October 6, 2026
Here and Human Wellness
Ep 87: My Mindful Kitchen with Janet Irizarry
What if the kitchen could be more than a place where we prepare meals? In this episode of the Here and Human Wellness Podcast, Jen sits down with Janet Irizarry, a longtime food professional and creator of the Mindful Kitchen Method, to explore how our kitchens can become places of mindfulness, belonging, and purpose. After years of owning restaurants, Janet realized she had been feeding everyone else while neglecting the rituals of food and connection in her own family. That realization became the beginning of a very different relationship with food, family, and the kitchen.
Jen and Janet talk about the power of doing one small thing, whether that's wasting a little less food, slowing down to appreciate a meal, involving our kids in grocery shopping or cooking, or simply pausing to notice where our food came from. Rather than adding another challenge or another source of guilt to already busy lives, Janet encourages us to find small ways to reconnect with our values and create meaningful moments of connection. Because sometimes the things our children remember most aren't the perfect meals or carefully planned moments, but the ordinary experiences we shared along the way.
Favorite Quotes:
“No one needs another challenge in their life.” -Janet Irizarry
“We just need to break that cycle, get off our autopilot and pause.” -Janet Irizarry
“You can align with your values and teach your kids values without lecture.” -Janet Irizarry
“It’s about a new respect for food. We all love food. Let’s respect it.” -Janet Irizarry
“The beautiful thing...is that those little changes that you’re making are actually giving you agency to make a difference in the world.” -Janet Irizarry
“Once a mindful foodie, always a mindful foodie.” -Janet Irizarry
Resources:
Jen's Instagram
Jen's Substack
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Instagram
McDaniel Nutrition Therapy Website
Past Podcast Episodes
My Mindful Kitchen
