Solene Ashby had never really thought much about her joints—until one morning in her mid-fifties, she bent down to tie her shoes and felt an unfamiliar twinge. “It wasn’t painful exactly,” she recalls, “but it made me pause. Like my body was sending me a quiet message.”
She didn’t panic. Instead, Solene began researching how food could support aging, especially when it came to joint strength. She was surprised to find that what we eat plays a critical role in long-term joint health—especially when inflammation is involved.
“I didn’t want to be reactive,” she explains. “I wanted to build habits that would help me stay mobile and independent.”
So Solene started meal prepping—just a few basics each week that emphasized anti-inflammatory and nutrient-rich foods. She focused on ingredients like leafy greens, fatty fish alternatives (like flax and walnuts), sweet potatoes, lentils, and berries. Everything she made was built around comfort, nourishment, and ease.
Instead of complicated recipes, she favored bowls, soups, and sheet-pan meals. “I wanted food that felt warm and grounding,” she says.
Over time, she noticed subtle changes. Less stiffness in the mornings. More energy. She moved more, and with more confidence. “I didn’t reinvent my diet,” Solene says. “I just got more intentional about what my meals were doing for me.”
For her, healthy aging isn’t about restriction—it’s about preparation, support, and small, loving choices made day by day.
