Self-Care with Jean

Hello, dear friends! Welcome to 2026! Before we dive into our conversation about balance, I want to share something personal with you that ties into my Ring of Fire episode from January 1st. Throughout my life, I've worked with psychologists and psychiatrists when I really needed help, and I'm never afraid to talk about it or ask for support. Our Ring of Fire practice brings together all those pie...

In this episode, I'm so excited to kick off the new year by introducing you to one of my absolute favorite ingredients from my macrobiotic studies—adzuki beans! These small, reddish legumes from East Asia are about to become your new kitchen best friend. First, we'll take a quick trip down memory lane and recap the six elements of health we explored together last year—from building awareness and c...

In this special episode, I'm sharing a profound meditation that came to me on November 11th, 2025—a journey I call the Ring of Fire Meditation. I believe that throughout our lives, during traumatic or stressful moments, we lose pieces of ourselves. These fragments can be from any age—childhood, our teens, twenties, thirties, and beyond. They remain stuck in those moments, in those interactions, in...

As we close out 2025 and step into 2026, I'm inviting you to pause with me for some deep reflection and gentle intention-setting. In this special year-end episode, we're going to honor where we've been and lovingly prepare for where we're going. I'll guide you through three powerful reflections: celebrating the growth you've experienced this year (even through the hard moments), honoring what you'...

The holidays are almost here, and while I absolutely love this season of connection and celebration, I know how heavy and sluggish all those rich, traditional dishes can make us feel. So this week, I'm inviting you to try something different with me. I'm sharing three of my favorite plant-based holiday recipes that will bring brightness and nourishment to your table without the guilt or heaviness....

In this episode, I'm inviting you to pause with me as we explore winter through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine and self-care. I know this time of year feels impossible—the holidays are here, our calendars are packed, and everyone expects us to keep pushing through. But here's what I want you to understand: nature is asking us to do the opposite. The trees are conserving energy, animals a...

In this cozy episode of The Kitchen with Jean, I'm inviting you to slow down and embrace winter's gentle wisdom through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Winter is the season of stillness and deep restoration—a time when nature rests beneath the surface, and we're called to do the same. In TCM, winter is connected to our kidneys, which hold our body's vital energy reserves. That's why I'm...

In this special bonus episode, I'm inviting you to step away from the busyness of life and join me for a walking meditation. This isn't about perfection; it's about practice. Whether you have five minutes or fifty, this walking meditation is a gift you can give yourself anytime you need to reset, restore, and replenish. So grab your walking shoes, and let's take this journey together. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, I'm inviting you to explore something so important as we move into this busy holiday season—keeping our routines. I know how easy it is to let our daily rituals slip away when life gets full of gatherings, travel, and celebrations. But here's what I've learned: our routines aren't rigid rules—they're the gentle rhythm that helps us dance through life with ease. Together, we'll tal...

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Kitchen with Jean, we will explore the sweet side of the holidays - but with a nourishing twist that will love you back. Join me as I share five incredible plant-based dessert recipes that are naturally sweet, made without refined sugar or white flour, because when we choose to bake with intention, we're nourishing instead of just indulging. I'll walk yo...

As the holidays approach and our calendars start filling up with endless to-do lists, I know many of you are feeling that familiar pull in every direction. Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm sharing how we can move through this beautiful but overwhelming season with balance, calm, and health in mind, body, and spirit. Because here's the thing - self-care isn't about stepping away from the holida...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, I'm inviting you into my kitchen to explore how we can bring more lightness, color, and nourishment to our holiday table. As we step into the heart of the holiday season, I want to share something close to my heart - ways to create vibrant plant-based dishes that make us feel alive, grounded, and joyful. Because self-care isn't just about what we do after the...

In this cozy episode of The Kitchen, I'm inviting you to join me as we reimagine our favorite fall comfort foods in lighter, more nourishing ways. Because here's the thing - comfort food doesn't have to weigh us down or make us feel heavy and sleepy afterward. I'll walk you through transforming classic dishes that feel like a warm hug: we're swapping traditional meatloaf for a protein-packed lenti...

In this episode of Self-Care with Jean, I'm sharing something really special with you - a short and simple meditation that you can bring into any moment of your day. What I love about this practice is that you don't need any special equipment, a quiet room, or even a meditation cushion. Whether you're walking down the street, sitting at your desk, or even washing dishes in your kitchen, this medit...

In this cozy episode of "The Kitchen with Jean," I'm inviting you into our special corner where we pause, nurture ourselves, and explore how food can bring us comfort and care. Today, we're diving deep into my absolute favorite meal of the day - breakfast! I truly believe breakfast sets the tone for how we feel, our energy, our mood, and even our focus throughout the entire day. When we start our...

In this week's episode of Self-Care with Jean, I'm sharing something close to my heart - our amazing lymphatic system, the quiet hero working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us healthy and vibrant. I'll guide you through understanding what our lymph system really is - think of it as your body's gentle cleansing river, carrying away toxins and supporting your immune system every single day. Un...

In this cozy fall episode, I'm inviting you into my kitchen to explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine can guide us through the seasonal transition from summer to fall. As the leaves begin to fall and the air grows cooler, I want to share with you how we can support our bodies during this time of letting go. In TCM, fall is the season of the lungs and large intestine - organs connected to release...

In this episode, I'm sharing something close to my heart – how to care for our precious lungs as we move from the warmth of summer into autumn's crisp embrace. As the air turns drier and cooler, our lungs need a little extra love and attention. I'll walk you through three gentle, practical tips that you can start using today: how to humidify and hydrate (both your environment and your body), the p...

In this episode, I'm inviting you to join me in The Kitchen as we gracefully transition from summer's bright, abundant energy into the quieter, more grounding rhythms of autumn. As our days grow shorter and evenings get a touch cooler, I'm sharing why it's time to wind down those cold summer foods and start warming ourselves from the inside out. Drawing from traditional Chinese medicine wisdom, I'...

In this episode, I'm talking about something we often overlook - our precious, tender ears and the increasingly noisy world we're living in. You know what I've noticed? Everything just seems to be getting louder! From weddings where we're screaming over 10-piece bands to movies that make our ears ring, to the constant hum of traffic, leaf blowers, and construction - our world is literally getting...

In this episode, I'm inviting you to slow down and savor these golden September days with me. As the light begins to soften and nature overflows with abundance, I want to share three simple, plant-based, gluten-free recipes that celebrate this beautiful season. I'll guide you through creating an heirloom tomato basil salad that captures pure sunshine on a plate, grilled zucchini with a creamy lemo...

In this week's episode of Self-Care with Jean, I want to invite you into a conversation about mindfulness - but not the kind you might expect. We're not talking about it as another item on your to-do list or a goal to achieve. Instead, I'm sharing how mindfulness can become a gentle way of being in your everyday life. Together, we'll explore what I like to call "the gentle art of paying attention"...

I'm so excited to share this week's episode with you. We're right in the thick of summer, and I know you're out there firing up those grills, so I wanted to dive into something a little different - plant-based grilling and marinades! I'm taking you beyond the usual poultry, beef, and fish to explore some incredible plant-based options that will absolutely blow your mind. We'll talk about tofu (esp...

In this week's episode of Self-Care with Jean, I'm flipping the script on our usual self-care conversation. Instead of talking about what TO do, we're exploring what NOT to do – because sometimes creating space for healing means knowing what to stop doing first. I'll walk you through five essential "don'ts" that are sabotaging your self-care journey: Don't ignore that inner voice that's trying to...

In this episode, I want to reflect on our amazing journey together since we started back in March. We've covered so much ground – from different cooking methods like steaming and water sautéing, to slowing down and really chewing our food, and even cutting back on sugar by exploring healthier alternatives like maple syrup and brown rice syrup. We've also explored the world of spring vegetables, di...