About
I am a vegetarian Mama & Yoga Teacher from NYC who focuses on maintaining a balance of health and sustainability while not losing the tradition of my family customs. I love practicing and teaching yoga & meditation, preparing raw foods and cooking in my kitchen, as well as enjoying the outdoors, spending time with my family and sharing my healthy and compassionate lifestyle with others. Some people feel that eating vegetarian and healthy can be too limiting but there is an abundance of delicious, simple food and fun recipes out there that can help. With this blog I want to share my experiences and encourage others to join me!
I have been vegetarian/vegan for 27 years. When I was younger (as in 7 years old through my teen years) I felt super strong about compassionate vegetarian eating. Then through my early 20s, I was concerned with fitting in, so my convictions took a backseat and I began to eat fish. But I think because of this slip I have come back to the veg lifestyle stronger and more devoted than ever.
One of my main passions is being in the kitchen. Organic eating, nutrition, and healthy, delicious cooking have always been important to me. I love raw foods! There is no other way of eating that makes me feel as good and light as when I eat raw food. I find that in the summer when my diet is more reliant on raw foods, I feel such a big change in the connection between how my body feels and the food I am eating.
Creating and cooking delicious and healthy raw &/or vegan meals to share with others is one of the most rewarding activities in my life! And of course a little vegan dessert can be divine! There is something so special and sentimental about being in the kitchen chopping, stirring, singing and dancing all at once! (don’t worry, I try to be careful when I am chopping!!) I really feel all this amazing amount of love going directly into the meal!
My husband, Michael is beyond wonderful. He does love to juice and eat many veg meals, but he also incorporates the occasional meat meal into his diet. I consider him a fantastic critic and an amazing inspiration 🙂 I love taking care of my family with delicious meals that are organic, healthy and vegan. As a new mama to two amazing kiddos it has also been such a great adventure to cook for them and to come up with deelish, balanced and super healthy meals for the whole family.
Coming from a big family with many traditions, I grew up with tons of love, eating great big meals and lots of talking! I am lucky to come from a lineage of women who have had the skills and passion for cooking for their families. There has always been a strong connection between my family, religion and food. I am so grateful for the simple pleasures of making homemade meals full of love and the healing power of food.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
Marisa's Healthy Kitchen 
Apr 13, 2009 @ 20:11:41
Hi doll – This is awesome!!! I had no idea you were such a fantastic writer!!! Keep the posts coming!!!!
LOVE YOU
~ Ju
Apr 13, 2009 @ 22:33:06
You are inspirational. Thank you for this fantastic blog.
Apr 17, 2009 @ 21:34:49
where is my HEADY vegan burrito recipe?
Apr 17, 2009 @ 21:40:15
awesome site marissa! would love to try some of your recipes some time. keep up the good work! xoxox
Jun 25, 2009 @ 13:46:53
love the site it is just what I have been looking for I know this is raw but how about some menus with tufu I have a hard time making it taste good .. thanks in advance Karen
Jun 25, 2009 @ 14:10:57
Hi Karen! So happy you like my site 🙂
I don’t cook that often with Tofu these days, although I think I will be making a Sloppy Joe recipe next week with tofu so stay posted. Love Love!
Marisa
Jan 23, 2010 @ 13:00:57
LOVE your food blogs… I will definitely be trying some in my kitchen. Will get back to you with success stories… (hopefully). 🙂
xo
Jan 23, 2010 @ 13:14:17
Thanks!!! I can’t wait to hear 🙂 Fabulous!!
xoxo
Jan 31, 2010 @ 14:11:46
Marisa, you are completely inspiring me! I can’t wait to try the green juice recipe I see on here!! See you on Monday!
Jan 31, 2010 @ 15:30:12
SO FABULOUS!!! You are going to be feeling so amazing and getting off the “evil black juice” hahaha!! See You Monday! xox
Jun 06, 2011 @ 20:59:46
Hey Marisa ! I recently discovered your website by searching some delicious ways to cook oatmeal. How was I not aware of this before?! Adding chia seeds and Quinoa is simply genius. Healthy and Delicious, the ultimate team for the perfect meal. I am pretty young, and I want to start eating healthy for a life long change. For the past month and a half I’ve lost 15 pounds, and with the healthy eating (and NOT dieting) it keeps going down fast like a reverse rocket ! haha. Even a youngster like me can follow every single recipe with absolutely no problem, I really apreciate the easiness and the delishiousness!
Keep up the good work, you truly are an inspiration!
-Ana
Jun 06, 2011 @ 22:00:23
Ana!! That is so exciting!! Good for you! I am so excited for you and your journey 🙂 I think as you continue on your new path of healthy eating you will have many more of these moments where you realize all the fun things you can do with food 🙂 I am super happy to be of help to you! Please let me know which recipes you try and what you like. Good luck!!! thanks!
May 13, 2013 @ 20:40:34
Great site and recipes to try! I can’t wait to have more food chats and recipe swaps.
May 14, 2013 @ 21:52:58
Thanks love!!! Yes please 🙂 My kids are eating so much lately and would love to have more quick & easy go-tos for the whole fam 🙂 yeah! xo
Apr 09, 2014 @ 11:40:26
Great job, Marisa!
Excellent advice and Recipes!
Between yoga, food and spirituality let’s keep America healthy and happy!
Keep up great work!
Gene Panasenko
Apr 09, 2014 @ 11:59:23
Thanks Gene!!