14 ITEMS.
This is a quick summary of my conversation for Art of Intentions. If you’d like to dive into the full interview, you can read it here. Art of Intentions with Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN In this conversation, Maya Feller shares her perspective on culturally humble nutrition, the pressures of “perfect eating,” and why sustainable […]
This is a quick summary of my feature in The Chalkboard Mag. If you’d like to dive into the full article, you can read it here. The Healthiest Foods Might Already Be On Your Plate, According To Maya Feller Many people think eating well requires a complete overhaul of the foods they grew up with, […]
Traditional comfort foods from cultures around the world are often misunderstood as unhealthy or overly indulgent. However, many heritage dishes—such as lentil curries, fermented teff bread, and rice and beans—contain nutrients that support cardiometabolic health, including fiber, plant protein, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Understanding the nutritional value of cultural foods can help people embrace traditions while […]
Spotlight on Alaska I’ve been thinking about starting a foodways series looking at the link between culture, food, and history. Here is the first conversation. Please send your thoughts and feedback! Let’s start with Alaska- the name derived from the Aleut word, “Aleyska”. In this post, I’ll discuss food history and delicious dishes you should […]
By Leslie D. Rose Updated on June 23, 2023 Best US Cities for Black Families to Live: NYC Highlight The article identifies the top U.S. cities for Black families to live. It suggests the most important criteria for determining the best cities is the existence of a strong community, economic opportunity, quality healthcare, and access […]
A brief look into the African roots of beer There are a few food and beverage activities that are steeped in Americana. Drinking beer is one of them. In 2021, the beer market reached $100 billion. It dominates our college campuses, our bars and restaurants, and our most “patriotic” holidays. Local breweries that offer unique, […]
Get into some of my favorite heritage food highlights. Black History Month is a time when the accomplishments of Black people living in America are highlighted and celebrated. The very premise of Black History month is incredibly complicated because Black Americans are just as American as every other American yet have not been afforded equal […]
Rice & Beans. Close your eyes and think about the first time you had rice and beans. Where were you and how old were you? I couldn’t tell you my exact age, however, I do know that peas and rice, a culinary cousin, were a staple in my family homes as a child. It’s no […]
Let’s take a quick trip to the Caribbean. Sounds nice, right? Unfortunately, this trip is in spirit only, as you’ll only be going as far as your kitchen today, but trust me—you’ll be glad you did! My friend, Patrick Bennett, owns the site Uncommon Caribbean, which features amazing authentic Caribbean recipes. And when I saw his […]
I wrote this new piece for Well+Good about the history of food systems and the structures and systems that define social determinants of health: …The large majority of the research studies that guide health-care recommendations have study participants that are not representative of the diversity within this country. In fact, the study participants from both […]
People of color need to see others who look like them, eating, being well, and thriving. I was one of eight dietitians and nutritionists profiled in this piece for Healthline: Maya Feller is a registered and certified dietitian residing in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Master of Science degree and came to nutrition as […]
Black People Are Often Unfairly Blamed For Health Disparities—Which Ignores Everything We Know About Being Well When most people think about health and wellness, especially when they want to improve it, their thoughts tend to turn to lifestyle: things like food, exercise, and self-care practices. But the reality is that these lifestyle practices are deeply […]
I was featured in this important piece from MindBodyGreen about the relationship between structural racism and food insecurity. Because these disparities have continued for more than a decade, the researchers say it’s important to think beyond race and ethnicity alone and start considering the factors that affect people of color differently than whites—aka structural racism. […]
Each year beginning at the end of November through the middle of January millions of people worldwide celebrates. Celebration is defined as ‘the action of marking one’s pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity’. Celebrations in many cultures often center on food and drink. Typically these celebrations result in holiday weight gain. Nutrition experts have estimated that during this time there is an average weight gain of 5lbs. A prospective study of holiday weight gain concluded that the average holiday weight gain is closer to 1lb, which is less than previously estimated. Nonetheless it is clear that during these months when people celebrate more, they eat and drink more.
