Healthy Spring Potluck

by Arielle J on April 2, 2015

Last week I hosted a Spring potluck for 35 wellness influencers in NYC.

I love hosting events and it gave us all a chance to mingle, connect and inspired
in a relaxed and beautiful setting.

The event took place at Coco-Mat in Soho, a gorgeous organic home store that has just the warmest, zen energy.

I sent out an exclusive invite to my old friends (and new friends)
in the wellness scene — well-known food bloggers, publicists, authors, Holistic Health Coaches, Nutritionists, healthy restaurants owners, Registered Dietitians, Yoga Instructors, Fitness Experts — women who are passionate about health and wellness and those who have inspired me in some way.

I gave them a criteria — no soy, white sugar, white flour, corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. If providing meat, eggs or dairy, organic is preferred.

I asked them to bring enough food for 10 people, on a nice plate or platter with servingware. Photo-friendly and “instagrammable” is key!

I provided little cards with the guests names in calligraphy and as guests walked in, I asked them to write out the ingredients on the back. So many people have dietary food restrictions nowadays that it’s very important and helpful to display whats in the food, so people don’t have to ask you every second what it’s made of and if they can eat it.

I served water with lemon and white wine with oranges.

Here are some pictures of the food that everyone brought. How delicious and colorful does everything look?!

First, I welcomed everyone and then I went around and introduced each person, and gave a little personal tidbit about how I know them and how they’ve inspired me.

Then, the guests served themselves, then ate, mingled, and enjoyed!

Here are the people that attended and what they brought:

I made: Fried Rice Quinoa and Seasonal Kale Salad with Farmers Market Carrots and Lemonade Dressing.

Mollie Lehman, Yoga Instructor, made my Loaded Sweet Potatoes from my Glamour.com Cooking Show!

Phoebe Lapine, Private Chef, Auhor and Gluten-Free Caterer, brought Gluten-Free Pasta with Shrimp and Sundried Tomatoes

Lily Kunin, of Clean Food Dirty City, made Gluten Free Oatmeal Cacao Cookies

Sarina Appel, Celebrity Parenting Wellness Publicist, brought avocado toast

Victorine Deych, Owner of The Holistic Haven in NYC, Sante made home-made chocolate truffles

Nitika Chopra, Talk Show Host and Beauty Expert at Bellalife.com brought fruit salad

Cory Grude, Corporate Office at Classpass made kale chips

Karolina Palmer, Celebrity Chef made Raw Medicinal Healing Chocolate

Aimee Raupp, Author, Well-Known Acupuncturist and Owner of All-Natural Beauty Line, made Coconut Carrot Soup

Chase Rosen, Fitness Fashion Blogger at Athleisurley made Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jodi Moreno, Natural Foods Chef and Blogger at Whats Cooking Good Looking brought stuffed sweet potatoes

Liz Friedland, Health and Wellness Consulting Publicist

Claudia Ficca, Food Stylist made Macaroons

Jamie Graber, Owner of Gingersnaps Organic in NY brought Chocolate Pudding

Erika Zauner, Owner of Healthy Kick NY

Miranda Hammer, Food Blogger at The Crunchy Radish and RD, made Spring Pistachio and Mint Farro Salad

Stephanie Middleberg, RD Middleberg Nutrition made White Bean – Avocado Dip

Jessica Karp, Owner of Hu Kitchen brought Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers

Nicole Silber, Pediatric RD at Middlberg Nutrition made Nutella Balls

Harper Spero, Life Coach made Cucumber Salad with Smashed Ginger and Garlic

Blair Badenhop, Health Coach at Parsley Health made a Spring Pea Salad

The guests had such a good time that we almost got kicked out! I received countless emails after BEGGING to host a potluck every season. The next one will be an invitation-only event
in Central Park on June 17th in celebration of the Summer!