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Sakara: Reimagining “Healthy” Eating Through the Lens of Heritage Food

March 14, 2023

BECAUSE THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN WHOLE GRAINS, STEAMED VEGGIES, AND LEAN PROTEIN

By Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN
March 14, 2023

Sakara Science Council member and nationally recognized nutrition expert Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, is a voice at the forefront of nourishment—in her work as a clinical nutritionist, as an author, and as a board member of Wellness In The Schools (WITS).

Spice, flavor, bold, and heat are all words used to describe cuisines from faraway lands or those labeled as such, given that they are far away from the United States. Depending on who you are, these “other” cultures and cuisines evoke exotic sensory effusions that may or may not be met with glee. Often when heritage foods from cultures that are not white American are discussed, one can smell the disdain in the air. Somehow the dominant narrative in the health and wellness industry is that the benchmark for healthy eating is only whole grains (excluding corn), steamed vegetables, and lean proteins. While these are nutrient-dense options that can support health, there are a variety of nutrient-dense healthful foods—lesser known to some—that do not fall within this narrow definition.

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Maya Feller

Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN is the founder and lead dietitian at Maya Feller Nutrition. In her practice, her team provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mood disorders, developmental disabilities, disordered eating, and more. Maya believes in providing inclusive nutrition education from an anti-bias patient-centered, culturally humble approach to help people make informed food choices. Maya shares her approachable, food-based solutions with millions of people through regular speaking engagements, writing, her social platforms, and as a national nutrition expert on Good Morning America, is a Healthline Medical Advisor, and on the advisory board for SHAPE and Parents, as well as appearing on TODAY Show, Tamron Hall, and in The New York Times, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Food Network, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Cooking Light, Eating Well, Prevention, Glamour, SELF, and more. She is the author of The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook: Over 100 Recipes for a Healthy Life and Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World (goop Press, January 24, 2023).

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