Marissa Vicario

Recent Blog Posts

Healthy Hot Spot: Dig Inn Seasonal Market

When I worked in an office, I longed for healthy lunch options. Believe it or not, I eventually even swore off  deli salads because of the lack of organic produce available and the negative energy of the guys who slapped them together at warp speed behind the counter. (Hint: Think about the energy in the environment where your food is made and where you eat it. It may sound silly, but the … [Read more...]

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School

"For most people, the only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude" - Julia Child I'm a self-proclaimed bookworm and David likes to joke that I alwaysΒ  have my nose stuck in a book. My favorite books are usually the ones that have been recommended to me. But I stumbled on this one on a chance trip to Barnes & Noble. It stared up at me … [Read more...]

Reflections on Running and Why I’m Taking a Hiatus

It was two weeks ago. I was running with David. I felt slow and heavy and in pain and it wasn't the first time. I have been battling issues with my posture, pain in my joints and tight hips and hamstrings for well over a year. I've sought treatment, but mostly ignored the pain and hoped it would go away (just call me Little Miss Stubborn). So far, it hasn't. And then I heard a voice. "Stop … [Read more...]

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics: Vegan, Cruelty-free Makeup

When I revealed what's inside my bathroom cabinets a few weeks ago, I was forced to take a good hard look at my makeup. Admittedly, I wear less makeup now on a daily basis than I used to, and I've overhauled my makeup bag every couple of years as I've grown more conscious of natural products and  earth-friendly companies, but was my makeup as health-conscious as I'd like it to be? Probably … [Read more...]

Moroccan-spiced Fries

I know what you're thinking. Fries? On this blog? These aren't just any fries. They're acorn squash fries and you may want to hurry and try them before squash is out of season at the end of the month. I knew that I wanted to make some comfort food with this squash and create fries but I wanted these fries to have BIG flavor. I had Morocco on the mind (I may or may not have been watching reruns … [Read more...]

Five For Friday: Gabrielle Bernstein

When I first met Gabrielle Bernstein in 2008, she was speaking about happiness at the New York Junior League. At the time, I had a lot of drama in my life and never considered I could be a happy person. I was going through the motions. I thought to myself then that Gabby was the kind of person I'd like to be friends with. Then, one year later, I had hit rock bottom with a romantic relationship … [Read more...]

Healthy Hot Spot: Kutsher’s Tribeca

I gave up my bagel and cream cheese habit several years ago. Thankfully, you won't find that kind of deli fare on the menu at Kutsher's Tribeca. Instead, you get a contemporary spin on Jewish American classics artfully served up (in ample portions) in a clean and modern bistro setting. Eager for a light lunch, mid-week, we strolled over to Kutscher's on a sunny Tuesday afternoon and snagged two … [Read more...]

My Favorite Health, Wellness & Fitness Blogs

I'm sharing the love today! As a blogger it's imperative that I read other blogs and I certainly have my pick, but these are the ones that keep me coming back. And I think it's no coincidence that many have an Institute for Integrative Nutrition student or grad behind them. The Wellness Warrior Finding the perfect healthy balance of mind body and spirit Fit Chick In the City Working out the … [Read more...]

How to Identify Emotional Hunger vs. Real Hunger + My Conscious Eating Guidelines

Whenever I'm hungry I play a little game with myself. Instead of satisfying the "hunger" immediately, I check in with my body first. I'll get to exactly how this works in a second ... and, I know, it sounds weird. But when you consider that hunger is actually controlled not only by the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach) but also by the hypothalamus (the brain), it starts to make more … [Read more...]