001. first bites and pieces
cooking + adhd + more
Reader, hi! This is Grace. You may remember signing up for this once-unnamed newsletter via Grapes Lauren, sometime in the last year or so. There’s also a chance you don’t remember signing up. If that’s the case, surprise (!) and welcome in.
Thanks for being here.
This newsletter, bites and pieces, is a collection of links, recipes, and musings sent to your inbox every few weeks. Expect essays about food and ADHD, curated media and recipe recommendations, and a smattering of other interesting finds.
Generally, I’ll stew about a project for ages, attempting to find some sort of “perfection” before sending it off to you, dear reader. But for the sake of following my own advice, I’ll try not to overthink this whole newsletter thing.
The contents of this letter will likely adapt and change over time—that’s part of the fun! Life is full of surprises! I’m glad you’re coming along for the ride.
bites
After taking an unexpectedly long hiatus, I’ve returned to posting on Grapes Lauren. If it’s been a while, take a stroll through the newer posts.
Inspired by the gorgeous food crafted by Bettina Makalintal, I’ve finally invested in my own sturdy box of flaky sea salt. Peak flavor has arrived! What a way to elevate a crisp leafy salad, perfectly toasted grilled cheeze, or a generous bowl of Lemon Asparagus Pasta.
The rejuvenation of spring has inspired more frequent cooking in my household. With the exception of this past week (more on that below), Maple Greens and Veggie Sausage have moseyed up to first place in my breakfast rotation. I’ve been harvesting earthy leaves of rainbow chard for this quick meal, though I prefer the milder flavor of a brassica. Hand-torn curly kale or sprigs of baby broccoli are my favorites to use—a generous compliment to robust maple syrup and a touch of lightly seasoned oil, reserved from the gentle char of veggie sausage.
After two+ years of avoidance, someone in my household has covid. They’re okay. But carrying a lively history of post-viral illness, myself, has made for a particularly stressful week. Huddled away in my room, I’ve been living on no-cook meals like vanilla-almond protein bars, still-frozen grape uncrustable sandwiches, and pre-made breakfast burritos. Bon appétit!
…or not, I guess, if you also face reduced appetite from stimulant meds. Most resources for managing this side effect are written for parents of ADHD kids. Figures. So I put together an article—for adults—about eating regularly despite decreased appetite. This post offers suggestions for those taking stimulant meds, but many tips apply to other causes of appetite decline, too.
Feed Your ADHD - Spring 22 starts this Saturday, May 14th! Dusty Chipura and I are thrilled to host this remote workshop again with some exciting updates. Now’s the time to sign up if you’d like to join us. If you can’t make it this time (I know the notice is v short) FYADHD will return again in the fall. And as a cherished reader of this newsletter, I promise you’ll be the first to get details for our next workshop.
pieces
One day, parts of this section will link to longer pieces I write myself. But the majority of my writing remains hidden in personal docs for now. You’ll just have to wait and see what emerges!
Ever since I first read it, I’ve been thinking about this amusing personal essay pulled from a late ’70s run of the NYT. Makes me feel like I’m wrapped in fresh-from-the-dryer blankets peering over a mug of black coffee. Or, as though I’m haphazardly managing a popsicle, sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk and watching streaky clouds float by. There’s just something about it.
The global food culture publication Whetstone Magazine has been on my wishlist for eons. After months waiting for approval, my library gave the thumbs up to start carrying it this summer. Hooray for independent journalism! Consider this a reminder (or a head’s up) to request library purchases you wish to support, but can’t afford otherwise.
While waiting for the sequel of The Jasmine Throne to be released in August, I’ve been pouring through Tasha Suri’s other immersive novels. Her work—filled with intricately developed characters, elaborate scenes of South Asian influence, and endlessly captivating storylines—has prompted an embrace of a literary genre I wouldn't have tip-toed into otherwise. Who knew I’d enjoy epic fantasy so much?
As a complete genre novice, I’m on the lookout for similarly robust fantasy novels written by queer authors. Very open to recommendations!
leftovers
For a while after my adult ADHD dx, I felt a quiet self-assurance in my discontent with repetitive work. Realizing this was a common reality among ADHD people, I started to develop compassion for a longstanding inability to devote energy to just. one. thing.
With the tumult of the past few years, I sort of forgot that a singular focus is not something I can, or should, strive for. So, I’ve been pondering.
Aside from casual reading, listening for migratory birds, and learning statistics, I’ve been throwing endless questions to the universe about establishing a meaningful career in an increasingly uncertain future/ society/ etc.
Thus far, the only resolution that’s arrived is to try something new, based on what I already value and enjoy.
Variety, like the Feed Your ADHD workshops I’ve been hosting with Dusty, infuse my work with more novelty and enjoyment. The interpersonal connections from meeting others in the ADHD community add wholesomeness to my predominantly solitary work.
Challenging a self-imposed image of perfection by utilizing stock photos, thus worrying less about the “ideal” presentation of my site, has allowed a noteworthy redirection of energy to once again create valuable, free community resources and recipes.
Now, in addition to hosting seasonal workshops and writing for Grapes Lauren, I’m writing this newsletter. And it feels good, revitalizing, to connect with something different.
As noted at the start, this newsletter will include essays about food and ADHD, alongside recipe and media recommendations developed by others. These bites and pieces—if you will—are presented with the intention of enrichment, both within and outside of our immediate cooking practices.
I intend for this newsletter to embody the purpose-driven and fulfilling work I’ve long sought to convey, centered around the pursuit of an equitable and sustainable food system, and branching into the many ways food transforms our lives beyond the kitchen.
bites and pieces offers the kind of creative and academic flexibility I’ve been seeking for a long time. And I’m eager to share more of myself, what I learn, and how I grow with you in this new space. Thank you for being here.
support
This newsletter and Grapes Lauren will always be free to those who want them. Everything I create will always be without ads or sponsors.
That said, all revenue comes from reader support, and every bit helps.
If you enjoy my work and can help support these community projects, visit my tip jar on ko-fi to donate.
Until I get a better feel for this newsletter and turn paid subscriptions on, donations are the best way for me to continue this work.
Thank you so much for hanging out with me in the first issue of this newsletter.
Expect to hear from me again in a few weeks or so!
Till then ~