Hi, I’m Maya Brizley
Creator of HungerMind and advocate for mindful living through conscious cooking
Five years ago, I was a stressed-out marketing executive who barely had time to eat, let alone cook mindfully. Today, I help thousands discover the transformative power of conscious cooking and intentional eating.
My Journey to Mindful Eating
Picture this: It’s 9 PM on a Tuesday, and I’m standing in my kitchen with a frozen dinner, eating straight from the container while checking emails on my phone. This was my reality for years – disconnected, hurried, and completely unconscious about what I was putting into my body.
The wake-up call came during a particularly stressful project launch. I realized I hadn’t cooked a real meal in weeks, and my relationship with food had become purely transactional. Food was fuel, nothing more. I felt empty, despite constantly eating.
“What if eating could be meditation? What if cooking could be therapy?”
— The question that changed everything
That weekend, I decided to cook one mindful meal. I turned off my phone, lit a candle, and spent two hours making a simple pasta dish. I paid attention to every sensation – the sound of garlic sizzling, the aroma of fresh herbs, the colors blending together. When I finally sat down to eat, I tasted every single bite.
It was revolutionary. For the first time in years, I felt truly nourished – not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. That one meal sparked a complete transformation in how I approached food, cooking, and life itself.
The Transformation
Before
Stressed, disconnected eating. Meals were just fuel. Constant multitasking while eating. No awareness of hunger or satisfaction cues.
The Journey
Learning to slow down. Experimenting with mindful cooking. Discovering the emotional connections to food. Building new, healthy habits.
Now
Food as nourishment and joy. Cooking as meditation. Deep awareness of hunger and satisfaction. A completely transformed relationship with eating.
Why HungerMind Exists
I created HungerMind because I believe everyone deserves to have a healthy, joyful relationship with food. In our fast-paced world, we’ve lost touch with the simple pleasure of nourishing ourselves mindfully. My mission is to help you rediscover that connection.
Educate
Share knowledge about mindful eating and conscious cooking
Connect
Build a community of conscious eaters and mindful cooks
Transform
Help you create lasting change in your relationship with food
What I Believe
These core beliefs guide everything I share and create at HungerMind
Simplicity Over Complexity
Mindful eating doesn’t require complicated techniques or expensive ingredients. The most profound transformations come from simple, consistent practices.
Progress Over Perfection
Every small step toward mindful eating matters. There’s no “perfect” way to do this – it’s about finding what works for your unique life and circumstances.
Awareness Without Judgment
Mindful eating is about observation and curiosity, not restriction or guilt. We approach our relationship with food with compassion and understanding.
Joy in the Journey
Food should bring pleasure and connection. While we focus on nourishment, we never forget that eating and cooking should ultimately be joyful experiences.
Beyond the Kitchen
When I’m not creating mindful recipes or writing about conscious eating, you’ll find me hiking with my rescue dog Luna, practicing yoga at sunrise, or getting lost in a good book with a cup of jasmine tea.
I live in Portland, Oregon, where the abundant farmers markets fuel my passion for seasonal, local ingredients. My small apartment kitchen has become a laboratory for mindful cooking experiments – much to the delight of my neighbor friends who are always willing taste-testers!
My journey with mindful eating continues every day. I’m still learning, still discovering new ways to deepen my relationship with food, and I’m excited to share every step of this adventure with you.
Ready to Begin Your Mindful Journey?
Join me and thousands of others who are transforming their relationship with food, one mindful meal at a time.