Melissa Urban

Melissa Urban

Melissa Urban is an 8x New York Times bestselling author (including the instant bestseller, The New Whole30) who specializes in helping people establish healthy boundaries and successfully navigate habit change. She has been featured by the New York Times, People, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Today Show, and Good Morning America, and is a prominent keynote speaker on boundaries, building community, health trends, and entrepreneurship. She lives in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband, son, and two rescue doodles.
By Author

Articles/Recipes


Dear Melissa—Melissa Urban wearing a light blue jean top and darker blue jeans, cooking on a wooden table top, and smiling at the camera.
September 20, 2024, 10:48 am
  • Dear Melissa

Dear Melissa, how to make the perfect Big A** Salad

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you KNOW I’m a huge fan of the B.A.S. (otherwise known as the Big A** Salad). I...
Dear Melissa and friends header - Melissa Urban with five other people from the photography team, food stylists, and prop stylists for The New Whole30
September 12, 2024, 11:30 am
  • Dear Melissa

A behind the scenes look at The New Whole30 recipes 

Dear Melissa, As an aspiring food and lifestyle photographer, I’m fascinated with the behind-the-scenes of shooting a cookbook. Do they really use hairspray to...
The New Whole30 Bonus Content
September 12, 2024, 3:15 am
  • Whole30

Explore The New Whole30 bonus content

The New Whole30 has been out for just over a month, and your feedback has been incredible! From just the first page of our...
The New Whole30 Guide
September 3, 2024, 3:14 am
  • Whole30

Choose your own adventure: A guide to The New Whole30

I wrote The New Whole30 completely from scratch—which was not what I was originally planning to do. Going into this project, I assumed I’d...
Dear Melissa—Melissa Urban wearing a light blue jean top and darker blue jeans, cooking on a wooden table top, and smiling at the camera.
August 27, 2024, 1:15 pm
  • Dear Melissa

The role of Whole30 convenience products during your program

Dear Melissa, I love seeing so many Whole30 Approved salad dressings, condiments, and bone broths in the grocery store today. It makes meal prep...
Whole30 Curried Pineapple And Pork Fried Rice Blog Hero
  • w30
  • Entrée
  • Recipes

Curried Pineapple and Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice

If you're craving something quick, filling, and packed with bold flavors, this Curried Pineapple and Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice from The New Whole30 is a win!
Plant-Based Macrobiotic Bowl with Turmeric Ginger Dressing Blog Hero
  • w30pb
  • Recipes

Macrobiotic Bowl with Turmeric-Ginger Dressing

This colorful Macrobiotic Bowl with Turmeric Ginger Dressing from The New Whole30 is brimming with incredible textures and flavors!The macrobiotic diet was brought to the United States in the 1950s, but it originated in the practice of Zen Buddhism in Japan.
Dear Melissa—Melissa Urban wearing a light blue jean top and darker blue jeans, cooking on a wooden table top, and smiling at the camera.
August 13, 2024, 1:24 pm
  • Dear Melissa

Dear Melissa, can you explain the new Pancake Rule?

Dear Melissa, You’ve said there were some updates to the Pancake Rule in The New Whole30. Can you break them down for me? —Love,...
Plant-Based Whole30 Cashew Mango Snack Mix Blog Hero
  • w30
  • w30pb
  • Appetizers and Snacks
  • Recipes

Cashew Mango Snack Mix

An unexpected ingredient takes this Cashew Mango Snack Mix to new heights.
Whole30 Air Fryer Scotch Eggs Blog Hero
  • w30
  • Appetizers and Snacks
  • Breakfast
  • Recipes

Whole30 Air Fryer Scotch Eggs with Braised Spinach and Harissa Dipping Sauce

This is one protein-packed breakfast!
Dear Melissa—Melissa Urban wearing a light blue jean top and darker blue jeans, cooking on a wooden table top, and smiling at the camera.
July 29, 2024, 3:42 pm
  • Dear Melissa

Dear Melissa, has the Whole30 gone soft? I miss your tough love.

Dear Melissa, You’ve talked about how the voice, tone, and language in The New Whole30 has evolved over the years. I appreciate that you’ve...
Plant-Based Chorizo Stir-Fry Over Cauliflower Grits Recipe Hero
  • w30pb

Plant-Based Chorizo Stir-Fry Over Cauliflower Grits

This Plant-Based Chorizo Stir-Fry Over Cauliflower Grits is for lovers of heat, with just the right amount of spice to light up your taste buds.
A female dietitian sitting in her office, working on her laptop.
July 11, 2024, 3:00 am
  • Whole30

Elimination diets, privilege, and the Whole30

One of the most common criticisms I hear about the Whole30 is that an elimination and reintroduction program like ours should only be prescribed...
Can Kids Do a Whole30?
July 9, 2024, 3:00 am
  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Whole30

Can your kids do a Whole30 with you?

Many parents consider bringing their kids along on their Whole30 journey in an effort to make meal planning easier, introduce more whole foods into...
Kombucha on the Whole30
June 27, 2024, 1:02 pm

Kombucha on the Whole30

Kombucha—a fermented tea—is a delicious beverage that may add some probiotic benefits to your already healthy Whole30 diet. But "Is kombucha Whole30-compatible?" isn't the...
The Plant-Based Whole30
June 18, 2024, 12:41 pm

The New Whole30: Find your best approach to plant-based eating

I distinctly remember the first time I was introduced to the Impossible Burger. It was  March 2019, and I was walking the floor at...
The New Whole30
June 13, 2024, 1:45 pm
  • Whole30

The Evolution of Whole30: Embracing Flexibility and Inclusivity

In 2014, when I was writing The Whole30, I was quietly separating from my marriage, parenting a one-year-old, and running a business. My self-talk...
Dear Melissa—Melissa Urban wearing a light blue jean top and darker blue jeans, cooking on a wooden table top, and smiling at the camera.
June 4, 2024, 6:42 pm
  • Dear Melissa
  • Food Freedom
  • Troubleshooting

Dear Melissa: My Food Freedom Plan When I’m Home Alone

Dear Melissa, My husband is away for work often, and being home alone for days on end makes my Food Freedom plan go right...