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.
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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.
January 10, 2024, 4:50 pm
  • Dear Melissa
A closer look at dietary fat on the Whole30
Dear Melissa, I’m on Day 15 of my second Whole30, and I’m wondering if there is such a thing as eating too much dietary...
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.
December 19, 2023, 3:57 pm
  • Dear Melissa
3 steps to maintain your Whole30 commitment
Dear Melissa,  I’m on Day 3 of my first Whole30. So far it’s going really well, but the excitement of the first day or...
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.
December 12, 2023, 5:07 pm
  • Dear Melissa
The Whole30 Mindset
As you approach your next Whole30, there are lots of tasks on your checklist: plan some meals, clean out the pantry, hit the grocery...
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.
December 4, 2023, 7:37 pm
  • Dear Melissa
How to Stay Social on Your Whole30
I always encourage you to stay social on your Whole30, recognizing that your health commitment is an integral part of these interactions. Sure, this...
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.
November 14, 2023, 5:18 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Your guide to food freedom this holiday season
Dear Melissa, We’re heading into holiday party season, and I’m going to use the holiday tips in Food Freedom Forever and your boundary scripts...
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.
October 30, 2023, 8:51 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Find your Food Freedom “why,” Part 2
In Part 1 of Find your Food Freedom “why”, I said that if you really want Food Freedom success, you need to work your...
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.
October 17, 2023, 9:58 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Find your Food Freedom “why,” Part 1
You’ll often hear me and the Whole30 HQ team talk about finding your Whole30 “why,” and using that to help you stay on track...
Plant-Based Meal Template
September 18, 2023, 5:22 pm
Plant-Based Meal Template, Part 3
Part two of my plant-based meal templates series featured  another one of my favorite Whole30 “meal templates,” Plant-Based Stuff Over Stuff. Meal templates are...
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 14, 2023, 5:36 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa: Three Whole30 tips when you just want to quit
In this article, I’m helping you navigate the spur-of-the-moment temptation to self-sabotage what you know is a really good thing for you right now—your...
Plant-Based Meal Template
September 12, 2023, 10:05 pm
Plant-Based Whole30 Meal Template, Part 2
In Part 1 of my plant-based meal-planning series, I shared one of my favorite Whole30 “meal templates,” Tofu ‘n Things. Meal templates are barely...
Plant-Based Meal Template
September 4, 2023, 7:51 pm
Plant-Based Whole30 Meal Template, Part 1
I spend a lot of time talking about meal planning on the Whole30, and the underlying message tends to be “keep it simple.” These...
August 17, 2023, 9:02 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa & Friends: How to save time in the kitchen while navigating a busy schedule with New York Times bestselling author, Danielle Walker
This week’s Dear Melissa & Friends guest just happens to be one of my besties in the food and wellness space—none other than Danielle...
Melissa, a long-haired smiling woman, and text that says Dear Melissa
August 1, 2023, 10:00 am
  • Dear Melissa
  • Troubleshooting
Dear Melissa: I’m Bored of My Whole30
Dear Melissa, It’s Day 25 of my last Whole30, and I’m OVER IT. No foods sound good, and I can’t imagine what to make...
Melissa, a long-haired smiling woman, and text that says Dear Melissa
July 21, 2023, 11:41 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa: My food freedom—A day in the life of MU
Every week, I get at least a few questions along the lines of, “But how do YOU eat?” You’re always interested in how I...
Melissa, a long-haired smiling woman, and text that says Dear Melissa
July 18, 2023, 11:23 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa: How to love your Whole30 coffee without sacrificing the flavor
By Whole30 co-founder Melissa Urban, who only drinks decaf but still knows a thing or two about good coffee. One of the most common...
Melissa, a long-haired smiling woman, and text that says Dear Melissa
June 21, 2023, 6:19 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa: Is There Such A Thing as Too Much Fat on Whole30?
Dear Melissa, I’m on Day 15 of my second Whole30, and I’m wondering if there is such a thing as eating too much fat....
June 13, 2023, 6:21 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa & Friends: Tips to Help Your Picky Eater Without Food Shaming from Jennifer Anderson, RDN
My son is now 10 years old, but he’s been eating a whole foods-based diet since he was born, because that was how we...
May 23, 2023, 4:07 pm
  • Dear Melissa
Dear Melissa & Friends: Unpacking Diet and Sleep with Dr. Michael Breus
We’re all trying to sleep better. You now know how important sleep is to just about every marker of health. You’ve bought blackout curtains,...