Fridge Voyeur is a virtual visit into the chill zone of the Spoon Crew — our team, our friends, and some of your favorite wellness gurus. We may eat a lot of plants, but you better believe there’s a whole lot of variety, and a little bit of naughty, going on behind closed doors. We know you want a peek!
This week, we’re peeking into the fridge of vegan fitness instructor, Ally Berlingieri.
Splendid Spoon: Hey Ally! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Ally: Hi Splendid Spoon! I’m a personal trainer and a rowing instructor based in New York. And yes, I’m also vegan. But honestly, what I actually want to tell you about myself is that I’m a stroke survivor. [You can read more about Ally’s stroke and her recovery here. — Ed.]
SS: What are the 5 staples you can’t live without?
AB: I can’t live without my cat, but in terms of food: avocado, figs, sweet potatoes, lentils, and hummus. It was hard to pick just five!
SS: What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge?
AB: Grade B maple syrup. It’s really intense. Really, really intense. [All maple syrup is made the same way and all grades identical in density and maple sugar content. The grades are based on the color. The darker the syrup, the later in the season it’s made, and the stronger the flavor! Grade B is the darkest. — Ed.]
SS: What’s your fave sweet and what’s your fave savory?
AB: I love banana walnut bread. That’s definitely my sweet. For savory…all my friends will tell you I’m obsessed with French fries!
SS: If you were one thing in your fridge, what would it be?
AB: Chia seeds: small but powerful!
SS: What food do you turn to when you want something comforting or nostalgic? Although we eat to keep our bodies strong and healthy, food also connects us to our past, to friends, and to different times in our lives.
AB: When I want to relax, I make a cup of tea. There’s something comforting about it. When I was little, my mom always suggested I drink tea when I wasn’t feeling well, so that’s what I still do. The type of tea depends on my mood at the time and how I feel or want to feel.