Welcome to the Flavor of Life 💌

Healing recipes, honest stories — served with humor and heart.

Hi friend,

I just wanted to say a big warm welcome to my new newsletter, Flavor of Life!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to create a community in this space.

Whether you found me through Substack, Instagram, TikTok, my blog, or a friend who forwarded this to you (shoutout to good friends), I’m so grateful you're here.

You’ve now entered a space outside of the algorithm — a community rooted in feeling good.

a little about me

I’m Justine — a content creator, author, and recipe developer born and raised in LA.

I was raised by a single working mom who introduced me to two of my greatest loves: storytelling and food. She taught me how to chop tomatoes and cook pasta, but more than that, she showed me how to be creative, resourceful, and clever.

That’s what made me fall in love with cooking —not just the process, but the possibility in every ingredient, and the way food brings people together.

I grew up acting, writing, and working in film and production.
But about ten years ago, everything shifted. I was diagnosed with a rare disease and had a major surgery that changed the course of my life.

Since then, I’ve been living with multiple chronic conditions and life-threatening condition —a journey filled with setbacks, healing, and deep spiritual growth.

That experience also changed my relationship with food. Food became medicine, art, and one of the most powerful ways I could tell my story.

what you’ll find here:

✨ Whole food, anti-inflammatory, plant-based recipes (ad-free!)
✨ Honest stories from my life — the messy, the funny, and the meaningful
✨ Wellness tips that actually help & aren’t just trends
✨ Monthly meal planners with grocery lists
✨ Subscriber-only chats
✨ The Holistic 6 — a roundup of anti-algorithm favorites to nourish your mind, body, & mood

This is the space I always wished I had during the hardest parts of my healing journey.
My hope is that it brings you comfort, inspiration, and a real sense of community.

If you’re here on a free subscription —amazing! You’ll still get some thoughtful posts, stories, and recipe roundups.

But if you want the FULL flavor —exclusive recipes, personal essays, meal planners & more, and a way to directly support my work, upgrading to a paid subscription truly means the world! :)

❤️ Flavor of Life is 100% reader-supported. Every subscription helps me keep writing, cooking, and sharing the good stuff —without ads or algorithms.

Thank you again for being here!! I hope this becomes a bright, nourishing part of your week.

With love, Justine