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The Best Food I Ate at a Wellness Retreat (and How You Can Recreate It Without Quitting Your Day Job)

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I didn’t think food at a wellness retreat would be this good.

Like, I packed emergency snacks in my tote—almonds, protein bars, even a tiny jar of peanut butter—because in my mind “wellness” food = sad lettuce and overpriced green juice.

But let me tell you. From the moment I arrived, barefoot and slightly skeptical, I was handed a cucumber mint mocktail so refreshing it made me suspicious of my own fridge at home.

It got better.

The Magical Morning Bowl

Day one, breakfast. I sat down expecting dry oats and a side of shame.

Instead, I was served a warm, cozy quinoa porridge—cooked with almond milk, lightly sweetened with maple syrup, topped with berries, and finished with this fancy sprinkle of hemp seeds and crushed pistachios.

It was rich. Creamy. Comforting. And somehow still felt light.

As soon as I got home, I recreated it with Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quinoa, 365 Almond Milk, and Maple Grove Farms Organic Maple Syrup.

Topped with Terrasoul Superfoods Hemp Seeds and Wonderful Pistachios No Shells, it’s now my everyday breakfast.

I feel like a grounded forest fairy every time I eat it.

The Salad That Slapped Me Into Silence

Now let’s talk lunch.

Usually, I’m suspicious of anything called “power bowl.” It’s either too raw, too weird, or requires a PhD in nutrition to understand.

But this bowl. Oh man.

It had roasted sweet potatoes (crispy and caramelized), kale massaged in lemon tahini dressing, chickpeas that were actually crunchy, a scoop of quinoa, and a soft-boiled egg with runny yolk sitting on top like a crown jewel.

I took one bite and forgot I had bills to pay.

Once home, I stocked up on Food to Live Organic Chickpeas and Kevala Organic Tahini. I learned that roasting chickpeas at 425°F for 25 minutes with olive oil and smoked paprika creates tiny crunchy miracles.

Also, massaging kale? Not just a TikTok trend. It works. Use Iberia Extra Virgin Olive Oil, lemon juice, and a little sea salt. Rub it like you’re apologizing for buying that $7 latte again.

The Snack That Deserved a Standing Ovation

You know that 3 p.m. crash where you feel like your brain is buffering?

At the retreat, they passed around tiny jars of chia pudding with mango puree and coconut flakes. And I swear, it brought me back to life.

It was cool, lightly sweet, with the perfect squish from the soaked chia seeds. And the mango? Like biting into a tropical daydream.

So now, I keep Viva Naturals Organic Chia Seeds in my pantry like gold. I mix 3 tablespoons with 1 cup Califia Farms Coconut Almond Milk Blend, let it sit overnight, and top with Mazzoni Organic Mango Puree and Let’s Do Organic Shredded Coconut.

Honestly? It makes me feel like I have my life together, even if I haven’t folded my laundry in three days.

Dinner Was Basically Spa Therapy in a Bowl

Dinner was a gentle but flavorful stir-fry made with tofu, bok choy, mushrooms, ginger, and sesame oil, over brown rice.

No drama. No dairy. No deep fry.

Just warm, earthy goodness that somehow tasted like comfort without leaving me in a food coma.

So now I keep a pack of Nasoya Organic Extra Firm Tofu in the fridge and Annie Chun’s Brown Rice Noodles in the pantry. I splash in Kikkoman Less Sodium Soy Sauce and finish it with a drizzle of La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil.

The magic is in the ginger and garlic. Use fresh if you can, but SWAD Ginger Paste saves lives on weeknights.

Oh, and the Tea Ritual

Every night after dinner, we sat around sipping tea like we were in an old-school self-help novel. It was chamomile with fennel, lavender, and licorice root. Sounds weird, right? But it was calming—like a cozy hug from the universe.

Now I drink Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea before bed, with a splash of honey. No emails, no screens, just tea and whatever random thoughts my brain decides to throw at me.

Like, “Did I ever return that library book in 2014?”

Wellness Retreat Food Changed Me (…Kind Of)

Okay, I’m not about to start foraging mushrooms or spending $80 on adaptogens.

But this retreat did teach me something simple: nourishing food doesn’t have to be boring or bland.

It can be rich, vibrant, cozy, and so satisfying you forget it’s healthy.

It can make you feel better—not just physically, but mentally. Like you’re showing your body some respect, not just checking off a calorie box.

And with a few pantry staples from Amazon and 20 minutes in the kitchen, you can eat like you’re on a wellness retreat—even on a random Tuesday in your apartment, in your pajamas, surrounded by unfolded laundry.

Because wellness doesn’t have to mean a $2,000 trip to Sedona.

Sometimes, it’s just a really good chia pudding and a soft-boiled egg.

So, are you ready to wellness like a pro without ever leaving your kitchen?

Just light a candle, put on a spa playlist, and open the fridge. Namaste, but with snacks. 🥣✨

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but this does not affect my recommendations.I only suggest products I’ve personally vetted.

If you’re into real talk about life’s messier moments, loneliness, starting over, and figuring it all out. I host a podcast called Alone-ish where I get into all that and more. It’s basically me, some unfiltered thoughts, and a reminder that you’re not the only one feeling a little… alone-ish. https://open.spotify.com/show/0Ju9x9j8Q4RiONDf5XJ0g5?si=LYOFRkenSn-Pg4VTClRoog