an ongoing dance between my lusty desire for culinary pleasure, a passion for healthy food, and knowing all too well that making the wrong food choices will create problems for me. My mood, energy, and digestion are strongest when my meals combine an animal protein, some well-cooked vegetables, a bit of a whole grain, some good fat, quality salt, and an intention to go slow, close my eyes, and surrender to the sensuality of each bite.
Bodies are different, and over the years, through healthcare providers who’ve offered me guidance, my own research, and listening to my body’s intrinsic cues, I’ve discovered the way to eat to best support the body that is uniquely mine. There will always be a trendy new diet or some cool kid with a chip on their shoulder telling you that you eat the wrong way and that you should be eating “their way.” Listen to your body. It knows what it needs, and it will always tell you.
