Welcome to the first monthly Saucey Shares. Without further ado, my April roundup.

Restaurant

Emily, West Village
I went to Emily in the beginning of April for a birthday dinner. It’s such a great spot for hosting and celebrating. The energy is fun but still put together, and the staff were kind and attentive. The pretzel bun burger and thick crust pizza were standout dishes. I’d absolutely book it again for a celebratory dinner.

Coffee Shop

Foreigner
This place has gone viral for a reason. The crème brulee latte is the obvious order when you want something fun, but even their regular coffee is delicious. Worth it for both the hype and the everyday cup.

Sauce of the Month

Nando’s Perinaise
Creamy, tangy, with just the right kick. I’ve always loved Nando’s, but bringing this sauce home has made it even better. It’s the kind of sauce that does the work for you.

Grocery Item

Honey Pearl Grapes
If you like lychee, you need to try these. They have that same floral sweetness and are addictive. I keep them in the fridge for when I want something sweet but still feel like I’m making a good choice. I found mine at Trader Joe’s, but they’re worth looking out for at any grocery store.

Purchase of the Month

L.L. Bean Tote
After seeing it everywhere on TikTok, I finally understood the hype. The tote bags fit everything, holds its shape, and makes errands feel a little more put together. This has also quietly become my go-to gift.

Self Care

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
I’m working on building a consistent skincare routine and this has been an easy addition. It’s gentle but effective which is exactly what I need right now. I’ll report back if I notice any major changes over time.

Book

Loved One — Aisha Muharrar
This book explores grief and relationships in a way that feels honest and accessible. It’s funny yet poignant, and it naturally invites reflection on the people in your own life.

“Following 30-year-old Julia as she travels internationally to collect the belongings of her recently deceased best friend and ex-boyfriend, Gabe, leading her to confront his last girlfriend, Elizabeth, and their shared past. The book is praised for its witty and compassionate exploration of complex relationships, loss, and the messy truths of love, blending humor with deep emotional insight.”

On Repeat (TV)

Summer House
I’ve always been a loyal Vanderpump Rules watcher and only dipped casually into Summer House, until the “Scamanda” era pulled me in. Now I’m fully committed. I started from the beginning and I’m somehow already on season 7. I still can’t believe I haven’t met West yet.

Music

Justin Bieber
As a loyal Belieber, I could probably include him every month, but April especially deserved a nod after his Coachella performances. This month’s repeats: U Smile, Devotion, Deserve You, Changes, Purpose, and Catching Feelings.

What are your Saucey Shares for the month? Anything I should be exploring for May?

People who know me well, know I am always tired. I do not wake up ready to take on the day. Most mornings, I wake up feeling like I have already lived half of it. I have felt lethargic for as long as I can remember, and for just as long, I have been trying to figure out why.

The Wellness Myth

I was told that food could be the answer to everything: the fatigue, the anxiety, the brain fog. The advice was always the same: if I ate clean enough, anti-inflammatory enough, or high-protein enough, I would finally have the energy to keep up.

But the exhaustion? Still here.

I have come to realize you can do everything “right” and still feel “wrong.” You can track every nutrient and avoid every “bad” ingredient, and still feel like your body is speaking a language you cannot translate.

I wish food gave me all the answers I was told it would, but it has not. A lot of the foodie community, especially here in New York, is built on stories of “healing”. We love the narrative where a certain way of eating was the golden ticket to living a better life. But that has not been my story and I am learning that it does not have to be in order for me to still love and share the food this city has to offer.

Why I Am Still A Foodie

I’m done looking at my plate as a pharmacy. If food is not going to fix my fatigue, then it at least deserves to be amazing.

@thesauceygirl is not about “wellness” hacks or miracle cures. It is about the joy of a perfect meal in a city that never sleeps, even when I am the one who desperately needs to. I might be doing it tired, but I am still doing it.

What do you think? Do you ever feel the pressure to eat for “function” instead of just for the fun of it? Let’s chat in the comments :)

Scrolling through food accounts can be a fun escape, pictures of perfectly plated meals, videos of indulgent bites, and the latest must-try restaurants. But beneath the surface, food content can also be a breeding ground for unrealistic expectations, diet culture, and subtle (or not-so-subtle) messages about what we should or shouldn’t be eating.

As a therapist-in-training, I think a lot about how food content intersects with mental health. I love sharing what I eat, not to influence others’ choices, but simply because food is a huge source of joy for me. I don’t discuss diet culture, label foods as “good” or “bad,” or suggest what others should eat. Just as I wouldn’t want unqualified voices speaking on mental health, I believe it’s not my place to tell people how to eat.

I can’t ignore the fact that food content on social media has impacted me, too. I first encountered it during my sophomore year of college while living in a sorority house, where trends spread quickly. At the time, the latest craze was adding fiber to everything - powders that could be sprinkled into pasta sauces, salad dressings, and smoothies, all promising better digestion and improved health. It seemed like every food influencer was promoting it. However, what started as a well-meaning trend soon led to discomfort, bloating, and digestive issues. A lawsuit even emerged against the fiber powder. Looking back, I realize how the constant bombardment of “wellness” content quickly turned into an obsession, one that ultimately caused more harm than good.

Social media is overflowing with food-related messaging, much of it disguised as “wellness”. What starts as a simple search for inspiration can sometimes spiral into guilt. It’s easy to fall into comparison, especially when it seems like everyone else is living their best “healthy” life. Even accounts with good intentions can contribute to harmful narratives. That’s why I think it’s important for me to share all kinds of food, whether it’s a salad, a burger, or a plate of fries, without commentary beyond the simple enjoyment of eating.

My understanding of how food impacts mental and emotional well-being has reinforced my belief that food should be about pleasure, not stress or shame. There’s no hidden agenda behind what I post, just meals I genuinely love. At the end of the day, social media is just a highlight reel. What we see online is never the full picture, and food accounts are no exception. By being mindful of the way we consume food content and the way we create it, we can shift the focus back to what truly matters: enjoying food in a way that feels good for you.

I’ll admit it, I used to judge people for starting a Substack. It seemed like everyone was jumping on the bandwagon, and I didn’t quite see the appeal. But now that I’m on spring break with a rare moment to slow down, I understand why so many people turn to it. Having a dedicated space to reflect and share feels like a luxury. So here I am, doing the very thing I once dismissed, though at least I can acknowledge the irony. Writing has always been something I’ve loved. For years, I’ve kept a personal blog in my notes app, but maybe it’s time to bring some of that into the world.

If you’ve followed my food account, you might know me as @thesauceygirl, but let me formally introduce myself: my name is Lois, and I’m 25 years old. I’m currently in my last semester of graduate school, training to become a therapist. My food account started on a whim after a particularly lively bottomless brunch at Medium Rare, one of my favorite restaurants in DC. Completely captivated by their steak sauce, I (admittedly) licked my plate clean and had a sudden realization—this was something worth sharing. With some enthusiastic encouragement from my best friends, @thesauceygirl was born. I never expected to build a small food community, but I’m grateful for where it has led me.

On the surface, it might seem like I’ve always been a devoted foodie, but my relationship with food has been far from simple. As a child, I struggled to gain weight, no matter how much I ate. I was also incredibly picky, if it wasn’t pasta, I wasn’t interested. Meat was rarely on my plate, except for the occasional serving of spaghetti Bolognese. Throughout my life, I was told to be mindful of what I ate, warned that one day my metabolism would slow down. I internalized that message, spending years fearing the day when I’d have to restrict the foods I loved.

It took time to unlearn those beliefs, but I’ve since cultivated a more balanced perspective on food. I spent so long thinking of food in extremes, something to be cautious of. In fact, I didn’t even try a cheeseburger until my sophomore year. But over time, I learned that food wasn’t something to be afraid of. It could be joyful and, yes, indulgent, because life is better with a cheeseburger in hand.

Now, as I train to be a therapist, I see just how important food freedom really is. We live in a world that constantly tells us what we should be eating, how much, and when. It’s exhausting. I’ve found my own balance, one that allows me to enjoy food fully while taking care of myself in a way that feels good.

This space will be an extension of that. While @thesauceygirl started with food, I want this blog to be a place where I share not just what I eat, but also my evolving relationship with food, my experiences as a therapist-in-training, and the things that bring me joy, whether that’s a new favorite restaurant or a deeper reflection on wellness.

So, if you’re here, welcome. I’m excited to share this journey with you.

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