Mind Over Munch (Alyssia Sheikh)

The Journey of a Mindful Content Creator

Alyssia Sheikh has carved out a distinctive niche in the digital wellness space through her YouTube channel Mind Over Munch, where she combines her passion for healthy living with evidence-based mindfulness practices. ^[1] Since launching her channel in 2013, Sheikh has built a community focused on redefining health through compassionate education and mindful approaches to food and wellness. ^[2] Born in Durham, North Carolina, Sheikh's path to content creation wasn't initially planned as a career move. ^[3] After graduating from the University of Florida in 2012 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, earning Cum Laude honors and making the Dean's List, she moved to New York City where she worked as a fitness instructor, personal trainer, and graphic designer. ^[4]

From Personal Challenge to Digital Community

The genesis of Mind Over Munch began with Sheikh's personal wellness journey. Initially struggling with her own relationship with food and exercise, she started what began as a personal Instagram account called "100 days of clean eating" to document her commitment to eating clean for 100 days. ^[5] The account unexpectedly gained 30,000 followers during those initial 100 days, leading her audience to encourage her to continue sharing beyond the challenge period. ^[5] This organic growth prompted Sheikh to transform her personal documentation into a broader brand, eventually becoming Mind Over Munch. ^[5] Her boyfriend's suggestion to expand into YouTube video content proved pivotal, as she recognized the medium's potential for more comprehensive educational content than static social media posts could provide. ^[5]

Building a Million-Subscriber Community

Mind Over Munch has achieved significant milestones in the competitive landscape of health and wellness content. The channel has grown to over 994,000 subscribers with more than 93.5 million total views. ^[6] Sheikh reached the notable milestone of 1 million subscribers in 2021, earning YouTube's recognition for this achievement. ^[7] The channel's content strategy focuses on making healthy living accessible and enjoyable, featuring recipe tutorials, meal prep ideas, educational breakdowns of nutrition concepts, and vlogs that blend practical advice with entertainment. ^[1] Sheikh's approach emphasizes community acceptance of different lifestyles and journeys, rejecting one-size-fits-all health solutions in favor of helping viewers make informed decisions for their individual needs. ^[8]

Academic Foundation and Professional Evolution

Sheikh's content creation evolved alongside her formal education in mindfulness practices. Recognizing gaps in her understanding of the mind-body connection in health, she pursued a Master's degree in Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University, completing her studies in 2022. ^[9] ^[10] Her thesis, titled "Belonging Amidst Bias: Embracing Difference on the Path to Common Humanity," explored how embracing difference rather than seeking sameness can cultivate interconnectedness and social justice. ^[11] This academic work reflects in her current approach to content, which integrates evidence-based mindfulness with nutrition education. Sheikh holds multiple certifications including Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training, Precision Nutrition Coach certification, and credentials as a certified Life Coach and trauma-sensitive meditation teacher. ^[7]

Recognition and Industry Impact

Mind Over Munch has received recognition from industry organizations for its contribution to health and wellness content. The channel won the "Best Health & Fitness Program (Food & Diet)" category at The Taste Awards in both 2015 and 2016. ^[7] ^[12] Additionally, the channel received nominations for "Best Instructional Web Series" at the same awards. ^[12] Sheikh's influence extends beyond her own content creation. She has collaborated with brands like Thrive Market, sharing her expertise in mindful eating and healthy lifestyle practices. ^[8] Her work has been featured in various media outlets, demonstrating her role as a thought leader in the intersection of mindfulness and nutrition.

Expanding Beyond YouTube

Sheikh has diversified her offerings beyond YouTube content, creating educational ebooks and developing coaching services. ^[1] She serves as a certified Hoffman Process Teacher at the Hoffman Institute Foundation, a role she has held since 2021, where she supports individuals through personal growth and healing work focused on shifting from "human doing" to "human being." ^[7] ^[13] Her current work includes individual coaching services focused on mindful wellness and healing relationships with food and health. ^[13] Sheikh has also developed "The Power of Becoming," a 12-week guided program that combines meditation, visualization, and neuroscience-backed techniques to help participants clarify their vision and create meaningful change. ^[14]

Philosophy and Approach

Sheikh's content philosophy centers on the belief that sustainable health requires addressing both mental and physical aspects of wellness. ^[8] She advocates for mindful awareness as a foundation for creating lasting behavioral changes, emphasizing self-compassion and individual-centered approaches over universal prescriptions. ^[8] Her approach to content creation prioritizes objective, educational information that empowers viewers to make their own informed decisions rather than prescriptive advice. ^[15] This philosophy extends to her community-building efforts, where she emphasizes learning from diverse perspectives and accepting different approaches to health and wellness. ^[15]