personal essay Archives | Clean Plates

woman behind shadow from a plant

How I Felt Gaslit by the Body Positive Community

healthy woman drinking a green smoothie

I’m a Dietitian and Here’s How I Lost 25 Pounds and Kept It Off

woman doing a yoga pose with a straight spine

As a Dietitian I Learned the Hard Way Not to Ignore Your Bone Health

person standing on weight scale

How I Lost 40 Pounds in My 50s and Reclaimed My Health

I Got Sent to the ER for High Blood Pressure — Here’s How I Handled It

woman refusing sugary donut

I Reduced My Sugar Intake and Drastically Changed My Heart Health. Here’s How.

a collage of photos of the author

How I Lost the “Mom Weight” While Staying Body Positive

For Years, I Had Heart Palpitations. Here’s How I Finally Got It Under Control.

For Years, I Had Heart Palpitations. This Diet Change Got Them Under Control.

an illustration of yogurt, chocolate chips, and a woman walking her dog

I Reversed My Pre-Diabetes Diagnosis in Three Months: Here’s How

a before and after photo of a super strong woman's weight loss journey

I Lost 85 Pounds — and Regained Control Over My Life

cannabis beverage on a picnic table in the sun

I Swapped Alcohol for Cannabis Beverages — Here’s What I Noticed

woman giving up coffee

I Stopped Drinking Coffee After 4 PM and Noticed These 5 Effects

Katie Garrity before and after collage

Deprivation Doesn’t Work: I Lost 30 Pounds in 6 Months with This Realistic Strategy

an illustration of a kitchen scale weighing a variety of foods

I Lost 25 Pounds Relying on This One Kitchen Tool

woman holding stomach feeling uncomfortable

I’m a Nutritionist, and Here’s How I Manage My Gut Health with IBS

woman upset on a scale

I Tried 3 Weight Loss Challenges, Here’s Why I Won’t Try Any More

woman refusing glass of red wine

I Gave up Alcohol for 30 Days and I Feel the Best I’ve Ever Felt

woman with diabetes checking blood sugar

I Lost 30+ Pounds and Changed My Diabetes Diagnosis in 3 Months

A photo of author Maida Pineda with an overlay of illustrated design

Navigating My Love-Hate Relationship with Rice, My Favorite Carb

original collage by Lindsey Engelken for Clean Plates

The Unexpected Side Effects of Relative Choices

mom daughter hands cooking

A Mom and Daughter Cook: Working Together on Plant-Based Versions of Holiday Classics

Elecampane inula, an herbal medicine and flower

I’ve Had Long-Haul COVID for 20 Months, and These Practices Are Helping Me Recover

Good food
brings
people together.
So do
good emails.

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