Mindful Eating. Mindful Living.
March 17, 2026
March is national nutrition month.
Wellness Within Your Walls® celebrates National Nutrition Month. Learn about making informed food, preparation and storage choices. Discover how to develop healthier eating habits. Check out the many opportunities to try new and exciting food and wine while traveling or in your own kitchen. Adopt the Healthy Living System™ to your everyday living and learn how Step 9, Food Science, will give you the tools you need to design healthier, innovative, intuitive and aesthetically pleasing kitchens.
Step 9 of the Healthy Living System: Food Science
Embracing and understanding the growing, processing, storing and preparation of food furthers healthier eating habits. Advanced technology and energy-efficient appliances that incorporate smart-home technology contribute to healthier kitchens, as does reducing contaminants by choosing products such as formaldehyde-free cabinets and wool hood vent filters. Access to local, fresh, organic ingredients allows us to provision for a healthier life, connecting the dots between what we eat and personal wellness.
From left to right, top to bottom spaces designed by: Kate Roos Design, Forte Design Studio, Blue Fine Cabinetry & Design, LakeHaus Designs, The Home Stylist, RJ Builder, Stockwell Homes, Splendid Home Design, Designs with You in Mind
Kitchens: The Heart of Healthy Living
Kitchens have long been thought of as the “heart of the home.” Kitchen design trends for 2026 focus on biophilic principles, non-toxic and sustainable materials, air ventilation and filtration, water purification, proper lighting, aging-in-place and health-centric appliances. Kitchens are the common space of the home where we gather and make memories.
Creating a health-focused kitchen is achievable when following holistic concepts. This year’s NKBA kitchen design award winners, shown in the above collage, showcased projects that go beyond the aesthetics. These beautiful kitchens have been brought to life with a focus on wellness-driven living that anyone can embrace.
- Incorporate natural views
- Use sustainable, natural materials
- Design using ambient, task and natural lighting
- Create spaces for entertainment
- Utilize work zones
- Consider client’s design and wellness aspirations
Request the WWYW wellness methodology.
Clean Eating vs Supplements
In the age of diet culture and quick health hacks, the debate between whole foods and supplements is under a microscope. Whole foods are defined as natural, nutrient-dense foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed, containing no added sugars, fats, salts or artificial additives. Vitamins and minerals packed into convenient pills, capsules or powders offer a powerful allure, but are they a true substitute?
“You can’t supplement your way out of a poor diet.”
Rachele Podjenic, PHD, Stanford University Nutrition and Supplement Researcher
Whole foods provide a symbiotic blend of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and healthy fats that work together for optimal health benefits. They support immune function, strengthen bones and help maintain a healthy weight, while reducing the risk of chronic conditions. Supplements often isolate specific nutrients and bypass hundreds of vital compounds the body needs for absorption. Culinary medicine blends the art of cooking with the science of medicine, creating a flavorful pathway to managing chronic diseases.
If you are going to include supplements in your diet, make sure they are third-party tested by reputable organizations such as ConsumerLab, US Pharmacopeia and NSF International.
Read articles on the topic here and here.
Global Food & Wine Festivals
In celebration of National Nutrition Month plan out your year around some of the world’s best culinary events. Enjoy local and regional cuisines often featuring chef-driven tastings and wine and spirit parings. These culinary events can include cooking demonstrations and artisan markets. Gather with other culinary enthusiasts to celebrate regional ingredients and talent, while being educated on the important role food has on our bodies and health.
Culinary choices profoundly impact our health. Food directly affects inflammation, gut microbiome composition and immune function. A Mediterranean diet, a diet supported by countless nutritionists for decades, promotes longevity and disease prevention while diets high in ultra-processed foods, added sugars and fried foods increase chronic inflammation, obesity and cognitive decline.
Here are some tasting events, wine festivals and harvest celebrations around the world for you to enjoy.
- ProWein in Dusseldorf, Germany – March 15-17
- Vendimia de Curico in Curico, Chile – March 20-22
- Melbourne Food & Wine Festival in Melbourne, Australia – March 20-29
- Orange F.O.O.D Week in Orange, New South Wales, Australia – March 20-29
- Back to Your Village Food Festival in Accra, Ghana – March 28-29
- Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival in Monterey, California, United States of America – April 9-12
- Vinitaly in Verona, Italy – April 12-15
- Bordeaux En Primeur in Bordeaux, France – April 20-23
- Bottlerock in Napa Valley, California, United States of America – May 22-24
- Ubud Food Festival in Bali, Indonesia – May 28-31
- Africa Food Show in Cape Town, South Africa – June 10-12
- Aspen Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, United States of America – June 19-21
- Douro Valley Harvest in Douro Valley, Portugal – July 3-4
- Santorini Wine Festival in Santorini, Greece – August 2
- Mistura Food Festival in Lima, Peru – September 6-13
- Rioja Harvest Festival in Logrono, Riojo, Spain – September 21
- Sagra del Vino – Frascati in Franscati, Lazio, Italy – October 4-5
- The Okanagan Fall Wine Festival in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada – October 5-15
- Fete des Vendanges – Montmartre in Paris, France – October 8-12
- New York City Wine & Food Festival in New York, New York, United States of America – October 14-18
- Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival in Hong Kong, China – October 22-25
- Big Sur Food & Wine Festival in Big Sur, California, United States of America – November 5-7
- Merano Wine Festival in Merano, Alto Adige, Italy – November 6-10
- Beaujolais Nouveau Release in Beaujolais, France – November 19
Nourish to Flourish
Chef Gusteau featured in the film Ratatouille was quoted saying “anyone can cook…but only the fearless can be great.” This selection of cookbooks celebrates chefs and nutritionists from around the world that fearlessly approach cooking while getting to the heart of culinary medicine.
Culinary medicine is an evidence-based field blending the art of cooking with the science of medicine to prevent and manage chronic diseases through personalized and nutritious food choices.
The following authors provide practical, healthy pathways to sustain healthy eating habits for overall well-being.
Eat Yourself Healthy by Jamie Oliver
“For more than two decades, Jamie Oliver has been leading the charge on a global food revolution, aiming to improve everyone’s health and happiness through food. In Eat Yourself Healthy, he’s back with 120 incredible recipes sure to energize, satisfy, and nourish.”
Purchase a copy here.
Mind, Body, Spirit, Food by Nicki Sizemore
“Mind, Body, Spirit, Food contains 51 naturally gluten-free recipes that each include a mindfulness prompt, such as focus on the process and not the result as you bread the chicken or eggplant slices in Sheet Pan Parm, seek balance as you notice how sweet counter salty and spicy tempers richness in Miso Maple Glazed Vegetables, and feel grounded on the kitchen floor as you bite into the earthy beets of Roasted Beet Salad.”
Purchase a copy here.
Tamu: A Journey Through Africa’s Plant-based Cuisine by Jane Nshuti
“From everyday comforts to celebratory feasts, Nshuti’s food fosters connection, identity, and joy. Her tips and thoughtful substitutions make unfamiliar ingredients approachable for home cooks of all levels. With bold visuals and a design that reflects the vibrancy of African tradition, this visually striking tribute to heritage, resilience, and community nourishment is ideal for vegans, food lovers, and anyone eager to explore the depth and diversity of African plant-based cooking.”
Purchase a copy here.
The 30-Day Inflammatory Reset by Josh Redd NMD, MS, MAPHB
“Whether dealing with ongoing health issues, seeking weight loss, or simply wanting to prevent future issues, The 30-Day Inflammatory Reset is at once a practical and transformative book to help you achieve better health, longevity, and overall well-being.”
Purchase a copy here.
Trust Your Gut by Jennifer Fisher
“This book is filled with recipes that include easy swaps to fit anybody’s dietary needs, as well as ideas for how to eat out while still understanding what your body needs. Trust Your Gut is a cookbook designed for anyone wanting to eat healthily but not compromise on taste.”
Purchase a copy here.
Fizz: A Beginners Guide to Making Natural, Non-Alcoholic Fermented Drinks by Elise Van Iterson & Barbara Serulus
“Fermentation produces fantastic non-alcoholic drinks. They all fizz with healthy bacteria and they all surprise you with their complex taste. You will find accessible recipes with step-by-step illustrations, scientific background information on the fermentation process, and “juicy” anecdotes about the origin of these extraordinary drinks.”
Purchase a copy here.
The PCOS Recipe Book by Megan Hallett
“Learn to thrive with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) with this selection of simple, healthy and delicious recipes, and an introduction from nutritional therapist Megan Hallett that will help you to manage your symptoms so you can feel better than ever before.”
Purchase a copy here.
Upgrade Your Immunity with Herbs by Dr. Joseph Mercola
“Upgrade Your Immunity with Herbs showcases 19 different medicinal herbs and spices – from Ashwagandha to Echinacea to Rhodiola – and offers ways to use them in delicious and creative preparations for everything from teas and tonics to full meals.”
Purchase a copy here.
5-Ingredient Mediterranean Cookbook by Editors of the Harvard Common Press
“Fad diets come and go, but the Mediterranean Diet is the diet that doctors and nutritionists consistently recommend, year after year. 5-Ingredient Mediterranean Cookbook makes it easy to embrace this unrivaled diet with 80 delicious throw-together recipes, each with a mouthwatering photograph.”
Purchase a copy here.
Congratulations to House Beautiful, our consumer media partner, on 130 years. First Wellness-focused Issue – Wellness by Design, Spring 2026.
Subscribe here.
Featured in the House Beautiful Spring 2026 issue. On newsstands and online. Learn more about your living environment.
Click here to assess your home for free.
Coming Soon
ABC Green Home 5.0 TerraVerde will be a modern take on the traditional American farmhouse, reimagined as a 4,000-square-foot, high-performance residential demonstration home on five acres in Temecula, California. TerraVerde will bring together architecture, building science and verified performance into one nationally promoted residential platform.
TerraVerde will show builders exactly how to specify, integrate and market high-performance products in real homes. This home will be a fully realized, measurable, third-party verified home designed to showcase building materials, systems and technologies for a national professional and consumer audience. TerraVerde will be constructed on-site in 2027.
Learn more about the ABC Green Home 5.0 here.
ABC Green Home 5.0 Partners
Congratulations Winners & WWYW Partners
Wellness Within Your Walls congratulates all NAHB The Nationals, Best in American Living Awards (BALA) and NKBA Design + Industry Awards winners. Find the list of winners linked below.
