Fridge Voyeur is a virtual visit into the chill zone of the Spoon Crew — our team, our friends, and some of your favorite wellness gurus. We may eat a lot of plants, but you better believe there’s a whole lot of variety, and a little bit of naughty, going on behind closed doors. We know you want a peek ;).

This week, we’re peeking into the fridge of health-obsessed yoga teacher, Nya Alemayhu.

Splendid Spoon: Hey Nya! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Nya Alemayhu: Hi! I’m a wellness coach and yoga teacher based in Washington, D.C. I’m originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by way of Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. Food was a huge part of my upbringing in Ethiopia and Maine. However, it wasn’t until I left my parents home in 2003 that I became passionate about clean eating. It’s made my heart very happy to guide others toward a more wholesome lifestyle over the past five years.

SS: What are the 5 staples you can’t live without?
NA: Avocados, eggs, lemons, spinach, and sweet potatoes. I literally cannot live without these five!

SS: What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge?
NA: Currently, there are two. One is always in my fridge: berbere. It’s a ground red pepper powder from my grandmother in Ethiopia. Whenever I crave Ethiopian food, I use it to spice up a dish. The second thing, which I’ve recently discovered, is bone broth. I can’t bring myself to make my own, so the ready-to-eat one in my fridge is a great alternative!

SS: What’s your fave sweet and what’s your fave savory?
NA: My favorite sweets are Medjool dates and sweet potatoes. For savory, it would definitely be anything in curry!

SS: If you were one thing in your fridge, what would it be?
NA: Dijon mustard. It’s that extra spice you can use with everything, from homemade potato chips to egg salad!

SS: What food do you turn to when you want something comforting or nostalgic? Although we eat to keep our bodies strong and healthy, food also connects us to our past, to friends, and to different times in our lives.
NA: A lot of my nostalgia can be traced back to Ethiopia, so my signature comfort food dish is spicy Ethiopian lentils. I just made them last night! I find the berbere mixed in with lentils so grounding. It reminds me of my grandmother. My second favorite — and I know something is up with me emotionally when I crave this dish — is spaghetti with roasted garlic and olive oil. It hits the spot every time!