FP Escapes in Malibu: Honey Hi’s 5 Principles of Eating Well

The LA-based comfort food conneisseurs share their philosophy on good eating ahead of their Malibu Escape debut…

Honey Hi was founded by Caitlin Sullivan and Kacie Carter who, at their Echo Park cafe, serve crave-able, sustainable comfort food in the form of bowls, tartines, smoothies and much more. Uncompromising in its nutritional integrity and sustainability, their menu is informed not only by collaborations with local organic farmers, artisans, and community members — but also by chef/co-owner Kacie, a nutritionist who ensures that each dish is delicious and deeply nourishing. We couldn’t be more excited for them to curate the menu for our upcoming Escape – in the meantime, take heed of their 5 guidelines for better eating below.

Fill 80% of your plate with vegetables.

They can be cooked, raw, blended, fermented – whatever! All ways all the time. Support your local farmers and farmers markets when you can because their foods tend to be more nutrient dense and flavorful. They provide incredible varieties and amounts of antioxidants, polyphenols, fiber, and anti-inflammatory compounds. No matter your dietary philosophy, a majority of your diet should be made up of fresh vegetables. 

Focus more ‘how’ rather than ‘what’.

Pay attention to where your ingredients are coming from. How your food is sourced and prepared often has a bigger impact on your health than what exactly you’re including in your diet. For example, dairy that is factory farm produced and full of hormones and antibiotics is very different from dairy that is grass fed, organic and fermented.

Eat fresh foods that expire.

Shop the periphery of the grocery store, not the inside where the packaged food lives. Try not to eat things with ingredients you don’t recognize or from sources you can’t trace (this is true especially when it comes to protein, meat, fish). Make sure the animal products you consume are responsibly sourced—grass-fed, organic and local whenever possible. Avoid added sugars, refined foods and things that don’t come directly from the earth.

Avoid getting hung up on dogma, guilt and judgment.

The only thing that matters is you feel good and energetic after you eat, both immediately and in the long run. Don’t get caught up in the latest food fads and trends. They can be incredibly limiting and don’t take into consideration everyone’s specific biology. You have to focus what works best for your body and psychology.

Keep it simple.

You really don’t need to cook a giant chef-worthy feast for every meal. A quick sauté of different colored vegetables in coconut oil or a pack of smoked salmon with torn dill, some greens, a few olives, and a little bit of avocado will do the trick most nights of the week. 

As a guest on our latest Escape, you can choose to either attend a dinner curated from the farm at the Malibu Fig Tree Ranch, or stay the weekend at Malibu’s Native Hotel. The proceeds from both packages will be donated to Girls Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a safe third space outside of home and school for girls in inner city communities. This is Free People’s third year supporting Girls Inc. through community programming, advocacy, and financial donations, with proceeds from this particular Escape funding the girls’ nutritional and wellness programming.

+ Join Native Hotel, Malibu Fig Ranch, Yola Mezcal, Honey Hi, Sakara Life, Frankie & Jo’s, and Quaker City Mercantile. XO