Holistic Squid is an old-school blog written by Emily Montes (Bartlett) from 2009-2019. Emily practiced Chinese medicine in Los Angeles for fifteen years focusing on women’s health, fertility, and pediatrics. Holistic Squid was born from her passion for delicious nourishing food, curiosity for optimized health, and a love of writing and travel.
Emily published two books, The Eczema Cure and Feed Your Fertility, both exploring “food as medicine” as a basis for healing. Her meal planning service turned fully-customizable app – Real Plans – evolved into an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing company in America.
As a healthcare provider, writer, and e-commerce pioneer, Emily discovered her passion for entrepreneurship. Today she lives with her two teenage children at the beach (of course) – building and growing businesses that feed her soul.
Welcome to Holistic Squid! I'm Emily, and I write this blog for you.
I grew up in a tiny coal town in Pennsylvania that boasted the second-largest outdoor swimming pool in the state, one bowling alley, and a whole bunch of churches.
My dad was a small-town family doctor, and I always wanted to follow in his footsteps – minus the small town.
But then I got distracted. I studied classic literature and creative writing in college. Followed a passion for photography. Traveled. Bartended. Discovered yoga. Found Chinese medicine and moved to California.
Now, I'm (mostly) all grown up. In my clinical practice, I use acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and lots of listening. I specialize in fertility and pregnancy – but I treat families for all sorts of conditions, and I like to imagine it's much like my dad's small-town medical practice was decades ago.
At home in my kitchen, I'm a bit obsessed with real, traditional food. I can often be seen hanging cheese from a giant ceiling hook or stirring a soup pot full of bones. Sound weird? I like to make enchiladas and chocolate chip cookies too.
And whenever I can, I hop in the ocean.
This blog is a culmination of my professional and personal experiences and my insatiable passion for learning.
Like the mysterious creature that shoots and swirls through the ocean, I've got my tentacles exploring many things: fertility, health, delicious, nourishing food, and whatever else blooms from my neo-hippy existence.
Like any woman, Holistic Squid is complex, and my serious side is balanced with a silly name, a quirky smile, and lots of love. In surf lingo, a ‘squid' is a newcomer or beginner. So, while my eyes are observing everything, and I tell as I see it, I do my best to keep a beginner's mind – open and eager to learn anew.
I hope you enjoy reading Holistic Squid –
Let's dive in and have some fun!