About me

Who am I, and why am I a Zebra?

That’s a great question, and one I’m happy to answer.

My name is Mira, and food has been my passion since childhood. Even now, friends recall recipes I shared as a kid—like caramel cooked on my little kids stove! Growing up in a household full of amazing cooks and vegetarian whole foods, I was spoiled early on.

But my love for food has been deeply intertwined with a lifelong battle with my health. From a young age, I struggled with health problems, such as fevers, stomach aches and constant injuries from being “clumsy.” I felt pain holding a pen at school, endured tendonitis, and lived with unrelenting headaches that later became migraines. When puberty arrived, my period brought excruciating cramps that left me unable to walk. These symptoms were dismissed as “growing pains” or “normal teenage issues.”

By my mid-20s, things had spiraled. Stomach issues I’d grown up with became unbearable—my digestion often stalled for weeks, leaving me bloated, nauseous, and unable to eat without intense discomfort. Social events became a nightmare as I hid how sick I felt, forcing myself to “suck it up” to appear normal. My pain intensified, and I developed new symptoms like joint issues, fatigue, and brain fog, migraines became daily. The doctors I visited gave me little hope. My blood tests always came back “normal,” and I often heard dismissive phrases like, “It’s all in your head,” or, “Just try yoga and meditation.” Their gaslighting left me feeling isolated and hopeless.

In desperation, I decided to try a vegan diet for one month—just to prove it wouldn’t work. But within three days, my digestion began to normalize, my nausea disappeared, and for the first time, I felt full without pain. It was a revelation! Over time, my period pain decreased dramatically, dropping from a 10/10 to a manageable 5/10. This experience transformed my understanding of the connection between food and health. I threw myself into researching nutrition, determined to help others find relief through diet.

But my health challenges weren’t over. As I trained as a pastry chef, my body weakened further. Gluten intolerance emerged, and pain in my lower back left me barely able to walk. Despite pushing through to complete my exams, my body crashed completely afterward. I couldn’t walk properly, and I sank into depression. It was a long road back, involving physical therapy, mental health support, and a life-changing ADHD diagnosis that explained so much about my struggles. Yet, many of my body’s mysteries remained unsolved.

Finally, at 32—after decades of searching and countless doctors dismissing me—I was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. The pieces of my puzzle finally fit. I now know what I’m up against and once again food can play a big role in pain management!

So, why the Zebra?

Doctors are taught, “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras”—to focus on common diagnoses. But for those of us with rare illnesses, we are the zebras: misunderstood, dismissed, and told we’re “too young,” “too rare,” or “too much.”

This page is my way of sharing recipes that have helped me heal as much as possible. I understand how overwhelming dietary restrictions can feel and how devastating it is to lose the joy of eating. But I also know the power of food to nourish and heal.

Let’s build a community of Zebras and friends, sharing love, support, and healing through food. Feel free to send me your recipes—I’d love to feature them in the “Recipes from Friends” section