It's the one part podcast, episode 68.

Hey, it's Jessica Mernan, author of the soon-to-be cookbook, One-part plant, and host of this podcast, One-Part podcast. Each week, I bring you lessons and next-level inspiration from

guests doing extraordinary things in wellness, art, design, and food. I don't have any questions

ready to go. My mission is to have open and honest, curious conversations, and at times

surprising ones, that you and I can both learn from together as we listen to these guests.

Before we get to today's guests, I wanted to share something with you. A listener sent me a question, and I thought it would be the perfect time to share it

with the holidays coming up.

I did ask her if I could read it.

So we'll just call her L.

Elle says, I will love your take on the issue I am currently having and believe others

probably are too.

That issue is the social difficulties

that arise from eating an alternative lifestyle. I live in Wisconsin and anything other than

cheese, meat, and potatoes is very misunderstood and frankly isolating and anxiety provoking.

It makes eating out or eating over at friends and family's houses

a real challenge. While some are very open and accommodating, my mother-in-law, find me, quote,

difficult in attention-seeking. Of course, I try with utmost respect and as quietly as possible

to blend in. Even with all my attempts, I still feel isolated

and have to constantly defend that I do eat, that I don't have an eating disorder, and I actually

love food and want to treat my body right. I was wondering if you had any tips or approaches that

have been effective in communicating your food needs and preferences

with loved ones. Such a good question. Thank you, Elle. I think that this is a problem for a lot of

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