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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Health and wellness: a way through, a brighter future

January 2026 PUBLISHER

Amy Gillespie | amy.gillespie@citylifestyle.com M AN AG I N G E D I TO R

Marshall Zweig | marshall.zweig@citylifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Health and wellness is a general practice and state of mind we all reach for. Some of us have become lifelong students of optimizing our own well-being. Some of us are simply curious about what feeling better might make possible in our lives. If COVID and the past few years have offered any kind of silver lining, it’s that they nudged many of us into a general self assessment. We slowed down. We asked what truly matters. We examined how we spend our time, what in our lives doesn't serve us, and how we can better show up for ourselves and the people we love. That kind of reflection can be liberating. When we identify what’s creating stress, burnout, anxiety, or fatigue, and start reshaping those patterns into something healthier, we carve out a path forward that feels grounded, and sustainable. Personally, I’m grateful for that shift in my own life, and I’m hopeful for what the future will bring. This month’s Health + Wellness issue celebrates people in our community who are channeling their gifts, and harnessing their passion, to help others improve our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. In our cover story, we step inside The Schvitz, Detroit’s historic bathhouse where generations have found restoration through intense heat, cold plunges, and a sense of belonging you can feel the moment you walk in. Then we meet Versala Parish Anderson of Rhythm Wellness Center. Versala blends faith, intuition, and body-centered therapies to help people reconnect with what their own systems are capable of. Writer and coach Nanette Murphy shares how to turn life’s hardest chapters into unexpected turning points, by slowing down, listening inward, and rebuilding with purpose. And if navigating health insurance has ever felt overwhelming, you'll appreciate our convo with Christina DeGregory of HealthMarkets. Her practical guidance, and genuine compassion, make the process feel far more human. Finally, our Smart Sweets feature brings you a quinoa breakfast bar that's both comforting and nutrient-packed. Bake it ahead for those busy winter mornings. Big changes, small shifts, or simply more moments of peace. Whatever your goals or New Year’s intentions look like, I encourage you to go for it. Choose something that supports you, and let that care ripple outward to family, to friends, to the community we share. You’ve got this. Here's to a new year worth celebrating all year long.

Marshall Zweig C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R

Amy Gillespie

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry COO David Stetler CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Royal Oak City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Royal Oak area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Royal Oak City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

RAIL& ANCHOR MODERN DAY GENERAL STORE

248.397.8985 502 S. Washington Ave, Royal Oak MI railandanchor.com

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inside the issue JANUARY 20 2 6 | HEA LT H & W EL L N ES S

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Featured

Sweat. Plunge. Rest. Repeat.

The Schvitz, Detroit’s most unique wellness ritual, has found new life

The Rhythm of Healing

In this faith-guided healer’s sanctuary in Oak Park, peace settles the body and spirit

The Courage to Begin Again

The Science of Care

Nanette Murphy shows how self-care and purpose can rewrite life’s story

A former biologist brings precision and heart to helping people stay healthy

12 On the Cover

Departments

Chess night in the smoking lounge at Detroit’s legendary Schvitz.

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

City List

Healthy Lifestyle HEALTH + WELLNESS

Spa Day HEALTH + WELLNESS

Self Care HEALTH + WELLNESS

Family Care HEALTH + WELLNESS

Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAG E

Events

Photography: Amy Gillespie

GOODS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME 28822 WOODWARD | ROYAL OAK modern-supply.co

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JANUARY 2026

city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

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1-7: Veteran’s Day Celebration honoring 103 year old Frances Mauro Masters at the War Memorial Park in Royal Oak. Masters is an original Rosie the Riveter. Her contributions were immortalized with a bronze statue for her work during WWII at a bomber plant in Ypsilanti.

Want to be seen in the magazine? TA G Y O U R I N S TA G R A M P H O T O S W I T H @ R O YA L O A K C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E

C I T Y SC E N E

Every home, every detail. Expect the Exceptional. M A X B R O O C K R E A LTO R S | 24 8 . 54 8 .910 0 | 2623 6 W O O D WA R D AV E . R OYA L OA K , M I 4 8 0 67 JANUARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / R OYA LOA K

PICKS FO

Y ’S TOP BU SI

We have such amazing, innovative business leaders in our community who are proud to serve you, our residents, with class and quality. We’ve compiled some of our top company picks for the services that might be on your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.

JA AR

CITY LIST

the

R OU

Health + Wellness Clinics HotWorx hotworx.net/studio/clawson-downtown | 248.219.5990 Yoga Six yogasix.com/location/royal-oak | 248.595.7075 South Oakland Family YMCA ymcadetroit.org/south-oakland | 248.547.0030 Detroit Urban Survival Training detroit-dust.com | 866.231.1375 DannoFit Health and Fitness dannofit.com | 586.453.2529

Alternative Health & Healing Evolve Acupuncture acu-evolve.com | 248.955.1215 Pure Root Wellness purerootwellness.net | 248.915.4766

Want to suggest a monthly pick? G E T I N T O U C H AT C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E . C O M / R O YA L O A K

C I T Y LIST

Elle MD elle-md.com | 248.284.6777 Elevate Wellness elevatewg.com | 248.216.4704 The Health Oasis thehealthoasis.com | 248.544.2022

Set your schedule. Make an impact. Build a life you’re proud of. Behind each of our 200+ City Lifestyle magazines is someone who cares deeply about their community. Someone who connects people, celebrates businesses, and shares the stories that matter most. What if that someone was you? Or maybe it’s someone you know. If this isn’t the right time for you, but you know someone who could be the perfect fit, we’d love an introduction.

Markets available nationwide. Learn more at future.citylifestyle.com

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S W E AT. PLU NGE . R E S T. Repeat.

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | H E ALT H + WE LLN E SS

T he S chv it z , Det roit ’s most u n ique wel l ne s s r it u a l, h a s fou nd new l i fe ARTICLE BY MARSHALL ZWEIG PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY GILLESPIE

When Paddy Lynch first walked into the Schvitz with a friend, more than a decade before he ever dreamed of owning it, the place was… well, rough. Dingy carpets. Drop ceilings holding decades of smoke. A stench that hovered somewhere between chlorine and cigarettes. But down the long hallway, in the belly of the venerable building, he found something that stopped him in his tracks. A table of older men, mostly Jewish and Russian, CONTINUED > JANUARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / R OYA LOA K

sat in towels and robes, drinking red wine, taking shots of vodka, eating steak, and warmly welcoming the two curious neighbors who’d wandered in. “They couldn’t have been nicer,” Paddy recalls. “They realized real fast we weren’t weird voyeurs— just guys who lived nearby.” That night, Paddy took his first steam in the room Detroiters have been sweating in since 1930. The rocks were blisteringly hot. The pool was shock-cold. And something in his life shifted. After graduating college, Paddy spent four months in Haiti with monks, teaching orphans and working with sick babies. The experience broke him down mentally. Back home, depressed and on antidepressants for years, he felt flatlined: nothing depressed him, nothing excited him. That's when the Schvitz became medicine. "When I decided to come off my SSRI, the withdrawals were painful," Paddy explains. "The Schvitz helped me get through that process. I'd go hot-cold-hot-cold for two hours.” The science is popular now: heat/cold contrast therapy, lymphatic flow, improved cardiovascular response, cortisol regulation. Paddy didn’t know any of that. He only knew his body felt better. His mind felt quieter. And the ritual became weekly. Fifteen years later, he still goes every Wednesday. He also owns the place. And he's poured over a million dollars into saving it. In 2017, the Schvitz wasn’t for sale. It was barely functional. But Paddy, a longtime funeral director, realized a funeral home and the bathhouse "are two sides of the same coin. Kind of private, kind of public. People come to let go, to be gentle with each other when the world is brutal." CONTINUED >

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After visiting the legendary Russian & Turkish Baths in New York, and seeing what a bustling, all-ages bathhouse culture could look like, Paddy called the aging caretaker and asked the question that would change everything: “Is she actually thinking about selling?” What followed was a leap of faith driven by gut instinct. Paddy took out a line of credit against his house. Bought the building ‘as-is,’ uninsured, no inspection. He walked into a project that immediately proved to be, as he puts it, “a total money pit.” “There wasn’t a square inch that didn’t need attention,” he laughs. Roof replacement alone was half a million dollars. Masonry repairs, plumbing, electrical, and peeling back decades of ill-advised renovations followed. “Restoration by subtraction,” he says. “Getting everything back to the original hard surfaces.”

The building started as a Jewish Community Center in 1918. By 1930, Russian Jews—some with Purple Gang connections—converted it to a traditional banya. In a 225-degree room, you can't hide weapons or wires, making it perfect for confidential conversations during Prohibition. When Lynch ripped up the carpet, beneath the floorboards lay a perfectly intact mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath, that had been covered for half a century. “Rabbis came right away. Their minds were blown,” Paddy says. Today, surrounded by plants and art, it sits exposed and honored in the women’s locker room. The Schvitz’s heat is the stuff of legend: 15,000 pounds of rock, heated by an 800,000-BTU blast furnace installed by gangsters in 1930. As regulars proudly say, it’s the hottest room in the Midwest. The cold plunge runs brutally cold, often dropping into the mid-40s during Detroit’s winter months, when the supply CONTINUED >

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lines bring in naturally frigid water. The new Himalayan salt sauna adds a dry-air respiratory boost. And upstairs, one of Detroit’s most iconic kitchens serves ribeyes, strips, soups, and legacy dishes: generous plates without the downtown markup. But what draws over a thousand people a week is more than the heat, the cold, and the food. It’s the community. “There’s this unspoken rule,” Paddy says. “You don’t have to like each other, but you have to love each other.” Conservative old-timers steam alongside younger creatives. Wealthy suburbanites sit next to blue-collar regulars. Veterans, artists, immigrants, recovering addicts, chefs, athletes all sweating shoulder to shoulder. And as Paddy points out, “they might not otherwise hang out if it weren’t for this place.” And women have become the backbone of the business. Three women-only sessions a week, each staffed entirely

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by women, now pack the building. “They take care of each other the same way the men always have,” Paddy says. “They’ve built their own sisterhood here.” If someone’s nervous to try the Schvitz? Paddy says, “Dip your toe in the water—no pun intended. Come for dinner first. No cover if you’re not steaming. Let us give you a tour. Feel the place. Then come back when you’re ready.” And if you’re still unsure, he offers the mantra that anchors the entire experience: “Come unwind back in time.” That’s what time at the Schvitz really is: unwinding. The city’s noise falls away, strangers become companions, and the body remembers what it knew long before wellness had a name. Nearly a century after those first rocks were fired, this Detroit ritual remains the same: sweat, plunge, rest, repeat. To experience the historic Schvitz, visit schvitzdetroit.com

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THE RHYTHM

of healing

S PA DAY | HEALTH + WELLN E SS

IN THIS FAITH-GUIDED HEALER’S SANCTUARY IN OAK PARK, PEACE SETTLES THE BODY AND SPIRIT

ARTICLE BY MARSHALL ZWEIG PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY GILLESPIE

“I’ve always been into natural healing,” Versala Parish Anderson says. Her voice is warm, the kind of tone that immediately sets the nervous system at ease. She calls herself a researcher by instinct, a woman who follows the quiet nudges, inner knowings, and signs she believes God places along her path. Versala set up Rhythm Wellness Center to be a manifestation of that faith: a place where people can remember what their bodies are capable of, and where healing feels possible again. Healing was woven into the fabric of her childhood. Her mother and father used natural remedies, and encouraged her curiosity about them. Later, when her mother remarried, stepfather “Papa” taught her to honor the body’s design. “They had only scratched the surface,” she says, “but those seeds stayed with me.” Her whole life, her faith has illuminated places modern medicine couldn’t always reach. Years ago, when her mother was hospitalized with an intestinal obstruction doctors couldn’t explain, Versala combed through research until she found a natural solution (a castor oil pack) — and watched the blockage dissolve. “Things in the earth were created for our benefit,” she says. “Our bodies know how to heal. Sometimes they just need support.” But her deepest clarity came through loss. Within five months, she lost both her mother and father, and not much later, her beloved husband. “I had the kinds of relationships people dream about,” she says quietly. “When I walked into the room, their eyes lit up. I was adored.” Losing that constellation of love changed her… but it also called her. As she studied holistic health through Trinity School of Natural Health, she realized: much of what she was learning could have supported the people she loved most. “It became my mission,” she says. “If I can help someone avoid the suffering my family faced, then that’s what I’m here to do.” CONTINUED >

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Rhythm Wellness Center revealed itself to her, the way a truth becomes undeniable just before you say it out loud. Like the space itself: where others saw only an abandoned unit in a strip mall, Versala saw a blueprint for a sanctuary. “I walked in and knew exactly where everything would go,” she shares. “It felt like God saying, ‘Build it here.’” Inside that transformed space, people often describe transformation. They say walking into the foot soak room feels like stepping into a loving mother’s hug. Some immediately cry without knowing why. Others leave feeling unburdened. “Love leaves an imprint,” she says. “People can feel it when they walk in.” Versala works intuitively with each visitor. Some already know what modality calls to them: salt cave, red light therapy, sound bowls. Others ask her to guide them. She listens for what they say, what they don’t say, and what she senses. “Every person is different,” she notes. “What works for one body doesn’t automatically work for another.” One woman arrived with an oxygen tank (which she called her “little buddy”). Unable to go into the cave, she sat at the archway for the healing benefits. Over time, the woman became able to walk on her own to the heart of the cave—without “little buddy” in tow. Her strength returned; her balance grew steadier. “It may look like coincidence,” Versala says, “but sometimes God prepares the answer before you even know the question.” Another couple arrived having lost two loved ones in quick succession. Versala closed the building early, set up sound bowls

inside the cave, and let the vibrations do what words couldn’t: settle their grief. “They came in heavy,” she says. “They walked out lighter.” For Versala, true wellness begins in this order: spirit, then mind, then body. “If your spirit is grounded, everything else aligns,” she says. Her hope for Rhythm Wellness Center is as simple as it is profound: “I want it to be a pathway to healing and knowledge.” And by knowledge, she means that inner knowing she’s guided by, the quiet certainty that lives beneath thought. In Versala’s view, healing isn’t a miracle reserved for the lucky; it’s a rhythm we were all born with, waiting to be reclaimed. “Your body was designed to heal,” she says. “You just need the right rhythm.” Rhythm Wellness Center offers Pink Himalayan salt cave sessions, red light therapy, infrared sauna, sound and vibrational therapy, bioenergetic body–field scanning, personalized wellness coaching, and Versala’s signature mineral foot soaks. Each modality at Rhythm Wellness Center is a gateway back to the self. Each plays its own role in restoring balance: softening breath, lifting heaviness, or inviting quiet back into the nervous system. They’re all tools that help the body remember how to heal. Learn more or book a session at rhythmwellnesscenter.com CONTINUED >

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S PA DAY | HEALTH + WELLN E SS

“Things in the earth VERSALA’S AT-HOME RHYTHM FOOT SOAK

Versala gave Royal Oak City Lifestyle readers this grounding ritual to wash the day away. She’s soaked at the end of each day since her twenties. It’s a practice she calls “washing the day off.” Revitalizing Clay + Salt Foot Bath This soothing foot soak is designed to combine the grounding effects of bentonite clay with the muscle-relaxing power of mineral salts. The process is simple, and you can use whatever container you have on hand, such as a foot tub, a plastic bin, or even a sturdy dishpan. You’ll Need • Bentonite clay* (about 2 tablespoons; can be found at your local pharmacy) • Apple cider vinegar (around 1 tablespoon) • A small splash of water if the mixture is too thick • Epsom salt (½ cup) • Warm to hot water, enough to fill your basin • Essential oils, if you enjoy an aromatic boost (optional) * Note: Bentonite clay is easy to find online, and in major retail and pharmacy chains. How to Create the Soak 1. Prep the Salt Water: Warm several quarts of water until it’s hot but still safe for soaking. Pour it into your basin and stir in the Epsom salt until fully dissolved. Set it aside for temperature to settle.

were created for our benefit. Our bodies know how to heal. Sometimes they just need support.” 2. Mix the Clay Blend: In a separate bowl, combine the bentonite clay with the apple cider vinegar. Add just a little water if it’s too thick. Aim for a smooth, spreadable consistency. 3. Apply the Clay: Coat your feet and ankles with the clay mixture. Let it dry until you feel the clay tightening and cracking slightly. 4. Begin the Soak: Once the water's comfortable to the touch, add a few drops of essential oil if desired. Then gently place your clay-covered feet into the salt water. The clay will soften and release into the bath. 5. Relax + Restore: Soak for about fifteen minutes. When finished, lightly exfoliate your feet with a natural bristle brush to remove any lingering clay or dry skin. 6. Rinse + Dry: Rinse your feet well and pat them dry. Many people enjoy doing this routine before bed because of how calming it feels, but it’s helpful any time you need a moment of renewal.

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THE COURAGE to begin again

NANETTE MURPHY SHOWS HOW SELF-CARE AND PURPOSE CAN REWRITE LIFE’S STORY ARTICLE BY MARSHALL ZWEIG PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED AND HEADSHOTS BY DEREK COOKSON

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When Nanette Murphy starts her day, there’s no rushing to inboxes or appointments. She pads softly to the coffee maker, curls back into bed, and for the next hour, she lets the world arrive at her pace. With the news turned low, and gratitude as her focus, she warms up her mind with word games and quiet reflection. “I’m a slow starter,” she says with a smile. “I wake up early, but I don’t function early.” Using that gentle self-permission to follow her own rhythm, Nanette writes books, hosts Power Word workshops, and leads an ever-growing community of women in transition. She helps people reconnect to something modern life often steals: inner rhythm, courage, and the joy of beginning again. Nanette’s own reinvention began in the stillness of the 2020 shutdown. “After two weeks of Netflix and banana bread, I knew that wasn’t going to cut it,” she recalls. She began taking online classes, one of which—Yale’s Science of Well-Being—lit a spark. Soon she found herself immersed in MindValley’s courses, studying the psychology of happiness and the science behind habit change. Curiosity grew into certification, and eventually a calling: to help others rediscover purpose when life’s chapters shift. CONTINUED >

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“The moment I started helping other women, I realized I was healing too,” she says. “Healing isn’t magic. There’s no fairy dust. It’s active. Every day, you do something for yourself.” Her approach blends mindfulness, movement (she walks daily), and service. Nanette believes caring for others through volunteering is an overlooked path to wellness. “When you give to your community, you remind yourself you’re part of something bigger,” she says. “I volunteered at a daycare for children from a homeless shelter, and it changed my life. It shifted my focus from what I’d lost to what I could give.” That philosophy blossomed into Nanette’s certification to facilitate Power Word workshops: mini vision-board experiences rooted in neuroscience and the law of attraction. “You don’t choose your word; you discover it,” she explains. Through a guided series of questions and a diamond-shaped exercise, participants unearth the word that calls them forward. “Maybe it’s joy, maybe peace or courage. Whatever it is, you make it visible: on your desk, in your car, wherever you need a reset.” She can share the process from corporate retreats to classrooms, adapting it for children, couples, and teams. “I’m especially excited to bring it into schools,” she says. “Kids dream big— they don’t limit themselves. That kind of openness is wellness in its purest form.”

That same openness to possibility also shows up in how Nanette handles life’s curveballs. She laughs as she recounts the unraveling of her podcast production company last summer: twenty-four planned episodes, gone overnight. “The old me would’ve fallen apart,” she says. “Now, I just spin again and try something new. I figured out a way to make my second season happen.” That willingness to begin again, to let change invite growth instead of fear, has become her personal mantra. “I used to be cautious,” she admits. “Now I throw caution to the wind. If it doesn’t work out, I pick myself up and try something else.” Her favorite symbol of transformation is the lotus flower. It’s the image in her business logo, and the tattoo she shares with her daughter. “The lotus blooms in muddy water,” she notes. “That’s how I see all of this. You go through the dark, and then one day, you rise.” At sixty, Nanette shows no sign of slowing down. She’s building her podcast, preparing for a TEDx talk, and planning to host wellness retreats around the world. “I’m still evolving,” she says. “We all are.” I ask for a phrase she hopes readers carry with them. Nanette's response is sublimely fitting for someone who's an expert on beginning again. “Don’t fear the future,” she says. “Let it excite you.”

“Healing isn’t magic. There’s no fairy dust. It’s active. Every day, you do something for yourself.”

S ELF CA R E | HEALTH + WE LLN E SS

You can schedule a call with Nanette at livelifenow withpurpose.com

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THE SCIENCE OF CARE

A FORMER BIOLOG IST BRINGS PRECISION A N D H E A RT TO H E L P I N G P E O P L E S TAY H E A LT H Y

FAM ILY CA R E | HEALTH + WE LLN E SS

ARTICLE BY MARSHALL ZWEIG PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY GILLESPIE

Christina DeGregory spent years peering through a microscope, even going to Kenya to study wildlife. But when a PhD felt like a cage she didn’t want to live in, she followed the same instinct that led her to wildlife research in the first place: the urge to help. Now Christina helps people protect their health in the always-unpredictable experiment of being human. “I loved the scientific process,” she says. “But this— this lets me use it for people.” She’s a health agent: the middle person between clients and the insurance company. Most brains would short-circuit from the paperwork and policies, but Christina approaches it like a researcher. Every client is a case study, every conversation a hypothesis in compassion. “Most people end insurance calls feeling lost,” she explains. “I slow everything down so they actually understand what they’re getting.” She studies clients’ needs the way she once studied cells. Which doctors do they trust? What gaps could threaten their way of living? Which policies cover the most without costing their peace of mind? Then she builds coverage that shields them before trouble strikes, while sparing them the bills that could have broken them.

“NO ONE’S HAPPY IF THEY’RE sick or in debt. MY JOB IS TO minimize both. WHEN YOU CATCH THINGS early, YOU SAVE money and stress. THAT’S WHAT I WANT FOR PEOPLE: healthier, happier lives.” “No one’s happy if they’re sick, and no one’s happy if they’re in debt,” she says. “My job is to minimize both.” Often that’s with Affordable Care Act insurance: Christina tells me ACA policies cover preventative services at 100 percent, and also cover mental health, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. “When you catch things early, you save money and stress,” she notes. “That’s what I want for people: healthier, happier lives.” For clients who want extra protection, she offers supplemental policies that pay cash directly if they’re hospitalized. And I’m surprised to find out that for most clients, her help costs nothing: she’s paid by the insurance companies.

What stands out to me about Christina is her compassion. She moves me with a story of a young client who called her from a hospital bed, terrified and sick, to find the coverage that later paid the woman’s family enough to bury her with dignity. “I never want clients to have to use those policies,” she admits. “But if they do, I want them to be okay.” From a former scientist, I expected precision and knowledge. I didn’t expect her to radiate empathy. But she does. In a world where health feels complicated, Christina makes it human again. To schedule a free HealthMarkets consult with Christina, call (586) 883-1955.

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smart

SWEETS The beginning of the year is packed with inspiration and motivation to get back on track after a sweet-filled holiday season. It can feel extreme, and it also can be depleting to cut oneself off from everything indulgent after weeks of eating favorite sweet and savory recipes. For sugar lovers who believe going cold-turkey feels intimidating or overwhelming, nutrition-packed desserts are a great way to stick to healthy food goals without the guilt.

Nutrient-Rich Dessert To The Rescue ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

1. Cut a banana into 8-10 small slices, around 1/2 inch each. 2. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter (or your choice of nut butter) on each banana slice. 3. Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate chips or caramel over each bite. 4. Freeze for 15-20 minutes and enjoy! Pro tip: A dash of sea salt flakes on top of these can be *chef’s kiss.* These are great to keep on hand in the freezer all weeklong. Once they set, add them to a closed container to keep the bananas from browning.

Late night snack cravings are real! When finding yourself rooting through the cabinets for a sweet fix, these protein cookie dough bites are a great way to curb temptation. This recipe yields around 20 small bites, which can be cut into small squares or rolled into dough balls. Each bite is around 105 calories. If you find the dough is a little too dry, add a dash of milk as needed. Ingredients • 1/4 cup milk • 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder • 1/4 cup maple syrup • 1/4 cup peanut butter (or alternate nut or sunflower butter) • 1 cup almond flour • 1 teaspoon vanilla • Chocolate chips as desired Pro tip: Use mini chocolate chips and for a dash of savory add sea salt flakes on top. Once combined, store the bites in the refrigerator in a covered container to keep them moist.

Protein COOKIE DOUGH Bites

Frozen PEANUT BUTTER Bites

Danger ahead: this snack is amazing. It’s the easiest of the bunch and also satisfies a sweet tooth craving. This can be whipped together in just 5 minutes and makes just a small amount. Feel free to take creative liberty here with your amounts, but if you make it to this recipe, they are around 90 calories per bite.

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JANUARY 2026

events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S

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Wild Lights Detroit Zoo | 5:00 PM Wander through millions of lights, visit the enchanted rainforest, sip cocoa and support global conservation. Whether it’s a bundled-up family outing, a cheerful date night, a gathering with friends or simply a moment to breathe in the beauty of winter, this event offers something meaningful for anyone who experiences it. JA NUA RY 2 N D

Cadillac Lodge Detroit 60 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226 | 11:00 AM Need a break from the holiday hustle? A beloved Detroit tradition with a spacious heated tent and weekly programming, Cadillac Lodge is a place for the whole family to warm up, wind down and recharge between shopping stops. JA NUA RY 2 N D

Mirepoix Cooking School Classes Holiday Market | 6:00 PM Think of Mirepoix as a hands-on culinary school without the commitment. A comfortable environment where you’re taught to think and cook like a professional chef. A premier resource for the home gourmand of any skill level. Find out more at mirepoixcookingschool.com JA NUA RY 5T H

Ice Skating Campus Martius Campus Martius | 10:00 AM The Rink at Campus Martius Park is open seven days a week, including holidays, from November through March, and their experienced team will make sure that from the moment you step out onto the ice, your visit will be unforgettable. JA NUA RY 1 7 T H

Scarlet Crane Screen Printing Workshop Modern Supply - 28822 Woodward Avenue Royal Oak, MI 48067 | 4:00 PM Scarlet Crane Creations will be back to guide us through creating a pattern and printing our very own design onto bandanas. You’ll leave with two cotton bandanas that are as elegant or whimsical as you like! Check out modern-supply.co for more info. JA NUA RY 3 1 ST

Royal Oak Vodka Fest Royal Oak Farmers Market | 7:00 PM Regardless of your brand preference, or how you generally enjoy vodka (shaken or stirred, mixed or neat), Royal Oak Vodka Fest promises to be an exploration of all of your senses as Vodka suppliers from all over the globe gather for one night only. RoyalOakVodkaFest.com

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