For a good portion of my teens and early adulthood, I modeled with an agency in Chicago but stopped to focus on college and my health. I didn’t know if I’d ever get back to it and I never felt a need to, but I do think there’s a time and place for everything and that breaks are healthy.

I recently signed to a different agency in 2021 after not modeling for almost three years. It’s a weird adjustment because for three years, I wasn’t on top of my fitness goals since the pressure of modeling was no longer there. I let myself be a normal college student who didn’t obsess over calories, force myself to the gym everyday, and so on. Instead, I let myself go out with friends, order food after late nights out, and try lots of great restaurants Chicago has to offer.

With the pandemic that makes it feel like there’s no end in sight, I used this time to work on myself. I ordered an exercise bike from Amazon, started going for walks and runs again, and cleaned up my diet. 

I didn’t consider modeling again until talking to some friends who are photographers in the industry and also some model friends who are still in the industry. I wound up finding a really great agency and signing with them. 

At 23, I think my approach to health and fitness are extremely different from what I was doing as a teen and (even younger) adult. I no longer deprive myself, I don’t get crabby if I miss a day of working out, and I eat the amount I should be.

When preparing for a photoshoot, I go about this same healthy approach, but just making sure I don’t eat anything that could trigger a breakout on my skin or cause me to bloat. Here’s what I like to eat leading up to a shoot: 

• Breakfast: Egg white omelet with vegetables, turkey bacon, and any sort of coffee. I have a Nespresso so I’ll often make an oat milk latte with that or I’ll grab something from Starbucks (my weakness). 

• Snack 1: I don’t think I snack as often as I used to, but if I get hungry I’ll usually have an apple or a banana. Something dense enough to keep me full, but not stuffed.

• Lunch: Lately I’ve been loving pre-packaged salads. I’ll have a cup or two of a salad and either add four ounces of chicken breast from the night before or two hard boiled eggs for protein.

• Snack 2: I usually workout around evening, so if I’m hungry then I’ll have some deli meat like turkey and maybe some crackers. 

• Dinner: Oven-roasted chicken breast (about four ounces again) and some of the pre-packaged salad from earlier with a vegetable such as a sweet potato. 

• Snack 3: By this point, I’m usually not hungry but if I’m craving something sweet then I might make myself an iced coffee (not the best to drink at night, but still good!) with oat milk and cinnamon or I’ll have a Greek yogurt with berries. 

With the new year, lots of people strive to diet, follow new fitness routines and set wellness goals. Not all goals have to revolve around how you look. One of my resolutions was going on a bit of a “social media diet” where I don’t give it up entirely (I couldn’t if I tried, a lot of work and freelance work I do revolves around it) but I set a time limit on certain apps that feel draining. 

This has helped a lot with my anxiety even though it’s tempting not to cheat and hit the “ignore time limit” or “remind me in 15 minutes” button. I’ve tried to make it fun for myself. If I don’t hit the “ignore limit” at all during the week (unless it’s for a work purpose) then I treat myself to some sort of dessert on Sunday. Kind of a weird goal for me, but it’s been working.

I think it’s also important to have goals that are based around just bettering your overall health. Your health goal doesn’t always have to be losing weight, inches around your waist, being consistent on your Peloton, or anything like that.

It could be as simple as paying attention to your digestive health, immune system, blood sugar, and more.

Bitter Melon is a fruit that’s grown in the tropics of South America, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. It’s similar to squash, zucchini, and watermelon. It can be used as a medicine for improving digestion, abdominal comfort, respiratory health, skin, blood sugar levels, healthy weight management, fat metabolism, pancreatic function, and immune system support.

Some side effects include reduced fertility, diarrhea, headaches, abdominal pain, increased liver function, and increased menstrual flow. It should be avoided for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.

As children, we were always urged to make sure that we eat our vegetables. By vegetables, adults meant more leafy greens and not fewer potatoes. Many of us become less picky with our foods as we get older. Yes, this means willingly shopping for Brussel sprouts.

However, this isn’t always the case for people. Some still tend to struggle with getting their vegetables in. I know a handful of people who’d rather go hungry than eat a salad and you couldn’t even try to sneak kale into their smoothie.

Who’s to blame them? I wish I could eat pasta for every meal but I know that isn’t realistic. 

I’m someone who really likes vegetables of all kinds. I can see how it might be hard for others to make sure they get their daily dose in. Here are some easy ways to incorporate them into your meals.

• Smoothies: This one is what you make of it, really. No, an all kale and broccoli smoothie with some sort of milk isn’t going to taste good. What you can do instead is add fruit and a flavored protein powder. My favorite combination is a chocolate protein powder, banana, berries, spinach, almond milk, and whatever other leafy green vegetables I have on hand. Be prepared for a weird color, but great taste. Amazing Grass products are an *amazing* way to amp up your smoothie game! Some of their products range from Kale Powder, Green Superfood Immunity, and even a Protein Superfood. 

• Omelets: If you’re not into eggs, this might be out of the question, but I find it easy to add lots of vegetables to my omelets. When they’re cooked and all together with a little salt and cheese (and egg, of course) all of the flavors complement each other. I like to do egg whites, mushrooms, spinach, onion, and feta.

Hummus: This might be one for those who really like raw vegetables, but pairing them with your favorite hummus makes for the perfect healthy snack. One of my favorites is any brand that has red bell pepper hummus and pairing it with broccoli, bell peppers, celery, and carrots. It’s an easy on-the-go snack, too!

The older I get, the more aware I become of everything in my life. That includes the clothing I wear.

I’m not someone who wears a lot of color. I keep it simple by wearing lots of black, gray, maroon, mauve, etc. I hop on a trend every now and then, but I don’t go out of my way for it.

The issue with trends is that brands that are luxurious or sustainable might cost more and no one wants to spend an arm and a leg on a piece that they feel like will go out of style. This is where fast fashion comes into play. 

Fast fashion brands are cheaper, which is what is affordable for most. SHEIN, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, even the “nicer” brands for the average person such as Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters.

It’s understandable that sustainable clothing comes with a price tag, but here are some ways I’ve cut down my carbon footprint:

1. Thrifting: It’s hit or miss, which makes it fun. There are also websites like DePop where people sell their old stuff. I’ve found some of my favorite stuff while thrifting. Give it a good wash and you’re good to go. 

2. I don’t know if it’s considered more sustainable, but I try to not use real leather or fur. I feel like lots of brands cut back on using animal products, but not all of them. There are some pieces I own that are real leather and I’m not going to throw them away, but I won’t repurchase them.

3. Being more mindful: This means not spending a bunch of money all at once in a shopping haul. I won’t lie, at the start of quarantine I’d buy so many things I don’t need from Free People. Then I look at the reality of it and realize I don’t need those things.

If you’re on TikTok, you might’ve already seen this video circulating the For You Page. If not, no worries because it has made its way to the mass media outlets, such as USA Today.

A TikTok user made a video that went viral claiming that burning an orange on an open flame while mixing it with brown sugar helps get taste and smell back for those affected by COVID. This is allegedly a Jamaican remedy. 

Unfortunately, researchers debunked the remedy and stated that it has to do with the cells that support the smell-detecting neurons (USA Today). Pamela Dalton is a researcher in Philadelphia who focuses on experimental psychology. Dalton claims that the remedy most likely worked for some if they had been COVID free for a few weeks. Basically, saying that their taste and smell were probably already on its way back to normal. There also might be a placebo effect. 

Keep your immune system healthy during a rough winter and check out bilberry. Bilberry is a small fruit that contains antioxidants that are responsible for supporting the immune system, blood glucose levels, cardiovascular health, and more.

Whether it’s before Christmas or after Christmas, last-minute gift-buying is not something anyone feels like doing, especially in the tail-end of a tragic year. Ordering online is always an option, but you have to prepare for packages arriving a little late.

This is a problem I ran into with getting gifts. Sometimes, there’s just nothing that someone you know actually needs. Also, trying to spend on a budget for multiple friends and family members could get tough.

Here are some things I did in terms of gift ideas that were last minute:

1. Germ-free keys: If you’ve been to any store or used a touchpad since March 2020, you might’ve seen people using these little key touchers. They look like keys, but they’re touchpad friendly and you can easily do a transaction without using your actual fingers or the pen attached.

2. Masks: They’re everywhere at this point. A few gifts I bought for people were masks from their favorite fashion brands so they can be safe in style.

3. Food: Never underestimate the joy in a good meal! One of my closest friends dreads cooking, but always finds recipes she wants to try and cook. Supermodel Gigi Hadid’s vodka sauce pasta recipe has been swirling around TikTok since this summer so I gave it a go and it was amazing. My friend wanted to try it but since she doesn’t cook, I made it for her myself and not only was she surprised, but she really enjoyed it!

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I tend to be a clean eater about 85% of the time. Life is no fun if all you do is eat clean and never treat yourself. Years ago, I struggled with anorexia and would not only force myself to workout on even major holidays, but I would make myself feel burdened with guilt if I enjoyed holiday food.

Not everyone is in the position I was once in, but this is generally the time of the year where sweets, comfort food, and takeout comes into play more often (especially due to the pandemic). It could leave some feeling discouraged if they don’t stay on their diet the way they normally do.

As for me, this is something that took me years to come to terms with. Not everyday is going to be an egg white omelette and chickpea salad day accompanied by a gallon of water. Some days you’re going to indulge in pizza, wine, and ice cream. 

For anyone that’s ever been in my shoes, here are ways I coach myself through it:

1. Not every day is perfect. This happens in every aspect of our lives. School, work, sports, you name it. Not every day is going to be perfect. The same goes for those who like to eat healthy. You’re going to have some days that aren’t what you think is a perfect diet, and that’s okay! That’s what life is about. 

1. No, you’re not going to gain real weight in one or a few days of treating yourself. To gain a pound of weight, you need to eat an additional 3,500 calories on top of what you normally eat. So, unless you’re eating enough for an additional one to two people, you’re fine and the weight you’re noticing is food and water weight that’ll be flushed out.

1. Don’t sweat it if you’re not actually sweating it. Didn’t work out for a day or a few, or even a week? It’ll be okay. Missing some workouts won’t undo all the progress you’ve made. 

Speaking of, did you know a primary ingredient in old fashioned style root beer is good for you? Sarsaparilla supports the body in cell growth, inflammation, joint comfort, antioxidants, and sexual health claims.

At this point, I’m entirely out of cooking ideas. With COVID, I try to support as many small businesses and restaurants as possible by ordering takeout. I’ve gone through just about every restaurant I enjoy, have tried new ones, and am trying to not repeat this endless cycle of me ordering food because as delicious as it is, I know my wallet is crying and preparing for the holidays. 

I follow a ton of food accounts on Instagram that post recipes. They all look good, but sort of time consuming. Nothing’s wrong with that, but I’m someone who always tries to squeeze a lot of errands and work into one day and prepping for a lengthy night of cooking isn’t what I look forward to.

Here are some new foods, meals, and recipes I’ve found lately:

1. Shishito peppers: They say one pepper in every 10 is spicy. I personally don’t think they’re spicy, but they have a smoky flavor. I find mine at Trader Joe’s. To prepare them, all you need is a high-heat oil like avocado oil (or another,) some salt, and a pan to blister them in. They taste incredible when they’re paired with sweet Thai chili sauce.

1. Gigi Hadid’s vodka pasta recipe: Hear me out, I know Gigi did not invent vodka sauce herself. However, this recipe is mouthwatering and worth the try. As someone who probably spends too much time scrolling on TikTok before bed, I’ve seen her recipe been cooked at least three times and had to try it myself. It’s not too hard to cook, and who doesn’t like comfort food?

1. Just about anything in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s: No matter how long that line outside the door gets, I’ll wait in it, just for Trader Joe’s. Their frozen meals are usually a tiny bit healthier than regular frozen meals (or at least I tell myself that) and they don’t take long to prepare at all. I really like the Chicken Chow Mein!

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I’ll admit, back in March I didn’t think we would be in a pandemic for this long. It’s tough not seeing family, friends, relatives, and loved ones for an extended period of time – and the holidays are the times you want to spend with them specifically. 

For Easter, we tried a group FaceTime which felt nearly impossible since everyone wanted to talk at once. Also, trying to coach the grandparents of the group on how to open FaceTime wasn’t easy either. 

With Christmas around the corner, this is usually the holiday that we enjoy the most in my family. Years of traditions being put on hold for 2020 is sad, but also necessary to keep others and ourselves safe.

Here are some plans we have to make the most of this holiday:

– Safely giving food to others: Cooking some of our favorite meals that we’d normally cook for Christmas Eve and delivering it to family is a safe option. Be sure to wear masks when dropping it off, staying outside, and washing your hands/wearing gloves when preparing and cooking.

– Gift exchange: A game of White Elephant or Secret Santa could be done safely if you live in a distance to deliver gifts to others! The game could be safely played over Zoom.

– Baking and cooking: Similar to the first option (but without sharing), you could try cooking a new recipe with the people you live with. I always find this one to be fun because I have a huge Pinterest board I’ve built up over the years of things I want to attempt cooking or baking, but never got around to.

As someone who suffers with anxiety, I am always on the lookout for natural products that could help. I’ve used a roll-on CBD oil for a couple years and tried a lavender essential oil spray. While these things have helped me, I looked into an option my old roommate told me about called ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha, also known by its scientific name Withania somnifera, belongs to a family of plants including tomatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers, and tobacco, and it contains properties that may help to support how the body and mind deal with anxiety. In a time like now where things are always changing this is something that could be very valuable to many.

Stress levels and anxiety are heightened during these trying times. Personally, I know it’s hard to stay off news websites and articles of rising case numbers. 

A few other ways to clear your mind during these times are:

• Setting a limit on how much media you consume: I’m someone who’s always checking their phone and the news. This is good in some cases but also bad in others. Checking something too much could create more anxiety.

• Get active: Being active is known to help with stress and anxiety. As long as you’re being safe about ways of being active (masked and distanced at a gym, jogging outdoors, etc.) this is a helpful stress reliever.

• Phoning a friend: Whenever I talk to my friends whether it’s FaceTime or a phone call, I always leave the call feeling better. It’s safe and gives you time to catch up!