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10 food, beverages and services to reset your body and soul in the new year
By Darcie Duttweiler
Goodbye holiday season, and hello 2022!
With a new year always comes new year’s resolutions. Whether you’re looking to eat healthier, cleaner or more organically — or go meat or dairy free — there are always numerous amazing local Austin brands paving the way to make it easy. From plant-based noodles to at-home smoothie bowls, there are plenty of ways to make 2022 not only healthy but also tasty. Many of the products on these pages can be found at a grocery store near you, so there’s never been a better time to … well, just eat better.
Fronks
From soy to hemp, there are so many different types of dairy-free milk products out there, and it can be challenging to know what’s the right one to choose. Fronks offers small-batch simple nut milks made solely from organic sprouted almonds and cashews, and lightly sweetened from organic medjool dates. Plus, it’s free of preservatives or additives — making it delicious and as pure as it gets. Since there are no other sweeteners, it’s an easy way to cut down on your sugar intake. The glass bottles are also gorgeous in your fridge. freshfronks.com
CHOP CHOP PHOTO COURTESY OF CHOP CHOP. YOSHI-CHA TEA PHOTO COURTESY OF OTOKO. BLENDERS AND BOWLS PHOTO COURTESY OF SHELBY TSIKA MARQAURDT
Chop Chop
Like Fronks, Chop Chop is also a member of PREP ATX, a new Austin food community and the largest commercial kitchen facility in Texas. This plant-based noodle company is producing elevated instant noodles with 100% natural ingredients. The umami-forward flavor is devoid of any prawn or pork products and is instead seasoned with miso, kombu and a bunch of other natural ingredients. The cup o’ noodles also offer less sodium and more fiber than your average instant noodles. Flavors include Tom Yum, Korean BBQ, Tokyo Curry and Penang Curry. Simply add water, heat and enjoy. chopchop.cc
Yoshi-Cha Tea
If you’ve had the luxury of snagging a seat at Otoko’s intimate omakase, you’ve seen zany Chef Yoshi Okai hard at work behind the counter. The outgoing chef is one of Austin’s most decorated culinary masters and has recently partnered with Portland, Oregon-based tea company Smith Teamaker to produce Yoshi-Cha, which blends Chef Okai’s signature Japanese and Texas influences. The traditional roasted green tea is complimented by yaupon, sage and a kick of sancho pepper, making it a punk rock version of traditional green teas and a perfect way to reduce your caffeine intake. Better yet: $5 from every tin sold will be donated to the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative, an organization devoted to improving the health and well-being of Asians in Central Texas. It’s available in the tea pairing at Otoko’s omakase and for purchase at the South Congress Hotel Lobby Shop, Mañana and online at Smith Teamaker. smithtea.com
Blenders & Bowls Smoothie Bowls
Blenders & Bowls has been a beloved smoothie and acai bowl shop for more than 10 years, but last spring, they debuted their products into grocery stores nationwide. The pre-blended smoothie bowls are available as pints with four servings, giving you the option to add your own toppings or adding a little bit of liquid to blend into a smoothie. The company also offers graband-go single serving smoothie bowls with gluten-free granola and a spoon inside the lid. All of their products are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan and have no refined sugar, making them the ideal snack or breakfast. The Magic Dragon flavor is a personal favorite. Just make sure to let them thaw a bit before you nosh down. blendersandbowls.com
Milk Run Delivery
Although it originally started in Portland, MilkRun launched in Austin last November and now offers Austinites delivery of the best grocery staples sourced from small- to mid-size farms and producers located within 150 miles or less of the city. Committed to the highest sourcing standards, MilkRun ensures fresh, ethically-produced fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, coffee and more. Now that’s what we call farm to table! Even better? MilkRun pays 50 percent of revenue back to its farmers to ensure a sustainable local food system. localmilkrun.com
Luv Fats Ice Cream
Who says ice cream has to be bad for you? Luv Fats is a smallbatch, dairy-free ice cream company founded by Chi Ndika that utilizes the healthy fats of avocados and coconut milk in its ice creams (not to mention love). Did you know that avocados have more potassium than bananas and are a good source of Vitamins K, E, B6 and B5? Ndika also celebrates her Kenyan and Nigerian roots in her flavors, which range from Kenyan Coffee to Soy Sauce (yes, really) and makes everything from fresh produce, nuts and herbs found mostly at local farmer’s markets. Get the goods at Texas Farmer’s Market at Mueller on Sundays, Bee Grocery or Mozart’s Coffee. Their first ice cream cake, which is comprised of layers of vanilla ice cream, candied hazelnuts, stracciatella ice cream, chocolate cookies, dark chocolate, and pie crust crumbs, is available for pre-order on their website. luvfatsicecream.com
Mayawell
Looking to elevate your sparkling water addiction? Mayawell is a line of bubbly prebiotic sodas that are good for the gut and better for the tastebuds. Unlike probiotics, which are beneficial live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements, prebiotics are types of fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in your digestive system. Put it this way: What’s good for your gut is good for your body. Not only does Mayawell offer four sparkling bevs, they also work closely with indigenous communities across Oaxaca to harvest their agave and donate 2% of profits to nonprofit Hermano Maguey. Pick up their newest flavor, Raspberry Cucumber. drinkmayawell.com
Vida Pura Juicery
Mi Madre’s Restaurant might not be known for healthy food, but that’s not stopping the owners’ daughter from providing cold-pressed juices and health shots with her company Vida Pura Juicery. If you’re looking to detox from over-indulging this December, Vida Pura offers two-day cleanse kits perfect for eliminating toxins from the body and giving your digestive system a rest. Everything is made fresh in-house with no preservatives. Although Veronica Torres closed her shop in December, consumers can purchase her juice cleanses and other products at Mi Madres or for delivery on her website. Stay tuned for a new store sometime this spring. vidapurajuicery.com
Vital Farms Eggs
When eating healthier and more organically, that definitely boils down to your eggs, too. Whether you’re boiling, scrambling, frying or poaching ‘em, it’s easy to see the difference when you crack open a Vital Farms egg. The yolk is just so much more vibrant in color, and there’s definitely a higher quality taste. Not only are the eggs more delicious than others, but the chickens are happier, too. Every Vital Farms egg comes from a pasture-raised hen who enjoys a minimum of 108 sq. ft. roaming room with plenty of freedom to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Seriously, every carton of eggs includes a photo of the chicken of the month, so you can feel doubly good about what you’re about to enjoy. vitalfarms.com
Hu Kitchen Chocolate Bars
You don’t normally think of candy bars as healthy, but Hu chocolate bars are free from dairy, GMOs, emulsifiers, soy lecithin, gluten, refined sugar, cane sugar or sugar alcohol, so to say they’re clean is an understatement — as well as healthy as a candy bar can get, considering it’s Paleo-friendly, too. Launched in 2013 in founder Jordan Brown’s apartment, the company now offers chocolate bars to grain-free crackers at thousands of stores nationwide. After recently relocating to Austin, the founder and his company have also recently released grain-free cookies to the market too. We’re partial to the hazelnut coffee chocolate bar. hukitchen.com
Silver and Serenity
LACEY DUPRE OFFERS “NEEDLE FREE” ACUPUNCTURE ONLINE AND IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
By Amanda Eyre Ward Photos by Jenna Brooke Clark
IHAVE ALWAYS BEEN WARY OF ACUPUNCTURE. I’VE GOT ACHES and pains and my share of stress from being middle-aged. I’m a working mom of three children and two miniature schnauzers, but every time a friend has suggested a session with a healer who would insert needles into my skin, I’ve nodded and muttered I’d “absolutely consider it ... soon.”
“Rather than penetration,” Dr. Lacey Dupré of Jade Seed Wellness explains, “we access the Qi from the skin’s surface guided by our connection to Qi and our breath. The teishin is a big part of Japanese Acupuncture as insertion-free Acupuncture. The form I now practice, is the premier and superior form of Acupuncture and celebrated in Japan. I saw it as not only more gentle but also more effective.”
Clarity and confidence…with no needles? That sounds pretty fabulous to me.
“As a jeweler, I carve the teishin out of wax, using the lost wax casting method,” says Dr. Dupré. “The design is based on ancient manuscripts that mention this tool. I craft these in silver, bronze and gold.” Dr. Dupré also sets the teishin with a gemstone.
“Currently I offer one yin stone: sapphire to help develop one’s wisdom, one yang stone: garnet, to help develop one’s creative passion, and one between yin and yang: tanzanite, to help develop one’s intuition. I do seasonal stones as well and am offering black spinel and emerald during the Holidays!” says Dr. Dupré.
Dr. Dupré has devoted her practice to healing those she calls “Modern Leaders” — moms, visionaries and entrepreneurs. She offers virtual sessions as needed or in-person sessions in her San Marcos clinic. Dupré also integrates Stone Medicine, Herbal Medicinals, plus Sound and Medical Grade Light Therapy.
“I love helping fellow moms who are always giving and not receiving enough. And as we know, we can only help our kids when we help ourselves!” she explains. “Also, there is a subconscious obstruction to the healing process that comes up when you are expecting to be poked, even if you know it may not hurt. My sessions are gentle, potent and connect you to that woman inside you feel you may have been left behind years ago.”
“For busy Austinites,” Dr. Dupré continues, “we do ten session intervals of care, eight sessions online and two in-person. I can see patients while they lounge in their own beds!”
I decided to give an online session a try during the busy Thanksgiving holidays. Between groceries and visits with family, I could have used a nap or a martini, but my house was loud and I quit drinking years ago. By the time I shut my office door and logged into my Zoom session with Dr. Dupré, I was — to put it kindly — frazzled.
“Usually, I would have you send me a photo of your face, tongue and ears,” explained Dr. Dupré. We spoke for a bit and decided to focus on my “emotional fatigue.” She had me press my fingers between my eyes — normally, I would use a teishin — and led me in gentle breathwork. My son burst into the room. I turned and hissed, “I AM WORKING!” He quickly exited. The schnauzers barked. At Dr. Dupré’s instruction, I pressed at my temples, then my clenched jaw. My daughter wandered into the room and I asked her politely to “GET OUT NOW!” “Yeesh,” said my daughter, leaving the room. I shut the door once again. Dr. Dupré read a lovely poem and we spoke about how she would plan further treatment to help me feel nourished and release anxiety. I did actually feel a bit calmer after the session, a miracle. The next time I see Dr. Dupré, I will probably leave my happy but crazy home and visit her spa-like clinic. I’m hoping to try her Gemstone Facial with hand-crafted botanical and gemstone-infused facial serums and elixirs. “When you heal, we all heal,” says Dr. Dupré. Wise words, indeed. Use the code TRIBEZALOVE for 20% off of your Hill Country AcuPackage. jadeseedwellness.com
In Nurturing Hands
SPECIALLY TRAINED MASSAGE THERAPISTS AT MANTIS MASSAGE ENJOY A SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE THAT FOSTERS DEEP CARE FOR CLIENTS
Words and photos by Bryan C. Parker
Prenatal massage specialist Becca Pride, who has been in the industry for almost five years, describes her work with pregnant women as “sacred.” Her passion for massage therapy stemmed from a desire to work with pregnant and postpartum people. With prenatal massage, Pride says, AMASSAGE IS AN INCREDIBLY REWARDING ACT OF self-care — especially when it’s used not simply for relaxation but also to treat aspects of the body that need therapeutic “There are certain pressure points we avoid, and certain positioning that’s safer for blood flow to baby and mom.” Her specialized training puts healing. Mantis Massage, established by Kyra Matos in 2011, surpasses clients in safe hands, and she finds fulfillment in the others with their expert knowledge and tailored services, such as prenatal relief she’s able to provide. massage. The company also makes a special effort to invest in and nurture its “Someone who is pregnant is very deserving of a massage staff, which allows their therapists to pay forward that same care to clients. — there’s just so much discomfort, and it’s nice to be able to aid just a little
Matos found her way to massage therapy after a job at a hospital, where bit in that,” she says. Pride first received training for prenatal massage with she worked in patient transport in the radiology department and became classes paid for by Mantis, who gives a stipend for continuing education to interested in x-rays and MRI results. After taking an anatomy class available all employees who work five days per week. That stipend also increases each to her through the hospital, she fell in love with the physiological structure year that the employee is with the company. of humans. “The fact that Kyra was willing to pay for that was huge, because I was
“I love working with a body and feeling the little corrections happening able to work with the clients I wanted to work with,” Pride says. With Mantis’ in it,” Matos says. From deep tissue to trigger point to prenatal, the services stipends, she’s also been able to receive specialized training to provide facial offered by Mantis provide care designed to physically improve clients by ad- massages. The clinic’s investment in its employees results in knowledge that dressing individualized concerns. translates directly into better services for clients.
“We’re problem solving your body,” Matos says. “We’re looking for why it is Those stipends are just one of the many ways Mantis invests in employyou’re coming in — what’s causing you or your muscles to stress or to ache.” ees. The company also provides full-coverage health care and pays the entire While she says a great spa massage premium for all full-time employees has its place for relaxation, Mantis by partnering with Austin-based focuses on “corrective care.” insurance company Sana, who spe-
After more than a decade as a massage therapist, Matos has developed a cializes in serving small or less traditionally structured companies. remarkable ability to detect the sources of pain or tension based on what a “Mantis does all these wonderful things,” Pride says. “Most massage inperson does for work or simple daily routines — whether they’re on their feet dustry folks are contractors, but we’re employees and with that comes a 401k a lot or drive a car with a manual transmission, for example. However, if a matching program, for example.” However, Pride says the most supportive client simply wants a traditional Swedish massage, Mantis’ staff is more than aspect of working at Mantis is something intangible. capable of providing that. “They really encourage us to have our own style of talking with clients, of
The company’s website maintains an updated list of staff bios complete massaging,” she says. “Kyra is so supportive of everyone just being themselves with specialized approaches and techniques. Clients can book with specific — that’s what keeps Mantis so successful.” That freedom to express individutherapists, or they can fill out a form, which the Mantis staff personally reads ality allows therapists to adeptly respond to clients’ unique situations. Mantis to best match clients with the right therapist for them. has cultivated a nurturing ethos for employees that ensures clients will find
“We’re not one-size fits all — every session is tailored to what your needs themselves in nurturing hands when they arrive. are,” says Matos. mantismassage.com
