Mindful Eating and Nourishing Practices 

Regenerative Foods and Devotional Self Care for Healthier Body and Planet

I have always been deeply connected to nature, open spaces, and the simple joys of silent sitting—especially when soaking in hot springs. And, of course, I have an enduring love for delicious, wholesome food that nourishes both body and planet. My approach to food is a balance of cooked and raw, mostly plant-based meals, infused with vibrant flavors and thoughtful sourcing.

I’m not a nutritionist, nor an extremist. Instead, I strive to walk the middle path of balance, recognizing that finding what truly works for you is a journey of simplicity, self-discovery, and mindful choices. My culinary journey has been largely self-taught, enriched by training and inspiration from different food traditions and cultures. As Michael Pollan famously says, “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” That simple wisdom has shaped the way I guide others. I hope to inspire you to become an explorer of your own well-being, to make choices that nourish both you and the world around us, and to witness the incredible ripple effects that mindful living can create.

I look forward to sharing more with you!

Warmly, Alaya

More about the principles that will support our journey

3 Principles of Rites of Passage

Severance: Time of naming and letting go of the foods and habits that are not serving our well-being.

Threshold: Stepping into unknown territory, a time of being tested and deeper patterns revealed. We will explore new ways of eating and cultivating deeper embodiments that support our well-being. Here we face the challenges of our beliefs, our identities, and our attachments with love and compassion. Creating new pathways of self, community and planet care.

Reincorporation: Here we slowly explore reincorporating foods we have let go to see if they support or deplete our wellbeing. Choosing from a clearer and more sensitized place in ourselves, we can make decisions that support the wellbeing of all, compassionately noticing our cravings and patterns and choosing not to act from that place. We will explore how to take what we have learned into our daily life and share with our families and community what we have discovered, being a living example and inspiration.

“Every positive change - every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness - involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” –Dan Millman

Wisdom of the Five Elements

Each session we will be exploring one element, beginning with Earth, moving through water, fire and air, building our foundation to meet the expanse of Ether with a grounded presence. Experiencing how each element moves through us in stillness and movement, ending with a time of silence and sharing what we learned. Re-membering that we are the elements that make up this planet. 

When you wake up and see that the Earth is not just the environment, the Earth is us, you touch the nature of interbeing.”   – Thich Nhat Hanh

The Four Nutriments

In Buddhist teachings, the four kinds of nutrients are edible food, sense impressions, volition or aspiration, and consciousness, which are essential for the sustenance and growth of both physical and mental well-being for all the planet.

“We need the determination and strength of the warrior to cut through and claim our freedom, but we also need the patience and kindness of a meditator and the openness, tolerance, and creativity of the artist” – Thich Nhat Hanh