Adoration for cooking and photography followed gluten- and dairy-free gourmand Daniela Modesto from her home country, Romania, all the way to Berks County. Years of struggles with gut health, depression and anxiety prompted her to guide others on a mindful eating journey with her blog, Calm Eats, while pursuing her passion.
Q: You moved 17 times in 15 years. What brought you to Berks County?
My childhood was pretty intense. We escaped communism when I was 8 and moved to Germany with nothing but the clothes on our back and whatever little money my parents had from selling everything they owned. After I finished my bachelor's degree in psychology at Manhattan College in 2005, I moved back to Pennsylvania in 2007 where I met my husband, Seth. He was going to Kutztown University for his master's degree, and we ended up staying in the area and then had our family here. We have two children, Liam and Amelie.
Q: When did your health blog, Calm Eats, come to fruition?
I had to change my diet because my body was rebelling against itself. I didn't know where to start. So, I decided to get creative and work off of old recipes that I always cook and start integrating new ingredients for my new way of living. Then, I started taking pictures, and that’s how it started. My true connection is to photography, the art and the creativity in cooking. Cooking is in my blood. I grew up in my family's kitchen. I mean, that's all we did.
Q: What’s it like balancing your full-time job and a successful blog?
Finding time is difficult with a full-time job and two school-aged children, but I really try to because when I do all the work for the blog, it becomes so meaningful to me. It's sharing the content with other people that becomes the most satisfying piece. It was really scary at first to start talking about my own struggles, but so many people are out there feeling the same way. It truly is fulfilling when I hear, ‘Your recipes have helped me,’ or ‘I'm really glad I found you.’ It’s a plus that cooking brings me so much joy. I feel like when I cook, I really express my love for people. I'm really huge about my family sitting down to eat dinner together. Every night, we sit down and eat. It’s important that I am also teaching my children the importance of eating together and eating better.
Q: What inspired you to combine mindfulness and food when developing your website?
I've always been really interested in the psychology piece of how people operate. Honestly, it was about bringing intention to how we eat, not just what we eat, and how the way we eat can really make a difference in how we feel. When we eat good food, we feel better since our minds and bodies are connected. In addition, I think a lot of our struggles really come from an imbalanced body. I'm not saying that mental illness can be cured with food, but if we pay enough attention, it can really stabilize us.
Q: What might a reader gain from your blog that they may not expect?
Besides pictures and recipes, I'm very personal. I know many food blogs just focus on the recipes, but I can't separate my humanness from the blog. People have said to me that I live through my blog…
I can't just throw anything on it. I have to have some sort of connection to everything I do, which may make it a little bit harder for me, but I want people to get some value out of it. I also use research-based information.
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to fill your own cup outside of work?
Yoga and exercise are sort of non-negotiables for me. I’ve gone to BLDG. 7 Yoga for years. It’s less for the physical aspect and more for my mental health. It keeps me grounded. I love walking at Gring's Mill and Blue Marsh and going to wineries like Folino Estate. Whenever I get the chance, I also like to paint and sketch.
Learn More.
We All Start Somewhere. You can make attainable and lasting health changes even if you’re low on time. Check out calmeats.com for recipes and informative articles.
Hormone Help. Calm Eats features recipes that help you support your hormones. Follow Calm Eats on YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and find recipes in the “blogs” section of berkscountyliving.com, too.
