š Welcome to Empties! š This is a series where we go deep on three healthy and healthy-ish things cool people are using to the last metaphorical drop. These can be legit, science-backed healthful or simply health-adjacent, as long as they donāt impact their wellbeing in a negative, unhealthy, or toxic way.
Today, weāve got Dada Eats founder Samah Dada, a plant-based chef and recipe developer, TV host, and cookbook author living in New York.
Her recipes are decadent, heavenly, and make you feel good. Admittedly, Samah first came onto my radar last year when she launched a custom iced coffee with Erewhon. I donāt shop there, but I do follow their drink collabs, which are masterful at marrying trending ingredients with cool girls. (Samahās drink was called THE PERFECT DATE, a snickerdoodle date latte and oh how I wish I tried it.)
Since then, Iāve been a huge fan of the creative, gorgeous, delicious work she puts out in the food and recipe space.
When I asked Samah what sheās working on right now that sheās proud of, she said ābeing content at where Iām at while also striving for things I want in the future. Itās a tough balance to strike, and as someone who has historically had trouble taking a beat to digest before moving onto the next thing or goalā¦itās tough. But I think chasing contentment is really what life should be all about.ā
As for a project? She says to stay tuned, somethingās coming later this year.
She thinks the š coolest š part of wellness is that itās individual. āItās cool that there are so many spots that people can achieve their own version of wellness from ā food, activity, friends, travel, etc. Weāre all just walking on our own paths and I wish more people realized that!ā
But wellness becomes šæ insidious šæ when people buy into the misconception that one specific thing can work for every person, āwhich can put people into perilous spirals trying to replicate someone else's version of wellness and adopt it into their own. What works for one person may not work for another, or many others. We are all beautiful and amazing and unique! And it takes time to find that version of individual wellness. Embrace it, you know?ā
Letās take a look at three of Samahās favorite items she uses to the last drop.
Rancho Meladuco DatesĀ
š Healthy or healthy-ish?
Dates are nutritionally very healthy for you, loaded with fiber and antioxidants!
P.S. I try not to be too clinical with health and try not to assign things as being healthy or not healthy. Some things can be healthy for your body or healthy for your soul! Or bothĀ :)
ā° At what point in the day do you use this?
I eat dates multiple times a day, everyday. Iām obsessed. I eat more dates than I go on them. But usually, theyāre perfect with my morning coffee, warmed, with a little almond butter or sea salt. You can also make a dessert version thatās absolutely to die for. Itās in my cookbook!
āļø You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to the product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?Ā
Product designers for date palms? I wish. Honestly they are perfect and I wouldnāt change a thing, thatās how much I revere themā¦
ā³ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?Ā
10 years? 20? 30? Yuppp. Bring it on.
š½ Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. Theyāve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
Delectable, caramelly, chewy, natureās candy.
š¬ In one word, describe how dates make you feel:Ā
Satisfied.
You can shop Rancho Meladuco Date Farmās goods on their site.
Siete Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
š Healthy or healthy-ish?
I love that these are made so minimally with avocado oil!Ā
ā° At what point in the day do you use this?
Basically donāt leave me alone with these. Youāll never see them again. These are my favorite chip on earth ā theyāre perfectly salty, acidic from the vinegar and it hits you in the back with a little serrano. True perfection of a chip.Ā
š¤ Letās get introspective for a moment. Why do you think, deep down, this serves you? Or is it not that deep?
Iām a big snacker, and I love crunchy snacks specifically - they are so fun to eat and delicious?! I guess Iām just not that deep, I love chips lol.
āļø You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to the product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?Ā
I would tell them to make the serving sizes not lie. Thereās no way there are 6 servings in there. Sorry Siete, you know I love you, but I donāt think Iām the problem.
ā³ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?Ā
Chips are forever.
š½ Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. Theyāve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
Sometimes flat, sometimes curved salty, spicy, pieces of heaven.
š¬ In one word, describe how these chips make you feel:Ā
Happy!
You can shop the sea salt & vinegar chips on the Siete site.
One Trick Pony Peanut Butter
š Healthy or healthy-ish?
Peanut butter is the best and the source of my healthy mental health.
ā° At what point in the day do you use this?
Usually mornings on toast with some berries, banana, hemp seeds and honey, or stuffed into dates.
š¤ Letās get introspective for a moment. Why do you think, deep down, this serves you? Or is it not that deep?
I mean when people arenāt there for you, peanut butter is, so. Enough said.
āļø You have the product designers on the phone. They said they can grant you one wish: You get to make one change or adjustment to this product to make it even more indispensable. What is your wish?Ā
I love this peanut butter. Itās so delicious and made from Argentinian peanuts - you can taste the difference. Iād probably ask for them to make a bigger jar because again, Iām not the problem.Ā
ā³ Is this something you can see yourself still using in 10 years, or will it have run its course/be obsolete?Ā
Itās PEANUT BUTTER! Duh.
š½ Aliens from another planet just arrived on Earth. Theyāve never heard of this product. How would you describe it to them in just one sentence:
Your reason for existing.
š¬ In one word, describe how this peanut butter makes you feel:Ā
Joyful.
You can shop the jars of peanut butter on the One Trick Pony site.
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Header and illustrations by Olivia Fu