A Gut-Healthy Meal Plan, But Make It Delicious

Plus, renovation updates and what I'm putting on my calendar this week.

Hey everyone, hope you’re having a great holiday weekend. In full transparency, things have felt a little hectic around here lately—a few too many late nights catching up on work, construction in full swing on our Malibu renovation (I’d forgotten how all-consuming renovating can be), and gearing up for an exciting launch at Casa Zuma this week. Which has meant a lot of planning with the team to shoot products, write marketing copy, get the website ready, and the countless other tiny tasks that go into a launch. It’s mostly things I love, it’s just a lot.

I share this because—as much as I write about leaving margin for rest in my days (this newsletter is called Breathing Space, after all!)—I still find myself getting caught up in the busyness of life. I live with the constant paradox of desiring a slower life, while also feeling the pull of so many things I want or need to do. Juggling kids, career, family responsibilities, or some mix of it all—the pace of life can feel overwhelming.

Making time for rest can feel like an act of rebellion in a world that glorifies busyness.

So this week, I’m setting my intention: to carve out breaks in my days (literally scheduling a calendar appointment that says “REST”), and to remember that life isn’t about checking things off my to-do list. It’s about slowing down enough to see the beauty in ordinary moments, being present with the people I love, and actually enjoying these days instead of racing to the next thing.

I’m also starting this new book that sounds like it’s written for me—anyone want to join me? Will report back.

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Okay, I put together a really fun gut-healthy meal plan for us this week—I hope you enjoy it! But before we dive in, a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you:

Weekly recos:

• ☀️ The case for hosting a casual, laid-back hangout. Craving more of these this summer.

• 🔨 The latest in our renovation diaries: a peek at the plan for our Malibu bedroom (SO EXCITED)

• 📱 Oprah interviews Jonathan Haidt on how social media is changing childhood. A hard listen, but an important one for parents.

• 🌼 All my favorite gifts for Mothers Day.

• 🥬 The most gorgeous and delish salads of spring (the strawberry caprese is insane.)

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A Gut-Healthy Meal Plan for the Week

I loved reading all your comments, questions, and notes on my recent gut-health post—and one of the biggest things you asked was about food: specifically, exactly how to eat to support gut health. If you know me, you know this is my favorite topic. I could happily read cookbooks and talk about food all day, so creating recipes that are equal parts healing and delicious has been one of the most joyful parts of this journey.

“Healthy eating” means different things to different people, and I truly believe there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Our bodies and lifestyles are unique—especially when it comes to eliminating foods like gluten and dairy. Yes, many people have food sensitivities—but not everyone, so experiment with the way of eating that makes you feel best before you start cutting things out. What works for one person may or may not work for you.

That said, certain foods are powerful in nourishing your gut, boosting the good bacteria, and supporting digestion. What you eat directly influences your microbiome—and a healthy microbiome can help reduce inflammation, protect against chronic disease, enhance brain health, and support weight loss.

Specifically, I focus on:

1. Whole, unprocessed foods

2. Fiber-rich ingredients

3. A wide variety of plants (the more diversity, the better for your microbiome!)

4. Healthy fats like salmon, avocado, and olive oil

5. Prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods

Research shows that diversifying your plate can improve your microbiome in as little as 24 hours.

Okay, enough science—let’s talk about what to eat! Don't know about you, but I love a good meal plan. It's easy to get stuck in a cooking rut, and a balanced meal plan can inspire you to try new ingredients and flavors—and help reduce food waste, since you’re grocery shopping for specific meals.

So, here’s the plan:

• Each recipe in this meal plan emphasizes digestion-friendly ingredients, high fiber, and colorful fruits and veggies to nourish your microbiome and keep your gut happy all week long.

• Breakfast and lunch are all about simplicity. (I tend to pick a lunch and repeat it throughout the week!) Choose one or two recipes to prep ahead, or mix it up with dinner leftovers—all the dinners (except the tacos) are great reheated as lunches. Likewise, both lunch salads double beautifully as dinners—so make extra if you want to save time.

• Dinner recipes each serve four. If you're cooking for fewer people, halve the recipes or plan on leftovers to simplify busy evenings.

Scroll on for the full gut-healthy meal plan, links to all the recipes, and a shopping list that you can download and take to the grocery with you. And please let me know if you enjoy it! I love designing these, so tell me if there’s anything I can tweak or share to make these even more helpful.