Eating healthfully and tastefully most of the time allows wiggle room for indulgences. We naturally feel our best when we eat foods that nourish our physical bodies and minds, and savoring a dessert or a beverage on occasion fuels our joie de vivre. Munching three lettuce leaves and calling it a meal is no better than fast food every night. Restriction and overindulgence both leave us unsatisfied and undernourished. Eat mindfully most days, and the occasional fried cheese curd and Spotted Cow can be enjoyed guilt-free. A balance of healthy eating while still enjoying our treats leaves us truly satiated.

The amount we go out, grab and go, light the grill or cook at home has shifted for many in the last couple of years. Whether eating at home or eating out, this issue has it all. Staying in? We have inspiration for your at-home kitchen with amazing plant-based recipes from local leaders and beyond. Going out? We highlight an array of Milwaukee restaurants that offer top-rated vegan and vegetarian options. Stack’d Burger Bar, for instance, has one of the best classic burgers around, but if you’re looking for a tasty, plant-based alternative, you can find a meatless patty there, too!

While you’re perusing our pages, be sure to check out Jack Cincotta’s Workout Minimalism tips and LaDonna Gladney’s exercise ideas to stay fit this spring. Just as our food issue maximizes health without skimping on flavor, you can maximize your workout effectiveness and efficiency without skimping on results.