Why Variety Matters (and How We’re Making It Happen)
One of my personal nutrition goals is to include at least 30 different foods, herbs, and spices in our meals each week. It’s a simple way to support gut health, reduce inflammation, and give your body a broader range of nutrients..
To keep things fun and flexible, I’ve started a habit: each time I go to the grocery store, I try to pick up something I wouldn’t normally buy, especially in the produce section. Maybe it’s a new leafy green, a fruit I’ve never cooked with, or a spice I’ve been curious about. It’s an easy way to keep meals interesting and build variety without completely overhauling our routine.
This page is where I’ll share some of the meals we’ve made, how we’re incorporating new ingredients, and ideas to inspire your own kitchen rhythm. No perfection - just nourishing food and a little curiosity, one week at a time.
Thai Lettuce Wraps
A quick and flavorful weeknight dinner, loaded with aromatics like garlic, ginger, lime, and herbs. Ground turkey keeps it lean, and the lettuce cups add crunch and freshness. Bonus: a great way to use up leftover veggies.
Coconut and Oat Cookies
A fun, kid-approved snack made with pantry staples. These cookies are naturally sweetened, easy to make, and full of texture from oats, shredded coconut, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Lemon Blueberry Loaf
I modified a classic recipe to cut way back on the sugar — and honestly, didn’t miss it. The natural sweetness from blueberries and a hint of lemon zest made it just right for breakfast or a snack with tea.
Salad with Shrimp and Beets
Salads are one of my favorite ways to pack in variety. This one had spring mix, arugula, roasted beets, shrimp, feta, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and a homemade lemon-olive oil dressing. Crunchy, colorful, and nutrient-dense.
Spiced Taco Bowl
This was a build-your-own kind of meal with seasoned ground meat, roasted veggies, black beans, and avocado. I used a mix of cumin, chili, smoked paprika, and oregano to boost flavor and spice variety for that 30-food goal.
Gauva Jam
I grabbed guava at the grocery store as our “new food” and turns out, it wasn’t a family favorite. But I turned it into a small batch of guava jam for toast, and it totally redeemed itself!
Want to try one of these?
You can find all of these recipes (or close versions of them) on my Pinterest page! I save everything we’ve tried or want to try — it’s a mix of simple, nourishing meals with a focus on variety and hormone-friendly ingredients. Come browse and get inspired!