Who is This Girl?

A Bit About Me

My name is Dena Don (Gershkovich), RDN, CDN, and I’m the creator of The Artsy Palate! I’m a New York-certified registered dietitian nutritionist, recipe developer, freelance writer and proofreader. I am also a HomeGoods-obsessed, plant-loving and avocado-addicted nutrition nerd. All posts, photographs and recipes that you’ll find on this blog are created by me, unless otherwise indicated.

I am so excited that you’re here! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my nutrition philosophy.

My Education

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Dietetics and a B.A. in Journalism in May 2020 (#coronagrad), I completed my supervised practice hours (dietetic internship) withNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. I mainly rotated at the Weill Cornell and Columbia campuses.

I am currently pursuing an M.S. degree in Clinical Nutrition at New York University, and I live in New York City. If you couldn’t tell, I am definitely the kind of girl who enjoys keeping busy!

When I’m not taking care of my sourdough starter or talking about how much I love avocado, you can find me doing pretty much anything that involves expressing my creativity. This includes (but DEFINITELY is not limited to) drawing, painting, cooking, baking, writing and hairstyling. I also enjoy exercising – you can find me at barre class or biking outdoors when the weather is nice.

My Family

I am excited to share that I recently got married! Here are some pictures of me with my #1 taste tester and husband, Avishai.

Here are some pictures with me and the rest of my immediate family.

My Background

You should know that I am Jewish, and I keep kosher. I am also a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish) due to taste preferences – nothing to do with health or nutrition! I share this because these factors both inspire my food choices and recipes.

Why I’m Here

My main goal in creating this blog is to combine my passion for nutrition with my love of writing. I’m here to teach you some tips for how to eat more healthfully and share some recipes while you laugh at the craziness of my life (and trust me, there’s a lot to laugh at).

I promise to continue to keep my posts transparent, real, honest and straightforward. I can assure you that you’re seeing the raw, #unfiltered version of me here, recipe fails and all. Basically, I do my best to keep the “Instagram” version of me the same as the real version of me because I value genuineness, and I’m sure you do, too!

My Approach to Nutrition

Healthy eating should be intuitive, practical, easy, fun and enjoyable, and I’m here to help facilitate that.

I see every eating occurrence as an opportunity to nourish myself optimally, but dessert is also an essential part of my diet (and not chickpea blondie dessert, real-deal dessert!). Now that we’re on this topic, you should know that chocolate has a special place in my heart, and I always have a steady supply available in my apartment :).

If I am craving something, I will eat it, regardless of its nutritional content, and I invite you to do the same! I believe that healthy eating is about inclusion rather than exclusion, and as you’ll see through my posts, seek to spread that message. I am not a fan of dieting or restriction, as it’s not sustainable for the long term.

When considering appropriate nutrition changes, I invite you to ask yourself if you can see yourself sustaining the change for longer than 1 year. If the answer is no, then it will likely be worthwhile to re-work your goals so that they align better with your lifestyle!

To me, healthy eating means eating mostly healthy most of the time, as the tagline of my blog states. All foods fit in a healthy diet!

The Story of The Artsy Palate

The Artsy Palate was born in October 2015, when I spent a year abroad in a seminary in Israel after graduating from high school. Back then, my main purpose in blogging was to help other girls in seminary programs combat the infamous #sem70 – aka the 70 pounds that seminary girls supposedly gain while in Israel for the year. In reality, 70 pounds is a bit of an exaggeration (it’s usually about 10-15-20 pounds, but also no one is counting!).

Anyways, The Artsy Palate was a platform for me to share some of my favorite nutritious recipes and tips for how to eat more mindfully while surrounded by the delicious tastes of a new country. I continued this blog after my year in Israel to encourage others to join me in my mission to eat healthfully as a college student (and beyond!).

The Artsy Palate has morphed with me throughout my academic and professional career and will continue to adapt as I navigate through life. Stay tuned for what’s to come! 🙂

Though young adults will probably find this blog to be most relatable, the messages (and recipes) that I’m sharing here really apply to all audiences.

Connect With Me

See More of My Work

This blog would gain so much more from the input of others, so I encourage you to please comment any thoughts, ideas, feelings, suggestions or pictures on any of my posts. If one of my recipes or tips has been working for you, I’d love to hear about it!

Here is a link to my LinkedIn page, in case you’d like to see what I’ve done professionally. You can also follow @theartsypalate on Instagram if you like what you see here and would like to hear from me more regularly.

To read things I’ve written for various publications, click on the “Other Writings” tab in the menu. Email me at theartsypalate@gmail.com with any comments, questions or if you’re interested in working with me – I’d love to hear from you!

Let’s Work Together!

I’m excited to share that I’m currently accepting participants into my Adulting Nutrition program! Adulting Nutrition is virtual streamlined meal-prep program fro busy young adults. To learn more about the program and subscribe, click here.

I am also currently accepting freelance writing, proofreading and recipe developing positions.

Thanks for Stopping By!

Wishing you health and the ability to enjoy all of your favorite foods guilt-free! Thank you again for taking the time to read more about me!
-Dena

Disclaimers

The content on this blog is meant for informational purposes only and should not take the place of medical advice. Before making any changes to your current eating plan, be sure to check with your doctor and a nutrition professional, such as a registered dietitian, especially if you have any food intolerances, allergies or medical conditions. Nothing posted on this blog is intended to cause harm or offense of any kind

Additionally, please understand that my views on nutrition and diet are constantly evolving with my education. Though I do my best to keep this blog up to date, it’s possible that I no longer hold views shared on older posts.