Hi Reader,

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of online conversation around women’s bodies.
Who looks too thin. Who looks unhealthy. Who’s changed. And while I understand the concern, it’s made me stop and think… do we ever ask why women feel the need to look this way in the first place?

Because while some women are being criticised for being too thin, I sit on the other side of that conversation as someone who constantly gets criticised for being too big (the f word is banned in my home!)

After creating content online for almost 8 years now, comments about my weight are usually water off a duck’s back. But every now and then, one will catch me on a bad day… and it can send me into a spiral for days, weeks, sometimes even months.

For example, I posted a silly little Tik Tok video the other day and one of the most top liked comments (with 1300+ likes) was about my weight. And if I am being honest, it made me really really sad.

I’ve always been someone who loves food. It’s how I connect to my culture, my family, and the people around me. But that love for food hasn’t always been easy. Because when I try to restrict my diet, I become deeply unhappy. So over the years, I’ve had to learn how to love myself as I am. But this love for myself has not come easy.

There are still days where I struggle. Days where I truly hate how I look, or wonder would it be easier to take a pill that suppresses my appetite so I wouldn't have to worry about any of this. But the truth is… living in that mindset is completely and utterly exhausting.

So instead of continuing this cycle of commenting on women’s or anyones bodies for that matter, whether it’s “too thin” or “too big,” maybe we need to take a step back. Because no matter where you sit in that conversation… it hurts.

And I don’t want to spend my life at war with my body. I want to enjoy it. I want to nourish it. I want to live fully in it. For me, that means good food. Shared meals. Recipes that bring joy.

So if you’re feeling this too, you’re not alone. You don’t need to earn your food, or your body, or your place at the table. If you're up for it, I would love for you to reply to this email and let me know if this is something you have felt as well. Let's support each other and not tear each other down anymore.

Anyway… on a lighter note, let’s all enjoy a big bowl of comfort with my leek risotto (completely guilt-free) and learn to love ourselves a little more along the way. Because at the end of the day, my recipes are nourishing in their own way. They might just not look like the version of “healthy” we’ve been taught to believe.

👉 Get the recipe

Love,

Daen xoxo

Melbourne, Australia 3000 ​UNSUBSCRIBE​