MEET CHEF ALLEN CAMPBELL…
We are delighted to welcome to our growing Find Bliss Boston editorial team, pioneering Chef and Boston native, Allen Campbell. Chef Allen will from time to time be sharing both his signature dishes and vision through our website and newsletter and also with our sister publication LA YOGA magazine. Taking care of his mind and body through exercise, organic stress relief and more importantly a primarily plant based diet form the origins of his culinary philosophy – a philosophy sparked by the results of a brief raw fruit and vegetable fast while living in Miami in 2009. In a recent article he wrote for the Cornell Center for Nutrition Studies, Chef Allen stressed the importance of planning ahead, eating seasonally and also educating children in the habits of healthy eating, “Don’t allow food to be an afterthought, shift it to priority status. Do this for your health and the sustainability of our Earth by simply planning ahead, eating seasonally, and educating the children.” Chef Allen also shares his vision through culinary workshops, personalized meal plans and more.
Campbell likes to say he was “raised in the hospitality industry” – an education that began at 14. He brings that deep bench of culinary experience and artistry to his writing as well, prompting for many, reasonable yet transformative shifts in the way we nourish the body and mind. But, it’s not all pots and pans and shopping lists as we discovered in our chat this week. Occasionally he sneaks in a few side planks and trees and such.
wind up… how do you wind up, prepare for the week ahead?
Maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit has been huge learning experience while I have constantly tested my limits. Proper nutrition, hydration, sleep, exercise and a daily meditative/spiritual practice are all equally a number one priority for me in order to reach my potential no matter what is on the weekly agenda.
and, when you need to exhale… what’s your other direction?
My top go-to place for relaxation is the sauna. Alternating from the hot schvitz to the cold tank or shower is a big stress reliever. It is euphoric to me and something I did weekly for years when I lived in Miami. This practice slows me down and centers me like nothing else can. I’m not one to sit still too, too long (hence the discipline of meditation) but writing is a great channel for me also.
two simple shifts we can make today to improve our lunch boxes?
1. Make the food you’re nourishing your kids’ bodies with (and yourself) a number one priority, as if it’s a matter of life or death. If it is not a “whole” food, it is not an option. Get creative with fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains.
2. Share the recipes and snacks with other parents and kids and make educating those around you a priority as well. It takes time for some people to come around but it’s always best to lead by example without putting expectations on people. They will come around if and when they are ready. Also do not be afraid to be “that parent” talking about fruit leather at the teacher-parent conference.
what three things are you never without?
Gotta have my water usually infused with some electrolytes, lemon or ginger. Foam roller is an amazing piece of equipment that I use on a daily basis. My playlist is a must. I love music, many kinds as well as listening to people/authors on podcasts etc.
your bible… what one book do you turn to time and time again for inspiration?
A book I have been turning to for a couple of years now is “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. It humbles me… takes me out of ego and into the present.
bliss pose?
I recently went to a conference at Kripalu and took a couple of yoga classes in a room filled with windows facing the mountains of the Berkshires. I was able to really be at one with the trees in the tree pose. It just flowed and seemed so natural in that setting.
finish the sentence… i’d like to teach the world to...
tap into their primal human instincts and maximize their potential to enjoy this amazing journey we call life. As well as embrace the connection between all things here on earth. I feel so many people have lost touch with themselves, their surroundings and each other as a result of modern day influences. “The intellectual human has unknowingly spoiled us through our own successes to the point of unconscious separation from our bodies, our planet and the future of survival for our species.”
Profile compiled by, Susan Currie. Images by Susan Currie.
