Pumpkin Cheesecake Protein Smoothie (37g Protein)
A creamy pumpkin cheesecake protein smoothie with 37g of protein, made in one blender in about five minutes. A high-protein fall breakfast for busy mornings.
Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Soup (Dairy-Free, Freezer-Friendly)
A silky, dairy-free butternut squash soup with roasted garlic and a hint of cinnamon. About 265 calories a bowl, vegan, and freezer-friendly for easy fall meal prep.
Mostly Well Gift Guide 2025: Wellness Gifts for Women in Midlife
The holiday season is here, and if you’re stuck on what to get the special women in your life—or what to add to your own wish list—here are the top wellness gift ideas from Coach Lisa & the Mostly Well community.
The Beautiful Woman She Was
“Is my bald spot showing?”
…was the routine question in the mornings before work and school.
“Let me fix it,” I’d say, and comb through a layer of curls with a purple pick, then spray my mom’s hair with a cloud of noxious White Rain as she stared in the bathroom mirror.
I’d watch her line her eyelids a smoky brown and dust on some Cover Girl powder.
Here’s How to Care for Yourself After a Layoff
Women have been hit hard by recent layoffs, especially in the tech sector. If a layoff has you feeling discouraged, you’re not alone. Here are a few strategies to help you emerge from this moment ready to bring your best self to the next chapter of your career, and ready to continue driving positive change in the workforce.
A Mostly Well Guide to Managing Holiday Stress
The holidays are a time of joy, but let’s not pretend they don’t come with their fair share of stress. I’ve put together this guide to help you handle some of the most common challenges that can derail your mental and physical wellness during the season.
Mostly Well Holiday Gift Guide: Picks for the Active Women in Your Life
Most of us start our holiday shopping in November, and whether you’re shopping for a fitness-loving friend or looking for ideas to add to your own wish list, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite finds for active women.
Traveling Well in Italy: Part One - Rome
My husband Michael and I took our first trip to Italy this summer to celebrate my 40th birthday. It’s a trip I’ve been wanting to go on for years, and like any trip abroad, it came with unforgettable adventures as well as curveballs that required us to adapt. I like to stay active on vacation and I have to eat gluten-free, so I experienced Italy through a particular lens. I’m excited to share my experience with you so you can plan your own trip that has just the right balance of health and indulgence.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse
If you’re craving a chocolate dessert but don’t want to ruin your progress towards a healthier you, try this unique chocolate mousse. Avocados, known for their good fats and high nutrient content, bring a velvety texture to this mousse. They're loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and essential vitamins. Cocoa, on the other hand, is more than just a flavor booster; it's rich in antioxidants and has been linked to various health benefits, including improved heart health and mood. And if you’re watching your sugar, you can control how much sweetness you add with the maple syrup. The amount of maple syrup I call for creates a bittersweet mousse, but you can always add more if you prefer something sweeter.
Eating Well in Phoenix & Tucson
This winter I visited with two of my best friends and former college roommates, Katie and Colleen. Colleen moved to Phoenix from Indiana last August, and we had yet to visit her new home, so Katie flew in from Indianapolis and I met them in Phoenix. Our first stop was to check out Colleen’s place and catch up on her patio. It was only February, but the desert sun was already threatening a shift from welcoming companion to scorching menace–a dramatic change from the freezing temperatures I’d left in Austin.
Dog-Friendly Foodie Adventures in Marfa, Texas
This spring, my husband and I loaded a suitcase, a cooler, a guitar, and our blue heeler Gunnar into his pickup truck and made the 7-hour drive from Austin to Marfa. With its bohemian vibe, its mountain views, and its emphasis on art, it’s easy to think Marfa is a desert mirage. But the hype that drives city dwellers to Marfa for a peaceful escape is real–this tiny town is the definition of cool.
Eating Well in Oaxaca
If Oaxaca City isn’t on your bucket list, it should be. Incredible cuisine? Oaxaca has it. Culture? Check. Art? Tons. Natural beauty? Yep. I could go on (walkability, history, sunshine…), but you’re here to read about the world-class, unique, artfully presented food, which is abundant in this southern Mexico town.
Valentine’s Day Dessert Board
If you’re planning a Valentine’s Day dinner party, consider a dessert board for an after-dinner treat. Dessert boards offer guests a variety of sweets to choose from, add visual appeal to your party, and can be easy to arrange. The majority of the work goes into planning what you’ll buy, and I’m here to help!
Guacamole
Guacamole, as with many other avocado-based recipes, is one of those foods that is as delicious as it is healthy. The avocados contain monounsaturated fats which are good for your heart, and the dish is full of other fibrous and nutrient-rich veggies. In college, my guacamole recipe was popular with my roommates, which is amusing because it included garlic powder and no cilantro. Thankfully my recipe has grown up over time and is still a crowd pleaser.
Dairy-Free Pesto
If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know that I look for creative ways to get my greens because salad can be a drag. Pesto to the rescue! It’s highly nutritious, as evidenced by its lovely shade of deep green, and it can be made quickly with just a few ingredients. It’s hard to go wrong with a pesto recipe, but I like to think mine is especially delicious.
Chocolate Cherry Trail Mix
A balanced trail mix can be a well-rounded, healthy, and versatile snack. This simple recipe lacks the processed ingredients you’ll often find in store-bought trail mixes, so long as you use high-quality chocolate. And while it does have some sugar, the sugar content in the chocolate and cherries is balanced by the fiber, protein and healthy fat in the nuts.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothie
Who doesn’t love a peanut butter & jelly sandwich on white bread with a bag of salty potato chips? Unfortunately this meal, a staple of American childhood, isn’t very nutritious. So I’ve elevated PB&J into a smoothie that maintains its nostalgic flavors but has roughly 30 grams of protein, fewer processed carbs, and more nutrients and fiber from frozen fruit.
Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup
Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup was a winter staple growing up in my household, and I imagine many of us have comforting memories of the classic soup. But it doesn’t offer much in the way of nutrition, and since I’m now gluten-free, I’ve started making my own soups from scratch. This one is chock full of vitamin- and fiber-rich veggies.
On the Hunt for Healthy Food in Cleveland, Ohio
My healthy eating wins began when my cousins, Steph and Kim, invited me to dinner at Sage Karma Kitchen in Downtown Willoughby. If you’ve never been to Downtown Willoughby, it’s a tiny strip of trendy cuteness 25 minutes east of Downtown Cleveland—a little bit hipster, a little bit Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. I have fond memories of my Aunt Denise living there when I was a pre-teen, in a one-bedroom unit with a clawfoot tub and checkered floors, in a century-old building that seemed delightfully haunted.
Eating Well in NYC: A Foodie’s Love Affair with Manhattan
I had the pleasure of visiting NYC for a work conference this September. My coworkers and I stayed near the event in Times Square and, since it was my first time in the city, I soaked up all the experiences I could in the 48 hours I was there. Manhattan impressed me with its fantastic food and charmed me with its rich culture and history, so I knew I had to share my experiences with other travelers planning their first visit.