I grew up in a Filipino household filled with women who love to cook. I didn’t have a choice but to help out in the kitchen — whether it was peeling and cutting vegetables, cooking rice, or watching over whatever was simmering on the stove.

Being raised in a Filipino family means food is at the heart of everything. Some of my best memories took place on Sundays when my mom and grandma showed us how to cook their specialty dishes.

Spending time to create and enjoy meals together is how my family shares our love with one another. I continue to hold this sentiment and believe that food is much more than just nutrition. Food is deeply rooted in our culture and can have a profound effect on our wellbeing. 

With a family history of diabetes, I became interested in learning how to prevent health conditions through lifestyle practices. Like many of you, I was confused about what to eat and started seeking nutrition advice from fitness influencers on social media who had no legit education in nutrition. That is, until I realized I was making a huge mistake! My fascination with food and how it affects the body eventually led me toward becoming a registered dietitian.

After experiencing the positive effects of healthy eating and exercise (most especially resistance training) on my overall wellbeing, I began to explore other aspects of wellness through practicing yoga, meditation, and principles of mindfulness.

This newfound lifestyle — a combination of nourishing my body with food that makes me feel good, moving my body with intention, and learning to sit in stillness felt aligned with who I was becoming, which completely changed my life. This inner work took a lot of time and humility, and continues to kick my ass every day!

Early into my career as a dietitian, I left San Francisco to travel throughout Southeast Asia. My travels gifted me with a deeper curiosity and respect for food, culture, nature, and humanity which added a dimension to my life as well as my approach in nutrition counseling. Collectively, these experiences have allowed me to become more in tune with myself and others.

 Emanate Goodness was then created to share some of the goodness I’ve learned with all of you.