Welcome to Waking Up Well, a column where we hand-select people we admire and ask them to share how they start the day. We think morning routines are a crucial part of an intentional wellness journey and we’re fascinated by the practices of our favorite figures.

Monique Volz, food media maven, cookbook author, and mom of three, is a constant source of inspo for us. You most likely know her from her work as founder of Ambitious Kitchen, where she posts inventive and flavorful recipes that satisfy our cravings and make us feel great. These recipes are household staples for us, and we’ve shared them countless times in our daily newsletter (zucchini mac and cheese, anyone?).

“Monique Volz, food media maven, cookbook author, and mom of three, is a constant source of inspo for us.”

Monique’s recipes are mostly healthy, and always feel-good in the widest sense. They’re nourishing, comforting, and playful, just like her sparkling personality which is on full display on her entertaining YouTube channel. Needless to say, we can’t wait to crack open her new cookbook, “The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook: 125 Ridiculously Good for You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.”

With the launch of her new book and her bustling family life, her typical routine starts early. She tells us that, lately, it feels busy from the moment she wakes up. Slow mornings are a joy but that’s simply not the season she’s in. For now, it’s all about making things happen — which means waking up and hitting the ground running. But without a nutritious breakfast, it would all be impossible. So, here’s how she wakes up and prepares for the busy day ahead.

5:30am | Morning chats 💛

My day starts with my youngest waking everyone in our family up by chatting in his crib. (He’s very loud!) Occasionally I will sleep in until 6:30 a.m. while my husband takes care of our three boys. I try to wake up slowly, and avoid getting on my phone until around 8 a.m. or so.

A white crib with a blanket draped over the side stands against a wall. Above it, a framed painting of a ship is hung. A stuffed toy is inside the crib. A woven basket is placed nearby.
A woman holding a baby while smiling at the camera. The baby is wearing a beige outfit and leaning against the woman.

6:30am | Swift & smoothies 🎶

One of the benefits of waking up early is making a nourishing breakfast for my boys. We’ll do protein pancakes, banana muffins, breakfast cookies, or make smoothies. (I have six delicious smoothie recipes in my new The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook!) Usually, we pair that with Siggi’s yogurt, chicken sausage, and fresh, seasonal fruit. Meanwhile, I’ll sip on coffee with some Califia Farms almond milk creamer.

Not only do my boys wake up hungry but I want to make sure that they have a great start to their day with food that will really energize and nourish them. I’m always finding ways to add protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the food I make with things like high-protein Greek yogurt, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and flax. While we eat breakfast, I put on some feel-good music. Usually Taylor Swift.

Person in a red shirt smiling and holding a bottle of Califia Farms Coconut & Almondmilk blend in front of a kitchen background.
Two tall glasses of a creamy smoothie topped with granola. One glass has a metal straw. The background is blurred with a white cloth.

7am | Mental + physical fitness 🏋️‍♀️

Depending on the morning, I usually head to a workout about 2–3x per week and do some strength training for an hour, then meet my husband and boys after and walk them to daycare.

Once my youngest turned 18 months or so, I felt as though I was able to have a little time to take care of myself more. Because I have three littles under four years old, working out is sometimes difficult to fit in. But working out gives me energy and improves my mood and mental health so much. Without a doubt, exercise has helped me be a better version of myself.

A person in athletic wear performs a barbell lunge in a home gym setting.
A modern gym with a rack of dumbbells, stationary bikes, and large windows offering a view of greenery outside. The wooden floor adds a warm touch to the interior.

8am | Fueling up 💊

After my workout, I immediately enjoy a quick protein bar (GoMacro and Aloha are my favorites!) just to keep me satisfied until I’m able to grab a proper breakfast at home and enjoy my Binto multivitamin supplements, which I have taken religiously since 2019. After that, I shower at home before I kick off a full day of meetings, recipe testing, editing, and more!

A hand holding a GoMacro MacroBar with protein purity, sunflower butter and chocolate flavor. The packaging indicates it is organic, vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free with 10 grams of protein.
A packet labeled "binto Daily Supplement Packets" sits next to two individual supplement packets that read "Monique up your glow," placed on a white surface.

Featured image courtesy of Alisha Tova Siegel. Other images were provided by Ambitious Kitchen, GoMacro, and Binto.