That Salad Lady

01/10/2026

I’ve been quiet here for a while, and the truth is that part of the reason is OCD.

I’ve lived with OCD for as long as I can remember. According to my family, there were signs of it as early as age three. Lately, I’ve been doing consistent exposure-based therapy, and it has made me much more aware of how often control, perfection and needing things to feel “right” have shaped the way I work—including the way I create content.

For years, polished images, carefully planned videos and getting everything just right felt like part of the job.

Lately, I’ve had to ask myself where good work ends and compulsion begins.

Sometimes the answer has been that I don’t post at all.

And that’s part of what I wish more people understood about OCD. It is not just about liking a clean house or wanting things organized. For me, it can interfere with my ability to move forward at all when something doesn’t feel right.

I’m still figuring out what it looks like to create, work and live without needing everything to feel perfect first.

October is OCD Awareness Month, and the timing is not lost on me.

I’m sharing this because OCD is real, it can hide behind things that look productive from the outside, and this is part of my life too.

15/09/2026

A year ago, I was interviewed by Natural Practitioner about healthy eating and the thinking behind Build Your Bowl®.

One line from that conversation still sticks with me:

“Create structure, not rules.”

I still believe that.

Food has to work in real life, not just on paper. Schedules change. Preferences change. Families, budgets and seasons of life change too.

So I’ve never been especially interested in the “perfect” meal.

I’m much more interested in having enough structure to make choices without making food feel rigid.

The ingredients can change. The structure can hold.

That idea still sits at the center of how I think about Build Your Bowl®.

I talked more about it in this interview:

https://naturalpractitionermag.com/nina-cherie-franklin-phd-wellness-expert-healthy-living-coach-creator-of-that-salad-lady

13/09/2026

Nineteen today 🎂

I know he’s grown, but sometimes I still see every age at once.

The little boy. The teenager. The young man standing here now.

Parenting at this stage is different. There’s more stepping back, more letting go, more trust.

But some things don’t change.

Happy 19th birthday Ramsey. I love you more than you know ❤️

09/09/2026

Green Goddess Salad in a Jar 🫙

This is one of the recipes from my 7-Day Reset Guide. I’ve always loved the mason jar format because the meal is already built and ready when it’s time to eat.

The full recipe is in the guide 💚

07/09/2026

Seven on the 7th. His golden birthday 🎂

Seven years ago, after six pregnancy losses between Ramsey and him, Aubrey arrived. My rainbow baby 🌈

Birthdays with him have always had their own rhythm. Sometimes I get the picture. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes the moment looks nothing like I imagined.
None of that matters much anymore.

He’s here. He’s growing. He’s becoming more and more himself.

And every once in a while, I still look at him and think, you really made it here 🥰

Happy 7th birthday Aubrey 💙

31/08/2026

I've never believed healthy eating has to mean eating the same "perfect" meal every day.

Give me a framework and some flexibility.

That's really the idea behind Build Your Bowl®.

These four mason jar salads all look completely different, but they were built using the same basic approach: plenty of vegetables, a source of protein, fiber-rich carbs, healthy fats and, most importantly, enough flavor to make me actually want to eat them.

That last part matters 😄

Because a healthy meal isn't very useful if it doesn't fit your tastes, your schedule or your real life.

Some weeks I prep jars. Sometimes I build a big bowl. Sometimes I use whatever is already sitting in the refrigerator and make it work.

The goal isn't perfection. It's having enough structure that putting together a balanced meal gets easier over time.

That's what I wanted The Build Your Bowl Salad Cookbook to help people do.

Different ingredients. Different combinations. Same basic framework.

And yes, these are all going in the fridge 🥗

17/08/2026

Leafy greens are obviously right up my alley 🥗 But there's a lot more to them than deciding which one is "healthiest."

I recently contributed to this piece in The Guardian exploring the science and practical considerations surrounding leafy greens—from nutrient density and variety to food safety, freshness, storage and what happens between the grocery store and the bowl.

That broader perspective is a big part of how I think about healthy eating. The science matters, but so does the context in which we actually choose, prepare, store and eat food.

I’m grateful to Adrienne Matei for including my perspective in such a thoughtful and practical piece, and especially excited that this marks my first contribution to The Guardian.

Read the full article ⬇

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/aug/14/iceberg-romaine-kale-healthy-salad-cyclospora

If you’re trying to meet your daily serving of 2.5 cups of vegetables, you might have some questions

08/08/2026

7 days. 7 bowls. One simple framework 🥗

That's the idea behind my Build Your Bowl® 7-Day Reset Guide—helping you move beyond simply following recipes and learn how to build balanced, satisfying meals you actually enjoy.

Because once you understand the framework, the possibilities are endless.

Build. Nourish. Repeat.

🍴 Which bowl would you try first?

05/08/2026

Mindful grocery shopping starts long before you get to the kitchen 🛒

One of the principles I emphasize in The Build Your Bowl® Salad Cookbook is shopping with intention. Instead of filling your cart with random items, think about the meals you want to prepare and the foods you know your household will actually use.

Yes...that really is 40 pounds of apples 🍏😄 They may seem like a lot, but they’re a staple in my household, so I buy them accordingly. The same goes for the watermelon and everything else in this haul.

Mindful grocery shopping isn’t about buying more or buying less. It’s about buying with purpose. When you shop with a plan, you’re more likely to reduce food waste, stretch your grocery budget and make healthy eating easier throughout the week 🥗

03/08/2026

Happy National Watermelon Day 🍉

Watermelon may be the star of summer, but it’s also one of my favorite ingredients for building balanced, satisfying salads.

One of my favorite combinations is this Watermelon & Roasted Beet Salad from The Build Your Bowl® Salad Cookbook. Sweet watermelon, earthy roasted beets, peppery greens, creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts and fresh herbs come together with a bright herb-infused lemon vinaigrette for a bowl that’s as beautiful as it is flavorful.

One of the things I love most about this recipe is the contrast. Sweet and savory. Creamy and crunchy. Bright and earthy. Every ingredient has a purpose, and together they create a salad that’s satisfying enough to be a meal.

Whether you’re celebrating National Watermelon Day today or simply looking for a fresh way to enjoy watermelon this season, I hope this bowl inspires you to think beyond fruit salad 🥗