“EAT STRONG” with Chef Ryan Ross

Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Caitlin Scott of GreattScott Photography

For followers of Hunt Country culinary talent, Chef Ryan Ross is likely a familiar face. The Warrenton native and Food Network “Chopped” champion has garnered a loyal following of foodie fans with her talents as a private chef, charisma when hosting wine dinners at Winery at La Grange, and while curating the culinary program at Middleburg’s The Red Fox Inn & Tavern.

“I am a local,” Ross shares, adding, “I pretty much grew up in my mother’s organic health food store, The Natural Market Place.” 

From her early days in her mom’s shop to dancing professionally and training at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York, nourishing food has been central to Ross’ health and wellness philosophy. “I have always thought of food as medicine. What you feed yourself and surround yourself with is ground zero to your wellness.” 

She adds, “Going to a health-supportive culinary program, along with moving my body in really dynamic ways in my 20s and early 30s as a dancer, gave me a strong sense of what to invest in and what is valuable currency for feeling your very best: what you feed yourself and how you move.”

Following those guiding principles and inspired by her own late-30s quest for wellness, Ross released “Eat Strong” last December. The collection of recipes is chef-crafted and protein-focused, with the aim to nourish the body and the mind. She says, “My personal story surrounding wellness took a sharp turn postpartum. I had two very long labors and deliveries, my partner was only home 12 days per month due to his career, I was still working full time, [I had] erratic and intermittent childcare, I gained 50 pounds while nursing, and on top of it all, I broke my ankle and was in a boot with a toddler and a 6-week-old.” 

“I have always thought of food as medicine. What you feed yourself and surround yourself with is ground zero to your wellness.” – Ross

She continues, “Through like-minded conversation with others, I dug deep for the motivation to start tracking what I ate. … Wellness starts in the gut, and what we eat can make or break our chances at getting strong and creating the energy, able bodies, and mental health we deserve.” 

For Ross, simple recipes that could increase her protein intake became key in her path to wellness. “Dietary protein is the front-runner of nearly every recipe in the ‘Eat Strong’ collection,” Ross explains. “It was important to include recipes that are elevated yet easy to manage, super delicious, and really simple. … Recipes that are user-friendly and forgiving — and that just sound good — made the cut!”

But far from chalk-like bars or powder-laden smoothies, the recipes in “Eat Strong” are, of course, of chef quality but home cook ease. “‘Eat Strong’ is not about how much protein powder you can ingest … but about real food and protocols.” She highlights her Salmon Brochettes recipe, saying, “I love this meal. It is great cold from the fridge, as a topping for a salad, or amped up with some sides for a proper dinner. You can essentially use any firm fish that you fancy.”

“Wellness starts in the gut, and what we eat can make or break our chances at getting strong and creating the energy, able bodies, and mental health we deserve.” – Ross

The increased protein in her diet combined with strength training at the gym played an integral role in her postpartum recovery. “Transitioning into strength training almost immediately changed the way my body felt and looked. [It] helped me manage my injuries to enable me to dress by myself, to sleep, and honestly just cultivate a happier nervous system and mindset of no longer being in chronic pain.” She adds, “Since I have hit my protein goals daily and consistently, I have increased energy, mental clarity, alleviated premenstrual symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, and various pains, built more lean muscle mass, increased my bone density, and the list goes on. My recipes emphasize vitamin-, mineral-, fiber-rich foods that go a long way for how our hormones communicate within our bodies, how our digestion works, how our skin looks, even how we think.” 

For those interested in starting their own health journey, “I would say being curious is the very best first step to reassessing your personal journey with nutrition,” Ross encourages. “Ask yourself questions about how you really feel. How do you sleep? How is your sex drive? Do your joints hurt? Does your belly hurt? Are you telling yourself that you don’t have time?”

“The point is to set yourself up for your future self, which in turn sets up your family and those who love you, too, knowing that you are doing everything you can to live strong and healthy and feel great.” – Ross

She concludes, “Every body is unique and different. … I am not a doctor or a psychologist or a neuroscientist, or even a man, but I am a chef. I have recipes for you, and anecdotal evidence featured here supporting my own wellness journey, largely, perhaps entirely, supported by food and lifestyle thus far in my years on earth. My gathered data comes primarily from books and interviews with specialists. The power is in the research. I believe in this research and have beta tested myself: it works. The point is to set yourself up for your future self, which in turn sets up your family and those who love you, too, knowing that you are doing everything you can to live strong and healthy and feel great.” ML

For more from Chef Ryan Ross, find her on Instagram @thechefryanross or shoot her an email at [email protected]. For more information on “Eat Strong,” visit weeatstrong.com.

Published in the January 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.