Kitchen Therapy with Jaree

Recently had the opportunity to lead a hybrid wellness session for a few hundred communications professionals focused on burnout, nervous system regulation, and sustainable performance. Some of us then transitioned into a breakout session that I led on food as a part of a sustainable wellness plan. There’s something powerful about feeling the relief of collective breath with a group of vigilant high performers.

One attendee shared afterward:
“We’ve heard a lot of speakers, but we’ve never done anything like this.”

That moment stayed with me.

People don’t just need productivity tools — they need space to reconnect with themselves. Burnout prevention and recovery must become part of how we support healthy, sustainable teams.

Grateful to continue bringing integrative wellness, mind-body education, and Kitchen Therapy experiences into corporate spaces. Open to more partnerships supporting employee wellness and burnout prevention.

Grateful for community partnerships to strengthen the work we do in the community!

Big thank you to Family League of Baltimore for supporting our Community Food Strategy Grant! 🌱

Our youth experienced Kitchen Therapy with Jaree, where food, mental health, wellness, culture, and hands-on cooking came together.

They prepared healthy snacks, explored self-care, and used microgreens grown right here in our indoor vertical garden.

Food is healing.
Food is culture.
Food is community.

Grateful for the support that helps us feed our young people in more ways than one. 💚

UrbanAgriculture BaltimoreYouth CommunityWellness

This week I’ve been hanging out with the youth at for their Spring Break camp! Kitchen Therapy has been on the menu to bring some mind body awareness with healthy snack creation to end the full days.

Today we made apple “nachos”—always a big hit! Full of fiber to keep us full, healthy fat and natural sugars for a texture and flavor explosion! It wouldn’t be kitchen therapy without some social emotional learning in the mix. Today’s theme was “I deserve good things!”
What good things do you deserve? Drop them in the comments!
🍎

Today’s breakfast called for warmth & comfort after a chilly start and workout. Started the morning at and our question of the day was “what is your go to breakfast?” Jeanelle said grits so I knew what was calling me to the kitchen! Scrambled some eggs with leftover veggies in the fridge (spinach, sweet peppers, onion & tomato) and served with a warm bowl of grits. Comforting but not heavy. Nourishing to sustain me for the day. Outside of satisfaction, what do you need from your next meal?

My insights about the therapeutic nature of cooking was included in a recent article from Self magazine. Take a read, enjoy and be inspired to make something good for yourself soon! Grateful to Michelle Beadle Holder for inviting me to share.

Finding Joy in the Chore of Home Cooking Reclaiming cooking requires separating the act from the obligation.

Repost from
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I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as a finalist for the Visionary Social Worker Awards, founded by , in the Creative Arts category.

I’m proud to share my creativity through food, mental wellness and storytelling. I appreciate how many of you have taken this journey alongside me. We’ve got more coming for you!

Voting is open from March 1–15, 2026, and you can vote once per day during that time.

If you’d like to support, you can do so here:
samarastone.com/voting
Grateful to be part of a community that values meaningful, sustained impact.

Your kitchen can be a playground.

Healing does not always require slowness, silence, or deep emotional work.
Sometimes it begins with something softer:

Trying a new flavor.
Mixing colors on your cutting board.
Letting yourself create without pressure or perfection.

Food can be medicine…
But it can also be art.

Today, give yourself permission to explore, experiment, and enjoy.

🌶️🥬
Kitchen Therapy with Jaree
Where creativity meets nourishment.